Church discipline involves maintaining purity and order within the congregation by addressing sin and error, reflecting Christ's call to holiness and accountability (Matthew 18:15-17). Illustrations often depict corrective measures as both protective and restorative, emphasizing the balance of justice and mercy in fostering spiritual health and communal integrity.
Ancient church councils kept bishops' offenses secret, showing a form of ecclesiastical charity.
The ancient councils and synods, as is noted by the ecclesiastical story, when they deprived any bishop, never recorded the offence, but buried it in perpetual silence. Lord Bacon.
Without discipline, the church cannot thrive and will lose its spiritual vitality.
If there were never so fair a garden planted, and left without a fence, its herbs and plants would soon be rooted up; so it is in the Church where discipline is wanting. Cawdray.
Two scandalous nuns were excommunicated but later absolved, showing consequences of sin.
Two nuns of the sisterhood of St. Scholastica, though in other respects exemplary, and faithful to their religious profession, were much given to scandal and vain talk. Which being told to St. Benedict, it displeased him greatly; and he sent to them a message, that if they did not refrain their tongues, and set a better example to the community, he would excommunicate them. The nuns were at first alarmed and penitent, and promised amendment; but the habit was too strong for their good resolves. They continued their vain and idle talking; and, in the midst of their folly, they died, and, being of great and noble lineage, they were buried in the church near the altar. And afterwards, on a certain day, as St. Benedict solemnized mass at that altar, and at the moment when the officiating deacon uttered the usual words, "Let those who are excommunicated, and forbidden to partake, depart and leave us," behold! the two nuns rose up from their graves; and in the sight of all the people, with faces drooping and averted, they glided out of the church. And thus it happened every time that the mass was celebrated there; until St. Benedict, taking pity upon them, absolved them from their sins, and they rested in peace.
— Mrs. Jameson
Church acts on God’s authority despite opposition from a member’s unbelieving spouse.
When the Rev. Mr. Morton was settled in Manlius, New-York, the church of which he was pastor met together on Saturday afternoon for covenant meeting. A man and his wife who were strangers to Mr. M., were present; and being informed by one of her friends that the lady would like to be baptized, at a suitable time Mr. M. called on her to relate her Christian experience. As she arose to speak she gave her child to her husband, who immediately withdrew with it into the yard before the door. The church heard her narration, and received her as candidate for the ordinance. On the ensuing Sabbath she was baptized. Mr. M. having learned that the woman's husband was offended with him, sought an interview. In answer to the inquiry whether he was offended or not, he replied to Mr. M. that he felt very much offended with him, both for baptizing his wife, and also because Mr. Morton had addressed all his discourse to him that morning in the meeting-house. Mr. M. replied firmly, "In baptizing your wife, sir, I had no business to act according to your preferences, for I acted as God's ambassador; and I consider that you have no business to say a word in opposition. I knew not that you had any objections to your wife's joining our church; but if I had, that ought not to have prevented me from doing my duty, nor your wife from doing hers. As to my sermon this morning, if it contained truth adapted to your case, I hope you will apply it: 'if the coat fits you, put it on!' But I advise you, sir, to go home and read your Bible, and repent of your sins, before your iniquity shall be your ruin." The opposer shrunk before Mr. M.'s faithfulness, and the words sunk into his heart. Early the next Tuesday morning, he came to Mr. Morton's residence in great distress of mind. He confessed that since the interview of Sunday he had had no peace; and he desired Mr. M.'s forgiveness and prayers. He stated that he had kept his wife awake all Saturday night, trying to persuade and frighten her out of her purpose of being baptized. But he could not move her; and now he wished to be converted and go and do likewise. Three weeks from that memorable Sabbath Mr. M. baptized him into the fellowship of the church.
Firm, benevolent authority effectively brings obedience and harmony in family and church.
The following fact occurred in the family of a pious minister, who had then a revival in his congregation.
"Electra," said her mother to a little daughter of two and a half years old, playing on the floor, "bring me that apple, my dear." She looked at her mother and said, "No," with indifference, and resumed her play. Her mother rejoined, "bring me that apple instantly;" and was answered, "I wont." Things now became in earnest; and after several more orders and refusals, the case was resigned to the father, who was present and observed the scene. With a tone of authority and yet benevolence, he reiterated the mandate, "Take that apple to your mother, my child!" Electra arose and All perceived the wisdom and fitness of Mr. Bulkley's advice, and resolved to be governed by it. The consequence was, all the animosities subsided, and harmony was restored to the long afflicted church.
Church discipline is a vital and God-given authority for maintaining spiritual health.
Once from the pulpit, at an ordination of elders, the late Rev. Mr. McCheyne made the following declaration:—"When I first entered upon the work of the ministry among you, I was exceedingly ignorant of the vast importance of church disci taught that sickness was no excuse for disobedience: and while his sickness continued, he promptly took whatever medicine was prescribed, and was patient and submissive. Soon the child was well. Does any one say this was cruel? It was one of the noblest acts of kindness which could have been performed. If the father had shrunk from duty here, it is by no means improbable that the life of the child would have been the forfeit."
A church member's drunkenness leads to church discipline after private admonitions fail.
In the town of —, in the State of New-York, there lived a man who occasionally drank to intoxication. He was a professor of religion; and as private admonitions proved ineffectual, he was at length brought before the church. The evidence of his intemperance was clear and unquestionable; but that he might not be condemned without the privilege of defence, he was you meet any person in the road in a worse habit of body than yourself, would you think you had reason to be enraged at him on that account; pray then, what greater reason can you have for being incensed at a man for a worse habit of mind than any of yourselves?"
His wife, Xantippe, was a woman of a most fantastical and furious spirit. At one time, having vented all the reproaches upon Socrates her fury could suggest, he went out and sat before the door. His calm and unconcerned behavior but irritated her so much the more; and in the excess of her rage, she ran up stairs and emptied a vessel upon his head; at which he only laughed, and said, "that so much thunder must needs produce a shower." Alcibiades, his friend, talking with him about his wife, told him he wondered how he could bear such an everlasting scold in the same house with him: he replied, "I have so accustomed myself to expect it, that it now offends me no more than the noise of carriages in the streets."
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