Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? (vv. 1-4)

The passage does not suggest that churches should handle every issue their members face. It clearly shows that God has appointed civil governments to govern all people.

Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (Romans 13:1-4)

There are church denominations that insist on complete independence from civil government. However, such churches often fall into error, for deceitful and corrupt individuals frequently rise to positions of authority by deceiving others. We have heard countless reports of religious leaders exploiting their followers—financially, physically, and even sexually.

Romans 13:1–4 clearly teaches that the church is not meant to hold authority over the civil government. Rather, God has appointed civil rulers to maintain order among all people. The church, therefore, is to work alongside civil authorities in restraining evil and promoting what is good.

Because the civil government serves the whole population while the church ministers only to believers, their decisions may not always align. In such cases, the church must teach what is right according to Scripture and leave each member to act in good conscience before God. When church discipline becomes necessary, it must be exercised faithfully and in accordance with God’s words.

Indeed, Scripture stands above all human laws. Yet it is also true that some corrupt leaders misuse God’s words to exercise control and justify their wrongdoing. In such times of confusion, the church must earnestly seek divine guidance through prayer. If decisions are made contrary to one’s conscience, it is permissible for a believer to withdraw from that church community.

Sadly, many churches today fail to administer discipline properly. Those who ought to be corrected are often excused too easily. This happens because churches have become mere social communities, forgiving one another without upholding the authority of God’s Word. They build their own kingdoms and protect their own image, while the most rampant and unrestrained sin within the church—sexual immorality—continues unchecked.

People who grew up within a church community find it difficult to question the leaders’ decisions. They are often silenced or humiliated. This is because they have a wrong understanding of what the church is.

All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, however God will do away with both of them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? Far from it! (vv. 12-15)

Many churches today fail to deal rightly with sexual immorality. They proclaim that the Lord loves all and forgives all sins, yet they use this truth as a covering for sin rather than a call to repentance. In doing so, they overlook the very evil that corrupts their own communities.

Outwardly, they appear devout and faithful—attending worship services, participating in Bible studies, singing praises to God, and performing charitable works. Yet, by permitting sexual immorality to spread unchecked, they mock the holiness of God. Church leaders often claim that discipline has been carried out according to church order, but their greater concern lies in preserving the unity and image of their community rather than upholding God’s words.

Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (vv. 18-20)

Therefore, church leaders will face a stricter judgment before God. Yet many regard positions of leadership as seats of power and prestige, and so they pursue them for self-exaltation rather than for service to God.

Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)