doulos,

Although I don't know any details about your particular denomination, I would be willing to guess that what you have seen--or not--in your situation is similar to the majority of churches across evangelicalism.

Here are what I consider several contributing factors to the infrequent usage of biblical church discipline procedures. They are interrelated, and I'm sure you can find even bigger issues which contribute to the anti-discpline atmosphere in which we live.

    [*]Emphasis on biblical inerrancy alone, rather than biblical inerrancy, sufficiency and authority together
    [*]Refusal to require letters of recommendation upon transfer of church membership, which allows people under suspicion to simply move to the next church down the street when the heat is on
    [*]Refusal to require covenantal bonds of membership, which allows members to piously overlook the sins of others to the detriment of the church
    [*]Pietistic, self-seeking notions of church membership, which destroys the unity of the church as a body in which all members must be mutually submitted to the Lordship of Christ
    [*]Loss of faith in the Holy Spirit's ability to equip the local church unto increasing sanctification and edification, through both positive and negative discipline
    [*]Loss of sense of community rooted in mutual knowledge, service, accountability
    [*]Abandonment of the parish model, in which local churches have as members people who live near enough to be actually involved in each other's lives
    [/LIST]

In Christ,
Paul S