| Title | : | Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1433532336 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781433532337 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 144 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2012 |
Jonathan Leeman helps us face the endless variety of circumstances and sins for which no scriptural case study exists, sins that don't show up on any list and need a biblical framework to be corrected appropriately in love.
Here is a contemporary and concise how-to guide that provides a theological framework for understanding and implementing disciplinary measures in the local church, along with several examples of real-life situations and the corresponding responses.
Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus Reviews
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Excellent little book on the nature and practice of church discipline. Leeman provides a gospel framework (chs. 1-5), which is necessary for church discipline to make sense. Then he gives helpful case studies (chs. 6-14), concluding with practical tips on leading a church toward church discipline (chs. 15-16).
Even though this is a 5-star book in my estimation, I still have a few reservations:
- Leeman sees an apparent conflict between 1 Cor 5 and Mt 18 (pp. 55-63). I've never heard this before, and it appears an unnecessary and unhelpful distinction. Leeman admits "in some [1 Cor 5] cases," you can follow a series of warnings from Mt 18. Why not always? What harm would multiple warnings cause (they could even occur in an accelerated timeline)?
- Leeman argues for excommunication of non-attending members (ch. 10). While I totally agree for their removal from membership, I wonder if excommunication might be a bit too far. Does that communicate a level of certainty about their profession of faith that we just can't have because of their prolonged absence? I especially worry about the ethics of requiring this of members who joined under a different understanding of membership (Leeman admits we must communicate this standard when people join, p. 133). -
short, informative, and immensely helpful for understanding biblical church discipline.
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If you’re a church member, you must read this book! Really thoughtfully wrote by one of my favorite authors. You won’t walk away condemned about what you’re not doing but encouraged to grow.
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Clear, straightforward primer on church discipline. Leeman is especially helpful by placing discipline in a larger church and gospel context. The later part of the book is a series of case studies which flesh out the framework from earlier chapters. The only one I disagreed with was his suggested dealing with apostasy as death (thus simply removing the apostate from the rolls) rather than sin (thus excommunication). Maybe some baptist voluntarism at work.
Overall, this is the best introductory work on the subject that I have seen, and I will gladly be recommending this book to people who want to understand not only how discipline works, but what discipline is all about. -
Useful, even if its emphasis on formal membership is probably better suited to highly judcialized countries such as ðe US.
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This is a helpful and biblical primer on church discipline. I appreciated his overall biblical theology of church discipline, rightly informed by the gospel of Christ and the need for God's glory to be made manifest through the local church. In the last third of the book, Leeman helpfully goes through case studies of how his church handled certain sin issues within the church - this was most helpful.
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Helpful explanation of the principles behind church discipline, and gives several specific examples showing how to apply them to various situations.
Leeman says the purpose of the book is to help those who want to administer church discipline know how and when to practice it, not to convince readers that church discipline is necessary.
Leeman says he differs from others who've written about church discipline because he wants to establish a theological framework that accounts for the variety of approaches in Scripture (e.g., compare 1 Cor 5 to Matt 18).
Leeman is a Baptist Congregationalist, so his views on church polity (government) differ from Reformed/Presbyterian views. Leeman is the editorial director of
9Marks and an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
There are two areas I need to study further. Leemon says that these are synonyms: excommunicate, exclude from fellowship, remove from the Lord's Supper, and formally discipline. He says these aren't different stages of discipline. He also says that a person who has been excommunicated is still welcome at the worship services of the church they have been removed from; they're just no longer a member of the church.
Notes
Part 1: Establishing A Framework
The Biblical Basics of Discipline
Church discipline is the act of removing an individual from membership in church and participation in Lord's Supper. It's not a prohibition to attend church's public gatherings. It's church's public statement that it can no longer affirm person's profession of faith by calling them a Christian. It's excommunicating (or ex-Communion-ing) person. These are synonyms: excommunicate, exclude from fellowship, remove from Lord's Supper, formally discipline; these aren't different stages of discipline.
Discipline passages: Matt 18:15-17; Gal 6:1; Eph 5:11; Titus 3:10; 2 Thess 3:14-15; 2 John 9-10; Acts 18:17-24; 1 Cor 5.
A Gospel Framework for Understanding Discipline
Christians need church's official affirmation of their faith (as Christians needed affirmation of Jerusalem church, Acts 2:38). Church doesn't make a person a citizen of the Kingdom, but it has the power to declare who and who isn't a member of Christ's Kingdom. It's similar to how an embassy has authority to declare citizenship, which an individual doesn't.
When Is Discipline Necessary?
Formal church discipline (excommunication) is generally warranted when someone crosses from the domain of sins you expect of Christians, and sins which make you think a person may not be a Christian.
Formal church discipline should occur with sins that are outward (visible, audible), serious (can't be overlooked in love, 1 Pet 4:8), unrepented of (sinner won't repent after confrontation).
Paul's approach in 1 Cor 5 (removal before confrontation) differs from Jesus' in Matt 18 (confrontation before removal) because 1 Cor 5 begins where Matt 18 ends, with a characteristically unrepentant sinner.
Decision to move toward excommunication requires examining balance between person's sin and repentance.
How Does a Church Practice Discipline?
Principles for conducting church discipline
1. Involve as few people as necessary to produce repentance (Matt 18:15-20).
2. Church leaders (older and wiser members, often elders) should lead the process (Gal 6:1).
3. Length of process depends on how long it takes for leaders to determine that person is characteristically repentant or characteristic unrepentant (Matt 18; 1 Cor 5; Titus 3:10). Characteristic repentance is zeal for casting off sin, and willingness to make dramatic changes to do so (Matt 5:29-30).
4. Individuals should receive benefit of doubt (Matt 18:16).
5. Leaders should involve and instruct congregation during discipline, or at least after discipline (Matt 18; 1 Cor 5), including instructing how to interact with excommunicated person (1 Cor 5:9, 11; 2 Thess 3:6, 14-16; 2 Tim 3:5; Titus 3:10; 2 John 10). Interactions should no longer be casual, but deliberately focused on repentance. Family members should continue to fulfill family obligations (Eph 6:1-3; 1 Tim 5:8; 1 Pet 3:1, 2), including spouses eating together and children and parents eating together.
One approach (based on Matt 18)
Individuals address matters in private. If no private repentance, elder(s) become involved, first individually, eventually as a group. Elders spend a few days to a few months discussing whether to inform congregation. If they decide to inform, they present pertinent info in private meeting of members only. They name individual and define category of sin with few details. They explain pertinent matters for pursuing member's repentance, and ask congregation to pray for repentance. They explain that if member doesn't repent, they'll move for excommunication at next members' meeting (usually 2 months away). Elders take questions from members. If at next meeting elders decide to recommend excommunication, they'll do so, ask for questions, move for vote. If members vote to excommunicate, elders instruct congregation how to interact with former member.
How Does Restoration Work?
When excommunicated person repents, church restores person by publicly declaring forgiveness, and reasserting person's membership in Kingdom (2 Cor 2:6-8; John 20:23; 21:15-17). There's no probation period.
Churches have authority to receive individuals disciplined by another congregation, though this may not be wise, and it would be wise to investigate actions of former congregation. Jesus has given each congregation authority of keys for binding and loosing, and one congregation's decisions aren't binding on another.
When a church excommunicates a person, it hands them over to Satan (1 Cor 5:5); it removes its affirmation that person belongs to God's Kingdom, and declares they must belong to Satan's Kingdom (Matt 4:8-9; John 12:31; 14:30). Church then has no more authority over excommunicated person than it does over any other non-Christian (Matt 18:17). Churches should warn each other about false teachers and unsavory characters (1 John 4:1-3; 3 John 9-10).
Part 2: Applying The Framework—Case Studies
Elders lead discipline process once it reaches a certain level, but congregation has final say on whether excommunication happens, which occurs in meeting of members only.
The Adulterer
In some situations, adultery might lead to immediate excommunication, such as if there's a pattern of adultery, or if the individual is committed to continuing in adultery.
The Nonattending Member
Elders should keep congregation informed of behind-the-scenes discipline to avoid causing shock when they move for immediate excommunication. Satan often uses this shock to undermine confidence in church leaders.
The Faithfully-Attending and Divisive Nonmember
Non-members can't be excommunicated. Instead, elders should instruct and warn congregation about person (Acts 20:28-31).
The Preemptive Resigner
Church members can't preempt threat of discipline by resigning. Just as a person joins a church by the authority of the church, they can only exit by the authority of the church. It's similar to how a criminal can't resign citizenship to avoid prosecution.
The Newly-Decided Unbeliever
If member renounces faith, church should remove them from member rolls, not as excommunication, but at member's request. Local churches have authority over Christians, not non-Christians, so church has no authority to act (Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 5:11). Congregation should treat person as non-Christian friend, welcome them to public church gatherings, and evangelize.
The Family Member
Husband must still love, serve, care for his disciplined wife, even being willing to lay down his life for her (1 Cor 7:14-15; Eph 5:25-30). Distinguish between creation and common grace institution of marriage from redemptive and special grace institution of local church. Husband must not give wife impression that he thinks of her as a Christian, but must encourage her to repent and believe.
Reasons for not eating with excommunicated members
1. Protect Christians from leaven of sin.
2. Protect excluded members from thinking church regards them as believers.
3. Protect church's witness in community.
At time of early church, sharing meal with someone communicated fellowship, care, protection. That's why it shouldn't be done with excommunicated members outside of family bonds.
Part 3: Getting Started
Appendix: Mistakes Pastors Make in Practicing Discipline
Invite the disciplined individual to continue attending church to continue to hear God's Word (assuming there is no threat of harm). -
This is a great resource on a topic that the church at-large doesn't talk about much. Leeman provides a framework on church discipline that displays the redeeming goal of it, as well as the necessity for the church to show its God-given authority to protect the gospel and the name of Jesus. His framework is based primarily on Matthew 18 and 1 Cor 5 and the need to strike a balance between the two on a case-by-case basis. Local churches are encouraged to test for repentance, seek wisdom from the Lord in discerning actions taken, and engage the congregation and its leaders based on the scenario, among other things. The last third of the book presents case studies that provide some great examples where the framework is put into practice. This is a really helpful book that emphasizes the gospel with the desire for a transformed life for those that confess Christ - in this vain church discipline is practiced, is important, and is a loving act that can be for the local church's good and for God's glory.
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At times, outstanding. At times, infuriating!
The vast majority of this short handbook on church discipline is full of excellent, well-reasoned exegesis.
However, The book's focus on solid biblical teaching is marred by some outrageous assumptions here and there. The most egregious to me was the overblown sense of authority given to the local church to declare "who is a kingdom citizen and therefore represents Jesus's name on earth." Biblical support for such a statement was tenuous at best. We can affirm someone's faith for sure, but the faith of a believer is not dependent on it. Of course, a church has significant authority, given their remit to execute church discipline at the appropriate time, but unfounded statements like this were a concern.
Aside from a few moments like this, it was very helpful! -
Très bon livre pour expliquer ce qu'est la discipline d'Eglise, pourquoi c'est important, et comment la pratiquer dans l'Eglise. Ce livre est rempli de sagesse biblique, de souci pastoral, et d'exemples pratiques.
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I'm torn over this book - however, I still feel like it merits a good review. Church Discipline is a topic which is often shied away from or simply ignored by a majority of Evangelical churches. My mixed feelings are not to do with me disagreeing that Church Discipline is needful and Biblical, but rather more with my differences of opinion regarding church polity and governance to that of the author. With that little caveat said - this book is well written and structured. It is clear and easy to read and provides much Biblical support and exposition on the topic of Church Discipline.
Leeman is a pleasure to read, and having just read his other book in the 9Marks series (Church Membership) - this book was a good follow up as a theology of Church Membership lays the groundwork for understanding Church Discipline.
Leeman does a great job of articulating the importance and even urgency of the need for churches to practice Church Discipline as a means by which to shepherd the flock lovingly, protect the Name of Jesus from disrepute and shame, and to instil a greater understanding and desire for holiness in God's people. He also gives a well-balanced argument for seeing Church Discipline as a loving act - one who's goal is not retributive vengeance or malice, but rather restorative and calling one who has gone astray to repentance and renewed fellowship. He explores what the 'power of the keys' means and the role of churches as it relates to the lives of believers, the bigger setting of operating within governments, and as Christ's Bride and visible representation of His Kingdom here on earth.
Leeman is a Baptist Congregationalist - so as a result, those from differing Protestant traditions may not agree with all of his views or models of Church Discipline. However, this does not make this book useless to those who are outside of his tradition. It simply means it must be read and thought through carefully - as must every book! He raises several good thinking points and situations which are helpful for thinking through how one might deal with a similar situation within their own form of church governance/polity. While I disagree with his nuances on the role of membership and the Lord's table within the discussion of Church Discipline, I do appreciate the fact that he is trying to at least be faithful to the theological significance behind those two realities and the fact that they are related to the question of Church Discipline.
All in all, this is a worthwhile read. Is this THE book on church discipline? Not by a long shot. Is this the BEST book to give to a young believer or use to teach a small group? Perhaps? Maybe. It depends on how it is used, I'd say. If one comes from a church like Leeman's - then this may be the perfect book for you. However, even if you come from a different church tradition, I'd say it is still useful - even for the benefit of raising good questions and widening your understanding of how other Protestant churches which are seeking to be Biblically faithful in the area of Church Discipline try to enact it in a faithful way. -
What a neglected topic and what a well written book on the matter. In honesty, I didn’t expect from the book, but I was very glad to be proven wrong. As Leeman shows in the work, how one understands the gospel and church play out in church discipline. If one believes the gospel is only the news of forgiveness in Christ, then the idea of church discipline will seem like a foreign language. If however, one understands the gospel to be God’s grace in Christ not only to forgive but also to change people to be ambassadors for Christ and children who reflect the holiness of their Heavenly Father, then church discipline begins to make sense.
In the book, Leeman outlines the necessity of a right understanding of the gospel, Biblical defense of the practice, the purpose of it, and case studies. The book is amazingly insightful and helped at least myself to better consider what it means to congregate with the redeemed. -
Very clear and inspiring summary of the Bible's teaching on the topic of church discipline. Leeman has a very winsome way of summarizing very large ideas into a clear and brief model. This book highlights both the importance of the practice of church discipline and the necessary practical matters that must be in place in order for church discipline to be effective. Highly recommended.
One criticism is that Leeman doesn't offer substantive steps in progressive discipline between private reproof and excommunication. Corrective discipline seems to be equated with excommunication in his thinking, whereas traditionally, the church has recognized other steps that can be taken along the way (such as suspension from the Lord's Supper) to help win sinning members to repentance. Such steps more robustly flesh out the New Testament's teaching on withdrawing fellowship in order to win erring members. -
This book was a very helpful introduction to the topic of Church Discipline. Leeman provides a clear argument for church discipline in the Church and a helpful framework for considering which cases require church discipline. I enjoyed this book, but have found several of the other books in this series more helpful.
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J'ai vraiment apprécié la lecture de cet ouvrage, dans lequel l'auteur encourage l'église à exercer l'autorité qu'elle possède pour discipliner ses membres dans l'amour, en recherchant la repentance du fautif, et selon la parole de Dieu.
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Solid resource. I especially appreciate the larger “gospel framework” in which Leeman places church discipline. The case studies in the second half of the book are helpful.
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Quick read with lots of helpful information on the reasons and practice of church discipline. Great resource.
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An important and short read for pastors and church members alike. I had the opportunity to take a class from Jonathan Leeman. He has a great deal of insight into the importance for the church to take responsibility for its members and purity. The heart of this book is doing what is best for the salvation of unbelievers. The church needs to be serious about purity for the sake of people in unrepentant sin, the church, and the world. I look foreword to reading his more detailed account of this subject titled "The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love".
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Extremely helpful book on a vital, yet oft-neglected topic in church life. Provides a thorough and robust gospel-framework to process sin issues in local churches that need to be addressed. Deals really well with the important Scriptural truths and passages on discipline, while at the same time providing practical case studies and examples — all done with a big dollop of humility by the author. A must read for pastors and church leaders, and a very useful read for church members too.
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Great book and primer on the importance of church discipline with a focus on the gospel as its foundation. Book also includes helpful case studies on different scenarios related to church discipline situations. Highly recommend for pastors, lay leaders, and anyone interested in the Biblical process of church discipline.
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Very helpful
This is a quick read that I found very helpful to learn and think through when and how to go about church discipline. It's not a new concept but I haven't really seen it done well or clearly. This book gives a good framework for working through issues that will come up as you seek to lead the church and honor Christ and the Bible. -
Very helpful. Clear, concise and practical. Well organised enough that I found it useful despite some points of difference with my church context.
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Excellent short book with theology, methodology, and case studies regarding the topic of church discipline.
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Jonathan Leeman’s The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love is one of my favorite hidden gems on ecclesiology. I was looking forward to Leman’s shorter and practical Church Discipline. Church Discipline is stripped down and indeed very helpful.
Leeman doesn’t do the background theological work that he does in his longer volume to build a case either for church discipline or his baptistic ecclesiology.
Instead, what Leeman does is build a practical framework that is primarily built around Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5 to flesh out a biblical model of church discipline.
Leeman has a high view of the church and believes that the church has the responsibility of protecting the witness of the gospel. Even the final act of church discipline—excommunication (removal from membership)—is done in love. It is out of the love that the church makes it clear that the ongoing and unrepentant sin of the congregant is significant and their salvation is in jeopardy. In this way, the church’s authority is similar to an embassy’s authority to declare citizenship.
Formal church discipline begins when sins that are outward (visible), serious (can't be overlooked in love (1 Peter 4:8)), and unrepented of (the sinner won't repent after confrontation).
Leeman suggests the following 5 principles for conducting church discipline
1. Involve as few people as necessary to produce repentance (Matthew 18:15-20).
2. Church leaders (often elders) should lead the process (Galatians 6:1).
3. The length of process depends on discerning whether the individual is stuck in unrepentance or moving toward repentance.
4. Individuals should receive benefit of doubt in the process (Matthew 18:16).
5. Leaders should involve and instruct the congregation during discipline, including instruction on how to interact with excommunicated person.
Leeman spends time dealing with several case studies which are very helpful in displaying the many nuances and difficult areas of discernment required as leaders navigate situations of discipline. He walks through six case studies including one involving adultery, another involving someone who stops attending the church, another involving a divisive non-member, and several others.
I am so grateful for Leeman���s guidance in these difficult matters. There are a number of areas that I would have slight disagreement with Leeman on. I have very few theological disagreements, but there are some slight disagreements in terms of the practical ways these theological commitments are worked out. Some of that even has to do with the size and style of churches that we pastor. Some of that has to do with some simple differences in emphasis. Ultimately this is a book almost any evangelical pastor or elder will benefit from. I recommend it.
For more reviews, see
www.thebeehive.live. -
One of the biggest areas that local churches have lapsed in is the area of Church Discipline. Christ has given the church the distinct role of determining the people of the visible church. This is important for at least three reasons. First, it protects the name and image of Christ by disciplining those who would try to mar His glory through disobedience and unchristlike behavior. It further casts out those who live a continued life of unrepentant sin while still trying to attach themselves to the vine of Christ. Secondly, it protects the church from wolves who roam the pews. A good shepherd will remove the wolf, if he is truly a wolf, and will not allow his flock to be casualties of another's sin. Thirdly, it protects the individual who is backslidden, through constant reminders of Christ's faithfulness despite our own unfaithfulness. Church discipline has the end goal of restoration to the body, not exclusion (though that is necessary at times). It is not done simply for the condemnation but rather for the sanctification. The spirit uses many means to draw men and women back to himself.
Leeman tackles this subject in similar ways to what I've layed out here, dealing with churches who have never heard of church discipline, or have seen gross negligence or outrageous over stepping in the realm of Church discipline, or even those who have exacted out the discipline biblically every time. He ends his book with several examples of when a church should give out discipline and when it should abstain. Some things are black and white issues, others are grey. One of the weakest points of the book was Leeman's constant reliance on congregationalism to prove his point, and yet it was the major inhibitor to church discipline in the first place. There was a small section about whether or not other churches should observe the discipline placed upon an individual from another local body. This needed unpacked much more because either answer shows the weakness of congregationalism. If they should observe the discipline from another church, then they are recognizing that the autonomy of their local body only extends to the physical church and not the spiritual church. In other words, the church is observing the discipline because it recognizes the validity of the other churches pronouncement on a member that has been excommunicated from the body. The two bodies then are interlinked on more than simply being one in Christ, they are linked on an ecclesiological level. Secondly, if the other church does not recognize the discipline of the first church, then there is a recognition that the churches are so autonomous that the individual is not being excommunicated from the church of Christ, he is only being excommunicated from First Baptist Church on Main St. His excommunicatiom then becomes physically geographical, and no longer spiritual.
