Disobedient Church Members Go Before Panel/Board

[warrior]

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I was talking to a gentleman on yesterday whom I believes love God with all his heart. He told me that he was apart of a board at his church that calls disobedient members to come to a meeting with them to state their intentions toward the church if they are not paying tithes, not in regular attendance to bible study and other church functions. To me, I think this is wrong, but he seems to be in agreement with this practice and feels that it is okay to put people in front of a panel of five people to discuss why they are not doing certain things. He claims sons and daughters are obedient. They even find scripture that calls you a bastard if you don't receive this correction from them.

How do you all feel about this?

[OP_Carl]

That practice would certainly discourage the spiritually lackadaisical and fiscal freeloaders from attending the church, which might promote unity. Those that are humble and wanting to draw nearer to God might be helped, as it sounds like this church isn't content to leave people in sin and error.

Most churches could improve drastically if people would take part of this notion into their own hands when it comes to gossip. If established members were to call gossip on the spot, meaning to identify it, declare it wrong, and refuse to listen, a lot that is wrong in our movement could be placed on the right track.

Not to say that this sort of thing isn't needed today, or can't be helpful in the development of Christian character, but this sort of thing can get waaaaaay out of hand, especially when you consider how frequently churches are controlled by 1, 2, or 3 families.

All it takes is one or two fiesty people to take it to the courts and the whole thing will be finished.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

That practice would certainly discourage the spiritually lackadaisical and fiscal freeloaders from attending the church, which might promote unity.

Unity is something beyond people being in line for fear of open correction.

While it might discourage the things you mention it would not, in any way, reform the heart.

Law has always and will always be insufficient to reform the heart of man.

The word and the spirit alone can do these things.

What the word and spirit do not do law cannot fix. It can only create a facade of obedience that cures nothing.

[warrior]

Personally, one bout with this would send me packing quickly. If there is a conversation to have, let's sit and talk one on one. I think this is intimidating, scary, rude and not profitable for member retention.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by warrior

Personally, one bout with this would send me packing quickly. If there is a conversation to have, let's sit and talk one on one. I think this is intimidating, scary, rude and not profitable for member retention.

I wouldn't even have ONE bout with type of dictatorship. All I would have to do is hear about it, and I'd be gone. This kind of behavior is all about ONE thing and ONE thing only....CONTROL!!! (and it's not the Holy Spirit's control either)

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I wouldn't even have ONE bout with type of dictatorship. All I would have to do is hear about it, and I'd be gone. This kind of behavior is all about ONE thing and ONE thing only....CONTROL!!! (and it's not the Holy Spirit's control either)

MOW has nailed it....

I am willingly accountable to my pastor if inquires of me (as apart of the leadership team), but this thread was summed up correctly.... this is a clear example of an excessive, and unwarranted, attempt to gain control over the week-to-week decisions of a person and/or family.... without knowing more details, I almost get the feeling the church is attempting to rule through fear and intimidation, if the "church rules" aren't followed....

a person has to have a personal desire to obey whats in the scriptures, and if they don't have that desire.... you or anyone else for that matter certainly isn't going to change their mind.... especially if they are being badgered about it.... jmho....

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Malvaro

a person has to have a personal desire to obey whats in the scriptures, and if they don't have that desire.... you or anyone else for that matter certainly isn't going to change their mind....

We still have the responsibility to follow the Biblical pattern of instruction. God ordains the 'means' as well.

[revrandy]

Men becoming God...who would'a thunk it?? ...

Seems like that is what Satan is the Garden of Eden offered Eve... ...

Have we bought into it?...

Just a thought...

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Men becoming God...who would'a thunk it?? ...

Seems like that is what Satan is the Garden of Eden offered Eve... ...

Have we bought into it?...

Just a thought...

I bought into it for a number of years... but I am feeling much better now.

[ReformedDave]

I realize that abuse happens but this should not discourage true church discipline. In our congregation we have the elders board where the occasion for discipline does come up on occasion (not often) and there have been a few times when a person has been excommunicated do to unrepentant sin.

When one becomes a member one submits oneself to the direction of the leadership that God has placed over the congregation. Of coarse in today's world there is very little church membership or Biblical discipline.