Die relevansie van kerklike tug in ‘n post-moderne wêreld: ‘n studie van die kerkorde van die Ned. Geref. Kerk

English: The church discipline is made possible by Christ that governs his church through his Word and Spirit. He is the one that governs his church. Thus the church discipline becomes a result of Christ’s authority in the church. The lines of the church discipline are visible in God’s Word. From this it emerges that the church discipline is not something that is unfounded, but something that is fundamental in the life of the church. The church discipline is used by the Triune God to lead his chosen ones to Him. The church discipline is just like multifaceted diamond that has many characteristics like love. The result is that the love that God has for man, we as his followers have to prove and convey to each other. The church discipline also has a spiritual character. Other characteristics of the church discipline are the judicial, pedagogical, as well as a healing and pastoral character that the church discipline has. Christ is the one that applies the church discipline. He is the Subject of the church discipline. The necessity of the church discipline can be argued from the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. The principle of the church discipline is taught to the disciples by Christ Himself. Christ self has ordained the church discipline and thus it is necessary to maintain the church discipline as a church action. The church discipline is necessary, particularly for the church, because God requires holiness in his church. He requires this because He is holy and He also expects his assembly to be holy. In the Dutch Reformed Church-Church order article 59 it seems that church discipline seeks the glory of God, the salvation of the church and the preservation of sinners. The church discipline is ordained by God to lead those who wander from the Lamb back to him in love. The article goes further to show that there are certain requirements needed for the church discipline to be carried out correctly. The requirements are that the church discipline should be by the Word of God, the Creeds, the church order and other stipulations of the church as well as the service agreements. The church discipline also becomes part of the everyday doctrine and life of each member of the church of Christ. From this it is evident that the church discipline cannot take place without Biblical or spiritual truths, which is exercised by the offices and the believers, in equity and justice. Furthermore it is clear that the church discipline should be applied in love, but also with a certain sense of rigor, without which the church discipline cannot be applied. Yet, if one looks at the practical side of the execution of the church discipline, it is neglected because of the fear that the church could lose its members. The conclusion is that a church that does not exercise the church discipline is a church that does not fulfil its calling from God, and that is the calling that the church is established as God’s love fellowship in the world. Christ is the one that ordains the church discipline and therefore the church discipline must be applied through love, equity and justice, otherwise we abandon our calling as God’s church for worldly acceptance.