Why Are We Presbyterian?

1
Why Are We Presbyterian?

• Church Discipline

2
1. Why Dont Churches Practice Church Discipline?

• 1.1 Fear of a lawsuit
• 1.2 An excommunicated member may simply join
  another church
• 1.3 Fear of severe damage to church

3
2. Three Important Passages

• Matthew 1815-20
• I Corinthians 51-5
• II Corinthians 25-10

4
3. Why is C/D Important?

• 3.1 To protect the name and reputation of our
  Lord and His Church.
• 3.2 To protect the members
• 3.3 To protect and warn the erring member of the
  church and ultimately restore him or her back
  into fellowship.

5
4. For What Actions Should C/D Be Enforced?

• 4.1 Overt Immorality-
• 1 Corinthians 51 It is actually reported that
  there is immorality among you, and immorality of
  such a kind as does not exist even among the
  Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. . .
  . 55 I have decided to deliver such a one to
  Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that
  his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
  Jesus.

6
4. For What Actions Should C/D Be Enforced?

• 4.2 Heresy actively propagated-
• Romans 1617 Now I urge you, brethren, keep
  your eye on those who cause dissensions and
  hindrances contrary to the teaching which you
  learned, and turn away from them.

7
4. For What Actions Should C/D Be Enforced?

• 4.3 Factiousness-whether related to doctrine or
  not
• Titus 310-11 10 Reject a factious man after a
  first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a
  man is perverted and is sinning, being
  self-condemned.

8
4. For What Actions Should C/D Be Enforced?

• 4.4 For Unrepentance
• Matthew 1817 17 "If he refuses to listen to
  them, tell it to the church and if he refuses to
  listen even to the church, let him be to you as a
  Gentile and a tax collector.

9
5. How Should C/D Be Enforced?

• 5.1 With a spirit of gentleness
• Galatians 61 Galatians 61 Brethren, even if
  anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are
  spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of
  gentleness each one looking to yourself, so that
  you too will not be tempted.
• 5.2 Offenses should be handled in the realm in
  which they occur (private should remain private)
• 5.3 With a hope of restoration

10
6. Five Stages of C/D.

• II Corinthians 2
• 6.1 Wrongdoing I Corinthians 51 712
• 6.2 Punishment II Cor. 26a
• 6.3 Pain II Cor. 26b
• 6.4 Repentance II Cor. 27 excessive sorrow
• 6.5 Forgiveness II Cor. 28

11
7. C/D at CRPC

• 7.1 The Matthew 18 principle
• 7.2 The Ethics Committee
• 7.3 Excommunication

12
For More Information

• Dr. Lamersons Paper should be on the web within
  a week.
• Dr. Lamersons Article on Excommunication in
  Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
• Richard Swineburne, Responsibility and Atonement