Bible Basics

Disciplining Our Children

Parents have the responsibility of teaching their children, and a part of fulfilling that responsibility is disciplining them. The word “discipline” means “instruction” and can refer to “control gained by enforcing obedience or order.” Please understand that I am not talking about child abuse but correction. While proper discipline may involve physical reinforcement, it should never be arbitrary, inconsistent, harsh or cruel. Paul writes, “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:40). In fact, discipline is a mark of love. Listen to the wise man, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him properly” (Prov. 13:24). There is a difference between punishment and discipline as well as chastisement and abuse. The object of discipline is to teach the child respect for authority and the fact that there are always consequences to our actions. Even God chastens His children out of love (Heb. 12:6). “Now no chastening seems to be joyous for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). “The greatest social disaster of this century is the belief that abundant love makes discipline unnecessary.”

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics