Discipline of Children

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
From Proverbs:

13:24 In the eyes of God, failing to administer stern and appropriate discipline to your children, is the same as not loving them. Believe it! If you love them, when the event of misbehavior calls for it, and even if it is painful, teach them what they should or should not have done, and apply the punishment.

19:18 Don't wait until it is too late to correct your children. Before they are two years old, some sooner, they know whether or not you mean what you say. Apply appropriate punishment when needed and never hold back because they are crying or because you are hurting inside.You will never make their way through life straight unless you are willing to straighten out their crooked places.

22:15 It is a likely and common thing for children to act foolishly. They have few life experiences from which to learn common sense. Foolishness is bound in their heart. No parental guidance coupled with an absence of discipline allows the foolishness to grow - uncontrollably. Stern and appropriate discipline, administered appropriately, will drive it far from them. Guaranteed!

23:13-14 Following are possibly the strongest words on discipline penned by the Wisdom Writer: Under no circumstances should you ever withhold correction from your children. Even if you 'spank' and they 'pitch a fit,' they are not going to die from it! It may be that a 'good spanking' will deliver their soul from hell!

29:15 & 17 Discipline and correction bring wisdom into a child's life. But, children left to their own designs bring shame to their family. Teaching your children right from wrong - God's ways - will produce good children with good values; children of whom you will be proud! Sometimes as the children of God we need to be disciplined.

John the Revelator gave God's view of discipline to the members of the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:19: " All those who expect my love and the benefits of it will receive correction and discipline from me whenever needed. You can't 'do as you please' and dabble in sin and at the same time, receive my unquestioned love and blessings."

Bob Storie, Chaplain, OSH