[Without church discipline] the whole church takes on a completely different character. John MacAurthur claims that 99% of churches don’t even bother with church discipline. The only time you hear a rebuke is if you don’t give enough money. The reality of life is what Calvin said a long time ago: ‘The mark of a true church is discipline.’
- Alexander Strauch [author of Biblical Eldership and Leading with Love]
2 comments:
I agree wholeheartedly. It makes me wonder how often I should be rebuking/encouraging my fellow members. For us non-elders, we fail to get behind church discipline by not taking the first steps which generally occur through the body-life and through encouragement and rebuke.
I guess those are not formal but the stretch could be made that they would be the first steps in (avoiding) discipline. Perhaps it is a stretch though.
I don't think it's a stretch at all - you're right. Accountability is fundamental to body life and Biblical friendship.
Now I'm bracing for my first rebuke from you :).
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