Called to be Holy – The Discipline of the Church, by Jeremy Walker (Banner of Truth, 2023).

A book on discipline might not sound the most exciting read, but this little booklet is really excellent. Walker reminds us that discipline is not only corrective, but is also formative. That is, it is an ongoing, purposeful way of living as a church in loving unity (such as parenting is a purposeful providing of boundaries and structures to family life). This formative discipline is key to church unity, it is the process by which each member of the church invests in one another, and it is the natural expression of loving fellowship. Each member in that sense is always under discipline, always seeking to promote faith, righteousness and unity in the church individually and corporately.

As in a family sometimes corrective discipline may also be required. Walker shows clearly a number of reasons why corrective discipline is necessary for the good of the Church and the glory of God, and the Biblical principles that should be followed.

All discipline, both formative and corrective should be motivated by love, and indeed,

the absence of discipline reveals the absence of love itself, the absence of belonging, of relationship.

(page 14)

In fact, discipline should be a constant feature of church life…

Discipline itself is not divisive when righteously practised and embraced by the church. It is actually a means of securing and maintaining true unity. Church discipline must be concerned with unity of fellowship.

(page 24)

This is only a small booklet, less than 50 pages, and as such it gets straight to the point without waffle or preamble! Although the focus is on discipline, it also serves as a great reminder of the blessings of true church fellowship. Let me finish with a final quote to encourage us all to be active in the discipline of our churches…

If we are to be faithful to Christ, to one another, and to the world around us, discipline must be part of our life as church members… Are you ready to discipline and be disciplined? Do you cheerfully and willingly embrace all aspects of formative discipline? Do you delight yourself in giving and receiving the ‘one anothers’ of vibrant and vital church membership? Do you enter into all that it means to belong to the body of Christ? Here the preaching and teaching of God’s word is central. Here the open, transparent, humble interaction of the saints produces fruit, as we grind off and knock off one another’s rough edges, sometimes quite unconsciously, sometimes more deliberately. And, when sin erupts, when transgression stubbornly breaks the bounds of more normal interaction, the church – it’s members and officers – must step up, individually and corporately.

(page 46)

Lorna