Introduction
Punishment In Old Testament
Punishment In New Testament
Rules Governing Church Discipline
Considerations Necessary in Implementing Church Discipline
How Soon Should Church Discipline Be Implemented?
The Fruits of True Repentance
Cutting-Off
Our Duty
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CONSIDERATIONS NECESSARY IN IMPLEMENTING CHURCH DISCIPLINE
1. The Degree/Magnitued of Sin Committed.
“We do not understand the greatness and majesty of God nor
remember the immeasurable distance between the Creator and the
creatures formed by His hand. He who sitteth in the heavens, swaying
the scepter of the universe, does not judge according to our finite
standard, nor reckon according to our computation. We are in error
if we think that that which is great to us must be great to God,
and that which is small to us must be small to Him. He would be
no more exalted than ourselves if He possessed only the same faculties.
God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are
degrees of guilt in His estimation as well as in that of finite
man. But however trifling this or that wrong in their course may
seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God.
The sins which man is disposed to look upon as small may be the
very ones which God accounts as great crimes. The drunkard is
despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven,
while pride, selfishness, and covetousness go unrebuked. But these
are sins that are especially offensive to God…. We need
clear discernment, that we may measure sin by the Lord's standard
and not by our own. Let us take for our rule, not human opinions,
but the divine word.” 5T 337.
“The Lord has not given us a list of graded sins, so that
we may reckon some as of little consequence, and say that they
will do but little harm, while others are of greater magnitude
and will do much harm.” MYP 91.
NOTE: It is not the name or kind of sin that makes it
of great magnitude but who committed that sin. His influence,
position, light and persistency.
As in the case of FORNICATION and ADULTERY, those who proves
to be standing upon the elevated platform of eternal truth (believers),
if they indulge in these sins, their crime is of tenfold greater
magnitude in comparison with worldlings (2T 449-451). Furthermore,
in 2T 458 the same 10-fold greater magnitude of sin in committed
when the doer is a minister in sacred things. (See also: PP 426
– Aaron’s sacred office)
2. The Position or Influence.
“Moses was a representative of Christ, but how sadly was the
figure marred! Moses had sinned, and his past fidelity could not
atone for the present sin…The touching plea made by Moses
that he might be privileged to enter Canaan was steadfastly refused.
The transgression at Kadesh had been open and marked; and the more
exalted the position of the offender, the more distinguished the
man, the firmer was the decree and the more certain the punishment.”
4T 370-371.
“Because of Eli's position, his influence was more extended
than if he had been an ordinary man. His family life was imitated
throughout Israel….But great as are the evils of parental
unfaithfulness under any circumstances, they are tenfold greater
when they exist in the families of those appointed as teachers of
the people. When these fail to control their own households, they
are, by their wrong example, misleading many. Their guilt is as
much greater than that of others as their position is more responsible.”
PP 579.
“God had forgiven the people greater transgressions, but He
could not deal with sin in the Leaders as in those who were led.”
PP 420.
“It was the exalted character of that sacred office as representative
of our great High Priest that made Aaron's sin at Kadesh of so great
magnitude.” PP 426.
“When ministers thus take advantage of the confidence the
people place in them and lead souls to ruin, they make themselves
as much more guilty than the common sinner as their profession is
higher.” 5T 143.
“But I saw that the ministers did not escape the wrath of
God. Their suffering was tenfold greater than that of their people.”
EW 282.
3. Willful/Deliberate Sin.
“Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging
a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their
guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable
with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden
temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt.”
PP 419.
4. Persistency in Sin.
There are 3 kinds:
A) Repeated Action.
“The warnings of God he first hated and then resisted because
they brought his own wicked course to be seen in the light of God's
law. It is one of the saddest evidences of the blinding influence
of sin that months and years roll on and there is no awaking to
repentance. With a firm persistence he has pursued his downward
course. He has no bitter feelings of remorse, no dread of heaven's
vengeance. If by lies and deception he can cover his sins from observation
he is content. All sense of right and wrong is dead within him.”
5T 139-140.
B) Persistent in Desiring Sin.
“God gave the people that which was not for their highest
good, because they persisted in desiring it; they would not be satisfied
with those things that would prove a benefit to them.” PP
382.
“You are responsible to God for your thoughts. If you indulge
in vain imaginations, permitting your mind to dwell upon impure
subjects, you are, in a degree, as guilty before God as if your
thoughts were carried into action. All that prevents the action
is the lack of opportunity.” MYP 75-76.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh
on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already
in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28.
C) Persistent in Refusing to Heed God’s Word.
“The forbearance of God was very great toward the children
of men; but when they stubbornly persisted in their impenitence,
He removed from them His protecting hand. They refused to listen
to the voice of God in His created works, and in the warnings, counsels,
and reproofs of His word, and thus He was forced to speak to them
through judgments.” PP 588.
NOTE: Persistency does not only mean repeated actions but we can
be persistent even in our desires (PP 382) and thoughts, all that
prevents the action is the lack of opportunity (MYP 75-76). We can
also be persistent by refusing to take heed God’s warnings
through His words and His delegated agencies.
5. According to the Light Received.
“And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared
not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten
with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy
of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever
much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:47-48.
“The greater the light and privileges granted to man, the
greater is his responsibility, the more aggravated his failure,
and the heavier his punishment.” PP 420.
“God has flashed light upon the pathway of all. Reproofs and
warnings and cautions are given to individuals in similar circumstances,
and God has expressed condemnation of sin in all its forms. The
sin of licentiousness is plainly rebuked and condemned. Men and
women will be judged according to the light given them of God. Lessons
that have been neglected, become awful judgments. The warnings of
God, neglected, from which men turn to a course of their own choosing,
will afford no practical lessons of instruction. These warnings
will prove their condemnation in the judgment. The only safety for
anyone is to turn to a practical account for himself every lesson
that is given to another. When the message is given, then his individual
duty begins.” TM 437-438.
“Satan, like a roaring lion, is going about, seeking whom
he may devour; and if men and women, under the blazing light that
now shines in this perilous time, will be found fornicators, I am
afraid that God will separate them from the work forever.”
TM 426.
“The greater the knowledge of God's will, the greater the
sin of those who disregard it.” PP 584.
6. The Consequence of Sin is Meted on the Guilty Despite
Repentance.
A) DAVID:
“Though there would be found none in Israel to execute the
sentence of death upon the anointed of the Lord, David trembled,
lest, guilty and unforgiven, he should be cut down by the swift
judgment of God. But the message was sent him by the prophet, "The
Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." Yet justice
must be maintained. The sentence of death was transferred from David
to the child of his sin. Thus the king was given opportunity for
repentance; while to him the suffering and death of the child, as
a part of his punishment, was far more bitter than his own death
could have been.” PP 722.
“Though David repented of his sin and was forgiven and accepted
by the Lord, he reaped the baleful harvest of the seed he himself
had sown. The judgments upon him and upon his house testify to God's
abhorrence of the sin…. But the divine sentence was hanging
over him. Swiftly and surely a day of judgment and retribution was
approaching, which no repentance could avert, agony and shame that
would darken his whole earthly life. Those who, by pointing to the
example of David, try to lessen the guilt of their own sins, should
learn from the Bible record that the way of transgression is hard.”
PP 723-724.
NOTE: There are 4 things to be considered here:
6.A.1. There was none to execute death penalty on David.
6.A.2. The death sentence was transferred transferred to David’s
child of sin.
6.A.3. The death of his son was his punishment
6.A.4. David’s repentance did not prevent God’s retribution.
B) MOSES:
“Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging
a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their
guilt would have been far greater…. The Lord accepted their
repentance, though because of the harm their sin might do among
the people, He could not remit its punishment. Moses did not conceal
his sentence, but told the people that since he had failed to ascribe
glory to God, he could not lead them into the Promised Land. He
bade them mark the severe punishment visited upon him, and then
consider how God must regard their murmurings in charging upon a
mere man the judgments which they had by their sins brought upon
themselves. He told them how he had pleaded with God for a remission
of the sentence, and had been refused. "The Lord was wroth
with me for your sakes," he said, "and would not hear
me." Deuteronomy 3:26. “On every occasion of difficulty
or trial the Israelites had been ready to charge Moses with having
led them from Egypt, as though God had had no agency in the matter.
Throughout their journeyings, as they had complained of the difficulties
in the way, and murmured against their leaders, Moses had told them,
"Your murmurings are against God. It is not I, but God, who
has wrought in your deliverance." But his hasty words before
the rock, "shall we bring water?" were a virtual admission
of their charge, and would thus confirm them in their unbelief and
justify their murmurings. The Lord would remove this impression
forever from their minds, by forbidding Moses to enter the Promised
Land. Here was unmistakable evidence that their leader was not Moses,
but the mighty Angel of whom the Lord had said, "Behold, I
send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring
thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him, and obey
His voice: . . . for My name is in Him." Exodus 23:20, 21.
"The Lord was wroth with me for your sakes," said Moses.
The eyes of all Israel were upon Moses, and his sin cast a reflection
upon God, who had chosen him as the leader of His people. The transgression
was known to the whole congregation; and had it been passed by lightly,
the impression would have been given that unbelief and impatience
under great provocation might be excused in those in responsible
positions. But when it was declared that because of that one sin
Moses and Aaron were not to enter Canaan, the people knew that God
is no respecter of persons, and that He will surely punish the transgressor.”
PP 419.
NOTE: Although Moses’ sin was a one time occurrence, still
he could not remit the punishment due him.
What are the consequences of Moses’ wrong act?
6.B.1. His position as leader was removed.
6.B.2. He was forbidden to enter Canaan.
“Moses was a representative of Christ, but how sadly was the
figure marred! Moses had sinned, and his past fidelity could not
atone for the present sin. The whole company of Israel was making
history for future generations. This history the unerring pen of
inspiration must trace with exact fidelity. Men of all future time
must see the God of heaven is a firm ruler, in no case justifying
sin. Moses and Aaron must die without entering Canaan, subjected
to the same punishment that fell upon those in a more lowly position.
They bowed in submission, though with anguish of heart that was
inexpressible; but their love for and confidence in God was unshaken…..
The cases of Moses and Aaron, of David, and numerous others, show
that it is not a safe thing to sin in word or thought or deed….
The touching plea made by Moses that he might be privileged to enter
Canaan was steadfastly refused. The transgression at Kadesh had
been open and marked; and the more exalted the position of the offender,
the more distinguished the man, the firmer was the decree and the
more certain the punishment.” 4T 370-371.
NOTE: Moses and Aaron suffered the consequence of their sin and
they were forbidden to enter Canaan. When a minister or church
officer commits sin, he is disfellowshiped and his office taken
from him.
C) AARON:
“Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging
a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their
guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable
with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden
temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. The
Lord accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their
sin might do among the people, He could not remit its punishment.”
PP 419.
NOTE: Aaron was repentant but God cannot remit the punishment.
“But when it was declared that because of that one sin Moses
and Aaron were not to enter Canaan, the people knew that God is
no respecter of persons, and that He will surely punish the transgressor.”
PP 420.
“With deep sorrow Moses removed from Aaron the holy vestments,
and placed them upon Eleazar, who thus became his successor by divine
appointment. For his sin at Kadesh, Aaron was denied the privilege
of officiating as God's high priest in Canaan--of offering the first
sacrifice in the goodly land, and thus consecrating the inheritance
of Israel.” PP 426.
NOTE: The office of priesthood was removed from Aaron because
of his sin in Mt. Sinai.
D) ADAM AND EVE:
“[Sabbath] “Hallowed by the Creator's rest and blessing,
it was kept by Adam in his innocence in holy Eden; by Adam, fallen
yet repentant, when he was driven from his happy estate.”
4SOP 285-286.
NOTE: Adam and Eve repented of their sin, but were not exempted
from punishment. They were driven out of Eden.
“The news of man's fall spread through heaven. Every harp
was hushed. The angels cast their crowns from their heads in sorrow.
All heaven was in agitation. A council was held to decide what must
be done with the guilty pair. The angels feared that they would
put forth the hand, and eat of the tree of life, and become immortal
sinners. But God said that He would drive the transgressors from
the garden.” EW 148.
“After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden.
They earnestly entreated that they might remain in the home of their
innocence and joy. They confessed that they had forfeited all right
to that happy abode, but pledged themselves for the future to yield
strict obedience to God. But they were told that their nature had
become depraved by sin; they had lessened their strength to resist
evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access
to them. In their innocence they had yielded to temptation; and
now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to
maintain their integrity.” PP 61.
“They were informed that they would have to lose their Eden
home. They had yielded to Satan's deception and believed the word
of Satan, that God would lie. By their transgression they had opened
a way for Satan to gain access to them more readily, and it was
not safe for them to remain in the garden of Eden, lest in their
state of sin, they gain access to the tree of life, and perpetuate
a life of sin. They entreated to be permitted to remain, although
they acknowledged that they had forfeited all right to blissful
Eden. They promised that they would in the future yield to God implicit
obedience. They were informed that in their fall from innocence
to guilt, they gained no strength but great weakness. They had not
preserved their integrity while they were in a state of holy, happy
innocence, and they would have far less strength to remain true
and loyal in a state of conscious guilt. They were filled with keenest
anguish and remorse. They now realized that the penalty of sin was
death.” 1SOP 44.
“They now began to see the true character of their sin. Adam
reproached his companion for her folly in leaving his side and permitting
herself to be deceived by the serpent; but they both flattered themselves
that He who had given them so many evidences of His love, would
pardon this one transgression, or that they would not be subjected
to so dire a punishment as they had feared.” PP 57.
NOTE: Adam and Eve’s one time transgression did not exempt
them from punishment.
“The transgression of God's law in a single instance, in the
smallest particular, is sin. And the non-execution of the penalty
of that sin would be a crime in the divine administration. God is
a judge, the avenger of justice, which is the habitation and foundation
of His throne. He cannot dispense with His law, He cannot do away
with its smallest item in order to meet and pardon sin. The rectitude
and justice and moral excellence of the law must be maintained and
vindicated before the heavenly universe and the worlds unfallen.”
7BC 951.
7. Repentant – No Punishment.
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against
thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass
against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn
again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
Luke 17:3-4.
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Matthew 18:15.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9.
“Without regard to position, kindred, or friendship, the ringleaders
in wickedness were cut off; but all who repented and humbled themselves
were spared.” PP 324.
“These men, not being the first in rebellion, were not destroyed
with the chief conspirators. They were permitted to see their end,
and to have an opportunity for repentance; but their sympathies
were with the rebels, and they shared their fate.” PP
401.
God always give an opportunity for repentance but there were
cases recorded by Inspiration that God inflicted direct punishment
(i.e. death) without giving time for the sinner to repent as recorded
in the Old Testament. Such were the cases of Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:3-7,
PP 705-706), Israel’s desire for flesh (Ps. 78:26-31; PP 382),
David’s sin of numbering Israel (2 Samuel 24; PP 747-748),
Moses direction not to intrude or touch the barrier (Ex. 19:12;
PP 304), and Israelites uncovering the sacred chest (1 Samuel 6:19;
PP 589).
In the New Testament, we have the cases of Ananias and Sapphira
(Acts 5:1-11; AA 72-76), and the fornicator in Paul’s time
(1 Corinthians 5: 1-3, 13).
In the time of Mrs. White, we also found a similar case
as in fornicator as follows:
“Recent painful developments of evil are one of the greatest
evidences we have that the end is near. Satan, like a roaring
lion, is going about, seeking whom he may devour; and if men and
women, under the blazing light that now shines in this perilous
time, will be found fornicators, I am afraid that God will separate
them from the work forever.”
“Decided Action Called For. “The youth, for misdemeanors
of a comparatively light character, are treated with much severity;
but when men and women of large experience, who have been considered
patterns of piety, are revealed in their true character,--unsanctified,
unholy, impure in thought, debased in conduct,--then it is time
for such to be dealt with in a decided manner. The greater forbearance
that is exercised toward them has only had, as far as my knowledge
extends, the influence to cause them to regard their fornication
and adultery as a very light matter, and all their pretense has
proved to be like morning dew when the sun shines upon it…
“Cleanse the camp of this moral corruption, if it takes
the highest men in the highest positions. God will not be trifled
with. Fornication is in our ranks; I know it, for it has been
shown me to be strengthening and extending its pollutions. There
is much we will never know; but that which is revealed makes the
church responsible and guilty unless they show a determined effort
to eradicate the evil. Cleanse the camp, for there is an accursed
thing in it...
“The words of God to Joshua are: "Neither will I be
with you anymore, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against
tomorrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed
thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before
thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among
you." These things are written for our benefit, upon whom
the ends of the world are come.
“I have no real ground of hope for those who have stood
as shepherds to the flock, and have for years been borne with
by the merciful God, following them with reproof, with warnings,
with entreaties, but who have hid their evil ways, and continued
in them, thus defying the laws of the God of heaven by practicing
fornication. We may leave them to work out their own salvation
with fear and trembling, after all has been done to reform them;
but in no case entrust to them the guardianship of souls. False
shepherds! Oh, can it be that the men who have been engaged in
this work for a long time will corrupt their ways before the Lord
after great experience and special light?…
“All fornicators will be outside the City of God.”
TM 426-428, 431.
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