The Discipline

A bit of background for those who don’t know Johnson Chapel well:

For more than 100 years, members of Johnson Chapel Church have been expected to live by a book of 21 rules called The Discipline, written in 1917.

But these are not treated as ordinary church rules. They are treated as sacred. Untouchable. Not to be questioned, challenged, or broken.

Members deeply believe that God Himself gave these rules to Curd Walker—much like God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

There’s just one rather inconvenient problem with that belief:

God’s rules apparently needed editing.

The original Discipline forbade members from purchasing insurance. But when insurance became a necessity, that rule was removed.

If these 21 rules truly came from an all-knowing God, did He somehow fail to foresee that insurance would one day become necessary—or even mandatory?

Did God get it wrong? Or did men write these rules — something to think about, right?

And then we come to the rule against “bathing pools”...

As many readers already know, the Hall family has had a swimming pool at their home for more than 30 years.

As so often happens in JCC, what’s good for the goose (the Hall family) is apparently NOT good for the gander (other members).

I could break down more of these rules and how they have been handled, but I think this is enough for now.

As always, lots more to come.

(For actual pages from this book, see images below this post).

1. Witness of conversion or being born again.
   I Peter 1:23; St. John 3:3

2. Sanctified or a believer in the second work of grace.
   St. John 17:17-19; I Thess. 5:23

3. Baptized with the Holy Ghost or a believer.
   Acts 10:44-45; St. John 16:7-11

4. Baptism by a burial in water.
   Rom. 6:3-4; Matt. 28:19-20

5. Members from other churches are only received when satisfaction is given as to why they are coming to us.

6. A good report from those that are without, as to reliability, honesty, Godly conversation and not to be tattlers, backbiters, nor guilty of any disturbances of any kind among neighbors, the community or the church.
   I Tim. 3:7; 5:13; Heb. 12:14

7. Bishops, Deacons, and all other church officers must qualify according to I Tim. 3; 4:6-16.

8. All filthiness of the flesh and spirit, all tobacco using, handling, selling and growing, with all intoxicating drinks, including dope, morphine, and habits of all forms, are prohibited.
   Rom. 6:12; II Cor. 7:1

9. Husbands must love their own wives.
   I Pet. 3:7.

   Wives to be in subjection to their own husbands.
   I Pet. 3:1-7.

   Children to obey their parents.
   Eph. 6:1-3.

   Servants to be obedient to their masters.
   Eph. 6:5-8.

10. No runaway weddings among our members allowed. They are required to take this Sacred Vow in the presence of some of the brothers or sisters in the Lord at the hands of some Godly minister or Pastor of their Church. Consent of the parents in the Lord is expected.
    II Cor. 6:14-18

11. Modest attire is required. Elderly women to wear their dresses not shorter than six inches above the shoe tops. Young women not shorter than six inches below the knees. No low-neck nor open-front dresses, no sleeves shorter than to the elbows.
    I Pet. 3:3-5; I Tim. 2:9-10

12. No bobbed hair nor hair cutting among our women or girls. No lipstick, paints, permanent waves, rings, bracelets, feathers, necklaces, beads nor neck chains. Our elderly women are required to lay the example before the younger ones and not to dress their little children unbecomingly or shamefully. Little childrens' dresses must come below their knees and have sleeves to the elbows. No bathing pools, beaches, card parties, box suppers, ball games, nor picture shows. Keep our company among Christians. We belong to no secret order of any kind.

    Men and boys as well as women and girls, lay aside our ties, rings, jewelry, and all unnecessary apparel and use the money for a more worthy cause; such as to care for widows and orphans.
    Isaiah 3:16-26; II Tim. 3:2

13. Keep the Sabbath Day Holy. Do no work on that day for gain as a hireling.
    Ex. 20:8; Matt. 5:17; Do good on the Sabbath Day.

14. Mark 10:2-12 and Romans 7:2-3 settle the divorce question so plainly that we take in no members living under divorce who have married again until after their first companion is deceased.

15. Each member is obligated to let the church where they belong hear from them at least every three months, by letter or by word of mouth. Failure to do this becomes a church charge on the fourth meeting time, as a violation of church rules.
    Heb. 10:21-30

16. This church is to have in its hands a Church Treasury and all members are to support it regularly (except widows, and they are excepted to as they wish) and to keep a balance on hand at all times for the expense and upkeep of the church.
    Mal. 3:7-9

17. The tithing system is to be supported with one-tenth of our income for the care of the widows and orphans and the Ministry.
    Mal. 3:10

18. Each one is to make only debts they can take care of and must keep their word, not be slothful in business. This church is not responsible for her members debts, but will deal with her members who don't come up on the square and give satisfaction.
    Rom. 12:11

19. Flirting with the world by all is prohibited, both married and single. Treat all kind and good, but fellowship nothing but what is right so that our good will not be evil spoken of.
    II Cor. 6:14-18

20. Birth control is prohibited among our people, also differences arising between men and their wives on this subject.
    I Tim. 2:15; 5:14-15

21. Restitution for dishonest deeds. The Blood will cover nothing you can make right yourself. We must have a conscience void of offence toward God and man. It includes where you have defrauded, stolen, slandered, paying back debts, and making confession.
    Ex. 22:3; Lev. 6:4; Prov. 6:31; Ezek. 33:15; Luke 19:8-9