Discipline, Not Punishment

Tuesday, October 25

Discipline, Not Punishment
By: Allison Hand

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

I get the wonderful privilege to be a mom and teacher to my two boys. As parents, we train and teach our children many things–from math problems to putting the toilet seat down after they use the bathroom.

We have them go through the difficulties of learning geometry even when they grumble that it's too hard. And we make them walk back into the bathroom to put the toilet seat down even when they don’t want to after we have told them for the hundredth time.

Because we love them, we hold them accountable to mold and shape them into responsible adults who make good choices. It’s the end process we as parents are looking at.  This process is tough for them, though, because their minds are still growing and still learning. 

In the above passage, I always thought the word “discipline” referred to punishment. 

When I mess up, God punishes me for my sin. 

But I learned that the original Greek word here in this Hebrews verse means ‘to train a child’. 

The author is saying that God is training us because we are His beloved children, and He desires to see us grow and mature in our faith. 

Just like we earthly parents, God doesn’t just make the path smooth but rather walks with us and allows us to experience life–whether it’s through consequences of sin or just consequences of life.

He does this for the sake of growth, so God can mold and shape us into the human beings he desires for us to be.

Puts a whole different spin on the perspective of discipline, doesn’t it?