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Church Discipline, Short Skirts, and Angry Deacons

Yet we must also acknowledge that church history is filled with bad examples of applying church discipline. So how does an obscure blog from the peaceful hills of Central Kentucky solve the problem? It doesn’t, other than to suggest three key factors every follower of Jesus should consider about church discipline:

1. Experiencing the presence of Jesus is the first and best kind of church discipline.
Jesus is the head of the church. He is alive, active, and he has opinions about the actions we take and choices we make each day. The best way for a disciple of Jesus to avoid camera-wielding deacons is to live in the presence of Jesus as a way of life. The same gun-toting Apostle Paul who spoke such harsh words to the Corinthians concluded his advice to the Philippians like this: “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” (Phil 3: 10-11) Toward an immature church, Paul raised a strong hand. To a healthy church, he commended them to the still small voice of the Father.

2. Church discipline in the Western world is nearly impossible today…or is it? 
In the U.S. alone, there are more than 6,000 denominations today. That’s denominations, not churches. Is it any surprise in a consumer-driven society that a follower of Jesus would have 6,000 choices of how to express his or her faith? If your skirt is too short for one church, head for another. If you are a greedy, idolatrous businessman, you can fit in nicely somewhere. You don’t even need to change denominations, just “move your letter” to the other side of town. Even when church discipline is exercised with perfect love and care (a rarity, I grant you), the object of such love can easily pack up his problems and head somewhere else. The only difficulty is that the problems go with him: “wherever you go, there you are.” Set your calendar; the need to be noticed–or whatever your problem–will surface again.   

3. Loving someone enough to help them find freedom from their fears and appetites is the heart of church discipline.
If you knew someone was suicidal, would you take action? How about alcoholic or anorexic? We instinctively agree that love takes action. Imperfect action is better than no action when life is on the line. But the truth is life is on the line every day. What if Julie’s need to be noticed grows into the choice to marry an abusive husband? By the time everyone agrees on taking action, much of the harm is already done. Godly leadership (not the deacons in my example!) is empowered to see and take action. Godly leaders are the shepherds of our souls: “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” 
Is that crazy talk or Scripture? You tell me.
What about you? Do you have examples of church discipline gone bad–or gone right? Tell your story in the comments below.