This article is part two in a series of articles on Church Discipline. You can see the previous article here.
When the Scriptures instruct us to judge those in the church and purge the evil person (1 Cor 5:13), how should such an action take place?
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives the follow instructions, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matt 18:15–17).
Jesus gives us steps to address sin. It begins in private confrontation, moves to include witnesses, and finally, if there is no repentance, the entire church is made aware of this unrepentant sin. If the intervention of witnesses and the church does not lead to repentance, this individual is treated as an outsider, or as Paul says, “I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one” (1 Cor 5:11). That is, making the church aware and then, as a body, breaking association with this person in unrepentant sin is the final step in seeking restoration and repentance.
A similar instruction is given in Paul’s letter to Timothy. He says, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear” (1 Tim 5:19–20).
We see again this pattern of witnesses (following the law, cf. Deut 19:15) and then involving the church (in the presence of all) in dealing with serious unrepentant sin.
In our day, this typically would involve sin being brought to the attention of the elders where they act as witnesses and, if there is no repentance, the church is informed at a members meeting.
What Sins Qualify?
In 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions those “guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler” (1 Cor 5:11). This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but serious sin that is not only a stain on the witness of the church in the world (1 Cor 5:1–2), a cancer among the body (1 Cor 5:6–8), but also sins that would disqualify a person from the kingdom of God. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9–10).
Do you see the parallels here? Church discipline is a judgment by the church that a person’s testimony of being a disciple of Christ is not credible because of the unrepentant sin in their life that characterizes the kingdom of darkness rather than the kingdom of light.
How Long Does this Take?
We are given no concrete timetable in these passages. In 1 Corinthians 5 it happens very quickly. Discernment is needed by the elders and the church as to the nature, pattern, and publicity of the sinning person.
We must remember that the goal is the purity of the church, the witness of Christ in the world, and the restoration of the sinner. The length of process and how it is conducted must always keep these goals in mind.