Vintage Church and Church Discipline

Vintage Church, by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Brashears, is an ecclesiology. It is a fair book, not great, disappointingly light on actual theology of the church. Most of the biblical interaction seems to take place by way of references listed in the footnotes, so there’s not a lot of comparative ecclesiology, and no real exegetical meat. So this is not a “must have” book (which is why I am returning it to the library).

However, in a book that purports to be about what the Bible teaches about the church, the section on church discipline was interesting. It asserts that “discipline is the responsibility of the church body, which includes Jesus Christ and the elders, deacons, and members of the church. Discipline is intended to bring believers in line with God’s standard for his glory, the progress of the kingdom, and the blessedness of the individual as well” (pp. 170-71).

So far, so good.

But, Jesus says that as a part of this process we are to “tell it to the church.”

At no place does Driscoll recommend following this direction from Jesus. He instead says that the church should set up a discipline court. I wondered about the biblical basis for this “discipline court” so I searched my concordance for “discipline court” and can’t find it. (Hey, if Driscoll can be sarcastic, I can too.) Turns out, the Bible does not seem to have much teaching on this “discipline court.” Jesus seemed to think that “the church” was sufficient. Paul seemed to agree in 1 Corinthians 5.

Jesus continues, “If he refuses to listen to the church.”

At no place, does Driscoll recommend following this direction from Jesus to let the church speak to its own member. Once again, it falls in the purview of this discipline court. Driscoll says, “If members of our church or those who regularly participate in church activities are found guilty, they may be dismissed from the church by the agreement of the elders court” (p. 182).

What does Jesus say? Only after failing to listen to the church, does Jesus say to treat them like a Gentile and tax collector.

Only by asserting that ekklesia really means “two elders appointed as a discipline court” can this be done. But I am sure that Driscoll doesn’t want to redefine ekklesia in such a manner.

What’s the point? It’s not really about Driscoll, though for someone who claims to build the church based on what Jesus teaches, this is a pretty glaring omission, and I know they have practiced church discipline there and it wasn’t well received.

It’s about church discipline. I think many churches who actually practice church discipline never tell the church and let the person hear from the church. Yes, it’s hard. But it’s what Jesus said to do.

I don’t think we have the prerogative to set up discipline courts in lieu of church bodies, which Jesus seemed to think was sufficient as a discipline court.

Part of the discipline process must be “tell it to the church.” If we don’t do that, we are not obeying Jesus.