JCM: Conditioning of the children’s/adult's mindset when disciplining them

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Conditioning of the children’s/adult's mindset when disciplining them

God disciplines us so we can become more like him (Heb. 12:7-11).

Of course, it could be a point of argument when it comes to Job’s story who’s known to be righteous yet endured great anguish losing his substantial wealth and his family. His friends urge him to confess that it was divine punishment because of his sin, but Job defended, insisting that he does not deserve his grief. After some time, the Lord rebukes Job's friends, bringing to light that they speak wrongly about God when they said He punishes Job (Job 42:7-8). As a matter of fact, it was Satan who had caused Job's suffering (Job 1.)

God is not a cruel judge waiting in heaven for people to do bad things so as to haul them over the coals. Life and God’s relationship to life is not that simple.

Nonetheless, God allowed this evil thing to happen so as to bring about a greater good (2 Corinthians 5:21).

If God does love us He will discipline us (Hebrews 12:7). However, God does this for their good, not because He is angry and wants to punish them. For Christians, Jesus has taken their punishment away, so that they will never be punished (Romans 5:8-9).

The real truth to contemplate in times of sufferings is that what God wants for Christians is for them to place their trust in Jesus than to trust in the pleasure of sin. Meaning, when things are going well, everyone should give thanks to Him. And when Christians have tough times brought by personal and others’ sin, that everyone should trust Him and trust that He has their best interests at heart, no matter how tough life gets (Hebrews 12:2), after all God is not the author of sufferings and hence everything can be straightened at the appointed time – which had already been perfectly exampled on the cross, where Jesus suffered unbearable humiliation (Phillipians 2:5-8). The sweetest promise that one should constantly remember is His promise that He will be with us, all the time, while we live in this world (Matthew 28:20).[3]

As a parent/s therefore, whenever one disciplines his/her children, one should always try to make it clear to them that they’re not paying them back for their sins. That’s why parents should not use the term “punishment” for them not to misunderstand and think that they are getting what they deserve. That’s God’s job. And if they have faith on Jesus, all their punishment was endured on the cross.

As an alternative, always use the terms “discipline” or “correction” and explain that you love them and your intention, even though the discipline is painful, is to correct and train them. Let them know that their parents love them, care for them profoundly, and is taking great pains to point them toward the way of joy.

For this reason, it is vital to keep in mind that everything God feels toward everyone as Christians is gracious. Even when God refuses of sinful behaviors, habits and thoughts, and disciplines us, it is a precious form of His act of kindness. That’s what a loving father makes sure of; He is not giving us what we deserve because He “repealed the record of debt that stood against anyone with its legal demands... nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). Instead, He is training everyone in righteousness….simply because He loves you and I immeasurably.