Church discipline is an unusual subject in most churches today. Yet, as we study the New Testament, it is obvious that church discipline was an integral part of local church life. It served to maintain unity, purity, faithfulness, fear and reverence in the early church (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18; Matthew 18:15-18; 2 Corinthians 2:5-7; 1 Timothy 5:19-24; and Galatians 6:1.)

A. To glorify God by obedience to His instructions and to protect Scripture from perversion and error (Matthew 18:15; 2 Corinthians 2:9; Titus 1:10-14).

B. To sanctify the Lord's Supper (ICorinthians 11:27).

C. To purify the Spirit and message of the church and to deny Satan any advantage in the church (1 Corinthians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:27).

D. To shame a brother to repentance and to deter others from sin (2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 5:20).

E. To destroy fleshly lusts in a believer (1 Corinthians 5:5).

F. To cut emotional ties with unrepentant Christians and to expose and remove the unregenerate (1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 John 2:19).

G. To prove that leaders love and care for the church member by attempting to restore a repentant believer (2 Corinthians 7:1-13; Galatians 6:1).

Section 2: Reasons. Church discipline is necessary when certain Christian principles are violated:

A. Christian Love: When Christian love is violated by serious private offenses, though such offenses may begin in secret, they must ultimately result in public censure if the offender stubbornly refuses to repent (Matthew 18:15-18).

B. Christian Unity: Christian unity is violated by those who form divisive factions that destroy the peace of the church. Such persons must be watched, rebuked, and if necessary, removed (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10).

C. Christian Law: Christian law is violated by those living scandalous lives. Biblical Christianity undeniably teaches a high standard of conduct and morality. Those who live in a habitual violation of Biblical morality and refuse to repent when admonished and rebuked must be removed from church membership (Matthew 15:19-20; Romans 13:8-14; Ephesians 4:25-6:8; Colossians 3:5-4:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-10; 2 Timothy 3:2-4:5; Titus 2:1-3:3).

D. Christian Truth: Christian truth is violated by those who reject essential doctrines of the faith. This does not mean that Christians should be censured for failing to understand and receive every doctrine revealed in the Bible, for all Christians are learning and growing. Rather, this refers to those who knowingly reject any of those doctrines which this church considers essential and fundamental (I Timothy 1:19-20, 6:3-5; 2 John 7-11; Acts 20:27; 1 Timothy 3:2, 9; Titus 1:9; James 3:1).

A. Admonish Privately or Publicly: Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:24-25.

B. Reprove, Rebuke, and Convince: Matthew 18:15; Ephesians 4:15, 5:11; 1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 3:16, 4:2; Titus 1:9, 2:15.

C. Remove from Membership: Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11, 13.

    The members of MBC, and all others who regularly attend or fellowship with this church, agree there shall be no appeal to any legal authority or to any court system because of dismissal by church discipline or because of public statements to the congregation pertaining to church discipline. Members who are under discipline by the church forfeit and waive the right to resign from this church. Resignations from membership are possible only by members who are in good standing and who are not in the process of church discipline.

    The members of MBC agree that if an individual leaves the church during the disciplinary process and/or after termination of membership, and begins to attend another church, the elders, or their representative, in response to a contact from the other church, may inform the inquiring church that the person is currently, or has been, under church discipline and the reason for the discipline. The purpose of providing information to another church is to bring about genuine repentance and complete restoration for the individual (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; 3 John 9-10).

Section 4: Goal. The goal of church discipline is always to bring about genuine repentance and complete restoration to fellowship of the member who is under discipline. Discipline must be exercised in a loving, yet firm way. When a member of the church is in need of discipline, the diagrammed procedure included in this notebook should be followed.

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