What would be the proper discipline? How should it be carried out?

Concerning Gal 1:8,9 was to “devote” (or putting) this person under the Lord's direct authority for Him to discipline the person directly. This text was the first to address this question directly with this person preaching an "other gospel".

I still don't know how discipline should be carried out in many cases for transgression, however I don't think discipline should be carried out concerning an individual not agreeing on fondamental beliefs. I could be wrong for I have never studied this question directly but it seems it would contradict some biblical principles that I know. That's the purpose of this study and still haven't gone thru all of MM's scriptures.

I do agree that the immature members and the unbelievers under the judgment of Christ needs to submit to the leadership of the body of Christ. But that is often a cliche that needs to be properly define like a)who constitute the body, b)what(or who) gives them that authority, c)how to judge transgression, and d)how to know what is the proper discipline.

I'm currently working on a post to address one of MM posts and will be sharing what I understand of a to d. Feel free to share any texts that does address this question.

Force should not be used. What is the definition of "force". The quote is in the context of Romanism that used government agencies and arms to "force" people to follow their dictates.

This isn't talking about basic doctrines believers of the church hold in common.
This is talking about people who seek to control others and dominate everything that happens in their church.
So what should be done when someone in the church is obnoxiously dominating, sharply cutting everyone else down so he can rule?

Should the congregation simply let him run over everyone and drive them out of the church?

I know what is usually done if there are God fearing people who are willing to stand for right in the church -- at the next nominating committee the obnoxious one is voted out of office. Then they really show their character defect and need for self exaltation with sparks flying everywhere because of the supposed injustice done to them.



Well, here it is quite clear, the person who is obnoxiously self asserting, cutting everyone else down so he can rule, needs to be disciplined by the Body.
At the next nominating committee he needs to be voted OUT of office.

These quotes are addressing the problem of a person with a great lack of humility which made the person unfit to lead in God's church.

It is not addressing how to deal with people who are systematically and purposely undermining the basic Biblical doctrines held by the church and causing confusion in the assemblies of worship and in our institutions of learning.

1) Who gave Paul the right, the authority to decide who is right and who is wrong? Discipline is based on whether or not members or leaders agree with Paul's version of the gospel (i.e. the fundamental beliefs of the Bible). Those who disagree with Paul, including angels, are subject to discipline.

2) If acursed means to hand over to Jesus it stands to reason being acursed is an improvement. It implies they were not in the loving hands of Jesus. Now they are. Does it pay to disagree with Paul and preach a different gospel? Paul did not considered himself acursed. Was he not in the loving hands of Jesus?

3) Here are other texts to consider. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 1 Cor 16:22. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor 12:3. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Rom 9:3. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. Gal 5:10. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Cor 5:13.

4) Paul handed some dissenters over to Satan. To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor 5:5. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1:20.

5) Paul wished that some dissenters got castrated (mutilated, emasculated) - banned from fellowship. Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? . . . I would they were even cut off which trouble you. Gal 5:7, 12. He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. Deut 23:1. Here Paul is dealing with the same thing that inspired him to write - "Let him be acursed."

6) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:31.

Ezekiel 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked [man], thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
33:10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Church Discipline

"In dealing with erring church-members, God's people are carefully to follow the instruction given by the Saviour in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew. [See Matthew 18:15-18.] {GW 498.1}

Human beings are Christ's property, purchased by Him at an infinite price, bound to Him by the love that He and His Father have manifested for them. How careful, then, we should be in our dealing with one another! Men have no right to surmise evil in regard to their fellow-men. Church-members have no right to follow their own impulses and inclinations in dealing with fellow-members who have erred....

"If thy brother shall trespass against thee," Christ declared, "go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone." Do not tell others of the wrong. One person is told, then another, and still another; and continually the report grows, and the evil increases, till the whole church is made to suffer. Settle the matter "between thee and him alone." This is God's plan. {GW 498.3}

"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath
put thee to shame. Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another." [Proverbs 25:8, 9.]
Do not suffer sin upon your brother; but do not expose him, and thus increase the difficulty, making the reproof seem like a revenge. Correct him in the way outlined in the word of God. {GW 498.4}

Do not suffer resentment to ripen into malice. Do not allow the wound to fester and break out in poisoned words, which taint the minds of those who hear. Do not allow bitter thoughts to continue to fill your mind and his. Go to your brother, and in humility and sincerity talk with him about the matter. {GW 499.1}

Whatever the character of the offense, this does not change the plan that God has made for the settlement of misunderstandings and personal injuries. Speaking alone and in the spirit of Christ to the one who is in fault, will often remove the difficulty. Go to the erring one, with a heart filled with Christ's love and sympathy, and seek to adjust the matter. Reason with him calmly and quietly. Let no angry words escape your lips. Speak in a way that will appeal to his better judgment. Remember the words, "He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." [James 5:20.] {GW 499.2}

Take to your brother the remedy that will cure the disease of disaffection. Do your part to help him. For the sake of the peace and unity of the church, feel it a privilege as well as a duty to do this. If he will hear you, you have gained him as a friend. {GW 499.3}

All heaven is interested in the interview between the one who has been injured and the one who is in
error. As the erring one accepts the reproof offered in the love of Christ, and acknowledges his wrong, asking forgiveness from God and from his brother, the sunshine of heaven fills his heart. The controversy is ended; friendship and confidence are restored. The oil of love removes the soreness caused by the wrong; the Spirit of God binds heart to heart; and there is music in heaven over the union brought about. {GW 499.4}

As those thus united in Christian fellowship offer prayer to God, and pledge themselves to deal justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, great blessing comes to them. If they have wronged others, they continue the work of repentance, confession, and restitution, fully set to do good to one another. This is the fulfilling of the law of Christ. {GW 500.1}

"But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." Take with you those who are spiritually minded, and talk with the one in error in regard to the wrong. He may yield to the united appeals of his brethren. As he sees their agreement in the matter, his mind may be enlightened. {GW 500.2}

"And if he shall neglect to hear them," what then shall be done? Shall a few persons in a board meeting take upon themselves the responsibility of disfellowshiping the erring one? "If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church." Let the church take action in regard to its members. {GW 500.3}

"But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican." If he will not heed the voice of the church, if he refuses all the efforts made to reclaim him, upon the church rests the responsibility of separating him from fellowship. His name should then be stricken from the books. {GW 500.4}

No church officer should advise, no committee should recommend, nor should any church vote, that the name of a wrong-doer shall be removed from the church books, until the instruction given by Christ has been faithfully followed. When this has been done, the church has cleared herself before God. The evil must then be made to appear as it is, and must be removed, that it may not become more and more widespread. The health and purity of the church must be preserved, that she may stand before God unsullied, clad in the robes of Christ's righteousness. {GW 501.1}

If the erring one repents and submits to Christ's discipline, he is to be given another trial. And even if he does not repent, even if he stands outside the church, God's servants still have a work to do for him. They are to seek earnestly to win him to repentance. And however aggravated may have been his offense, if he yields to the striving of the Holy Spirit, and by confessing and forsaking his sin gives evidence of repentance, he is to be forgiven and welcomed to the fold again. His brethren are to encourage him in the right way, treating him as they would wish to be treated were they in his place, considering themselves, lest they also be tempted. {GW 501.2}

"Verily I say unto you," Christ continued, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." {GW 501.3}

This statement holds its force in all ages. On the church has been conferred the power to act in Christ's stead. It is God's instrumentality for the preservation
of order and discipline among His people. To it the Lord has delegated the power to settle all questions respecting its prosperity, purity, and order. Upon it rests the responsibility of excluding from its fellowship those who are unworthy, who by their unchristlike conduct would bring dishonor on the truth. Whatever the church does that is in accordance with the directions given in God's word, will be ratified in heaven. {GW 502.1}

Well, when E.J. Waggoner brought his views about the Law in Galatians to Minneapolis in 1888, he was already judged as all wrong! Well, he was part right actually. Waggoner was just as right as those against him.

Ellen White later stated that "both" laws were used in Galatians. Meaning, both the ceremonial law and the Moral Law.

We do need to have a forum or platform of some-kind for those with more or different insights into Scripture and doctrine.

Yet, if someone is clearly believing and teaching contrary to the 28 FB's and refuses to repent, then at some point the church need to disfellowship them.

I guess my biggest problem is there wasn't 28 in the past. Someone teaching against the 28th wouldn't be disfellowshiped then, but they would now? What about when the 29th comes out?

It doesn't matter how many times the truth is divided and subdivided. The Bible enumerates doctrines and counsels us to faithfully defend them:


The 28FB reflect the sound doctrines articulated in the Bible. There is not one thread of human devising or invention in the 28FB. They are pure, solid truth. People who understand them and reject them are guilty of rejecting Bible truth.