Building up believers and the New Testament church

Discipline in the Body of Christ

Discernment

In our consideration of this subject, we must be reminded that we are dealing with spiritual matters. It should be obvious, then, that we need spiritual discernment. "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1,2). Paul's admonition to the Galatians speaks of the attitude of godly care and concern that we should have at all times. Any of us can be caught in a snare. We need to deal with others as we would like to be dealt with. We are members of one another. We are our brother's keepers, and we are one in Christ.

To be able to properly care for one another, we need spiritual discernment. We cannot depend on our natural minds, reasoning about what we have seen and heard. What we see and hear is likely to be only the outward symptoms of the real problem. We must move by the Spirit, as spiritual men and women. If we do not, our natural efforts will only make things worse. God has made provision in Himself for these matters, and that puts a demand upon each member to hear God and be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to the church. It is often easy to see an outward expression that is wrong, but it is another thing to hear God and move together by the Spirit to affect the root problem and lift a brother up. Jude wrote "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh" (vs. 20-23). It is demanding to keep ourselves in the love of God when dealing with these things, but it is absolutely imperative if we are to see God's results.

There are a number of specific situations mentioned in scripture with instructions on what to do in those cases. But even though the instructions are quite specific, we still need to know God's wisdom and timing in these matters. We are not being led by a "rule book" but by the Spirit of the living God. Have we borne these ones before the throne of grace in prayer? Have we given time for God to work in their hearts? Have we set an example before them? Have we come alongside with a word of encouragement? Is there a true godly care in our hearts? Has that godly care under girded our whole expression towards them? Are we discerning the root need? Do we have the mind of the Spirit so we can move in faith? Are we moving in union with others who are spiritual? Have we heard God together? These and other questions need to be answered honestly before God and before one another.