Page 143 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

among Baptists until early this century, when it faded as rapid decline in the practice of church discipline. Most
people abused the system to carry out vendettas” (AP, of the big ones simply don’t practice discipline, and have
Sept. 12, 1998). Dean Register, president of the not done so for many decades. Even many of the smaller
Mississippi Baptist Convention, confirmed this, saying: ones are so busy trying to build impressive numbers that
“It’s very unusual for Southern Baptist churches to take they avoid anything that would interfere with the
disciplinary action against an individual” (The Sun potential for growth. That includes not only discipline of
Herald, Biloxi, Mississippi, Sept. 13, 1998). This is a sad the members but also a plain warning ministry. Recent
testimony, but there can be no doubt that it is accurate. history has demonstrated all too evidently that
Across the length and breadth of the land there are fundamental Baptist pastors at large can commit
unrepentant moral reprobates and heretics on the rolls immorality and other gross sins that should bring
of Southern Baptist churches. Billy Graham, Pat serious discipline and discrediting of their pastoral
Robertson, and many other radical ecumenists who are qualifications, but instead they simply move to another
promoting unity with Roman Catholicism, are members church across the country and continue as if nothing
of Southern Baptist congregations. Many politicians, had happened. If someone protests such an action and
such as Bill Clinton and Al Gore, who support the calls for the permanent resignation of the sinning pastor,
murder of unborn children, are members in good he is treated with a withering blast of mocking reproach
standing in SB congregations. More than a million by those who think pastors are above correction.
Freemasons, who are yoked together with idolatrous The Goals of Church Discipline
organizations in disobedience to 2 Corinthians 6, are (1) To maintain a good testimony before the
members of SB congregations. Many modernists who unbelieving community (Ph. 2:14-15; 1 Pe. 2:9-12).
deny the infallible inspiration of the Holy Scripture are
members of SB congregations. An example is Mercer (2) To protect the church from being permeated with
University President R. Kirby Godsey in Georgia. In his sin and false doctrine (1 Co. 5:6-8; Ga. 5:7-9). Both of
1979 book, When We Talk about God, he said, “the these passages are written in the context of church
notion that God is the all powerful, the high and mighty discipline. In fact, the very letters themselves (1
principal of heaven and earth should be laid aside.” Corinthians and Galatians) are examples of the process
Wicked heresy such as this is held by thousands of men of church discipline. The Apostle was writing to correct
and women who are members in good standing in SB error and sin; he was teaching, pleading, rebuking,
churches. [For more about compromise within the warning. All of these things are involved in church
Southern Baptist Convention see my 97-page book HAS discipline. Sin and false teaching are called “leaven,”
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION BEEN RESCUED because if moral and doctrinal impurities are not
FROM LIBERALISM, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box corrected or removed from the assembly, these will
610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, permeate the body and destroy the church. Unrepentant
fbns@wayoflife.org.] Neglect of discipline is not a sin and false teaching cannot be ignored in the vain
problem that is isolated to Southern Baptist churches. It hope that the problem will somehow disappear on its
is spread across the entire realm of “evangelicalism.” In own. It must be dealt with in a biblical fashion.
“Church Discipline: The Missing Mark,” R. Albert (3) To keep the church ready for Christ’s return (Tit.
Mohler, Jr., recently observed: “The decline of church 2:11-15). We are warned that those who do not remain
discipline is perhaps the most visible failure of the pure and ready for Christ’s appearing will be ashamed
contemporary church. No longer concerned with when He comes (1 Jn. 2:28).
maintaining purity of confession or lifestyle, the (4) To please and glorify the Lord. In Tit. 2:14 we
contemporary church sees itself as a voluntary learn that a pure church pleases the Lord because this
association of autonomous members, with minimal was His purpose in our redemption. In 1 Pe. 2:9, 11-12
moral accountability to God, must less to each other. . . . we see that a pure church is a praise and glory to the
The present generation of both ministers and church Lord.
members is virtually without experience of biblical (5) To correct erring church members (1 Co. 5:5; 2 Co.
discipline. . . . By the 1960s, only a minority of churches 2:6-8). As we exercise church discipline, we must ever
even pretended to practice regulative church keep in mind that our goal is not to destroy people, but
discipline. . . . Consumed with pragmatic methods of to help them. Even when a member must be put out of
church growth and congregational engineering, most the assembly, the goal is to see that one restored.
churches leave moral matters to the domain of the (6) To restrain sin (De. 13:11; 17:12-13; 19:18-20;
individual conscience” (from chapter 8 of The Ac. 5:1-11; 1 Ti. 5:20). “Modern psychology objects to a
Compromised Church, edited by John H. Armstrong, negative approach and opposes commandments and
1998). Even among fundamental Baptist churches, the warnings. God’s Word does not support such a theory,
ones that are so frequently labeled legalistic, there is a

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 143