We do. It is unpleasant, but it also one of the most loving things a church can do for those who claim to be a Christian yet don't actually trust Jesus enough to do what He says. It is sad how many people think that they are Christians while they ignore His commands and continue to trust themselves more than Christ. Besides, Jesus Himself commands local churches to do this - we're disobeying our Head if we don't. If we as pastors don't trust Jesus enough to lead our churches in obeying Him in this matter, should we be surprised when our members aren't serious about obeying Jesus either?
To offer another perspective, I would urge you to take a look at:
1) The SBC Resolution on Regenerate Church Membership which was passed overwhelmingly in June 2008 -http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1189
2) This case in which excommunication served to bring someone back to repentance 22 years later - http://timmybrister.com/2009/06/28/where-extraordinary-grace-and-celestial-joy-meet/
It does seem like the letter you posted was written in a loving spirit and a genuine desire for the person to come back to the Lord and His Church. I know it sounds harsh, but I think it actually is in obedience to the Lord and for the good of His Church... even the one being excommunicated.
Guys, I am aware of the SBC resolution, and i believe in church discipline and the Biblical doctrine of regenerate church membership. I have written on the subject here: http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/baptist-mark-of-church-regenerate.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/recovering-treasure-of-regenerate.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/church-covenant-practically-recovering.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/training-at-baptism-practically.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/church-discipline-practically.html
Our local church is one of the few I have seen with an article in its constitution outlining principles and procedures for church discipline and removal of membership. The congregation recently removed nearly 100 names from its church roll, but not after trying to contact them and asking the congregation to help us find them. Three were located. Two of them were members of another Baptist church which did not request their church letter, and a third admitted his unbelief freely.
What was striking to me was this ludicrous letter written by someone with a highly inflated opinion of themselves. Church discipline and regenerate church membership should never *de*-generate to such a juvenile example of sophomoric hubris.
I believe you'd agree that church discipline practiced Biblically is redemptive and restorative, not punitive and mean-spirited. Such a ridiculous example of the mismanagement of church discipline as this one is a good example of why the practice has been largely abandoned in the last century.
We treat people with dignity and respect, not only because we would like to be treated the same way, but because they, too, were created in God's image and are deserving, no matter how depraved we may deem them in their sin, of a certain level of decent respect.
Our church does practice church discipline as well. And I agree with Justin, it is not fun. It is one of the saddest moments in our church. We follow the outline in Matthew 18 everytime discipline is necessary. However, we never tell them that we dont think they are believers anymore. And we continue to pray for them, and even communicate with them when we see them in public. But we do feel that this is necessary, and continue to practice.
The "pastor that wrote this note has no authority to hand anyone over to Satan. He doesnt have the heart of Christ or even Paul.
Paul didnt hand anyone over to Satan because they didnt attend church. What if this person that this letter was written to, has been going through a horrible situation and they are broken and lost in pain.
What if they are an adult that is recovering from unspeakable horrors done in childhood. What if they have been a target of Satans attacks in their mind and soul and they have come to a place of fear and depression.
I dont care how many times this church tried to contact this person, what this church did was pile on satans side against this brother or sister.
A man of God, A pastor that can turn somebody over, does so with great grief and aguish and only after being instructed by God, for God is the only one who knows what and WHY..WHY...WHY..a perosn has fallen away and yes sometimes into deep sin..
Many times deep sin is not a result of disobediance and rebellion, it is a symptom of deep pain...
The self righteous will never know the deep things of God and will never know the heart of Christ in a deep way. They are not capable of it. Sad Letter.
We do. It is unpleasant, but it also one of the most loving things a church can do for those who claim to be a Christian yet don't actually trust Jesus enough to do what He says. It is sad how many people think that they are Christians while they ignore His commands and continue to trust themselves more than Christ. Besides, Jesus Himself commands local churches to do this - we're disobeying our Head if we don't. If we as pastors don't trust Jesus enough to lead our churches in obeying Him in this matter, should we be surprised when our members aren't serious about obeying Jesus either?
ReplyDeleteTo offer another perspective, I would urge you to take a look at:
ReplyDelete1) The SBC Resolution on Regenerate Church Membership which was passed overwhelmingly in June 2008 -http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1189
2) This case in which excommunication served to bring someone back to repentance 22 years later - http://timmybrister.com/2009/06/28/where-extraordinary-grace-and-celestial-joy-meet/
It does seem like the letter you posted was written in a loving spirit and a genuine desire for the person to come back to the Lord and His Church. I know it sounds harsh, but I think it actually is in obedience to the Lord and for the good of His Church... even the one being excommunicated.
Guys, I am aware of the SBC resolution, and i believe in church discipline and the Biblical doctrine of regenerate church membership. I have written on the subject here: http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/baptist-mark-of-church-regenerate.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/recovering-treasure-of-regenerate.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/church-covenant-practically-recovering.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/training-at-baptism-practically.html; http://genebrooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/church-discipline-practically.html
ReplyDeleteOur local church is one of the few I have seen with an article in its constitution outlining principles and procedures for church discipline and removal of membership. The congregation recently removed nearly 100 names from its church roll, but not after trying to contact them and asking the congregation to help us find them. Three were located. Two of them were members of another Baptist church which did not request their church letter, and a third admitted his unbelief freely.
What was striking to me was this ludicrous letter written by someone with a highly inflated opinion of themselves. Church discipline and regenerate church membership should never *de*-generate to such a juvenile example of sophomoric hubris.
I believe you'd agree that church discipline practiced Biblically is redemptive and restorative, not punitive and mean-spirited. Such a ridiculous example of the mismanagement of church discipline as this one is a good example of why the practice has been largely abandoned in the last century.
We treat people with dignity and respect, not only because we would like to be treated the same way, but because they, too, were created in God's image and are deserving, no matter how depraved we may deem them in their sin, of a certain level of decent respect.
This crass letter does not accompish that goal.
Our church does practice church discipline as well. And I agree with Justin, it is not fun. It is one of the saddest moments in our church. We follow the outline in Matthew 18 everytime discipline is necessary. However, we never tell them that we dont think they are believers anymore. And we continue to pray for them, and even communicate with them when we see them in public. But we do feel that this is necessary, and continue to practice.
ReplyDeletehttp://boydweeklydevotional.blogspot.com
The "pastor that wrote this note has no authority to hand anyone over to Satan. He doesnt have the heart of Christ or even Paul.
ReplyDeletePaul didnt hand anyone over to Satan because they didnt attend church. What if this person that this letter was written to, has been going through a horrible situation and they are broken and lost in pain.
What if they are an adult that is recovering from unspeakable horrors done in childhood. What if they have been a target of Satans attacks in their mind and soul and they have come to a place of fear and depression.
I dont care how many times this church tried to contact this person, what this church did was pile on satans side against this brother or sister.
A man of God, A pastor that can turn somebody over, does so with great grief and aguish and only after being instructed by God, for God is the only one who knows what and WHY..WHY...WHY..a perosn has fallen away and yes sometimes into deep sin..
Many times deep sin is not a result of disobediance and rebellion, it is a symptom of deep pain...
The self righteous will never know the deep things of God and will never know the heart of Christ in a deep way. They are not capable of it. Sad Letter.