Church Discipline Is Required By God

For reasons unclear to me, church discipline seems to be a controversial subject among members of churches of Christ. It is practically a forgotten practice among almost all the denominations. Many Christians object to church discipline with excuses such as, withdrawal never does any good, or they have already left us, or there is nothing left to withdraw, etc.. Perhaps the first thing we should do when dealing with such objections is to just point out that since God says we must practice discipline, it doesn’t matter what we think about it. Discipline is required by God.

Here are a few of the passages which show discipline is required by God. It is not optional. Whether we do it or not is not subject to our human judgment.

Matt 18:15-17 Moreover if they brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

I Cor 5:4-5,11 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus …But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

I Tim 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

II Thess 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

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