THE MINE FIELD OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE

 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)

Paul’s directions regarding a brother who is disobedient to Paul’s teaching in that epistle, though stern, are much less severe that his directive to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. In the immediate context of 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul is dealing with unruliness and idleness in the church; in 1 Corinthians he deals with scandalous immorality, even in the eyes of unbelievers.

Church discipline is delicate matter. Misuse of it has split churches; neglect of it has polluted churches. The question is: What is the standard for church discipline? In other words, what sort of sins and to what degree call for church discipline?

I know of a Bible-professing church in a mainstream denomination that has tolerated adultery and the consequential divorce and remarriage, and all parties remained church members. Their emphasis was on love and they did love! The only case of church discipline I have heard of in that church was a man who committed a felony and received a jail sentence!

On the other hand, churches can be too exacting in their exercise of church discipline. I know of another church that used church discipline to purge the congregation of members who were critical of the direction the church as going. Any number of Scriptural injunctions may have been used to “discipline” the “unruly” members! Not surprisingly, the church spit and split again, and it no longer exists under its former name.

It has been suggested that unless the great majority of the church agrees that a certain sin calls for discipline, it should not be imposed. But what if it is clearly identified as sin in the Bible? In that case there is a bigger problem: why does not the vast majority of the congregation not see it as serious? The individual sin in question is only a symptom of wide-spread carnality in the congregation. That condition requires better teaching, preaching, and much prayer to bring the people to an understanding of their sinful condition and repentance. That is what happened in King Josiah’s time when the Book of the Law was uncovered while cleaning out the Temple.

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:8-13)

Revival happened again among the returning remnants from Babylon when Ezra and the Levites read and explained the Law of God:

THE BIG PICTURE

Many Christians form their beliefs from isolated Bible texts taken out of context, rather than from an integrated understanding of the progressive revelation of the whole Bible.

In order to properly understand any particular passage of Scripture, it is necessary to consider carefully the context of the passage. The three primary rules of Bible interpretation are, "Context, Context, and Context." Otherwise, an isolated passage could be made to say almost anything. 

Here are some contexts we must observe when studying a passage of Scripture:

1. We must observe the immediate context, the paragraph and the theme of that book of the Bible. What is the overall theme of the book? How does the passage we're studying develop that theme? 

2. We must consider the context of the whole Bible and how the passage we are studying fits into the progressive revelation of God and His plan. This means, of course, that if we have not read through the entire Bible (more than once) we are not well-equipped to make definitive interpretations individual passages! That does not mean that a new Christian cannot gain spiritual benefit from a given passage until he has read the whole Bible, but it does mean he should approach the Bible humbly with a learner's attitude, willing to grow in his understanding. 

3. We must consider the historical and interpersonal context of a passage. Books of the Bible were written in a particular time and place and to particular people. What was the setting in which the book was written? Who was it addressed to and why? 

4. We must seek to understand the literary context of a passage. The Bible includes different kinds of literature: History, Biography, Instruction, Parables, Poetry, Prophecy, Apocalyptic, Letters (both personal and formal), and various subcategories. Many errors in interpretation and doctrine come from not considering the kind of literature the passage is found in. 

In conclusion, the Bible is not to a book of inspirational sayings. It is, as W. Graham Scroggie expressed it, "The Unfolding Drama of Redemption." The Bible the progressive revelation of God and His plan for the redemption of fallen people and all of fallen creation. Failure to see that Big Picture is what has led to myriad errors in interpretation. And the Internet is replete with "Bible teachers" who are all too willing to share their errors!