Thursday, September 20, 2007
On Church Discipline
A Classical Presbyterian extensively quotes Calvin on church discipline.
Well, for one thing, The PCUSA is terribly lax about such things and precisely as Calvin predicts is happening. That is the point that Toby Brown is trying to make.
But I find it refreshing for another reason. This is also an admonision to the ultra-conservatives that still do practice church discipline, but do so with a spirit of meanness and for the wrong things.
Properly applied, discipline is about shaping souls. Used in conjunction with grace and love, discipline is a tool that makes disciples (Wow, imagine that discipline - disciples whoda thunk?). But so often we see discipline used to merely bring conformity, and conformity in confession, not practice at that.
But then that is the problem isn't it - we have forgotten that our faith is not merely about confession, but that it is also about practice. We also forget that the church serves to serve first God, then us - but it does not exist to serve itself. The church is a means, not an end.
Therefore, all who desire to remove discipline or to hinder its restoration—whether they do this deliberately or out of ignorance—are surely contributing to the ultimate dissolution of the church. For what will happen if each is allowed to do what he pleases? Yet that would happen, if to the preaching of doctrine there were not added private admonitions, corrections, and other aids of the sort that sustain doctrine and do not let it remain idle.I find myself afraid to quote that lest I be painted with the same brush as some of my bit-to-conservative brethren. And yet, I find great appeal in these thoughts and notions. Why?
Therefore, discipline is like a bridle to restrain and tame those who rage against the doctrine of Christ; or like a spur to arouse those of little inclination; and also sometimes like a father’s rod to chastise mildly and with the gentleness of Christ’s Spirit those who have more seriously lapsed.
Well, for one thing, The PCUSA is terribly lax about such things and precisely as Calvin predicts is happening. That is the point that Toby Brown is trying to make.
But I find it refreshing for another reason. This is also an admonision to the ultra-conservatives that still do practice church discipline, but do so with a spirit of meanness and for the wrong things.
Properly applied, discipline is about shaping souls. Used in conjunction with grace and love, discipline is a tool that makes disciples (Wow, imagine that discipline - disciples whoda thunk?). But so often we see discipline used to merely bring conformity, and conformity in confession, not practice at that.
But then that is the problem isn't it - we have forgotten that our faith is not merely about confession, but that it is also about practice. We also forget that the church serves to serve first God, then us - but it does not exist to serve itself. The church is a means, not an end.
