CHURCH ADMINISTRATION DYNAMICS: Administering Church Discipline – The Right Way

There once was a pastor who was commissioned by his local church to embark on a missionary journey to a foreign land. He was sent to pioneer a gospel work from the ground up. With no initial support, he took up a humble, manual job to sustain himself while evangelizing daily. By the grace of God, after 14 years of tireless labour, he had planted 11 vibrant local assemblies that were thriving and growing.

However, someone visited one of these assemblies, and upon returning, gave a false report to the General Overseer, claiming that the pastor had done nothing and that the churches were not “real” churches. Sadly, without proper investigation, the pastor was recalled, his international passport was seized, and he was subjected to church discipline. It took divine intervention for him to secretly return to his family. Upon his return, another pastor had already been posted to take his place. The missionary pastor was left inactive and ignored for 7 years. When the truth eventually surfaced, much damage had already been done to the churches he labored to build.

In another case, there was public uproar surrounding the marriage of Bro. John Kumuyi, who was disciplined for allegedly violating church standards. Despite offering what was said to be an unreserved apology to church leadership, he was suspended from church membership.

The point of these two examples is this: Today’s church often lacks balance in the way it administers discipline. On one side, many modern churches reject the idea of correction altogether, turning a blind eye to sin and allowing members to live however they please. On the other side, older churches sometimes wield discipline as a weapon of oppression, punishment, and control—rather than for restoration and righteousness. These two extremes have hurt the body of Christ deeply.

A. SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION FOR CHURCH DISCIPLINE

Key Scriptures: 1 Timothy 5:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 3:10-15; Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 12:5-13.

Church discipline is the process by which believers are corrected, guided, and sometimes restrained when they stray from biblical standards. It serves as both a preventive and corrective measure to protect the spiritual health of the body of Christ.

Discipline should:

Help maintain godly order and character.
Correct behavior that contradicts biblical truth.
Encourage repentance and restoration.

Biblical Examples:

God disciplined Moses when he disobeyed – 1 Samuel 3:11–18.
David was corrected by God after his sin – 2 Samuel 12:11–24.
Ananias and Sapphira were judged instantly – Acts 5:1–11.
The word “disciple” is rooted in “discipline.”
Proverbs 13:24 teaches: “He that spareth the rod hateth his son.”

The Lord disciplines those He loves to bring them back to the path of righteousness – Hebrews 12:5–11. Likewise, the church must not neglect this spiritual duty.

B. HYPER-GRACE DOCTRINE AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Many churches today emphasize only grace, mercy, and favor, while ignoring accountability and righteous living. This “hyper-grace” teaching makes people believe that no matter how they live, grace covers all—even open rebellion against God.

Examples of such compromise:

A young evangelist testified that he slept with a woman but still ministers powerfully.
A supervising pastor known for immoral behavior was simply transferred, not disciplined.
A pastor who embezzled ₦12 million was moved to another church rather than being corrected.
Choir members who sleep over at their boyfriends’ houses are allowed to keep ministering.
A pastor’s daughter became pregnant before marriage, yet a “holy matrimony” was conducted.
A bishop’s son impregnated a girl, who was advised to abort the child while the son married someone else.
A deacon with two wives was told his issue was “private” and kept in church leadership.

Reasons churches avoid proper discipline:

Fear of losing members.
Fear of losing tithes and offerings.
Leaders’ own hidden sins.
Lack of spiritual courage.
Imitating popular but unbiblical church trends.
No clear biblical framework or policy.

The church has suffered greatly because of this tolerance for sin. Weakness, compromise, and lack of spiritual power are the consequences.

C. WRONG WAYS OF PRACTICING DISCIPLINE IN CHURCHES

Even though church discipline is necessary, many churches today go about it the wrong way. Discipline must be done in righteousness, not in wrath or bias.

Biblical reasons for discipline:

To lead the erring soul back to life.
To show that sin is recognized and addressed.
To warn others.
To uphold God’s standards in His house.
To restore—not destroy—the offender.
To maintain spiritual boundaries and accountability.
To prepare us for eternal life with Christ.

Common errors in church discipline:

No clear definition of what offenses are disciplinary.
Passing judgment without hearing all sides.
Using harsh punishment for small offenses.
Acting out of vengeance or bitterness.
Sending away promising members for minor issues.
Punishing parents for their children’s sins.
Ignoring restoration after discipline is served.
Favoritism and partiality.
Using discipline to silence bold or outspoken members.

These wrong practices have left many believers wounded and discouraged. Some have fallen away completely, lost faith in the church, or abandoned fellowship altogether.

D. ADMINISTERING DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH

The Lord calls the church “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). Sadly, many modern churches resemble the Corinthian church—full of gifts but also rife with sin and division (1 Corinthians 5:1–2; 3:3–4; 6:1–8).

Any sincere servant of God who knows the Lord dwells in His holy temple must not ignore ongoing sin such as immorality, worldliness, or rebellion in the church.

Offenses that require discipline (1 Sam. 3:12–14; Acts 5:1–10; 1 Cor. 5:1–5):

Fornication and premarital sex.
Adultery and marital infidelity.
Polygamy or concurrent marriages.
Financial misconduct.
False doctrine and rebellion.
Drunkenness and substance abuse.
Immoral dressing and loose behavior.
Theft and dishonesty.
Gossip, strife, and division.
Family abuse and unresolved conflict.
Persistent sinful living.

Who should be subject to discipline?

Everyone—including pastors, ministers, board members, workers, and regular members—should be held accountable. No one is above discipline.

E. PRINCIPLES FOR PROPER CHURCH DISCIPLINE (Galatians 6:1)

Church discipline must always aim to correct and restore, not to destroy or disgrace.

Biblical guidelines for proper discipline:

Live by Example – Leaders must model holiness (Titus 2:7–8).
Teach Clearly – Regularly preach and explain godly standards (Titus 2:9–10,15).
Give Warnings – Speak privately and give room for repentance (Titus 3:10).
Investigate Properly – No action should be taken without evidence (1 Tim. 5:19).
Rebuke with Love – Correct publicly when necessary (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Tim. 5:20).
Pray for Wisdom – Seek the Lord’s direction before acting.
Empathize When Needed – Understand and care for the offender (Romans 15:1–5).
Avoid Partiality – Discipline should be fair and unbiased.
Plan for Restoration – Have a process to restore repentant members.
Intercede – Continue to pray for those under discipline.

CONCLUSION

Church discipline is not optional—it is biblical, spiritual, and necessary. But it must be done rightly, with love, justice, and mercy. Let every church return to God’s standard, so that Christ’s body may be healed, purified, and made ready for His return.