Rethinking 1 Corinthians 5 and Church Discipline
May 10
I was asked a question on church discipline and through thinking about it all, I have come to the conclusion that we may not have enough information to make it a consistent practice. I am just thinking here but here are a few questions.
1. What if a spouse or child living under your roof falls under a specific sin that you would discipline somone in the church for? For example if we follow this command to the tee then how can I not speak to my wife or children or not eat with them?
2. What happens to the children of a disciplined couple or single parent? For example what if somone who was a single mom with 3 kids who were actively involved in the church but whose mom has been removed for moving in with a man? Do we kick the children out? Do we go pick them up but not talk to the mom? I am just thinking both logistically and practically.
3. Are there any sins that were not listed in Paul’s writing that we should discipline for? If so who makes such a decision?
4. What about a sibling or family member who may be fall unde this discipline? Do we not invite them over for Thanksgiving because we don’t want to eat with them?
Just some thoughts. God bless.
It appears that these words were spoken in “community”. A type of community that is non-existent in America today. Our lives are not connected to one another in the way the Corinthians were. We live loose and seperate lives. One would be hardpressed to even attempt to apply this. (Of course, you already know how opposed I am to so-called “church discipline”.)
BLD,
That was right on. The Church is not in a position to do this now.
What do you guys think about the application of Matthew 18 in those instances though?
Javetta-
Matthew 18 – how do we treat gentiles/pagans/tax-collectors? We love them; we pray for them, we share the good news of new life in Christ with them. We do not shun them or avoid them. We simply come to the conclusion that someone who will not renounce and turn from sin when lovingly encouraged by an individual, the two to three witnesses and then the entire local body that they “might” not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within them and we are to consider them as an unbeliever and minister to them accordingly. By loving them, praying for them and sharing the good news with them. Notice Christ did not say that we know that they are unbelievers; he said we are to consider them as such. The question is how do we treat unbelievers. There is no place that says we are to withdraw from unbeliever, quite the contrary we are to love them and minister to them.
I believe people are taking three or four verse that speak to three distinct situations and lump them all into a so called systematic theology when an instance addressed by Matt 18 nowhere indicates that we withdraw love and fellowship from people.
The other verse that speak to such an action are addressing completely different issues.
My two cents.