Church Discipline and Excommunication

Last week, we explored the practical application of the church’s power and authority by consent and concurrence. We examined the reception of new members and the removal of individuals from the church. As we concluded, I mentioned that we would discuss commendable reasons for leaving a church. However, after reviewing my notes, I realized we would not have time for both topics today. Therefore, we will focus on excommunication—what it is, what it entails, and how it functions within the church. If time permits, we will begin discussing commendable reasons for leaving a church, or we will address that next week.

Responsibilities of Church Members

As members of the church, we have positive obligations. Benjamin Keach categorizes these responsibilities into two groups: those toward the pastor and those toward one another.

Duties Toward the Pastor:

Prayer
Reverential esteem
Submission
Vindication from the reproaches of opponents
Providing information in times of trial
Adequate financial support
Adherence in times of trial
Attendance at all meetings called by the pastor

Duties Toward One Another:

Submission to the church as a whole
Peace, unity, and harmony
Willingness to follow the scriptural process for settling offenses
Impartiality in the exercise of discipline

The privileges and responsibilities of church membership are inherently connected to church discipline. The 1689 Confession of Faith affirms this in Chapter 26, Paragraph 12, stating that all who are admitted to the privileges of the church are also subject to its censures and governance according to the rule of Christ.

Historical Perspective on Church Discipline

In the 17th century, church discipline was generally exercised at three levels:

Suspension – A period of investigation into a member’s conduct, potentially including restrictions such as suspension from the Lord’s Table.
Withdrawal – Enacted upon disorderly members who refuse to participate in the disciplinary process. This stage involves public admonition, followed by a period for repentance. If ignored, the church restricts fellowship with the individual while still recognizing them as a member.
Excommunication – The final step, wherein an unrepentant individual is formally removed from the church and considered as one outside the faith, effectively being handed over to Satan.

Grounds for Church Discipline

Historically, reasons for church discipline included:

Laxity in attendance
Abuse or neglect of family
Marrying an unbeliever
Disobedience to parents
Theft
Drunkenness
Various moral offenses
Heresy
Sabbath-breaking

Though these may seem foreign to contemporary practices, they reflect the serious nature of church membership and discipline in previous centuries.

Excommunication: Authority and Process

Church discipline, including excommunication, requires the consent and concurrence of the whole church. Just as the elders do not bring someone into the church alone, they do not remove someone alone; it is an act of the entire congregation.

William Ames states that the power of discipline belongs to the whole church. Those who have the right to admit members also have the right to expel them. While the elders guide the process, discipline must be carried out with the consent of the church.

Types of Excommunication

There are two primary ways an individual may be removed from the church:

Excommunication by Exclusion (Indirect) – When a person, through schismatic behavior, removes himself from the church, thereby excluding himself from membership. This occurs when someone abandons the church contrary to biblical order.
Formal Excommunication (Direct) – The result of scandalous or persistent unrepentant sin, as exemplified in 1 Corinthians 5 and Matthew 18. This process involves admonition, calls to repentance, and, if necessary, removal from membership.

A common example of exclusion is when a person, upon being confronted with sin, chooses to leave rather than submit to church discipline. Another example is apostasy—when an individual renounces the faith and severs ties with the church. In such cases, the church formally declares their exclusion.

Historical Example of Excommunication

In the early 18th century, a man who had not been approved by the church to preach disregarded the church’s decision and went out to preach on his own authority. As a result, he was excommunicated. However, he later repented and was restored to fellowship. This illustrates that church discipline is not merely punitive but is intended to restore the erring member whenever possible.

The Process of Excommunication

Benjamin Keach outlines the proper execution of excommunication, emphasizing four key components:

Grounds for Excommunication – The offense must be clearly presented to the individual and the congregation.
Elder’s Authoritative Pronouncement – While the church consents to the action, the pastor formally pronounces the excommunication.
Consequences – The individual is no longer regarded as a brother or member of the church.
Purpose – The goal is the ultimate salvation of the person’s soul.

The Role of the Church in Excommunication

John Gill argues that no single minister has the authority to excommunicate someone on his own. Instead, scripture consistently exhorts churches as a whole to perform this duty. Excommunication is an act of obedience to Christ, carried out under His authority.

The Necessity of Order in the Church

Purity in the church cannot be maintained without order. Disorder leads to corruption and division. Church discipline, including excommunication, is essential for upholding the integrity of the church and its witness to the world.

Even in past centuries, the neglect of church discipline was a widespread issue. Ministers must not only teach about faith and holiness but also instruct their congregations in the order and governance of the church. We must be concerned not only with the foundation of faith but also with the building and maintenance of the church through faithful adherence to biblical discipline.

Conclusion

This study of excommunication prepares us for next week’s discussion on commendable reasons for leaving a church. Understanding both the responsibilities of membership and the consequences of neglecting them helps us to remain faithful to Christ’s commands and the order He has established within His church.

Basis Of Excommunication