church discipline
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 9:57 am
Is there a point a situation can reach in which, for the protection of the members and/or the reputation of the congregation, the church should ask a member to not come back? For example...
Suppose a man is caught in a sin involving one or more teenagers in the church. The man confesses his sin publicly and asks forgiveness, and it is of course granted. But this happens two more times, and perhaps continues to happen. At what point does the congregation say "enough is enough" and tell the erring Christian he is not welcome any more in the assembly? At what point, if any, does the safety of the members and the reputation of the church outweigh the right of the individual to assemble with the group? Does anyone here have an experience with such a situation?
Second, can the church tell a Christian that he can attend but not participate in a public way? Can the elders (or leading men in the absence of elders) place limits on how a member can serve the congregation?
Suppose a man is caught in a sin involving one or more teenagers in the church. The man confesses his sin publicly and asks forgiveness, and it is of course granted. But this happens two more times, and perhaps continues to happen. At what point does the congregation say "enough is enough" and tell the erring Christian he is not welcome any more in the assembly? At what point, if any, does the safety of the members and the reputation of the church outweigh the right of the individual to assemble with the group? Does anyone here have an experience with such a situation?
Second, can the church tell a Christian that he can attend but not participate in a public way? Can the elders (or leading men in the absence of elders) place limits on how a member can serve the congregation?