Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/26/2008

Question
about a year before i started attending my church they told me they "churched" a couple who was traying to start trouble.  I hadn't ever heard of if but they say the went by matthew 18:16-20. They brought it before the church and voted them out.  Now this envolves a certain couple of families including deacons and minister.  Now we have had another disagreement where tempers flared and another member left.  Some of us were concerned that the pastor and other leaders hadn't visited this man and tried to get him back. When we voiced our concern they said in so many words they were planning to "church" him too.  This seems rediculous to me because no matter what i may do God is not going to kick me out so why would his church?  Can they do this?

Answer
Hi Brandy,

Thanks for this great question.  
Most churches that I know of calls this process church discipline.  Here is what the Bible says:

Matthew 18:15-17
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Yes, you are right Jesus will not kick you out of the family of God, but He does discipline us from time to time.

Hebrews 12:5-8
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Likewise, churches are actually commanded to practice church discipline in order to keep sin and rebellion from spreading through out the church.  If someone is speaking against the Pastor and leadership, sowing dischord among the other believers, something must happen.  If the person does not repent, he must go, either voluntarily, or by church discipline.  Look at what Paul says:

Romans 16:17
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Look, if someone is stirring up troulbe claiming to speak for God, and claiming to have the wisdom of God, but going against God's man, the Pastor, James says that this man is not giving Godly wisdom.

James 3:13-16
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I strongly suggest that you let God work through His appointed leadership.  Trust your Pastor.  Yes, he too is human.  If he is wrong, God can change his heart, or if need be GOD can move him on... but let Christian leadership work as God designed it to work.

Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don

PS.  Do not forget that Church Discipline has two goals:

1.  The restoration of the fallen brother.  If he is voted out, he may repent and come back to the church.

2.  Purity of the church and protection form enemy attack.