Do Churches have the Right to Discipline Each Other?

I entitled this article with the intention of getting the highest volume of readers possible. I wanted it to be an open question that was balanced and that did not from the get-go seem to be slanted in any direction whatsoever. Because this is what I want to consider – should we be policing or should we be preaching?

From a congregational standpoint, God organized individual autonomous congregations to have elders who would shepherd their own flocks. Church discipline was never practiced arbitrarily but only according to the doctrine that was communicated by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. In other words, there are divine directives for how and why to practice church discipline within individual churches. And even these need to be met with love and patience and humility and prayers at all times.

So the answer to the article title is simply, “No.” We have the obligation and responsibility within relationships and within our local churches to attempt to restore an erring Christian (Gal. 6:1-2). But congregations are autonomous, and churches have no right to discipline each other at the congregational level. It may be that a congregation may choose to no longer have fellowship or associate with other sister churches who have strayed from the faith. But this does not give them the right to have authority over another body. Jesus is the universal Head of every individual local church. He is the One who has promised to–and knows when to–remove the lampstand from its place (Rev. 2:5).

So now let’s get to the real heart of the issue (at least for me) – should we even want to serve as the spiritual police? There seems to be an attitude of some brethren, and especially those who stand in pulpits or sit in boardrooms, that it is a major responsibility of faithful Christians to be the poster-children of defending the faith. It is merely my opinion, that over the years these brethren who have a policing attitude have truly done more harm than good. That what energy they could have spent in reaching out to the lost they have wasted on Christians over disputes about doubtful things. And that to assume we are in the same place or hold the same position as the Apostles did with regard to first century establishments seems a bit arrogant.

While we defend the truth and hold to the truth, I believe that the simple preaching of the truth in a loving spirit will do more for the faithfulness of honest brethren than any other effort we can make. Beyond this, we must take careful consideration of the world as they watch us. There is nothing peaceful or appealing or characteristic of the Lord about a church that is always in constant conflict with itself. We are to be united in love and a spirit of like-mindedness and we are to treat each other with kindness and respect. When we do these things there will be open tables for conversation about doctrines and practices that may indeed be worthy of discussion in matters that determine the destination of the soul.

So there you have it. I am not going to give up the word of God. It stands alone and must be preached in truth and simplicity. It is our standard for living and it is what is going to judge us in the last day. But as I humbly look at my own sins and inadequacies I realize very quickly that I would much rather be a preacher than a policeman. You truly do draw more flies with honey. And the gospel is good news about a loving God who is merciful and patient and gracious toward us.

It makes good sense that His children would behave the same.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:2

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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum