Chapter 26 - Of the Church
1689.26.13 The Orderly Conduct in the Local Church when offended
(1689.26.13) No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.26 26 Matt. 18:15-17; Eph. 4:2,3
This paragraph deals with a common sin against the government of the local church. It spells out the orderly conduct in settling any offence in the church. Christ's rule must prevail even in disputes, in the manner offences are settled. Common disorderly (sinful) conducts are noted and are to be avoided.
b. The prescribed duty towards the fellow member who has caused the offence, see Mt 18:15ff.
- Any offence must be settled orderly by the parties involved. The offended party must perform this duty prescribed by Christ Himself. After the offended party has performed this prescribed duty (the Confession assumes that there is a biblical and a functioning church government), what is the offended party to do and not to do?
1. Offences do happen among church members
a. “No church members, upon any offence taken by them…”
- The context is “No church members… fellow members…”: we are dealing with church members; these have voluntarily covenanted together, and subjected themselves to the rule of Christ in His church. These have privileges as well as responsibilities.
- Christ anticipated the problem to arise in His churches; He gave plain and specific instructions on how such issues are to be dealt with and resolved orderly, Mt 18:15ff
- Examples in the epistles: 1Cor 6:f; Ph 4:2
b. “… any offence taken by them…”
- 1Co 10:32 “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
- 2Co 6:3: “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.”
- Often offence is taken when there is none, or none should be taken. This is sad; grow up, cultivate a large heart.
- Often when offence is caused, it is justified or denied. This is perverse. Grow up, take responsibility! Sometimes, the justification become the greater offence! A simple apology would be have resolved the issue.
- Sometimes, offence is overlooked, and remembered no more, and borne with grace. That’s Christ-like. Is 53:7, 1Pe 2:21-23
- Make sure that there is indeed an offence before taking one; it is not wrong to take offence; the Scriptures acknowledge such reality of daily living.
2. The prescribed duties of the offended party to the offender
a. “… having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, …”
- If having taken an offence, you are duty bound to perform the duty you owe to the offender.
- So, don’t take offence if/when you are not prepared to discharge your duty towards the offender.
- It is not right to take offence, then nurse that offence in your injured heart, and nurse a grudge against the offending church member.
b. Matthew 18:15f prescribes detailed instruction on how YOU should deal with the fellow church member that has offended you. Please list in order the steps you are instructed by Christ to take to deal with the offender.
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c. There must be no anarchy! no contempt against Christ’s rule in His church. He is Lord, isn’t He?
- Wait on the orderly proceedings of the church government appointed by Christ to settle the matter.
- Even when offended, we are not set free from our obligation of obedience to the Lord and to His people.
3. The prescribed duties of the offended party to the church
a. “No church member... ought to…”
- “… disturb any church-order”
- “… absent themselves from the assemblies of the church…”
- “… (absent themselves from the) administration of any ordinances…”
- These happen all too often among church members; carnal responses. May our gracious Lord save us from such childishness.
- Let no offended party become the offending party in the above…
b. “…upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members…”
- the context of the above stated duties: being the legitimate offended party as a church member by another church member.
c. “… but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.”
- Mt 18:17: “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
- This assumes that the matter has been brought to the attention of the church by the offended party; it is now more than a personal matter; it has become a church matter.
- By bringing the matter to the attention of the church, there is implicit consent to let the church, under the order instituted by Christ to resolve the matter.
- “… to wait upon Christ…”: yes, wait upon Him, the Head and Lord of His church, quietly and orderly and peacefully. The government instituted by Him in the church will deal with the matter.
- While waiting, neglect not the duties in His church…
- While waiting, remember that as far as you are concerned, you have discharged your duties to the offending party. Hold your peace. No gossip. No tale-bearing, No grudges, etc.
- This way, Christ is honoured. Christ is the Head of the church. He has appointed the government in the church. Let His appointed government now sort out the matter according to the rule of Christ.
- Any other disorderly conduct shows that Christ's headship and presence in the church is rejected and denied.
