Church Discipline (1)

Christ, the King of the Church, gave to the apostles the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 16:19). With a key one opens and closes a door. Now for this purpose Christ gave to His apostles and, in them, to His church the authority and power to shut and to open the Kingdom of Heaven. What these keys are is explained more fully in Lord’s Day 31. They are the preaching of Cod’s Word and church discipline.

As long as the militant church is upon earth discipline in the church will always be necessary. A perfect church state does not exist upon earth. Everything here is and will continue to be imperfect and defiled with sin. Satan, the world, and the flesh will not cease to lay their snares and to do violence to the Lord’s heritage, yea, to the entire visible church upon earth. For that reason Consistories, Classes, and Synods must deal with discipline cases again and again. It is true that sometimes there are more or fewer cases than at other times, but they still occur constantly.

Now we must keep in mind that the purpose of church discipline is not to destroy, but to save. In practice it often becomes evident that discipline is regarded as a rule for punishment. For that reason it happens again and again that people are offended at the officebearers when they are compelled to deal with them in an ecclesiastical manner, as though the minister and the elders delighted in having found a stick to hit them with. It also happens sometimes that when discipline must be exercised, one withdraws from the congregation.

It is a bad sign when people refuse to submit to ecclesiastical admonition.

We should at all times keep in mind what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning those who draw back: “My soul shall have no pleasure in them.”

Those who are called to exercise discipline must also take care in what spirit that work is carried on. All haughtiness should be barred from the heart, and action should be taken only in the spirit of love and meekness, while at all times we are mindful of the truth: “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” We must do all in our power to save those members who in doctrine or life have drifted away, and at the same time we must uphold the truth. Let us then love the truth and peace. The whole congregation is in reality called to maintain discipline. There are several expressions in Scripture which teach this. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16:

“Teaching and admonishing one another...” and also in Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”

If our hearts and mouths were filled with the Lord Jesus, there would be time for nothing else.

The Lord Jesus, who is King of the Church, has also prescribed the rules for that purpose in Matthew 18: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone,” etc. For many it is as though that passage were not in the Bible. Some complain directly to the consistory or their neighbor; in fact, they divulge to friend and enemy alike what they have seen or heard. How often false reports are credited and accepted! David was most afraid of himself, and it was from the experience which he gained in life that he sighed: “Lord, set a watch before my mouth, keep the door of my lips.”

Peter warns us that we should not meddle as a busybody in other men’s matters. Talking and evil speaking have raised much tumult in God’s Church, and it has been the cause of untold grief for persons and families. Sadly enough, people do not understand that the devil makes sport with us and that the real purpose of it all is the destruction of the church.

When grace triumphs, we will not busy ourselves with the affairs of others. Think only of the woman who was a sinner in Luke 7 and of the Publican in Luke 18. When we are enlightened by the Spirit of God, we shall walk carefully and circumspectly, giving heed to all the words we speak. It is not without reason that God’s Word exhorts us: “Let thy words be few and seasoned with salt.” Oh, if only we had more to say about ourselves—we should then not busy ourselves with another! If our hearts and mouths were filled with the Lord Jesus, there would be time for nothing else. If there were a walking in the footsteps of Christ, we should live for the benefit of our neighbors. May that perfect example be always before our eyes!

Moreover, friends, how deplorable are conditions in the visible church! How little influence does the truth have upon the consciences of the children of men! Declension is great everywhere and reverence for God and His law is disappearing more and more. How few persons there are who are concerned because of their sins! How few who walk the earth crying and weeping, and, burdened by sin and guilt and a sense of being without God, are petitioners at the court of heaven! How small is the number of those who are looking for a Surety to take away their guilt and are seeking a God for their hearts!

How rarely does it occur in our day that God gives complete deliverance so that there is a joyful walking in God’s ways. Practical godliness is almost nonexistent. Oh, congregation, if only our greatest concern were to find God reconciled through the death of His Son! Then we should be interested in one another in the spirit of love and meekness. ?

Rev. W.C Lamain (1904-1984) pastored the Netherlands Reformed Congregations of Leiden (1929-1932), Rotterdam-South (1932-1943), Rijssen-Wal (1943-1947), and Grand Rapids, Michigan (1947-1984).

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen