How can church discipline be done well?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Church discipline is one of the most misunderstood expressions of Christian love because its goal is not punishment but restoration (Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 2:7–8). Jesus communicated a careful process that we are to follow when doing church discipline, which begins privately and provides multiple opportunities for repentance before involving others or the church as a whole (Matthew 18:15–17). The purpose of church discipline is to win back a wandering or sinning believer and restore him or her to fellowship with Christ and His people (Matthew 18:15; 1 Corinthians 5:5). Church discipline protects the congregation from the corrupting influence of unrepentant sin (1 Corinthians 5:6–7, 13; Titus 3:10). This principle reflects God's longstanding concern for the purity of His people, seen in the Old Testament commands to "purge the evil" from among the covenant community (Deuteronomy 13:5; 17:7; 19:19). When repentance occurs, believers are called to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their love for the restored person rather than treat them with condemnation (2 Corinthians 2:7–8). Done biblically, church discipline displays both the holiness and love of God. It pursues restoration while safeguarding the spiritual health and witness of the church (Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 5:13).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The church age did not begin until Christ, but the concept of keep the people of God pure is found in Old Testament law. Many times in the Old Testament, God spoke of removing the ungodly from the nation as a means to "purge the evil" (Deuteronomy 13:5, 17:7, 19:19). The relevance of this to church discipline is protecting believers from the influence of ungodly behavior and to present an example of Christ to the world.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Church discipline done well seeks to bring the sinner back to Christ and to fellowship with other believers (1 Corinthians 5:5). Jesus explained the process: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector" (Matthew 18:15-17).
• Paul reaffirms Jesus' counsel and warns about those who bring ungodliness into the church so as not to corrupt the body of believers (Titus 3:10). Paul quotes the Old Testament in telling believers to "Purge the evil person from among you" (1 Corinthians 5:13).
• Church discipline should always be done in love. Speaking of restoring a backslider to the church, Paul wrote, "so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him" (2 Corinthians 2:7-8).
• In his letter to believers in Galatia, Paul presents the dual goals of disciplining with love and protecting other believers: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

A true friend tells you when you have spinach in your teeth or your fly is unzipped or if you have toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Pointing it out is a little embarrassing, but it's even more embarrassing if they say nothing.

When it comes to church discipline, the consequences of keeping silent about sin can have much more serious consequences. Backsliding believers may sink even deeper into their sin, and their relationship with God and other believers is damaged. Besides that, sin infects. The sinning brother or sister may influence others to sin. And what might outsiders think when they see that the church looks the other way at blatant sin? Why would they want to be part of God's people if God's people start to look no different from the world?

Church discipline is a way of loving others and loving God. It takes courage to lovingly confront a fellow believer, but remaining silent regarding is not compassion; it is neglect. Likewise, when you are confronted about your own sin, your first response should not be defensiveness but humility. God often uses other believers to expose blind spots, call us to repentance, and restore us to fellowship with Him.

A healthy church is not one where no one sins; it is one where sin is addressed with truth, grace, and a sincere desire for restoration. Biblical church discipline reminds us that we belong to one another, that our actions affect the whole body, and that Christ cares too much about His people to leave them trapped in destructive patterns. Done rightly, church discipline is not an expression of condemnation but of love—a love that seeks repentance, restoration, and God's glory to shine in the darkness.

UNDERSTAND

• Church discipline is done well when it is motivated by love and a desire for restoration.
• The goal of church discipline should be to bring the sinning believer back to Christ and to fellowship with the church.
• Church discipline, done correctly, protects the church from the spread of sinful influence.

REFLECT

• How do you lovingly confront a fellow believer about sin?
• How does the way you react when you're confronted about sin reveal about your heart?
• How are you challenged or encouraged by the practice of church discipline and the instructions Jesus gave about it?

ENGAGE

• Why is it often difficult for us to confront sin lovingly, and how can we cultivate a culture where correction is seen as an act of love rather than judgment?
• What are some dangers of ignoring sin in a church congregation?
• How can a church balance grace and truth when dealing with a believer caught in serious or persistent sin?