Is Church Discipline a Mark of a True Church?

Westminster Abbey - West, London

Recently, I had the privilege of studying Church History for an extended time with more rigor and intentionality than usual. One outcome I learned about, to my surprise, is that many modern authors, scholars, and pastors do not view Church Discipline as one of the marks of a true church. The following content will include some of my justification for why I think that any legitimate church, like any legitimate father, disciplines its straying sheep for the glory of God (Heb. 12:3ff.)

Jesus Gives Discipline to the Church

Matthew 18:17 is one of those rare times when the Bible uses the word “church” before Pentecost. This fact gets my attention and shows me that something unique is being communicated in this passage. A close inspection of the context of Matthew 18 displays that God's means for bringing straying sheep back into the fold is church discipline. Unfortunately, verses 12-14 are often detached from verses 15-20. Also, the phrase, "whatever you bind on earth" uses the plural form of "you." Therefore, I think the "you" references the church, which of course, includes the two or three who participate in step two of the discipline. This binding and loosing communicates the authority of the church. The words “binding” and “loosing” correspond with the terms "prohibit" and "permit" respectively. If one is unrepentant then they are prohibited from communing with the church (binding). If one is repentant then they are permitted to commune with the church (loosing). On this church authority, Jay Adams said "your act on earth is but a reflection and outworking of what has already been judged by God in heaven."

Jesus Gave Discipline for the Holiness of His Bride

Furthermore, Hebrews 12 is significantly influential on my belief that discipline is an essential mark of the church. I recommend reading verses 4-12 but for brevity's sake, verse 6 says, "For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines." How does God discipline his children? The institution of church discipline in Matthew 18:12-20. Also, verse 10 says, "For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness." Recall that the classical marks of the church from the Nicene Creed include holiness. Holiness indeed characterizes the church and God put church discipline in place not to ostracize his children, but rather to protect the holiness of his Bride, something any husband or wife can appreciate. The goal of every step in the discipline process is restoration between the sinner and God by His grace and for His glory.

One Helpful Way of Thinking Through Discipline

Lastly, I think of church discipline like (not identical to) Baptism and the Lord's Supper in that Jesus explicitly gave the command for discipline to his church alone. If the church does not implement the preservation of holiness through discipline according to the Lord's prescription, then she is in rebellion toward Her Savior. Similarly, if the church neglected to partake in Baptism and the Lord's Supper if at all possible, she would be in open rebellion to God.

For Further Study

If you are interested in further reading on this topic, I recommend chapters 9-12 of Hitting the Marks by Barry York. If you are interested in the practical matters of initiating the first step of church discipline, here is a sermon by the present author. Sola Gratia.