Church Discipline

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » August 30th, 2009, 4:01 am

Do you guys enforce Church discipline? For example, if someone is living in an adulterous relationship, do you exclude that person from fellowship? In I Corinthians 5 this is the course of action directed by Paul. I am in a situation right now where someone I know is living in an adulterous relationship. Me and several others have handed her over to the satan.

I take absolutely no pleasure in doing that. It honestly goes against my inclination to reach out and embrace sinners. But I can't get around Paul's guidance to the church in Corinth.

I would like to hear your opinions on the matter.

paul · Postby **paul** » August 30th, 2009, 4:49 am

Russell Roberts wrote:Do you guys enforce Church discipline? For example, if someone is living in an adulterous relationship, do you exclude that person from fellowship? In I Corinthians 5 this is the course of action directed by Paul. I am in a situation right now where someone I know is living in an adulterous relationship. Me and several others have handed her over to the satan.

I take absolutely no pleasure in doing that. It honestly goes against my inclination to reach out and embrace sinners. But I can't get around Paul's guidance to the church in Corinth.

I would like to hear your opinions on the matter.

Me and several others have handed her over to the satan.

Russell, I havean understanding of what paul ment by that phrase. But please do elaborate on the statement. It was not that they might be eternally lost, but that ..........................................

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » August 30th, 2009, 5:46 am

THE spirit might be saved. (Whether the Spirit or spirit is intended, I don't know). It seems to be a redemptive measure.

one love · Postby **one love** » August 30th, 2009, 7:13 am

Be careful you will be crucified for talking about doctrine, givernment and discipline here. J/K

I believe if someone is living in sin that you need to work with them and do all you can to win them back to the Lord. Try many times and if they do not come back then yes if they are members they would have to be turned out. Never stop trying to reach them and win them back.

We are instructed to practice disipline but not being Lords over God's heritage nor with a iron fist because they may go against your personal convictions. I am speaking of outright sin.

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » August 30th, 2009, 8:38 am

Well, she was confronted several times by members of her family who aim to live godly lives. She first denied it and then became angry. But she is a master manipulator and has convinced her mother and several members of her family that they should feel sorry for her and not judge her. She was cheating on her husband with someone she worked with. Finally she left her husband and their two young children and divorced him.

As they see it, anyone who is willing to enforce church discipline is that bad guy and they accuse me and several others of just being 'self-righteous' for living in accordance with scripture.

one love · Postby **one love** » August 30th, 2009, 9:55 am

Russell Roberts wrote:Well, she was confronted several times by members of her family who aim to live godly lives. She first denied it and then became angry. But she is a master manipulator and has convinced her mother and several members of her family that they should feel sorry for her and not judge her. She was cheating on her husband with someone she worked with. Finally she left her husband and their two young children and divorced him.

As they see it, anyone who is willing to enforce church discipline is that bad guy and they accuse me and several others of just being 'self-righteous' for living in accordance with scripture.

that is very sad Russell but I understand your convictions.
It is good to have you back BTW

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » August 30th, 2009, 10:21 am

Thanks One Love.

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » August 30th, 2009, 12:50 pm

I think there comes a point in time, in action, in trying, in doing all you can actually do with a person and their choices where you have to cut ties to preserve the integrity of the body and to redeem them. It is a spiral that completely disorients someone when they step foot into that swirl of selfishness and sin. The long term loss of that decision has already come home to roost by leaving her family. Should her family camp out in tents and follow her from place to place while she "finds her way"? I don't see that pattern, and we don't have that command, for certain. Then, by the same token, and by the express instruction of Scripture, when all has been done, you have to do what is the best remaining choice. You can't follow her around in tents and camp out as she bounces from one decision to the next. There are consequences to our actions. They hurt. They last a long, long time. That's one reason there is so much cautionary language in the Bible about sin. Sometimes you have to take that "ultimate step" and withdraw fellowship, and turn them over, as you say, in hopes that they will come to their senses and repent and return.

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » August 30th, 2009, 1:03 pm

Thanks Dolfan. She was confronted on numerous occasions. As in Romans 1, I think God will continue to give her over to a depraved mind. Unless, of course, she repents.

beckrl · Postby **beckrl** » August 30th, 2009, 1:52 pm

I agree that 1 corinthians 15 instructs us to separate ourselves from immoral believers.[ understanding that the immoral believer deny the error] I believe by this separation the immoral believer may see their error and forsake their sin and return.

I also believe if something causes us to sin (offend) it would profit us to cast that member from the whole body, that the body maybe saved.
(Matthew 5:27-30)

Jude 2