(30) Of Church Censures

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant" (Heb. 12:11). Few people would argue with that assessment. But this simple observation makes a profound point. When we only care about comfort in the moment we make poor decisions regarding our future. We don't like discipline—in our personal lives, family lives, or church lives—because it hurts. So we trade-away long-term benefits in exchange for short-term pleasure. Clearly this is unwise.

The writer goes on. "But later [discipline] yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." No well-balanced person enjoys painful discipline. None of us like to be rebuked or corrected. No tender-hearted authority enjoys administering discipline. But discipline is necessary for our good. So it shouldn't surprise us that a loving God requires discipline in the church.