The Church That Loves Enough to Confront: The Necessity of Corrective Discipline

I. The King’s Command: Christ’s Mandate for Correction

In the life of the church, formative and corrective discipline are two sides of the same coin—both vital for the health, holiness, and witness of Christ’s body. Formative discipline shapes believers daily through sound teaching, godly example, and mutual exhortation. It encompasses preaching the Word (2 Tim. 4:2), intentional discipleship (Matt. 28:19–20), pastoral shepherding (1 Peter 5:2–3), and mutual encouragement toward love and good works (Heb. 10:24–25). Formative discipline aims to mature saints in Christ (Eph. 4:11–13), shield them from doctrinal instability (2 Tim. 2:15-16), and foster their completeness in Him (Col. 1:28).

In contrast, corrective discipline confronts visible, unrepentant sin in professing believers. It follows a biblical process: private confrontation, escalating to public rebuke if unheeded (Matt. 18:15–17; Titus 3:10–11). If the sinner persists in unrepentance, the church must expel him from its fellowship, handing him over to Satan to destroy the flesh, aiming to save his spirit (1 Cor 5:5). The aim is always restoration (Gal. 6:1), never retribution, and the process is to be governed by love, truth, and the fear of God. Corrective discipline purifies the church (1 Cor. 5:6–7), warns others (1 Tim. 5:20), and magnifies Christ’s holiness (Rev. 3:19).

Both disciplines are indispensable. Formative discipline strengthens the saints in holiness. Corrective discipline purges sin and restores sinners. Jesus Christ did not die for a church where sin festers unchecked and wolves prowl among the sheep. He came to build a holy temple, prescribing how to confront sin with love and courage within His church. Churches that embrace the unrepentant and slam the door on discipline try to muzzle Jesus Christ and boot Him from His own house. Let’s be crystal clear: corrective church discipline is non-negotiable, central, and beyond dispute. It is a command from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, the King of Kings, and the One who purchased His bride with His own blood (Matt. 18:15-20; Rev. 2–3). If your church shuns corrective discipline, it is no longer a church but a brothel for sin. If you are a pastor of a church that refuses to practice corrective discipline, then don’t expect Jesus to pat you on the back with, “Well done good and faithful servant,” – you’re lacking both virtues.

II. The Nature of Discipline: Love That Wounds to Heal

In our effeminate generation, love is mistaken for unconditional positive affirmation. Society has become drunk on self-esteem and allergic to authority. Love is no longer defined by God and His holiness but has been stripped of conviction and made a slave to self-aggrandizing sentimentality. No wonder the mere concepts of correction and discipline invoke the wrath of man. When autonomy is your idol, all correction feels like assault. When your allegiance is to your feelings, discipline feels like treason. But biblically, the opposite is true. “Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,” (Heb. 12:6). If we do not discipline, we do not love as God loves; and yet to the self-deceived this kind of love resembles betrayal. If “God is love,” then love must be defined by His truth, not conjectural human sentiment.

Corrective church discipline is not the church being harsh—it is the church being holy. It is not cruelty, but compassion. It is the open rebuke that is better than hidden love (Prov. 27:5). It is the bold act of saying, “We care too much about your soul to let you go unchecked into ruin.” It is also the hallmark of a thriving church. Where there is meaningful membership, expositional preaching, and mutual accountability, discipline is not a foreign intrusion—it is love in action.

III. The Design: Biblical Process, Divine Authority

The process is not random. Jesus Himself lays it out with five clear commands (in italics):

• Private confrontation – go to your brother alone and show him his sin (Matt. 18:15).
• Small group confirmation – if he does not repent, take one or two more (v. 16).
• Congregational confrontation – if he still refuses, tell it to the church (v. 17).
• Excommunication – if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (v. 17).

This process is mandatory. These are direct orders from the King. Consider the context of Christ’s commands. In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus challenges His disciples by asking them, “What do you think?” before proceeding to that cherished reality that God always pursues that one sheep that has gone astray. The logical question that follows this comforting certainty is, “How does God rescue that straying sheep?” Jesus answers in Matthew 18:15-20. 

Make no mistake – these are commands. Jesus declares, “If you love Me, you will obey My commands,” which are never burdensome (John 14:15; 1 John 5:2-3). The commands Jesus gives are brutally clear. Ignoring Christ’s commands is not ignorance; it is rebellion. The more complex passage in this section lies in Matthew 18:18-20. Verse 18 offers true undershepherds great comfort: “Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Jesus blends future and past tenses to reveal the authority and comfort of this promise. By stating, “shall have (future) been bound (past) in heaven,” Jesus reveals that His undershepherds are giving a declaration to a decision that heaven has already made. The church does not decide who is under discipline; she recognizes and proclaims heaven’s verdict. This mirrors Bibliology; the church doesn’t determine Scripture; she recognizes it. Similarly, the church doesn’t determine elders; she recognizes them (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1). Recognizing and proclaiming God’s heavenly revelation of corrective discipline marks a faithful church, sealed with Christ’s promise: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” 

You read that right – this verse isn’t about prayer but corrective discipline.

Since God reveals from heaven, what triggers corrective discipline? Visible, unrepentant sin. Not speculation about heart motives or vague accusations of pride. It must be clear, visible sin. What determines if the process of discipline escalates? Repentance – or the lack thereof. If the sinner repents, then the process stops. But if he remains unrepentant, the process advances. So, what drives the process from step one to step four? Visible, unrepentant, sin.

Paul echoes this same principle in 1 Corinthians 5. A man was in visible, unrepentant sin. The church, cloaking cowardice as tolerance, did nothing. Paul sharply rebukes them: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Cor. 5:13). Don’t coddle him. Don’t ignore him. Expel him. Don’t pretend to outdo Jesus in mercy or God in love. A biblical church doesn’t tolerate visible, unrepentant sin. Any so-called church that rejects discipline willfully rejects the presence of Christ in their midst.

We must stop treating the commands of Christ as optional. He is King. His Word is law. His glory is the goal. To refuse corrective discipline is not a difference of doctrinal opinion; it is open defiance against the One whose eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14). It is to trample underfoot the blood of the covenant and call compromise compassion (Heb. 10:29). It is to say, in effect, “We know how to love better than God.” Discipline is not a secondary issue. It is Heaven’s dividing line whereby a church either proves its allegiance – or exposes its apostasy. Churches that refuse Christ’s command of discipline will soon find themselves disciplined by Christ, as their lampstand is confiscated (Rev. 2:5). Let every faithful pastor and church member be resolved: Christ will be loved; His commands obeyed; His glory upheld; His church will be holy.

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