How Does Attending A Church Through Video Impact The Role Of Church Discipline

Rational More and more Americans are using the internet to view live or recorded videos of church services not simply as additions to their normal practice of physically attending a local congregation but rather as their only church attendance. With the explosion of what might be dubbed “video church” and the connection of social media, the church and its leadership is entering into a new realm where the life and function of the local body as well as church discipline will either be nonexistent or will need to change with the times. The question this writer is proposing and seeking to answer is “How does attending a church via video impact the role and effectiveness of elders and church leaders in the area of church discipline?”
Introduction

The demise of this practice may well rest in the fact that, by and large, contemporary Baptists have not been taught or do not understand the concept of a New Testament church (Norman, 2005, p. 64).
One of the main functions of church discipline is to lead the sinning Christian to repentance and back into fellowship with the body of Christ. Bubna (1997) states that “Discipline in the church is always to be redemptive in nature” (p. 238). In 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 Paul states:
“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother” (ESV, 2016).
Another aspect of the practice of church discipline is to protect the rest of the body from the corrosive effects of an unrepentant brother or sister. Paul makes reference to this corrupting influence of sin that is left uncheck in the body when he says, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (ESV, 2016). Clearly the biblical model is for church leaders to keep an eye on the flock and provide loving correction (Acts