| abstract
| - Church discipline consist of a series of every widening circles as described in the links section below. To use Dan Frederick's scheme [1] THE PROCESS In consideration of delineating the process of corrective care, there are a number of ways to outline the progressive steps. For this article I offer the following format, suggesting that four levels may be established. It must be emphasized once again that the goal is not punishment, but restoration to fellowship with the Lord and with the fellowship of believers. The Personal Level It is first of all PERSONAL. As the result of any real offense by one person to another, a personal addressing of the issue is required. A one-on-one communication of concern which, 1) reveals the nature of the offense, and 2) does so with the purpose of reconciliation and restoration of the relationship. At this personal level the issue need not become known apart from the persons directly affected. The issue is dealt with biblically and the relationship is restored. The Private Level If, however, there is not a positive response of confession, forgiveness and restoration, it becomes necessary to take the matter to a second level, involving one or two additional people, in an arranged, yet still PRIVATE manner. The matter remains restricted to a select few, again with the goal of reconciliation and restoration. The Public Level Should all attempts at the first and second levels fail, which includes an unspecified length of time and an unspecified number of attempts, it eventually becomes necessary to make the matter known to the wider fellowship of believers at a PUBLIC level. Again, the purpose is to achieve humble repentance for the reconciliation and restoration of all concerned. The "Putting Out" Level As the last step, the regretful final course of action, the erring person, or persons, may need to be put out of the fellowship, commensurate with the displayed disregard for biblical correction, and treated as an unbeliever. Again, this is for the purpose of correcting a disobedient believer and seeking repentance, reconciliation and restoration, while preserving and protecting the purity of Christ's Bride and Body. This pattern, or process, is clearly reiterated in the epistles in such passages as 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Titus 1:10-14. These passages reveal the elements of the corrective care process, including 1.
* a motivation of concern for the purity of the body in doctrine and personal living, 2.
* a careful and principled response to the discovery of error in the body, 3.
* specific efforts made to correct the error (over a reasonable time span by necessary witnesses), 4.
* the restoration to fellowship of believers who repent upon spiritual admonition and instruction, or 5.
* separation of fellowship from the erring believer until repentance is achieved and restoration becomes possible.
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