Discipline in the Church
Discipline. A word that evokes respect in many spheres of life but, sadly, fear and contempt within local churches. We admire athletes who endure rigorous training, businessmen who structure their lives with relentless discipline, and scholars who dedicate themselves to years of study – look at some of the comments of such people on YouTube. Yet, when it comes to discipline in the Christian faith, it is often dismissed as legalistic, unnecessary, or even harmful. It is sad that many Christians glorify discipline in other pursuits – health, finances, beauty, sports, combat, careers, and the like. However, discipline in church is frowned upon, even demonized by some. Yet God’s word teaches clearly that godliness is IMPOSSIBLE without discipline.
The Necessity of Christian Discipline
Christian discipline is not an optional extra. It is the God-ordained means of growth, maturity, and ultimate perfection in Christ. There is no other way to godliness. No shortcuts. No alternative doors. Christianity is a call to discipleship, and discipleship requires discipline. The cost of discipline is high, but the cost of neglecting it is far greater. If you desire to be like Christ, you must be willing to embrace the structured, Spirit-led, formative, and corrective discipline that God has ordained for your growth.
Jesus: The Model of Discipline
Jesus Himself, the perfect model of humanity, lived a life of discipline – from His early years in the temple (Luke 2:46-52), to His prayer life (Mark 1:35), to His unwavering obedience to the Father (John 6:38). In contrast to the life modelled by the Lord Jesus, modern Christianity often seeks a ‘softer’ approach – worship without sacrifice, faith without effort, and sanctification without self-denial. But grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.
Grace and Effort
Many Christians struggle to grasp the relationship between grace and effort, fearing that striving for godliness contradicts salvation by grace alone. However, this is a misunderstanding, and allow me to take a short detour here to clarify this misconception. While grace is never earned, it inevitably produces effort. Scripture is clear that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, apart from works. Ephesians 2:8-9 states this explicitly, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The Bible teaches that grace does not nullify the necessity of obedience and discipline; rather, it establishes them. While Ephesians 2:9 demolishes any notion of merit-based salvation, the very next verse reveals that grace does not exclude works; rather, it prepares and enables them, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). Grace is most certainly the foundation of works. Grace does not abolish effort – it demands it. We need to grasp that human effort follows grace, but it never precedes it. Grace saves, and that same grace produces the Christian’s works that reflect salvation.
Thus a distorted view of grace leads to spiritual laziness or complacency, while Biblical grace is transformative – look at Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Grace does not lead to passivity; it actively teaches us to reject sin and pursue godliness. Thus, I repeat, grace is not against effort; it is just not earned or bought. Grace is worked out! The disciplined pursuit of Biblical Christlikeness is not legalism – it is obedience. The dutiful evidence that a Christian has been saved is that he grows in obedience, in sanctification, in working out his salvation with fear trembling.
The Path to Godliness
Going back to our subject of discipline, you can now see how it becomes the means for the maturity of every Christian. Paul exhorted Timothy, “…exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8). The word exercise (Greek: gumnazo [think of the gym]) implies rigorous training, the same word used for an athlete’s discipline. Paul is not teaching salvation by works, but that godliness requires exertion. The Christian, enabled by grace, strives toward holiness (Philippians 2:12-13). The goal of Christian discipline is Christlikeness. A truly disciplined Christian is one who reflects the character of Christ. This is summarized in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A person disciplined by God and by His word will inevitably look like Jesus Himself! So what does this Christian discipline look like?
Features of Christian Discipline
- It is structured, not arbitrary.
Just as a builder follows a blueprint, so must a Christian follow God’s Word and the means He has prescribed, chiefly, the ordinary means of grace, that is, the preached word, prayer, Scripture reading, fellowship, and service through their own gifts. I challenge every Christian to have a track record of their own discipline – to be able to show how they attain godliness after the pattern of the Bible. A disciple without discipline is a contradiction. - It is gradual, not hasty.
Spiritual growth does not happen overnight. Sanctification is not an instant transformation, but a lifelong process, like a tree that grows steadily over time. As believers persevere in prayer, Scripture, and obedience, the Holy Spirit progressively exposes deep-rooted sins that must be mortified, revealing the depth of the heart’s corruption and conforming the believer more and more to the image of Christ. Through patience and endurance, godliness is perfected, not in a moment, but with time. Time itself is a God’s gift, allowing for growth, repentance, and refinement, so that no lesson is rushed, and no virtue is shallowly developed – the aim is that the Christian would be deeply rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). God is not in a hurry, but He is thorough. - It is truthful, not deceitful.
True discipline does not deceive itself with surface-level godliness or hypocritical outward shows of piety. It requires honesty about weaknesses and a willingness to confront one’s own sin (James 1:22-25). Some Christians hypocritically wear masks of godliness, outwardly displaying their supposed devotion while neglecting true spiritual discipline, deceiving others and even themselves – woe to them (Matthew 23:27-28). They may appear knowledgeable in Scripture, active in church, or morally upright, yet behind the façade, they avoid the hard work of prayer, repentance, and obedience, leaving their hearts unchanged and immature (James 1:22-24). Without genuine discipline, their faith remains shallow, and though they claim to grow, they remain in spiritual retardation, never attaining true godliness (Hebrews 5:12-14). Christian discipline is not about appearing godly, but about actually becoming godly. - It is intentional, not accidental.
Godliness requires deliberate action and thoughtful engagement. No one becomes godly by simply existing as a Christian, or just having a Christian name or Christian parents, as we see in other religions, just as one does not just ‘stumble’ into an Olympic gold by watching or attending the event merely. A disciplined Christian does not wait for spiritual maturity to happen but actively pursues it with purpose. Godliness requires planning, goal-setting, and a life ordered around the pursuit of Christ (Philippians 3:12-14). Whether it is in Bible reading, or in prayer, or in tracking godly (or ungodly) habits in a bid to grow spiritually, every Christian needs a plan, an eternal plan I must say. An undisciplined approach to godliness would be like hoping to accidentally wake up one day with a deep knowledge of Scripture, an unwavering prayer life, or victory over sin. Christianity is not Narnia (though I love the book series)! - It is diligent, not lazy.
The Christian life is often compared to a race (Hebrews 12:1-2), requiring endurance and effort, not sluggishness. Diligence involves working hard at something. Just as an athlete disciplines his body for victory, the Christian must discipline his body and soul for holiness. Proverbs 12:24 says, “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.” Spiritual laziness is the greatest enemy of godliness. I have often told members of my church at Upendo Gospel Community Church that there is nothing like a spiritual break–in matters of Christian growth, you are either progressing or regressing. If you are stagnant spiritually, chances are that you are dead! - It is Spirit-led, not unspiritual.
This is in contrast to worldly and selfish kinds of discipline, which, though they may share external similarities with Christian discipline, are fundamentally different in their purpose and source. Worldly discipline often seeks personal glory, self-preservation, and proud boasting, driven by human ambition and self-interest. Christian discipline, however, is rooted in a love for Christ, obedience to His Word, and a desire for holiness. It is not merely about self-improvement but about transformation by the Spirit, aligning one’s heart, mind, and actions with God’s will. Christian discipline is not a fleshly endeavor but a Spirit-driven one. The Holy Spirit convicts, empowers, and sustains the believer in the pursuit of godliness (Galatians 5:16-25). To be disciplined in the flesh is exhausting; to be disciplined in the Spirit is life-giving. - It is painful at present but it sweetens eternity!
We all endure present hardship for future gain. In Scripture, Christians are encouraged to view trials and tribulations as opportunities for spiritual growth and eternal reward. The discipline God imparts may be painful at the moment, but it ultimately yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Furthermore, Christians are urged to actively participate in their own sanctification through self-discipline. This may involve denying fleshly desires, as Paul described “beating his body and making it his slave,” to maintain spiritual focus. It also extends to the practice of church discipline. This includes both formative discipline, aimed at shaping and molding believers into Christlikeness, and corrective discipline, intended to restore those who have strayed from the faith. Ultimately, the goal of all discipline, whether administered by God or by fellow believers, is to conform Christians to the image of Christ. This process, though often taxing, leads to the eternal benefits of inheriting the Kingdom of God and enjoying the assurance of intimate communion with God.
Formative and Corrective Discipline
The Bible primarily speaks of two essential aspects of Christian discipline: formative and corrective discipline. Both are necessary for spiritual growth.
1. Formative Discipline: Training in Righteousness
Formative discipline refers to the intentional practices that shape a Christian’s daily walk. It is proactive and involves spiritual habits that cultivate godliness. Practically, this includes daily prayer, reading and meditating on Scripture, regular fellowship especially on the Lord’s Day, lovingly serving others, submitting to Apostolic preaching and teaching, and seeking pastoral counseling to keep us accountable to God’s standard for his church. A Christian without formative discipline is like a soldier without training—unprepared, vulnerable, and ineffective.
2. Corrective Discipline: The Loving Rod of Restoration
While formative discipline is proactive, corrective discipline is reactive—it addresses sin and restores the believer. God, in His love, disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:5-11). The following are some ways we ought to see it practiced in our churches:
- Self-examination – A Christian must regularly evaluate his life in light of Scripture. This is especially crucial when one comes to the Lord’s Table.
- Church discipline – This is a highly neglected but biblical aspect of discipleship. Church discipline is not punishment; it is restoration. This includes public warnings/rebukes, and excommunication.
- Endurance in trials (James 1:2-4) – God providentially uses suffering to refine and mature His people.
A Christian who refuses corrective discipline is like a child who resents his father’s instruction—he remains foolish and immature.
Final Exhortation
Dear saint, will you discipline yourself for godliness, or will you settle to being a retarded Christian? God calls us to more than mere belief – He calls us to obey, to be godly, to be perfect as He is perfect. This transformation requires discipline. This is the way!
