Church discipline no longer practiced in most Protestant churches: Survey

RileyG said:

Well...I guess it depends how people view Holy Communion in modern times? I dunno.

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It does, but that's not necessarily a negative thing. Having a transactional view of grace, as presented in some traditional Catholic or Protestant settings, isn't really in keeping with the idea of salvation as something relational and healing. Outward conformity isn't the same as developing inward virtue, sometimes it just masks hypocrisy. Repentance can't be reduced to outward conformity, actual human beings are complicated. That's why people go seek out spiritual direction, some things are more complicated than what can be covered by broad, universalized rules.

Just keep in mind that Jesus himself tolerated people in the congregation he had formed that misunderstood him, or used his presence instrumentally, even betrayed him. But he never said "you don't belong here", even if sometimes he had to point out how they were misguided or wrong.

Ignatius the Kiwi said:

Was Saint Paul wrong to publicly shame the man in Corinth who slept with his father's wife?

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RileyG said:

Nope!

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Would the two of you like to know the rest of the story?

Prior to the public shaming the girl had privately repented to her parents, the pastor and the deacons.

Was the church in my post wrong to publicly shame the pregnant young girl even though she had privately repented?

You may be shocked to learn the girl didn't become pregnant all on her own!! There was a boy involved as well!

Was the church wrong to not publicly shame the boy, just give him a private lecture and chalk it up to "boys will be boys"?

Does it sound the church fully followed Mat: 18?

They certainly embraced the public shaming, but does it sound like they acted in love toward the young girl and fully followed Mat: 18?

I anxiously await your views on this...

In the meantime, here is an article that does a good job talking about how the public shaming part of church discipline can go wrong and how to prevent it..

JustaPewFiller said:

Would the two of you like to know the rest of the story?

Prior to the public shaming the girl had privately repented to her parents, the pastor and the deacons.

Was the church in my post wrong to publicly shame the pregnant young girl even though she had privately repented?

You may be shocked to learn the girl didn't become pregnant all on her own!! There was a boy involved as well!

Was the church wrong to not publicly shame the boy, just give him a private lecture and chalk it up to "boys will be boys"?

Does it sound the church fully followed Mat: 18?

They certainly embraced the public shaming, but does it sound like they acted in love toward the young girl and fully followed Mat: 18?

I anxiously await your views on this...

In the meantime, here is an article that does a good job talking about how the public shaming part of church discipline can go wrong and how to prevent it..

Church discipline gone wrong: more common than you think (COMMENTARY)

(RNS) There is an epidemic of mishandled church discipline cases. I was a victim of one 13 years ago.

religionnews.com

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I am simply wanting to know the limits. Do you think shaming others is something the Church should not do ever? Or are there times where members can be publically shamed such as the case of the Corinthian man? Shame, making others feel bad for their sin, is not necessarily wrong. It is often a corrective means for the sinner and a warning to others.

Ignatius the Kiwi said:

I am simply wanting to know the limits. Do you think shaming others is something the Church should not do ever? Or are there times where members can be publically shamed such as the case of the Corinthian man? Shame, making others feel bad for their sin, is not necessarily wrong. It is often a corrective means for the sinner and a warning to others.

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..and I am simply still anxiously awaiting you to answer the questions I asked. Which you seem to be avoiding doing for some reason?

BUT, I will extend the courtesy of answering yours..

IF you had read the my post before the article I said, "In the meantime, here is an article that does a good job talking about how the public shaming part of church discipline can go wrong and how to prevent it.."

In that article it sums up my views on it rather nicely and sums up my views (and answers your questions) probably better than I could. It says..

Church discipline, according to Matthew 18, is a three-step process that outlines what to do in order to bring reconciliation for a Christian who has strayed from following the Lord and is living in sin

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. — Matt. 18:15 (Confront him in an effort for him to change.)

But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. — Matt. 18:16 (If step No. 1 doesn’t work, bring some people with you to confront him in order for him to be reconciled.)

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile or tax collector. — Matt. 18:17 (If bringing him before the church doesn’t bring repentance, do not welcome him at church any longer.)

This may seem harsh, but it can be a very beautiful thing if it is done with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. The point is not to condemn anyone; restoration must be the mindset. Some churches don’t factor the grace of God into these decisions at all, while some go to the other extreme, choosing never to use church discipline because of fear of negative perception. We must be balanced, using church discipline when needed (severe cases in which a person is completely unrepentant) and approach every situation with grace. Were it not for the grace of God, we could be in the same situation.


Unfortunately, Satan can get into this process easily, and if it is not done carefully, those who desperately need the support of the church can become victims of a process gone wrong. This is far more prevalent than you may think in our churches, but rarely discussed.

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Now that I have answered your questions I have a few more for you.

Will you address them or deflect again?

Should shaming always be done in cases of church discpline?
Should public still shaming happen even if the person has done exactly what Mat 18:15 or Mat 18:16 lays out?
Should it always go to Mat 18:17 regardless?
Is it always a perfectly ran process implemented and oversaw by perfect people with perfect results without any danger of doing more harm than good? IF the answer is no, then perhaps could it be said that NOT jumping straight into it would be wise?
What should be done if it is handled badly as in the case of my example or in the article I linked?

@RileyG at least partly answered with an acknowledgment a double standard can exist. Perhaps implying the possibility that the implementation of the process can sometimes be flawed and produce harm rather than good. @RileyG is that correct or am I going too far in my assumption?

Once again, I anxiously await your answers.
I have, at the very least, given a good faith effort to answer your questions. Surely you can extend the same to me?

Edit - if you think I am passionate about this - you are correct. From what I've seen, if shaming is used without proper care it becomes twisted into a club used to harm rather than a tool for repentance and restoration.

ozso said:

Other than asking someone to not attend church there, what form of discipline is being talked about? Grounding them? Sending them to bed without supper? Taking away their video game console? Public shaming them?

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When I was a young, the original records of our church surfaces. I remember being at the house of some friends of my parents as they read them. I don't recall how far back they went. The congregation dated to the early 1800. What I recall was the term "run off" used for some members. Later, realized that that was likely a reference to the church discipline commanded by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-20, and recommended by Paul in ! Corinthians 18:5-13. Paul also described in 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 restoring a disciplined member. Apparently, when the church noted a member was "run off," that was turning them out of the church.

I'm also aware of some who weren't buried in the cemetery proper. That goes back at least to Medieval Europe.

Paul, in warning that a little yeast will spread through the whole dough, illustrates the problem of lack of church discipline. The closest I saw to it and realized what I was seeing was when a store came up for a liquor license. Under state law, if a store was within such-and-such miles of a religious establishment, the religious establishment could veto the license. The deacons decided they could not oppose it. That's because there was a church member within that same distance who sold liquor and no one said boo about it. Partaking of alcoholic beverages is no big deal in many denominations, but is frowned on in others. By not taking a stand with a church member on something the church disagreed with, the church could no longer decry the same thing done by others.

Michie said:

While most U.S. Protestant churches have policies in place to address significant misbehavior by members, formalized church discipline is rarely practiced, according to newly released data from Lifeway Research.

The survey, conducted among over 1,000 Protestant pastors between August and September 2024, found that one in six pastors reported their church had disciplined a member in the past year.

“The infrequency of church discipline is not because church members aren’t sinning,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Church discipline typically occurs when a member is not repentant for a sin or is no longer qualified for a role because of sin.”

Continued below.

Church discipline no longer practiced in most Protestant churches: Survey

While most U S Protestant churches have policies in place to address significant misbehavior by members, formalized church discipline is rarely practiced, according to newly released data from

www.christianpost.com

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Thanks for sharing this important and sobering research. Honestly, this highlights a massive issue in today’s Church one that we can no longer afford to ignore.

Church discipline isn’t about being harsh, judgmental, or policing people's lives. It’s a biblical mandate rooted in love, holiness, and restoration. Jesus Himself laid the groundwork for it in Matthew 18:15–17, not as a suggestion, but as a process meant to protect the Church and help bring a wandering brother or sister back to repentance.


So, when we read that only 1 in 6 churches practiced discipline in the past year, we shouldn’t feel comforted we should feel convicted. It’s not because sin has disappeared from our congregations. It’s because we’ve grown uncomfortable with confrontation, confused grace with passivity, and traded accountability for attendance.


Many churches today are more concerned with not offending anyone than with guarding the flock. But Paul was crystal clear in 1 Corinthians 5 when he rebuked the Corinthian church for tolerating open sin. He didn’t say, “Just love them anyway and hope they change.” He said, “Don’t you know a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (v. 6). He understood that unaddressed sin doesn’t just hurt the sinner it weakens the whole body.


And yet, discipline when done biblically is never about shame. It’s always redemptive. Galatians 6:1 calls us to restore those caught in sin “gently,” but it still calls us to do something.


We can't say we follow the Bible while ignoring the parts that make us uncomfortable. If our churches aren't practicing church discipline when it’s needed, we’re not just being lenient we're being disobedient.


This isn’t a call to create a culture of legalism. It’s a call to return to spirit-filled accountability. It’s time for the Church to stop fearing man and start fearing God again because a holy Church is a powerful Church.


What are your thoughts? Do you think fear of backlash or misunderstanding is why so many pastors avoid biblical discipline?

@JustaPewFiller > I have edited this since ones have read this and rated it >

JustaPewFiller said:

Should shaming always be done in cases of church discpline?

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no.

JustaPewFiller said:

Should public still shaming happen even if the person has done exactly what Mat 18:15 or Mat 18:16 lays out?

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No. As soon as the person repents, that is the end of it . . . except we pray for the person, maybe talk with the person about how the person is doing. Likely the person can still fail again, however, and will need encouragement.

And when the Corinthian man repented, it seems, Paul called for an end to the shaming.

JustaPewFiller said:

Should it always go to Mat 18:17 regardless?

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nope. Jesus is clear that if you handle it in private with the person, that is enough. "But if he will not hear" (in Matthew 18:16) . . . then take it further, but to the church only if the person does not hear you alone or after you take it on to witnesses.

JustaPewFiller said:

Is it always a perfectly ran process implemented and oversaw by perfect people with perfect results without any danger of doing more harm than good? IF the answer is no, then perhaps could it be said that NOT jumping straight into it would be wise?

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You should have proven people who know what they are doing. Here is what God's word says works >

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

So, a "spiritual" person has the ability of God to ***r~e~s~t~o~r~e*** a person out of "any" sin problem. Know who is able to do this, and become like this person, how this person ministers this to you.

And how might this restoration ministry work?

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." (Ephesians 4:31)

Whatever is wrong, God is able to put away what helps cause the problem. You do not try to treat it, or pacify it, or soothe it, but get rid of it, as God's almighty love also does against fear >

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." (in 1 John 4:18)

God's love almighty easily casts out any fear with its "torment" of one's personality. And God is easily able to get rid of any lust of any sin problem.

So, I would say the "spiritual" person depends on how God does this, in order to restore someone in any sin trouble.

JustaPewFiller said:

What should be done if it is handled badly as in the case of my example or in the article I linked?

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You make sure you pray for the people who are wrong; even if ones abuse you, Jesus expects us to care about and forgive and have hope for wrong people, including > "bless those who curse you," He says in Matthew 5:44 and in Luke 6:28. Do not blame them for however you might have gotten hurt and then kept suffering on and on and on > I mean, do not allow wrong people to have power over you to decide how you do. If/when we fail in this, trust God to remove all the bad stuff which is tormenting us >

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." (in 1 John 4:18)

As soon as you see how shamers themselves are wrong, be wise to that, right away. And trust God to take care of you the right way. It is not wise to let wrong people decide how we are and how much we suffer.

"'And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.'" (Mark 11:25)

Get with God, about it, and pray until you are clear with God Himself. Then find people who are for real. And tell them how you were wrong, and see however they are able to help you do better.

JustaPewFiller said:

From what I've seen, if shaming is used without proper care it becomes twisted into a club used to harm rather than a tool for repentance and restoration.

Click to expand...

And yet . . . such people do not represent how Jesus has His real leaders handle things; so in case you while sinning got with the wrong people . . . get right with God and get with the right people.

Depend on God to do real correction in you, and how He is able to get rid of the various anti-love things of anger and hurts and unforgiveness. And discover how He has you become able to love and forgive as family in Jesus >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

If ones where you are do not help to minister you into this, find people who do help you to get real correction and to find out how to love. But do have hope for those who have not been right > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).

pastorwaris said:

Thanks for sharing this important and sobering research. Honestly, this highlights a massive issue in today’s Church one that we can no longer afford to ignore.

Church discipline isn’t about being harsh, judgmental, or policing people's lives. It’s a biblical mandate rooted in love, holiness, and restoration. Jesus Himself laid the groundwork for it in Matthew 18:15–17, not as a suggestion, but as a process meant to protect the Church and help bring a wandering brother or sister back to repentance.


So, when we read that only 1 in 6 churches practiced discipline in the past year, we shouldn’t feel comforted we should feel convicted. It’s not because sin has disappeared from our congregations. It’s because we’ve grown uncomfortable with confrontation, confused grace with passivity, and traded accountability for attendance.


Many churches today are more concerned with not offending anyone than with guarding the flock. But Paul was crystal clear in 1 Corinthians 5 when he rebuked the Corinthian church for tolerating open sin. He didn’t say, “Just love them anyway and hope they change.” He said, “Don’t you know a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (v. 6). He understood that unaddressed sin doesn’t just hurt the sinner it weakens the whole body.


And yet, discipline when done biblically is never about shame. It’s always redemptive. Galatians 6:1 calls us to restore those caught in sin “gently,” but it still calls us to do something.


We can't say we follow the Bible while ignoring the parts that make us uncomfortable. If our churches aren't practicing church discipline when it’s needed, we’re not just being lenient we're being disobedient.


This isn’t a call to create a culture of legalism. It’s a call to return to spirit-filled accountability. It’s time for the Church to stop fearing man and start fearing God again because a holy Church is a powerful Church.


What are your thoughts? Do you think fear of backlash or misunderstanding is why so many pastors avoid biblical discipline?

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Discipline needs to be exercised with discernment, especially in the modern age, not operating from an ideology of biblical fundamentalism ("the Bible says it, that settles it"). If your "discipline" is fundamentally about ego, about the need to control other people and make them manageable on your terms, it's fundamentally harmful and anti-Christ.

FireDragon76 said:

Discipline needs to be exercised with discernment, especially in the modern age, not operating from an ideology of biblical fundamentalism ("the Bible says it, that settles it"). If your "discipline" is fundamentally about ego, about the need to control other people and make them manageable on your terms, it's fundamentally harmful and anti-Christ.

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Thank you for your thoughtful comment. You’ve raised an important concern about the spirit in which church discipline is carried out, and I wholeheartedly agree that any form of discipline must be rooted in love, humility, and spiritual discernment not ego or a desire to control. If discipline becomes about power or pride, it absolutely becomes toxic and contrary to the Spirit of Christ.


That said, I’d also like to challenge the notion that biblical church discipline itself is a relic of “fundamentalism” or inherently oppressive. It’s not about legalism or manipulation; rather, it’s a biblical command rooted in love and restoration. When Jesus says in Matthew 18:15–17, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault… if he listens to you, you have gained your brother,” He’s not teaching control He’s showing us the path of redemptive love.


The Apostle Paul didn’t shy away from discipline either not because he was ego-driven, but because he genuinely cared for the spiritual health of the Church. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addressed serious sin not because he wanted to condemn, but because he desired repentance, restoration, and protection for the body of Christ.


You’re absolutely right that discernment is key. Not every issue requires public rebuke or removal from fellowship. Church discipline should never be about embarrassing or shaming people it should be about calling them back to life in Christ. But at the same time, to neglect all forms of discipline under the banner of compassion is to allow sin to fester unchecked, which ultimately harms the Church and dishonors God.


We live in a culture that increasingly sees any correction as judgmental or harsh, but Scripture calls us to a higher love a love that speaks the truth even when it’s hard. Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves.” In the same way, the church should be a place of grace and truth not one or the other.


So I think we need to be honest: the problem today isn’t that too many churches are abusing discipline it’s that many are avoiding it altogether out of fear of backlash or cultural pressure. The result is a weakened, compromised witness.


Let’s not throw out the biblical model because some have mishandled it. Instead, let’s redeem it practice discipline with humility, wisdom, love, and always with the goal of restoration. That’s not anti-Christ that’s Christ’s very heart for His Church.

Blessings to you as we continue to sharpen one another in love.

pastorwaris said:

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. You’ve raised an important concern about the spirit in which church discipline is carried out, and I wholeheartedly agree that any form of discipline must be rooted in love, humility, and spiritual discernment not ego or a desire to control. If discipline becomes about power or pride, it absolutely becomes toxic and contrary to the Spirit of Christ.


That said, I’d also like to challenge the notion that biblical church discipline itself is a relic of “fundamentalism” or inherently oppressive. It’s not about legalism or manipulation; rather, it’s a biblical command rooted in love and restoration. When Jesus says in Matthew 18:15–17, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault… if he listens to you, you have gained your brother,” He’s not teaching control He’s showing us the path of redemptive love.


The Apostle Paul didn’t shy away from discipline either not because he was ego-driven, but because he genuinely cared for the spiritual health of the Church. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul addressed serious sin not because he wanted to condemn, but because he desired repentance, restoration, and protection for the body of Christ.


You’re absolutely right that discernment is key. Not every issue requires public rebuke or removal from fellowship. Church discipline should never be about embarrassing or shaming people it should be about calling them back to life in Christ. But at the same time, to neglect all forms of discipline under the banner of compassion is to allow sin to fester unchecked, which ultimately harms the Church and dishonors God.


We live in a culture that increasingly sees any correction as judgmental or harsh, but Scripture calls us to a higher love a love that speaks the truth even when it’s hard. Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves.” In the same way, the church should be a place of grace and truth not one or the other.


So I think we need to be honest: the problem today isn’t that too many churches are abusing discipline it’s that many are avoiding it altogether out of fear of backlash or cultural pressure. The result is a weakened, compromised witness.


Let’s not throw out the biblical model because some have mishandled it. Instead, let’s redeem it practice discipline with humility, wisdom, love, and always with the goal of restoration. That’s not anti-Christ that’s Christ’s very heart for His Church.

Blessings to you as we continue to sharpen one another in love.

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Anybody that treats discipline casually should remember, "with what measure you judge, it will be judged against you". Only the most egregious sins warrant church discipline in the form of expulsion, ones that threaten the good order of a church. Using it to shame, humiliate, or control other people isn't right.

com7fy8 said:

no.

No. As soon as the person repents, that is the end of it . . . except we pray for the person, maybe talk with the person about how the person is doing. Likely the person can still fail again, however, and will need encouragement.

And when the Corinthian man repented, it seems, Paul called for an end to the shaming.

nope.

You should have proven people who know what they are doing.

You make sure you pray for the wrong people. Do not blame them for however you might have gotten hurt and then kept suffering on and on and on > I mean, do not allow wrong people to have power over you to decide how you do. If/when we fail in this, trust God to remove all the bad stuff which is tormenting us >

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." (in 1 John 4:18)

As soon as you see how shamers themselves are wrong, be wise to that, right away. And trust God to take care of you the right way. It is not wise to let wrong people decide how we are and how much we suffer.

"'And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.'" (Mark 11:25)

Get with God, about it, and pray until you are clear with God Himself. Then find people who are for real. And tell them how you were wrong, and see however they are able to help you do better.

And yet . . . such people do not represent how Jesus has His real leaders handle things; so in case you while sinning got with the wrong people . . . get right with God and get with the right people.

Depend on God to do real correction in you, and how He is able to get rid of the various anti-love things of anger and hurts and unforgiveness. And discover how He has you become able to love and forgive as family in Jesus >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

If ones where you are do not help to minister you into this, find people who do help you to get real correction and to find out how to love. But do have hope for those who have not been right > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).

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Thank You!

FireDragon76 said:

Anybody that treats discipline casually should remember, "with what measure you judge, it will be judged against you". Only the most egregious sins warrant church discipline in the form of expulsion, ones that threaten the good order of a church. Using it to shame, humiliate, or control other people isn't right.

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Thank you for sharing your perspective it’s a thoughtful and necessary reminder that church discipline must always be handled with deep humility, reverence, and spiritual discernment.

You're right: "with what measure you judge, it will be judged against you" (Matthew 7:2) is a sobering warning to anyone in a position of spiritual authority. We should never approach church discipline as a tool for control or humiliation. That would be a grievous misuse of Christ’s teaching. However, I do believe there's a broader purpose for biblical church discipline than just dealing with the "most egregious sins."


In Matthew 18:15–17, Jesus lays out a clear, gracious, step-by-step model for church discipline not to shame, but to restore. The goal is always redemption, never rejection. Paul echoes this in Galatians 6:1, urging us to restore a fallen brother "in a spirit of gentleness," being mindful of our own weakness.


Yet sadly, as the survey shows, many churches today avoid discipline altogether not because no one is sinning, but often out of fear of conflict, cultural pressure, or misunderstanding what love truly means. And this avoidance, ironically, can weaken the body.

Church discipline, when rooted in love and truth, serves multiple purposes:

• It protects the church from false teaching and divisive behavior (Titus 3:10, Romans 16:17).
• It helps the sinner see the seriousness of sin and opens the door to repentance (1 Corinthians 5:5).
• It preserves the witness and integrity of Christ’s body before a watching world (1 Peter 2:12, Philippians 2:15).

I totally agree with you that it should never be used as a weapon to control or embarrass someone. That’s spiritual abuse, not biblical discipline. But I’d gently suggest that the church does the Body no favors by treating discipline as a last resort only for scandalous sin. Even smaller, hidden sins can spread like leaven if left unaddressed (1 Corinthians 5:6–7).


The early church understood this balance. They were committed to both grace and accountability two sides of the same coin. Today, recovering that balance might just be one of the ways we revive holiness, unity, and power in our churches again.

Thanks again for raising this. It’s a conversation the modern church truly needs.

Grace and peace to you.