Church Discipline

 

 

            When we see the chaos in which America now finds itself it is enough to sadden the heart of any person. Authority is scoffed at, and there is little to no discipline today, and it is showing in almost every circle of society. Disregard for the law is noticed every where you  choose to turn.  It may  be very  well  stated  that  the church has not escaped this chaotic condition we find ourselves. Discipline is not found in the homes of our land. We are failing to find discipline in the affairs of the nation, and we are not seeing it in any form within the church of our Lord.  What  a  shame.

            No nation can stand very long when its  people scoff and flagrantly disregard discipline. Please note the following Scriptures. (Prov.14:34) (Jer.2:32) (Jer.7:28). My brethren we must awaken, lest the church deteriorates into nothing more than a social club. I fear we have too many in the church who are flagrantly disregarding God’s word. One source for some of  this disregard  is when  preachers disregard the pure, sound doctrinal preaching on many Bible matters and especially on church discipline.

            The church of Christ in its very beginning was not afraid to follow after the word of  God, nor  of losing  the disgruntled and petted few when they obeyed the Lord’s commands on  church discipline.  They not only believed the Lord’s word, but they practiced discipline. The church grew because it never ceased to fight to maintain its purity. Discipline was used and it helped to accomplish this purity. They preached it, and they practiced it as well.

            When the subject comes up there are many excuses given why it can’t be done. Whatever excuse may be given, we can rest assured it will not be accepted with God! God  commanded it, and it will work when it is administered in love. When we with loving hearts obey the will of God, the blessings for doing so will far outweigh the sneers and insults that may come.

            For years we have stated that we speak where the Bible speaks. Let’s be sure we practice that. What reaction would a congregation have when the command to partake of the Lord’s Supper is over looked? Something would be done about it, and fast. One might as well try to go to Heaven in abusing the commands about the Lord’s Supper, baptism, what and how we sing our songs of praise unto God, as try to go to Heaven and not do what the Bible says on church discipline. If not, why not?  It must be our prayer that all will love and obey the word of God on every subject given for us to obey today.

 

 

                                                                                       . . . .Fred  House