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Home > Articles > Church Discipline Really Works
Church Discipline Really Works
When you make it loving and redemptive.
An interview with Ken Sande of Peacemaker Ministries

Topics:Church discipline, Conflict, Conflict resolution, Legal issues, Liability, Membership
Filters:Discipleship, Pastor, Pastoral care, Shepherd
Purpose:Fellowship
References:1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Ephesians 6:4
Date Added:July 11, 2007

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The third purpose of discipline is to guard the honor of God's name. When the church knows of sin, and does nothing about it, people will not only mock the church, they will also mock God.

Can you give an example of a church that approached discipline with these three principles?
I know of a situation where a man was abusing the trust he had established with other believers. He was persuading elderly people in the church to invest in a risky business deal. After receiving thousands of dollars from them he was unable to deliver a return on the investment.

Church leaders approached him, and at first they were very understanding and patient. But they later saw he was stringing them along as well. Finally they put some pressure on him to return the money or face formal discipline. Eventually he did return the money.

But the more powerful outcome came through the disciplinary action of the elders, their counsel and teaching, and prayer. The man finally came to repentance and he uncovered his lifelong habit of seeking wealth by putting other people's money at risk. God convicted him and he requested to go before the whole congregation on Sunday and confess his sin.

Do you recommend public confession on a Sunday morning where visitors may be present?
On this Sunday, after his confession, one of the women who had been most vocal in her anger toward him walked to the front of the church and said, "I'm the one who needs forgiveness more than he does. I have been murdering him in my heart." She turned to him and said, "I forgive you, will you please forgive me?"

That is a Sunday you want visitors present. They are seeing the gospel lived out in a powerful way. In this case the sinner was restored, the body was protected, and God was honored.

In part 2: Biblical mandates and legal issues.

Ken Sande of Peacemaker Ministries brings his skills as a lawyer and engineer to consultations with churches, organizations, companies, and couples. His ministry is headquartered in Billings, Montana.

(Ed. note: Pastors who lead their churches to discipline members for sinful actions hope for biblical resolution, but they also face legal complications. In part two of our interview, Ken Sande advises that despite the liability questions, church discipline can be carried out successfully.

Ken offered encouraging examples in part one. Click here to read: Church Discipline Really Works, part one.)

Why are some churches reluctant to employ church discipline today?
Clearly our culture is seeping into the church. This includes a general breakdown in respect for authority, and the embracing of individualism, the attitude that says nobody can tell me what to do. And even the democratic perspective in our country has entered many churches, so people believe everything should be done in a democratic way.