Why is church discipline necessary?

Titus 1:13This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith.

Church discipline is necessary to maintain strong faith and sound doctrine. Faith neglected can become faith lost.

2 Thessalonians 3:11-15We hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. . . . Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

Church discipline is necessary to correct disorder that comes from an undisciplined lifestyle. One dysfunctional member can disrupt the whole body.

1 Timothy 5:20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

Church discipline is necessary as a warning to others to live obediently and restore relationship to God and others. Discipline always warns about unpleasant consequences.

1 Corinthians 5:3-5, 13Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns. . . . God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

Church discipline is sometimes necessary to remove the cancer of evil. If a member is living in sin and refuses to repent and turn away from that sin, that person must be removed from the congregation before the evil infects the whole body. Otherwise, the church would be endorsing sinful acts. This is painful surgery, but most surgery is painful. It is important to note that this passage is speaking about those who willfully sin against the words of Scripture as a lifestyle. They refuse, over a period of time, to obey God’s Word. This is not talking about an individual act of sin where repentance is expected and comes quickly.