Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 3
The Anabaptists tied excommunication to nonviolence—“we may have to expel him, but…we want him to come back”; how does that goal reshape what church discipline is for, and what would have to change in our instincts when someone is “potentially corrupting the church”?
Another way to ask: If excommunication is meant to help someone come back, how does that change the purpose of church discipline? What would we need to change in ourselves when we think someone is harming the church?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests church discipline is meant to protect the church while still aiming at restoration, not destruction. If the goal is “we want him to come back,” our instinct must shift from eliminating a threat to treating a drifting brother as someone to win back.
- The speaker describes their approach to doctrinal error: “If somebody happens to have the wrong doctrinal view, they work with him.”
- If he doesn’t change: “they may excommunicate him, but they will not use the sword.”
- They “tied together the concept of excommunication” with the point that discipline may be needed, “but you don’t kill them.”
- Even if someone is “potentially corrupting the church,” they would say: “We may have to expel him, but we expel him and we try to treat him in a way that he may come back. We want him to come back.”
- The stated foundation is enemy-love: “the whole reason was because of love. We love our enemies.”