Biblical Essays
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE ASSEMBLY
(Its Ground, Nature, and Object)
“Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thy House, O Lord, for ever” (Ps. 93:5).
Here we have plainly set before us the ground of discipline in the assembly. The place of God’s presence must be holy: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” It is not on the miserable principle of “stand by thyself, I am holier than thou.” No, thank God, it is not this. It is not on the ground of what we are, but what God is, that discipline is exercised. To allow unjudged evil either in doctrine or practice in the assembly, is tantamount to saying that God and evil can go on together – which is simply wickedness of the highest and most daring character.
But some maintain that we are not to judge, and Matthew 7:1 is quoted in proof. We reply that the passage has nothing to say to the assembly: it simply teaches us, as individuals, not to judge motives. Further on in the chapter, we are told to beware of false prophets. How can we beware, if we are not to judge? “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Thus, even as individuals we are to judge conduct. We are not to judge motives but fruits. In 1 Corinthians 5, the assembly is peremptorily called to judge and put away an evil doer. “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Then, at the end of the chapter we read: “Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
This is clear and conclusive. The assembly is solemnly bound to exercise discipline – bound to judge and put away evil-doers. To refuse to do so is to become a leavened lump; and most assuredly, God and unjudged leaven cannot go on together.
Keep in mind, we speak of unjudged leaven. We know that there is evil in every member of the assembly; but if it is judged and refused, it does not defile the assembly, or hinder the enjoyment of the Divine Presence. It was not the evil in the man's nature that caused him to be put away, but the evil in his life. If he had judged and refused the sin in his nature, the assembly would not have been called to judge and refuse him. All this is as simple as it is solemn. An assembly that refuses to judge evil in doctrine or morals is not an assembly of God. There may be children of God in it, but they are in a false and dangerous position; and if the assembly persists in refusing to judge the evil, they should with firm decision turn away from it. They are solemnly called on to do so: “Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
But some do not understand the truth regarding assembly or its discipline, and they use Matthew 13:30 as a proof that evil-doers are not to be put away from the assembly or the Lord’s Table. They say that the tares and wheat are to grow together until the harvest. Yes; but where – in the assembly? No; in the field, and “the field is the world” – not the Lord’s church. To argue that because the tares and wheat are to grow together in the world, therefore evildoers are to be knowingly allowed in the assembly is to place the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 13 in direct opposition to the teaching of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 5. Hence, this argument cannot stand and should be flung to the winds. To confound the kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew, with the Lord’s church in the Epistles of Paul, is to mar the integrity of the truth of God, plunging the Lord’s people into confusion. We do not continue discussing such an argument because human language cannot adequately set forth the deplorable consequences of such a system of teaching. But this is a digression from our subject, to which we must return.
Having proved from the plainest statements of Holy Scripture that the assembly is solemnly bound to judge those that are within and put away evil-doers, we now proceed to consider the nature, character, and spirit of the discipline to be exercised. Nothing can be more solemn or more affecting than the act of putting away a person from the Lord’s Table. It is the last sad and unavoidable act of the whole assembly, and it should be performed with broken hearts and weeping eyes. Sadly, it has often been otherwise. Too often in the past this solemn and holy duty took the form of a mere official announcement that such a person is out of fellowship. We should not wonder that discipline carried out in such a way fails to have power on the erring one or the assembly.
How then should the discipline be carried out? It should be carried out just as 1 Corinthians 5 directs. When the case is so patent and clear that all discussion and deliberation is at an end, the whole assembly should be solemnly convened for the special purpose –it is of sufficient gravity and importance to command a special meeting. If possible, all should attend and seek grace to make the sin their own, to go down before God in true self-judgment, and eat the sin offering. The assembly is not called to deliberate or discuss. If there is any demand for discussion, the assembly is not called to act. The case should be thoroughly investigated and all facts collected by those who care for the interests of Christ and His church; and when it is thoroughly settled and the evidence perfectly conclusive, then the whole assembly is called to perform in deep sorrow and humiliation the sad act of putting away from among themselves the evil-doer. It is an act of holy obedience to the Lord’s command.
We cannot but feel that were the assembly’s discipline carried out in this spirit, we would see more positive results. How different this is from the formal reading of a notice in the course of or at the close of an ordinary meeting – a notice often unheard by some in the assembly. But, it is an entirely different thing and should be attended with different results both pertaining to the assembly and the person put away. There should be a more profound sense of the gravity and solemnity of the assembly’s discipline. And though there is an urgent need of such discipline, still, the body of Christ in America needs to be aware of State and Federal laws pertaining to human rights. In this age, we are sadly too prone to be light and trifling.
We emphasize that putting away a person from the Lord’s Table must be the act of the whole assembly. No one has any right to tell another to remain away from the table. If a faithful Christian knows of any brother who is living in sin that faithful Christian should seek to exercise his conscience in a pastoral way. He should warn him, and seek to lead him to self-judgment. If he persists, the faithful Christian should bring his case before those who truly care for the honor of Christ and the purity of His assembly. Then, if there is no hope; no possible ground for demur, the assembly should be called together and the occasion used for setting before the consciences of everyone the solemnity of the ground occupied by the assembly, and the holiness becoming the house of the Lord forever.
We cannot protest too strongly against the idea of the whole assembly being called to discuss cases of discipline. For example, we may say, “Doth not even nature itself teach” the unseemliness of bringing the details of a case of immorality before a promiscuous assembly? It is contrary to God and contrary to nature.
In conclusion, let us consider the object of the assembly’s discipline. In 1 Corinthians 5, the inspired apostle tells us that it is salvation – “that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” This is very precious. It is worthy of the God of all grace. The man is delivered to Satan for the destruction of that odious thing causing his humiliating fall, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Let us never forget that we should always be on the lookout for this precious result when anyone has to be put away. We should allow the Lord to lead the assembly’s action in this way. We should not put away evil-doers in order to get rid of a disgrace or a trouble to us, but to maintain the holiness of the Lord’s house, and for the ultimate salvation of the one put away.
We close this essay with a brief reply to a question often raised: Does any assembly today have the power to deliver a person to Satan? This question is distinctly answered by the far seeing wisdom of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 5. As if anticipating it, He sums up His teaching at the close of the chapter, not by repeating the command to deliver such a one to Satan, but by adding another; Wherefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
In case anyone should raise an objection on the basis of power, the Holy Spirit distinctly points out that is not a question of power, but obedience.
There is a character of discipline presented in 2 Thessalonians 3 that demands our serious attention: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us...If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
This is what we may call personal discipline in private life – a much needed and important thing, but not generally understood. It is not a case calling for action of the assembly, but for faithful personal dealing. The disorderly walking referred to is a brother not working, but going about as an idle busybody. Such a one was to be admonished and avoided. We cannot help but think that this form of discipline is greatly needed in this age. There are some whose ways, though not of such a character as to call for excommunication, do, nevertheless, demand faithful dealing; whose ways are inconsistent with holiness, purity and solemnity of the Lord’s Table and the assembly. If all such cases were dealt with according to the apostolic command in 2 Thessalonians 3, we believe it would prove a real blessing to many.
Surely we do not need to add that to carry out this sort of discipline, much grace and spiritual wisdom is needed, much of the mind of Christ and nearness to God is needed. But we are persuaded it demands the prayerful attention of Christians; and we may confidently count on the grace of God to enable us to act for Him in this matter.
