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We've got to delineate what sins actually require discipline. For example, there are personal offenses. If somebody hurts me, the Bible says I'm to forgive. If I see you involved in a harmful addiction, there's nothing that requires me to take you before the church to be disciplined.

Galatians 6:1 says that those who are spiritual are to come alongside such a person.

But there are some sins against the body of Christ that require church actions: sins that threaten the doctrinal health of the church, sins that threaten the emotional health of the church, or sins that threaten the witness of the church. Matthew 18 gives us a procedure. We ought to deal as privately as possible with sins unless they require the church to take action.

Copyright © 2006 CHRISTIANITY TODAY. March 2006, Vol. 50, No. 3, Page 76

More Bible Study Helps
Avoiding the Sin Word How do we deal with wrongdoing? We put criminals in prison, picket abortion clinics, and generally shake our heads at what we call the "ills of society." But have we forgotten that those ills are caused by people—by us? What has happened to the concept of sin? Why do we neglect to acknowledge our own personal faults? Read more.	Downsizing Sin Dallas Willard says discipleship is not as hard we make it. by Mark Galli Obeying Jesus requires, it sometimes seems, Aristotelian wisdom and Herculean strength. Other times, it's pretty simple. Read more.

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