Chapter 36—Church Discipline
Necessity of Discipline
Pastors having too little courage to reprove wrong are held
accountable for the evil that may result—Those who have too little
courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest
make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are
held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty.
We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in
others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority as if the acts had
been our own.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 578
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There will ever be a spirit to rise up against reproof—There
will ever be a spirit to rise up against the reproof of sins and wrongs.
But the voice of reproof should not be hushed because of this. Those
whom God has set apart as ministers of righteousness have solemn
responsibilities laid upon them to reprove the sins of the people. Paul
commanded Titus, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with
all authority. Let no man despise thee.” There are ever those who will
despise the one who dares to reprove sin. But when required, reproof
must be given. Paul directs Titus to rebuke a certain class sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith. And how shall the reproof be given?
Let the apostle answer: “With all long-suffering and doctrine.” The
one at fault must be shown that his course is not in harmony with the
Word of God. But never should the wrongs of God’s people be passed
by indifferently. Those who faithfully discharge their unpleasant duties
under a sense of their accountability to God, will receive his blessing.—
The Signs of the Times, September 16, 1880
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Those failing to reprove are not to be exalted—To exalt a min-
ister as perfection because he has not displeased any one by reproving
errors, not only brings a snare upon the minister, but brings disaster
upon the people. He who does not hurt the spiritual self-complacency
of the people is almost deified by them, while a devoted, faithful
servant of God, who lays bare the errors of the church-members, is
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