Comments on: EDITOR’S JOURNAL: Warning-Church Discipline http://baptistmessenger.com/editors-journalwarning-church-discipline/ A Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Sun, 20 May 2012 18:05:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Todd Burton Smith http://baptistmessenger.com/editors-journalwarning-church-discipline/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Todd Burton Smith Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:47:26 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=3384#comment-748 Again - excellent piece. Thanks for making these issues so compellingly obvious to the point that we should wonder about churches NOT practicing church discipline. As a native Oklahoman now living out of state, I'm impressed with the new Baptist Messenger. TBS Again – excellent piece. Thanks for making these issues so compellingly obvious to the point that we should wonder about churches NOT practicing church discipline. As a native Oklahoman now living out of state, I’m impressed with the new Baptist Messenger.

TBS

]]> By: Thom Hunter http://baptistmessenger.com/editors-journalwarning-church-discipline/comment-page-1/#comment-592 Thom Hunter Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:13:39 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=3384#comment-592 I believe that church discipline can be an effective tool within the church and certainly it is Biblical. However . . . I don't believe most church leaders apply it in a balanced manner, but use it instead as a way to refine their church to be more like what they as leaders would like to lead, something more comfortable that looks like them. I also believe that some see church discipline as more of a way to handle unpleasant internal agreements rather than to restore an errant brother or sister to the flock. I don't think it should be used as much as to cast out as to restore. While it is often presented as an act of love through the use of a couple of words here and there, it is more retribution. And . . . if the pastor tells his church that it will prosper as a result of rooting out an immoral brother, he does not speak of love; he spreads fear, commands silence, stifles any dissension and protects self. We're so afraid of the division that we eliminate all diversity and remove those who need to hear the Word. I believe that church discipline can be an effective tool within the church and certainly it is Biblical. However . . . I don’t believe most church leaders apply it in a balanced manner, but use it instead as a way to refine their church to be more like what they as leaders would like to lead, something more comfortable that looks like them. I also believe that some see church discipline as more of a way to handle unpleasant internal agreements rather than to restore an errant brother or sister to the flock. I don’t think it should be used as much as to cast out as to restore. While it is often presented as an act of love through the use of a couple of words here and there, it is more retribution. And . . . if the pastor tells his church that it will prosper as a result of rooting out an immoral brother, he does not speak of love; he spreads fear, commands silence, stifles any dissension and protects self. We’re so afraid of the division that we eliminate all diversity and remove those who need to hear the Word.

]]> By: Kerry http://baptistmessenger.com/editors-journalwarning-church-discipline/comment-page-1/#comment-589 Kerry Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:09:30 +0000 http://baptistmessenger.com/?p=3384#comment-589 Now this article is good stuff...I do think, however, that more and more Christians are becoming less willing to tolerate the back-room politics that drive decision-making in many Southern Baptist churches for the sake of good preaching and a serious church. Rather, these Christians are venturing out on their own to plant churches that are founded on the organic bleeding of the gospel into culture and qualified biblical leadership at the helm of these churches. Personally, I am finding it increasingly difficult to hold up Scripture as an authority for church polity and organziation...my teachings are often met with skepticism and the line that makes me gag: "But that's not Baptist." Now this article is good stuff…I do think, however, that more and more Christians are becoming less willing to tolerate the back-room politics that drive decision-making in many Southern Baptist churches for the sake of good preaching and a serious church. Rather, these Christians are venturing out on their own to plant churches that are founded on the organic bleeding of the gospel into culture and qualified biblical leadership at the helm of these churches. Personally, I am finding it increasingly difficult to hold up Scripture as an authority for church polity and organziation…my teachings are often met with skepticism and the line that makes me gag: “But that’s not Baptist.”

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