When it comes to church discipline, there are many who fear the confrontation and put off addressing any problems of sin. This is problematic as sin not addressed is going to be sin spreading to the rest of the church.

Peter says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Pt 4:8. The multitude of sins are covered, not ignored. Only the blood of Christ can “cover” sins if sinners repent. This is where fervent love comes in.

James says, “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19,20. Church discipline is the loving act of getting involved in scary and challenging situations that many would prefer to ignore. But there are not shortcuts in the ministry of God.

It’s interesting the way people address the topic of church discipline and forgiveness. The church discipline is bypassed and the forgiveness is then granted. Jesus said, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.’ Luke 17:3,4. The goal of church discipline is restoration and reconciliation of sinners to God and to the Brothers. This is the “covering” of a “multitude of sins” that happens when Christians confront sinners so they repent.

Notice that the first action is not to “forgive”. Jesus does not say, ‘If a brothers sins, forgive Him.’ That is leaving out the important steps of rebuking the sinner and the sinner repenting. God’s plan of reconciling and restoring can’t be ignored. Confronting sin is hard.

Paul confronted sin in 1 Corinthians 5. Until the brother put away sin, the Christians were not even to eat with such a one. The sin must be confronted.

Jesus said in Matthew 18 that if you see a brother caught in a trespass, go to him in private. And He says if the brother repents, you have won your brother. By ‘winning’ him, God is faithful to ‘cover the sin’ by His grace.

If we do as Peter said, ‘keep fervent in our love for one another’, our love will compel us to confront sin when we see it. And we understand that God’s grace will only cover the sins when the sinner turns in repentance.

So please don’t ignore sin. Fervent love does not ignore sin; it confronts it.

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