Discipline III (Proverbs 23:13-14)

Discipline is a sore subject in America. Some believe that if you discipline your child, it will ruin his or her self image and therefore effect the child's self esteem. Others call it abuse. What does the Bible say?

"Withhold not discipline from the child, for if you strike and punish him with the [reed-like] rod, he will not die. You shall whip him with the rod and deliver his life from Sheol [Hades, the place of the dead]." Proverbs 23:13-14, Amplified

The Bible encourages physical discipline, but not abuse. There is a line within the parents heart that must be drawn and they must understand that the "whipping"is for the infraction of the familial law established within the household. I was spanked growing up. It was just a part of the American way of life. Somewhere along the line, however, the American public have lost sight of that. Somewhere along the line the American public broke the covenant with the Lord. No longer can we call ourselves a Christian nation, rather we are a nation for all religions and all ways of thinking and all belief systems. America is on the fast track to hell and she is dragging her youth with her.

I do not encourage physical discipline myself. I know how I discipline my children and that works for me. Is it physical sometimes? Yes. Do I beat my kids? No. But as I said you must find that balance within yourself.

The Fruit of Discipline (Proverbs 22:15)

There is a time for every person to act as a child, but that time ends. As a child gets older, he must be taught how to grow and if he does not learn, then there is another way.

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." Proverbs 22:15, Amplified

There is a big difference between discipline and abuse. The Bible encourages for a child to have discipline so that they may learn the way in which they should live. What would you rather have: a child be hurt temporarily by you out of love of hurt, possibly for the rest of his life, by a bad decision?

The Lord did the same thing to the Jews when they turned away from Him. Read the book of Judges. When the children of Israel fell into idolatry, the Lord brought a Gentile nation to put them under subjection. It was done out of love. We know this because of the outcome of the discipline. Whenever the Israelites had had enough, they turned their hearts back to the Lord.

This is what our discipline on our children should produce. That discipline should produce fruit of change and repentance.

Discipline II (Proverbs 20:30)

Sometimes discipline can be physical.

"Blows that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes [for correction] reach the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:30, Amplified

The Bible never encourages us to beat and abuse our children, however, it does encourage a physical discipline. When it say spare the rod and spoil the child, it is not saying to not discipline. What it is pointing to is that if we are to stop with the discipline, the child will be spoiled.

No one enjoys physical discipline, but they always seem to reach deeper into the heart of the person receiving them. Blows and strokes speak more loudly than actual verbal warnings. Again,I am not encouraging anyone to beat their child. However, I am telling you that words do not work. The state of rebellion that most of American youth are in right now is because of a lack of physical discipline.

Discipline (Proverbs 19:18)

To chasten is to correct and correction is a good thing.

"Discipline your son while there is hope, but do not [indulge your angry resentments by undue chastisements and] set yourself to his ruin." Proverbs 19:18, Amplified

Discipline is a good thing, it is a tool for correction. It is rooted in the word disciple, or one who follows. So in essence, discipline is simply bowing to the ways of another.

I will not go into the verses in Hebrews that talk about the Lord being our Father and how He disciplines us, for that is not what this is about today. What is being illustrated here is that discipline will only be received by the child for so long. Once he or she is out of the house, advice is all that a parent can really offer, discipline is no longer effective. So as parents we need to take the responsibility of discipline to heart and do so while there is still time. If we stray from this path, I am afraid the end for discipline may come sooner than later. But if we are diligent in what He has called us to do, then that end will come later than sooner. However, in disciplining we must not set our eyes on the destruction of the child. In other words, we must make sure that the discipline fits the infraction. I know, in my own personal experience, that I have been carried away in my anger. But with the Lord's help, He is brining me to that balance in my life.

Harsh Discipline (Proverbs 15:10)

Discipline is a subject dealt with in high frequency in the Proverbs. Today is one of those days.

"There is severe discipline for him who forsakes God's way, and he who hates reproof will die [physically, morally and spiritually]." Proverbs 15:10, Amplified

This is speaking of the Christian as well as the human population in general. In the first part of the verse, there is he who forsakes God's way. The one who forsakes is the one that knows and was practicing God's way. The Lord loves His children so much that there is a harsh discipline waiting for them when they stray.

But the one who hates reproof is the one who does not understand the ways of the Lord. He thinks that the Bible is just a book full of "no" and "don't" statements. He hates being corrected and being told that he is wrong. That man has never seen the path of the Lord, but all men will die. All men have an end; but the final destination does not have to be Hell. For the Christian when death comes life follows swiftly but for the man of the flesh death only brings eternal damnation. The Christian has a moral code that he holds himself to but the non-Christian deteriorates in his morality. Spiritually the Christian gets stronger the closer he walks with the Lord but the man who walks on his own has nothing to replenish his strength.

Discernment and Discipline (Proverbs 10:13)

Discipline, correction and punishment are things we associate with the relationship between the parent and child. As time progresses, these three things become less familiar to the child, however they are tools that the Lord will always use in His relationship with us.

"In the lips of him who has discernment, skillful and godly Wisdom is found, but discipline and the rod are for the back of him who is without sense and understanding." Proverbs 10:13, Amplified

It is nice to find wisdom and discernment in this life. We are promised in this verse that godly wisdom will be found on him who has discernment. This includes us as well. If we are to practice discernment, then that wisdom will be instilled in us. How then do we practice discernment? The idea of discernment is to make godly decisions. Some choices in life are obvious. We should not steal, kill, view pornography or other things of the like. But what if the choice is not that obvious. It is a common misconception that sin is very easy to distinguish. If this was the case, then none would be in danger of sin. Take for instance the book of James, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, yo him it is sin." (James 4:17, NKJV) We can also take the stance that if it violates something in our conscience, then we should not participate in it.

There are those, however, who do not practice such discernment in their lives. The rod of correction is for their backs. The Bible encourages the heavy hand for the disobedient child. Do I spank my children? Yes. Do I beat my children? No. America and CPS have become too lax when it comes to this concept in the Christian family. As you look out in society today, you can see the changes in the dynamic of the family unit. Children are no longer listening to a parents; they are argumentative, disruptive and disobedient because there is a lack of discipline. Now do not get me wrong. I am not encouraging the spanking of children for every little thing. Discipline could include restrictions of going outside to television or video games. The Lord, however, uses discipline on his children. "My son do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12, NKJV)