APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY, CHURCH DISCIPLINE AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS



APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY, CHURCH DISCIPLINE AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
Mary Ann Wray

I came across an interesting passage of scripture today that led me to a study on Church Discipline. The Apostle Paul actually 'handed over to Satan' certain men who were blasphemers and had defected from the faith so they would learn not to do so. Paul did this more than once as a form of discipline, not revenge or as a personal vendetta for certain church members who were causing great harm to the furtherance of the gospel (delivering people over to Satan). Another time was noted in 1 Cor 5: 1-5 regarding sexual immorality. 

 The early Church had a healthy dose of the Fear of the Lord! This was no mamby pamby brand of Christianity. We see Peter operating under this type of authority in Acts 5: 1-10. The bottom line is what Jesus said Himself, "It's better to enter into eternity with loss of a thing that caused you to sin then enter into eternal Hell-fire with your pride 'intact' (Mark 9: 43; Matthew 5: 30). Lord, do we ever need this type of Authority in the earth today rather than 'winking' at all kinds of sin that create deformity to the Gospel, division in God’s House and sexual leaven in the church!

 I believe the Apostles didn't care a bit about themselves 'personally'. I believe these men of God were so sold out to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they would do whatever was necessary to preserve it and the corresponding move of God. They loved not their lives unto death. They were ready to die for the cause but they weren’t going to sit idly by while unconsecrated men attacked the veracity of Jesus’ testimony to the Church! These disciplinary actions weren’t about them personally, but about the souls they were assigned to win through preaching the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus Christ. These men were not 'politically correct' so they didn’t care about offending flesh; but rather defending the gospel!

 I truly believe that we are entering a Church Era similar to what the early church experienced. “The Glory of the Latter House will be greater than the former”, Haggai 2: 9, says. God’s Glory brings a weight of severity as well as love. You can’t play around with God when His Glory falls. Therefore, I believe in the next wave and move of God we will see some of the things they saw in the early Church including persecution that has already begun. However, let’s not forget that the more the early church was persecuted, the more it grew in numbers of souls being added as the fear of the Lord gripped every heart! (2 Cor 5: 11-15)

 "Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." 1 Timothy 1: 18-20
“Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4: 14-18

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." Romans 16: 17

"Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events." Acts 5: 9-10

 "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out." Mark 9: 43

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