Thread: Church Discipline and repentence

When a member is found to be in sin, how does his or her repentence affect whether or not the church exercises discipline?

Say a member is found to be in sin, but there is every indication that he has repented and forsaken the sin. However, by that time the sin has become a public knowledge in the area. Would he still need to be disciplined?

Not if he has repented and that repentance has been discovered by the leadership. It may be beneficial tho to bring it to the church *that he has repented) as if it is not, people will fall into sin all over the place by gossiping about it.

The purpose of church discipline is to bring the brother to repentance. If it is publicly known there may be a need to show that repentance is taking place. I don't think the church should appear to be doing nothing.

ok, thanks for the replies. Does it matter at all if the sin has become public scandal?

For example,

1.a sister fornicates with an unbeliever, and repents. However, later she
discovers she has become pregnant.

2. a christian man tries to shop lift from a store and is caught and arrested. The owner later decides not to press charges.

3. a christian man get caught up in the local nightlife and party scene. He is confronted by church members and repents. However, by then he already has a reputation as a drunkard and reveller.


Assuming that the offenders have truely repented, does the fact that the sin has created a public scandal effect in anyway the need for discipline?

Not in my estimation. The call is to repentance. The 'public', need to forgive and restore (and stop falling into sin by gossiping).

I'm w/ Scott. The whole purpose of church discipline is to bring one to repentance. If one has already repented, then discipline doesn't serve its fully intended function; rather, the one under "discipline" is simply recieving unnecessary attention, which could lead to gossip. Remember, the believer in question will already be facing the consequences of his sin. If he has already repentant, there's no need for discipline heaped on top of the natural repercussions of his sin. The Biblical pattern is: 1. Go to brother alone. If he doesn't repent 2. Get two or three witnesses. If he still does not repent, 3. Take it before the Church. So...if these folks have already repented of their own accord, and not b/c of being confronted, then, IMHO, there's no biblical warrant for public rebuke.