Church discipline

Discipline means taking corrective steps in the form of punishment, so that members of the congregation maintain good conduct.

Such discipline is often not given practical form in the current churches. Why? Is it because we have become weak and cold and are afraid to act according to our principles? Is it because we have all attained perfection and we no longer need it? Is it because if this is done the members of the congregation will be reduced?

Do we love popularity, money, big churches, and comfort more than holiness? Are we afraid to call sin a sin, therefore ignore the evils of our fellow believers?

The basis of our authority is to enforce discipline. If your brother commits a crime against you, then go and talk to him alone and make him understand; if he listens to you then you have found your brother. And if he does not listen, then take one or two people with you, that everything should be established from the mouth of two or three witnesses. If he does not listen to them too, then tell the church, but if he does not listen to the church, then know him as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Go alone to the errant and convince him to repent. The leader of the church should strictly warn members if they are loose or lax, that they should be firm in the faith. Has your church ever taken such a strong step against false doctrine? Many churches need to be cleansed of false teachers, because they are causing division instead of oneness.