Recently ALEXANDRA ALTER wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal about church discipline. While the story includes references to a few different churches that practice church discipline, the article focuses on the discipline of Mrs. Caskey by Allen Baptist Church in southwestern Michigan, pastored by Jason Burrick.
Of course, the pastor is presented as having a personal axe to grind with Mrs. Caskey who in turn is referred to as a “71-year-old…church member for nearly 50 years who had taught Sunday school and regularly donated 10% of her pension” and later refers to her as “a devout Christian and grandmother of three”. You know an angel in human form.
Alter refers to the practice of church discipline being based upon “a passage in the gospel of Matthew that says unrepentant sinners must be shunned,” and things made public which were “confessed … in confidence.” While I cannot comment on the legitimacy of this particular case since I do not know all the facts, a consideration not given by Alexandra since she makes her view quite apparent. I can comment on the article and the biblical practice.
First, the practice of church discipline is based upon more than “a passage”. For example, it is commanded in Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Timothy 1:18-20 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 as well as all of the verses that speak to the church encouraging one another in righteousness; however, even if one command was all there was on the subject it would be enough. ((For a full discussion of church discipline see my book “Undermining The Gospel”))
Second, Mrs. Caskey was charged with spreading “a spirit of…discord”, which is specifically listed as one of the reasons for church discipline (Romans 16:17). If she was guilty of this and refused to repent and desist (Matthew 3:8), the church had to remove her or be guilty of caring more about man than God and His word.
Although I cannot speak from personal experience about Mrs. Caskey, I have through the years, met with many who exemplified Mrs. Caskey’s traits that are mentioned in the article. The truth is that most troublemakers in churches are known by some as “really nice” and “dedicated”, and having “given” substantial money to the church, and they make no bones about expressing their opinion and standing up for their rights just like Mrs. Caskey. Like what seems to be true of Mrs. Caskey, they believe that their giving, etc. earned them special irrevocable status.
For example, Mrs. Caskey’s comments, “I don’t intend to abandon that church” and “I feel like I have every right to be there” are not the words of a humble Christian. This is simply a statement of pride and arrogance just like the Corinthians who would jeopardize the cause of Christ in order to get what they deserve and express their rights. Paul condemned them for that and said it is better to be “wronged” or “defrauded” rather than fight for their rights, whether in court as they were doing, or as Mrs. Caskey is (1 Corinthians 6:7).
In reality, a humble church member would rather be wronged and defrauded than express his/her rights and hurt the church. The willingness to hurt the local church in order to get one’s way, opinion invoked or to be exonerated is the quintessential earmark of carnality.
Further, it may seem humble when she says that she does not “intend to abandon that church”, but actually it is pride. Her unwillingness to abide by the Scripture and leadership of the church demonstrates her willingness to get her way regardless whom it hurts; also, apparently she is not listening because one cannot “abandon” that which she has been removed from. That would be like an employee showing up for work after he had been fired. She says she has “every right to be there”, but does she? Well, if it is a public service, then I would say everyone has a right to come as long as they abide by certain guidelines established by the church, but if she means as a member or contributor, or one whose presence sows discord, the answer is she has no right (Romans 16:17). Anyone with an ounce of humility, repentance, and Christian love would leave rather than harm the church.
Although church discipline has been abused and can be handled wrongly, the answer is not to ignore it or summarily dismiss it because of past abuses, but rather to implement it according to the Scripture. The greatest abuse of church discipline, or any other teaching of Scripture, is subjugating it to human wisdom (1 Cor. 1:25).
Church discipline is actually an act of compassion since it was instituted by Christ who is the embodiment of compassion. Any attempt to disparage it or present it as harsh is unrighteous and harsh indeed, for it leads the church into disobedience, leaves members deluded about their sin, and enslaves the local church to the dictates of those who walk in the wisdom of man (1 Cor. 2:13).
Articles like these fail to present church discipline as it is taught in the Scripture, or with the benefits like someone coming to Christ in the midst of church discipline because of what happened in the disciplinary process, which I have personally witnessed.
If I want to know whether the dawning day is going to bullish or bearish, I will probably look to Wall Street, but with regard to church discipline, I will follow the Scripture (1 Cor. 3:19-20).
I for one am grateful for a church who seeks to follow our Lord Jesus’ commands even the difficult and unpopular ones.
