Building up believers and the New Testament church

Discipline in the Body of Christ

The Foundation: One Spirit In Christ

"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13). We must begin by knowing what is the basis of membership in Christ's body. The Holy Spirit makes us members of Christ. Each member is born into the family of God, is alive unto God, and is able to function under the authority of the Head, who is Christ. There is no middle ground. A person either is a member of Christ or is not a member of Christ. It is failure to be absolute at this foundation that often creates confusion and prevents us from seeing properly.

Strictly speaking, discipline is only for sons. "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons" (Hebrews 12:7,8). This is a very important distinction. A person must belong to the family before we can discuss discipline. If a person does not belong by birth to the family of God, he is not subject to discipline. Attending meetings of the church, he may be only a visitor or an honest seeker, and should be recognized as such and dealt with accordingly.

In this whole subject, we must keep very clear that God is for us, not against us. Consider the natural family. A good father may bring discipline to his son. He has one aim in mind: to see an area of weakness corrected in order to nurture the strength of character that is needed to withstand the tests of life. It may seem painful to the son at that time, but as the scripture says: "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).

God's definition of love is often so very different from ours. We may just overlook problems because that is the easy way, and we think God will take care of the problems down the road. But love is not passive. Love is active care for souls. Love took Christ to Calvary. Love will move us to discipline when necessary, with a godly care in our hearts. Discipline is always for the sake of correction and restoration. If we do not discipline when the situation warrants it, then it is sure that we really do not love.

There is a significant difference between the natural family and the spiritual family, which is important at this point. A natural son is born into a family apart from any choice of his own. In the family of God, even though God was the one who drew us to Himself, each of us made a choice to submit to His authority. God never takes away that choice. Similarly, each member chooses to be part of a local body of believers. Again, that choice is never taken away. If a member is not willingly and openly submitted to God and willing for others to be properly involved in his or her life, church discipline has no meaning, for that member does not recognize the authority that God has placed in the midst of God's people. Discipline is for those who are committed, who have fallen into a fault or sin, and its purpose is that they may be restored to fellowship with God and with His body.

Next: Discernment