Loving Rebuke: A Pillar of a Healthy Church

This coming Sunday's sermon tackles Hebrews 6, one of the tougher warning passages in the Bible. As I’ve worked on my sermon, it has gotten me thinking about the role of warnings and church discipline (or rebuke) in a healthy church.

During the Reformation, theologians such as John Calvin identified three marks of a true church. Cavlin called these the "pillars" of a healthy church. As the Belgic Confession says

The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin: in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself. - Belgic Confession, Article 29

Everyone is in favor of preaching and sacraments. Discipline, however, is a little more difficult. in Article 32, the Belgic confession maintains that discipline is crucial for preserving harmony, unity, and obedience within the church. Without discipline, the church loses its identity as a holy community set apart for God's purposes.

Recently, I participated in a challenging situation where a pastor’s teachings needed to be addressed. It wasn't easy. Despite long prayer and preparation, in the moment I felt unprepared and embarrassed. The atmosphere grew tense and quickly became combative. While I'm glad I spoke up, I also know I could have done better.

This experience reminded me that, like preaching, church discipline is a skill that improves with practice. My first sermons were often embarrassing and awkward. Why should I expect that first attempts at loving discipline and rebuke would come naturally? Both require effort and vulnerability. Both can open one to criticism. However, just as God calls us to preach, we are equally called to exercise church discipline.

This is a difficult topic, but a vital one for the church's health. I'll be praying diligently to approach it with the seriousness it deserves. Church discipline isn't about retaliation or excluding people. It's about encouraging repentance and fostering a unified, healthy church. Even when its difficult, the awkwardness is worth it.

With You;
Pastor Tim