1. Because of the too suspicious and sensitive disposition of some who imagine themselves wronged, neglected, or in some way injured; the matter being chiefly imaginary, and without any real foundation in fact.
2. Because the pastor, deacons, and influential members do not carefully and constantly enough watch the beginnings of strife, and rectify the evil before it becomes serious.
3. Because evil-doers by delay become more persistent in evil, while others are drawn into the strife, and contentious parties insensibly are formed, which tend to divide the church into hostile factions.
4. Because that when the difficulty becomes chronic and deep-seated, the church is likely to undertake the discipline with judicial severity, and not in the spirit of meekness, in which the spiritual should restore the erring.
5. Because that a case of discipline undertaken under excitement is almost certain to be wrongly conducted. Even if the result reached be just and right, the method by which it is reached is likely to be unwise, unjust, and oppressive to individuals, possibly producing more serious and more lasting evils than it has removed.
Offenses calling for discipline are usually considered as of two classes: private or personal, and public or general. These terms do not very accurately express the nature of the offenses, but they are in common use, and capable of being understood. In the administration of corrective discipline, the following rules and principles constitute a correct and Scriptural course of proceeding:
private offenses
Private offenses pertain to personal difficulties between individuals, having no direct reference to the church as a body, and not involving the Christian profession at large. In such cases, the course prescribed by our Saviour (Matt. 18:15–17) is to be strictly followed, without question or deviation.
1. First step.—The member who considers himself injured must go to the offender, tell him his grief, and between themselves alone, if possible, adjust and settle the difficulty. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault, between thee and him alone.” This must be done, not to charge, upbraid, or condemn the offender, but to win him. “If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
2. Second step.—If this shall fail, then the offended member must take one or two of the brethren with him as witnesses, seek an interview with the offender, and, if possible, by their united wisdom and piety, remove the offense and harmonize the difficulty. “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established.”