Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Discipling and Disciplining (Protestant/Evangelical Caucus and Devotional)
Ligonier.Org ^ | 1/16/2017

Posted on 01/17/2017 5:52:43 AM PST by Gamecock

There is a strange dichotomy in the language of the contemporary church. Much is said and written about the important function of discipling new Christians, while at the same time the function of church discipline has almost vanished. Today, discipline is a word used to refer to the instruction and nurture of the believer. It does not usually carry the connotation of ecclesiastical censure or punishment.

In one sense, this modern version of discipling is linked to the New Testament model. The term disciple in the New Testament means “learner.” The disciples of Jesus were students who enrolled in Jesus’ peripatetic rabbinic school. They addressed Him as “Rabbi” or “Teacher.” To follow Jesus involved literally walking around behind Him as He instructed them (the word peripatetic comes from the Greek word peripateo, which means “to walk”).

The New Testament community was forbearing and patient with its members, embracing a love that covered a multitude of sins. But in the New Testament, church discipleship also involved discipline. Part of apostolic nurture was seen in rebuke and admonition. The church had various levels or degrees of such discipline, ranging from the mild rebuke to the ultimate step of excommunication.

Coram Deo

Do you accept discipline as well as discipling from your local church body? Ask God to make you more receptive to His discipline.

Passages for Further Study

2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Proverbs 9:8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.


TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 01/17/2017 5:52:43 AM PST by Gamecock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; CynicalBear; daniel1212; Dutchboy88; ealgeone; ..

Ping


2 posted on 01/17/2017 5:53:18 AM PST by Gamecock (Gun owner. Christian. Pro-American. Pro Law and Order. I am in the https:// basket of deplorables.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

Having long asked what the purpose of the church is, Sproul has the best answer I have found.

1) Teach the Holy word
2) administer the sacraments
3) discipline.

There is more to it than that. But it does get down to the core of the matter. The word “discipline” has put an image in everyone’s head in reading this. Think about that image and why you have it.

Disciple and discipline are close to each other. Sometimes pleasant, sometimes unpleasant but if God didn’t love us, he wouldn’t discipline us. This is the image and thought that should be in our head when encountering discipline.

Now, everyone, go sit in the corner and think about what you have done.


3 posted on 01/17/2017 7:34:29 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock

God doesn’t want the church to be filled with arrogant, unrepentant bullies and sinners. Instead He demands humility between and among church members, especially toward His laws and His commands.

That’s what church discipline is all about. First the aggrieved (or the one who observed the errant behavior) goes to the offender, and if no repentance then two or three go to the offender, and if no repentance then the offender is brought before the church and removed from fellowship. No repentance, no church forgiveness.

There’s a Biblical standard, and they’re not meeting the Biblical standard, so they must be excised from the church body to keep further damage from their sin from occurring. Their unrepentant, unpunished sin is like a cancer that’s growing in the church, and must be removed quickly and cleanly.

This is where most of the modern visible church fails so utterly. They let that cancer grow and corrupt the entire church, and that’s how you end up with “churches” that support abortion and homosexuality, etc. That cancer, when first appearing, wasn’t removed. Instead it was allowed to flourish and basically kill the patient, the church.


4 posted on 01/17/2017 8:59:06 AM PST by afsnco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson