How should sin in the church be handled?
The Bible has a lot to say about how sin should be handled within the church. Here is an overview of the key principles:
Repentance and Forgiveness
When someone in the church sins, the goal should first be repentance and forgiveness. Jesus teaches us to confront a brother or sister gently and privately at first, giving them the opportunity to repent (Matthew 18:15-17). If the person repents, they are to be forgiven and restored in fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:5-8). The purpose of any discipline is restoration, not punishment (Galatians 6:1).
Confronting Sin
While forgiveness is the goal, the church cannot overlook willful, unrepentant sin. Paul chastises the Corinthian church for failing to address a case of sexual immorality within their congregation (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). A little yeast of sin can spread through the whole church body. Loving correction is needed, for the good of the individual and the church (1 Corinthians 5:4-5; James 5:19-20).
Church Discipline
In cases where private confrontation does not lead to repentance and change, Jesus instructs bringing the matter before the church (Matthew 18:17). This may involve temporary removal from membership and participation as an act of discipline and motivation to repent. The hope remains that the person will see their error through this action, and can eventually be restored to full fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).
Protecting the Flock
While patience and gentleness should be shown toward a sinning member, the church has a responsibility to protect the rest of the flock. Those who remain in open, unrepentant sin must at some point be removed from membership and participation to preserve the fellowship, witness and purity of the church body (1 Corinthians 5:11-13).
Righteous Judgment
Any disciplinary measures should be carried out in humility, gentleness and love, not self-righteousness. The goal must always be repentance and restoration, not merely punishment (2 Corinthians 2:7). Romans 2:1 warns that we are all equally in need of God’s grace and mercy. Church leadership should take care to confront sin graciously and call for repentance, with hope and patience (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Leading by Example
For the process of discipline to be effective, church leaders must lead by example. They should be quick to hold themselves accountable to living above reproach, and be willing to submit to correction and discipline as well when needed (1 Peter 5:1-4). Otherwise, their authority to discipline others will ring hollow.
Seeking Wise Counsel
Given the sensitive nature of confronting and disciplining sin, it is wise for church leadership to seek outside counsel throughout the process from respected leaders. This provides accountability, and ensures a disciplinary process does not exceed biblical bounds (Proverbs 11:14).
Have Realistic Expectations
As much as church discipline is carried out in love, the outcome may not always be as desired. Some may refuse to acknowledge their sin at all. Church leadership should take care not to beat a dead horse once it’s clear a person remains unrepentant. As painful as it may be, exclusion may be the only recourse if they are negatively influencing the church (Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:5).
Maintain Hope
Even if someone must be removed from fellowship due to unrepentant sin, the hope of their eventual restoration should not be lost. The church should do what it can to remain in relationship, gently reminding the person of their need for repentance and forgiveness in Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). As long as there is life, the possibility of repentance and restored fellowship exists.
Summary Principles:
– Confront sin gently and privately at first, seeking repentance and forgiveness
– Do not overlook sin, but confront it graciously yet firmly for the health of the individual and church
– Bring unresolved matters to the church’s leadership to address
– Be willing to enact temporary removal from membership if needed to motivate repentance
– Continue holding out hope for those who remain unrepentant, seeking to maintain relationship and call them back to the fellowship
– Have realistic expectations – forced inclusion of the unrepentant may negatively impact the rest of the flock
– Seek outside counsel throughout the discipline process to ensure biblical balance
– Remember that we all need grace and humility in the process; restoration is the goal, not punishment
The Bible offers wise guidance for how the church should handle sin in its midst. As difficult as the process may sometimes be, confronting sin graciously yet truthfully, with the hopes of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration, is the model Christ has given us. This maintains the purity and spirit of the church while not giving up on those who have fallen into sin.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
1 Corinthians 5:4-5 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
James 5:19-20 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
1 Peter 5:1-4 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
Matthew 18:17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
1 Corinthians 5:5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.
