Page 142 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

(3) Biblical church worship emphasizes the nothing like this taught in the New Testament
understanding rather than the emotions (1 Co. 14:15). Scriptures. The Apostles and early churches did not
The emphasis is not on “feeling God” but on practice anything like this. When the Corinthians began
understanding and knowing God through the truth of to dabble in similar things and were allowing confusion
His Word. We see this reflected in the traditional hymns. and disorder to reign in their midst, the Apostle rebuked
The old hymn writers aimed to edify the understanding them and corrected their error. [See Apostle, Baptism -
rather than to create an emotional high. In Immersion, Baptism - Infant, Baptist, Brought on the
contemporary worship, though, “songs are chosen in Way, Church Discipline, Daniel, Deacon, Diotrephes,
order to induce feelings in the worshippers. . . . [to Doctrine, Footwashing, Holy Spirit, Korah, Lord’s
induce] an altered state of consciousness by flagrant Supper, Missions, Ordain, Pastor, Prophecy, Revelation,
manipulation” (Alan Morrison, The New Style of Worship Separation, Timothy, Unity.]
and the Great Apostasy). CHURCH DISCIPLINE. The term discipline might
(4) Biblical church worship emphasizes the unity of the sound harsh and cruel to the ears of this pampered, self-
faith rather than the ecumenical concept of unity in esteem-mad generation, but true Bible discipline is
diversity that is so common in contemporary Christian neither. Bible discipline is training and chastening with
worship (Ro. 15:6; Mt. 15:9; John 4:24). There can be the goal of conforming an individual or a church to the
no true worship unless there is complete commitment to will of God. It involves teaching, encouragement,
sound Bible doctrine. The hodgepodge of doctrine correction and reproof, punishment when required, and
present in the typical ecumenical setting does not glorify restoration. Church discipline involves everything
God and is not acceptable to Him, regardless of the zeal necessary to keep a church pure before God. It is a matter
and enthusiasm exhibited during the worship sessions. of love—love for God and for holiness, love for the truth,
(5) Biblical church worship requires moral purity and love for Christ’s testimony in the church, love for the
separation from the world (Ro. 12:1-2; Ph. 1:11), in brethren, and love for the unsaved who are observing the
contrast to the contemporary worship which typically church’s testimony. “The discipline of a church consists
ignores separation and which builds bridges to the in their admitting or rejecting those who offer
world through the use of the world’s music, dress, etc. themselves to join with them; in the members watching
Typical contemporary worship also ignores the necessity over each other; in reproving and admonishing those
of moral purity and is very careless about how who walk disorderly, and taking all proper methods to
Christians live. It is enough that they enter into the reform them; and in rejecting those who will not be
“worship times” with great enthusiasm. If they divorce reclaimed, but continue obstinate and unreformed,
their spouses and commit adultery and are crooked in when all proper means have been previously used to
their business practices and dress like harlots and watch bring them to repentance” (Samuel Hopkins). “. . . so
filthy television programs and Hollywood movies, that is long as the churches fail to preserve a pure membership,
overlooked. Among churches that incorporate so long as they refuse to purge out the obvious leaven,
contemporary worship styles, there is little or no so long as they fail to seek to reconcile those who may
preaching against the world in any plain and practical have been excluded, there is little hope for any
sense and little or no church discipline exercised. There improvement in the condition of the churches, and good
are exceptions, but this is the rule. reason to expect the churches to move in the opposite
(6) Biblical church worship is constantly vigilant of direction” (Davis W. Huckabee, The Constitution of the
spiritual dangers (1 Pe. 5:8; 2 Co. 11:1-4). At least 11 Church).
times the Apostles warn Christians to be “sober.” Pastors The Neglect of Church Discipline
are to be sober (Titus 1:8); aged men are to be sober One of the root problems with the lack of spiritual
(Titus 2:2); the women are to be sober (Titus 2:4); power and zeal in Baptist churches today is the neglect
young men are to be sober (Titus 2:6); the wives of of discipline. This affects nations as a whole. When
pastors and deacons are to be sober (1 Ti. 3:11). 1 President Bill Clinton committed adultery and lied to
Thessalonians 5:6 and 1 Pe. 5:8 explain what it means the country about it and tried to pervert the judicial
to be sober; it means to be spiritually alert and watchful system to cover himself, there was a call for his home
and vigilant. To the contrary, though, contemporary church to exercise discipline; but the call was ignored.
worship teaches people to open up unreservedly to Bill Clinton is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in
spiritual influences without any sense of danger or fear Little Rock, Arkansas, which is affiliated with the
of deception. They instruct the people to “let go and let Southern Baptist Convention. At that time, an
God,” to “be open and vulnerable,” to “open yourself to Associated Press article quoted Timothy George, dean of
the Spirit,” to “invite the Holy Spirit to come and do his Beeson Divinity School at Samford University (Southern
thing,” to “be ready for the unusual.” There is absolutely Baptist) as follows: “Church discipline was common

142 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity