Book Review on Church & Discipline

40 QUESTIONS ABOUT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND DISCIPLINE.

By Jeremy M. Kimble, Kregel Academic, 2017.

This is another 40 Question book that is published by Kregel Academic. The author, Jeremy Kimble is a professor at Cedarville College. He has written a clear and concise work on the local church and discipline. As in earlier publications in the series, each chapter answers a question on the subject matter.

He begins with why Church membership and discipline is important and ends with what is their significance in the Christian life. He sees the importance of church membership as preserving the truth of the Gospel; what he calls covenant commitment; and the church is its membership. In the church discipline is necessary because of the mandate of Scripture; it is a proper demonstration of love, and persevering its members in the faith and edification.

He goes on from this starting point to:

Define church membership as a formal commitment.     

Define discipline as the exercise of authority.

He sees the church in relation to the New Covenant and an extension of the Kingdom which he argues from the gospels. To me, this is one weakness in the heavy alliance on Jesus’s earthly ministry and the covenant. Little is said about the church as earthy fined by Paul and his epistles. To him, church membership is linked with the act of water baptism and the Lord’s supper.

After dealing with his Biblical view of the church and discipline, he turns to answers on practical matters including:

1.      Why do some churches not believe in membership?

2.      What kind of church should one join? The characteristics he suggests are somewhat broad and not specific.

3.      On the question who should become a member, he has a good point and emphasis on regenerated people.

4.      Age of becoming a member he says is indicated by maturity and discernment rather their years.

5.      When should some be removed? The unrepentant sin in the life of a believer. He warns that this is not to be hastily, haphazardly, or unlovingly done. The real goal of discipline is restoration, not punishment. (I am afraid in most cases punishment is the true motive).

6.      Benefits of membership is one of the better chapters. Sees the benefits as discipleship, service opportunities, to give structure for your life, and being a witness.

7.      What are the responsibilities? Membership brings responsibilities of submission, helping other grow, and attendance.

He then moves onto questions about church discipline. He looks at several passages on the subject. How it has been practiced in history. He deals with Old Testament discipline of God’s people, not fully recognizing the difference between Isreal and the church. This is the weak and confusing chapter. The Old Testament had an element and authority the church does not have, i.e. the killing of the offender. This is caused by failing to see the Isreal as a theocracy; the church is not. In the Old Testament discipline applied to the nation, not only the individual.

Today in the church discipline is not just corrective but provides growing as a disciple. Discipleship is a call to discipline to accomplish the goal of maturity in Christ. Church leadership has the role of positive and negative discipline in the local church. Discipline is a complex issue because we are sinful people dealing with other sinful people. However, discipline is not always practiced in some churches, but he notes its benefits. Its aim is always restoration. The trouble is we tend to throw out the baby with the bath water. We are quick to punish, slow to restore.

Overall this is a helpful book in simulating one to think. It is a starting point for these issues. It is broad and what I would call a startup book to deeper study on these important subjects. It is a good survey on the issues. It gives much food for thought to the Pastor and church leadership. It is a welcome guide and survey on these subjects. It is readable, understandable, and helpful in spite of a few weaknesses.  

 I received this book from Kregel Academic in exchange for this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”