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(This page is subject to updates as new material (or overlooked old material) becomes available.)

Church discipline is today's hottest topic in churches. There is no question that 9Marks is the leader in the need to discipline in the church. They define it thusly:

Church discipline is the process of correcting sin in the life of the congregation and its members. This can mean correcting sin through a private word of admonition. And it can mean correcting sin by formally removing an individual from membership. Church discipline can be done in any number of ways, but the goal is always to correct transgressions of God’s law among God’s people.

The Process based on Matthew 18:15-20

A congregant is told to stop and repent of a particular sin. If he doesn't, then two or more people are told to confront him. Then it gets announced to the church. Then the congregant gets kicked out of the church. if he doesn't *repent.*

The Real Problem: What should be disciplined is not defined a priori.

We are all sinners and all of us are dealing, day to day, with our walk with God. What sins should be disciplined?

There is no question that some sins are severe. 1 Corinthians 5 deals with a case of incest in the church. I doubt there are many who would disagree that such a sin should be disciplined. Other such sins might include cases of adultery in which a man leaves his wife and children, someone who embezzles money from the church, etc.

The bad news is this. Many churches decide, on the fly, to discipline just about anything. This might include pride, divisiveness, arrogance, sinfully craving answers to questions (we kid you not), resigning from church, asking questions about budgets, disagreeing with a pastor, etc.

Why won't they define which sins they punish up front?

Unfortunately, church leaders are sinners just like the rest of us. They can use these poorly defined rules to stifle disagreement, to play "I'm the authority around here" card, to get rid of opposition so the pastor can do things his way, or just because they are in a bad mood. One man got disciplined for not smiling at his pastor in the supermarket!

Would you move to a country that had no defined laws and a police force that could arrest you for anything? Why should you be member of a church that practices church discipline and refuses to tell you what they will discipline?

Two classic examples of abusive church discipline

1. Karen Hinkley and Matt Chandler's Village Church

Karen discovered that her husband was viewing child pornography while they were together on the mission field. There were confessions of pedophile behavior as well. Karen returned home and the state of Texas allowed her an annulment of her marriage.The church put her under discipline and claimed that her ex husband was *walking in repentance* after about a month of counseling. Along with Amy Smith of Watchkeep, we broke this story which became known internationally. The actions of the church were so grievous that eventually Matt Chandler had to apologize to Karen and state that she was certainly justified in seeking a divorce from her pervert husband. The embarrassment and harassment from the church that Karen endured is well documented in our series.

The Village Church, Child Pornography and a Hero Makes a Statement

Part 1-Jordan Root Is a Confessed Internet Child Sex Abuser: Should The Village Church Trust Him?

Part 2: The Abuse of Church Discipline at The Village Church

Watchkeep: Karen Hinkley’s Response to The Village Church Email

The Village Church: Child Pornography is Child Sex Abuse/ Josh Duggar /Christian Janeway’s Story

Matt Chandler’s Sermon Asking for Forgiveness While Stressing the Need for Church Discipline

An Apology from Matt Chandler/Elders of The Village Church and a Statement of Forgiveness from Karen Hinkley

The Village Church and 9Marks Demonstrate Why Church Discipline Is Not Ready for Prime Time

My Comment on The Village Church’s Discipline Was Not Approved at First Things. Why?

Why Is Bryan Loritts Featured at The Village Church Website? Doesn’t Matt Chandler Get It?

Lessons Learned From The Village Church and Matt Chandler on Membership, Abuse and Repentance

A TWW Tutorial Analyzing The Village Church Elders Apology to Karen Hinkley and Others

2. Todd Wilhelm and UCC Dubai- a 9 Marks church

Todd Wilhelm, a member of UCCDubai was being considered for a position of leadership in the church. He discovered that the church was selling CJ Mahaney books in the book store and that 9 Marks, as a whole continued to support CJ Mahaney after the accusations of the cover up of child sex abuse against Sovereign Grace Churches. Mark Dever, the head of 9Marks, remains a very close friend and supporter of CJ Mahaney.

Todd, an advocate fighting against child sex abuse, said he could not, in good conscience, support the bookstore. When the church refused to remove CJ Mahaney's books, he decided he would resign from the church. Being a person of intelligence, he decided to look at a variety of church before joining one. This was in direct violation of their membership covenant (we will be writing on this next week) which states you must join an approved church immediately. Wilhelm was put on a list of possible people to be disciplined (names a care group) for 6 months.

Todd offered to sign a waiver so that the church would publicly discuss why they put him on the discipline list. 9Marks declined.

So, here you have a man making a principled stand in a foreign country. Child sex abuse mattered more to him than pushing books by CJ Mahaney for 9Marks. He was abused by the church for acting in a rational, Biblical manner.

Oddly enough, when CJ Mahaney was disciplined by his own church, Mark Dever allowed him to attend Capitol Hill Baptist Church, even allowing him to preach, which demonstrates that church discipline only applied to the little guy in their system.

My, My Dubai: 9Marks Played Hardball While Lifeway/ David Platt Stretched the Truth

The Magisterium of the United Christian Church of Dubai Have Spoken (By: Todd Wilhelm)

TWW Suggestions

We do not believe you should officially join a church that strongly emphasizes church discipline unless you have observed them in action for a few years. We believe that such churches are itching for an opportunity to exercise their authority. We also believe they do not understand common sense. If Matt Chandler couldn't get it right, and he is a really in with the 9Marks boys, then why would any other pastor get it right?

However, if you have signed on the dotted line and the membership contract states you cannot leave a church while under discipline, you can legally leave the church, no matter what they say. You can resign from your church whenever you wish. Please refer to our coming Page "How to Resign From Your Church and we will give you tips.

Finally, if you must attend one of these church, look for a large(meg) New Calvinist church. There are several in our area. There are so many people attending that you can go to church each week and participate in activities and they will not know if you are a member of not.

Another story of church discipline/abuse

Heritage Bible Chapel Admonishes a Former Member to Repent or Else…

Are Pastors at Heritage Bible Chapel Re-Abusing Wives Harmed in Abusive Marriages?

Did Southern Baptist and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries Replicate a Hotel California at Heritage Bible Chapel in Princeton, MA?

Links to stories of church discipline

The following links are from stories that we have written on church discipline. We hope you will find them helpful as you explore this area. We are one of the few blogs that has written extensively about abusive church discipline and we have one things to say. Caveat Emptor!

Church Discipline – A Difficult Task? Guest Post by Todd Wilhelm

Fellowship Memphis: It Appears Seeking Truth and Righteousness Deserves Church Discipline

The Allegedly Abusive Church Discipline Practices of Steve Estes: Senior Pastor of CEFC and Lecturer at Westminster Theological Seminary

2015: Abusive Church Discipline, Gender Confusion, Defective Membership Contracts and the Silence of Gospel™ Leaders

If *Simil Justus et Peccator;* Then What Should the Churcch Discipline?

9Marks and Church Discipline at SEBTS: What About Case Studies?

Guest Poster at SBC Voices Shares Concerns About Extreme ‘Church Discipline’

Jonathan Leeman and 9 Marks: Abusive Church Discipline and the Problem With Matthew 18

Membership Covenant Abuse: A Rebuttal to Leadership Journal Post on Church Discipline

Capitol Hill Baptist Church/9 Marks: The *Hotel California* of Church Discipline

Is This Church Discipline Acts 29 Style?

Ill-defined Church Discipline in the Hands of Sinful Leadership

Church Discipline Is Ill-Defined/ The Wounded Warriors

Abusive Church Discipline: How to Recognize It and Escape

Should Autonomous Churches be Cooperating in Church Discipline?

Is Church Discipline Going Rogue?

Is Church Discipline Getting a Bad Rap? Yes and No

My Experience with Church Discipline at Covenant Fellowship – Debra Baker

TGC Takes ‘Church’ Discipline to a Whole Nutha Level!

Churches Attempting to Force Mediation and Limit Members’ Right to Resign Under Discipline™

Evangelical Free Church of America Intervenes in Punishment of Abuse Victim; Steve Estes Thumbs His Nose and Westminster Theological Seminary Remains Silent

What Should We Do About 9Marks and Other Abusive Churches? Guest Post by Dale

What Makes 9Marks Churches So Unhealthy? – Guest Post by Dale

Should Members Keep Giving Money to a Church That Refuses to Disclose the Pastor’s Salary?

The Gospel Coalition Gives Potentially Problematic Legal Advice on Church Covenants and Civil Lawsuits

How to Research and Avoid Churches Like Heritage Bible Chapel, Charles River Church, or Southshore Bible Church

Ryan Ashton’s Experience of Abuse in Monday Nights, a Redlands, CA House Church

Tim Challies: Church Members Drool; Pastors Rule

Update on LaVonne Pfeil: The Little Old Lady Who Was Lied About and Thrown Out of Her Church

Jessica Fore, a Victim of Domestic Violence, Is Indicted by The Presbyterian Church in America for Contempt Toward the Church and Its Leaders

Nine Marks of an Abusive Church

NeoCalvinists in Charge: Are They Creating a Divisive *Us versus Them* Church Culture?

A TWW Tutorial: Steve Estes of Community Evangelical Free Church (EFCA) Excommunicates Domestic Violence Victim Who Was Married to His Son

Ken Ramey and Lakeside Bible Church Elders Cause Pain for a Young Rape Victim and His Mother

Ken Ramey of Lakeside Bible Church, a John MacArthur and 9Marks Supporter, Has a Disturbing Response to a Young Teen’s Rape

9Marks and Grace to You: You Dumb Sheep Can’t Last Without an Approved™ Church to Protect You

You Thought Skynet Was Bad? Wait Until You See What Is Coming to a Church Near You

Woman Excommunicated from Lutheran Church Takes Legal Action

Pastor Who Ejected 103 Year Old Church Member Voted Out by Congregation

Banned From Church – Two Christian Grandmas Kicked to the Curb by Their Pastors

Have You Been Reported to Your Church Leaders? TWW Has Got You Covered!

The Dones: Faithful Church Refugees and the DeChurched Project

Do Acts 29 Churches Share the Same DNA as the Mothership – Matt Chandler’s The Village Church?

The Presumption and Favoritism Involved in the 9 Marks View of Church Resignation

71-Year-Old Granny Perp-Walked Out of Church – Say It Ain’t So!!!

First, It Was Biblical™ and Gospel™; Now They Are Messing with Love™