Church Membership And Church Discipline: So What?

On July 13 of this year one of our elders, Chris Kuehn, preached a sermon titled “What Is Biblical Membership?” I followed up that sermon with a two part treatment here in my blog titled, “The Chief Membership Objection Answered” (see July 28 and August 3). Now, this morning (October 5) I preached on James 5:19-20 and sought to complete the picture of what it is to be a member of the church and why our relationship to each other in our growth and perseverance is essential.

All this teaching about the church, church membership, and church discipline (our pursuit of one another when we are straying), not to mention our series on conflict out of James 3-4, caps almost a year-long discussion on these topics in our congregation. It was just about one year ago that I gave two books to each of our elders (one on church membership and one on church discipline) and asked them to read and be ready to discuss them in our annual February retreat. Our desire is to be the most Christ-like, Bible-soaked, gracious, faithful overseers of this congregation we can be—a group of shepherds guiding us through what it means to be the church, God’s gospel community that proclaims his excellencies in the world, and what it means to be God’s people with each other.

With all this biblical foundation in place, what I now want to do is set forth some simple action points. In other words, I want to suggest some ways that each of us can respond as faithful members of Christ’s body who are helping each other grow and who are confirming (or not) each other’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

(1) We as elders must do our best never to exercise the kind of church discipline that removes family or membership privileges while there is also personal conflict or disagreement with the elders on the part of the person(s) under consideration. This is a recipe for sin and disaster. What we must first do is seek to work out the conflict as much as possible. Once that is done or at least been attempted, then and only then should we pursue that kind of discipline, if necessary, and as a last result.

(2) We as elders, Bible Fellowship leaders, teachers, and any other leaders in the congregation must be committed not to solve conflict for everyone. Instead, our role is to equip all of us to deal with conflict and possible unrepentant sin in ways that are solid, gracious, and always in line with the Bible. This means we all learn to approach such matters with gentleness and the purpose of building up all involved (Eph. 4:29-32; 2 Tim. 2:24-26).

(3) All of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, that is, members of his body, and who are part of the Minden E. Free Church, should submit to King Jesus and to each other in such a way we are responsible to each other in our discipleship. In other words, we should pursue formal membership and we should pursue close disciplemaking relationships with at least a few people.

(4) We should all resolve to love each other in our Bible Fellowships and Ironman/woman teams enough to pray for one another, help each other grow, pursue one another when straying, and approach each other graciously and honestly in conflict. 

(5) What number four demands is that we commit to growing as people who can speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Remember, Jesus does not promise blessing to the peacefakers or the peacetakers, but instead to the peacemakers (Mt. 5:9).

(6) Finally, let’s remember that our mission will be enhanced or hurt by whether or not we love one another and whether or not we are unified (John 13:34-35; 17:20-23). So, let’s pray for love and unity in our church and also remember each of us is responsible for their preservation.

I sense that the best days of the Minden E. Free Church are ahead of us and about to blossom. Yet, it will only be if we stand together as his community, his family, his people. May it ever be so!