Discipline is the biggest of all
bugaboos for today’s parents, the reason being they believe in behaviour
modification. They believe in methods,
but the problem is their point of view, something no method will correct. Furthermore, no method will work for long in
the absence of the right point of view. On
the other hand, just about any method will work for a parent with the right
point of view. The ONE and ONLY right
point of view is the biblical one. Just
as the Bible tells us what children are like, it tells us how to discipline
them properly. Not surprisingly, the
Bible says nothing about behaviour modification.
1. Discipline and love are two sides of the same coin
The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the
so he delights in ( Proverbs 3:12 )
2. Punishment
is never pleasant but produces great benefit for the person punished
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 (
Hebrew 12:11 )
3. Punishment
is essential to proper discipline
Because the Lord disciplines those he
loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son ( Hebrews 12:6 )
4. Proper
discipline validates a child
If you are not disciplined… then you are illegitimate
children and not true sons ( Hebrews 12:8 )
5. Obedient
children are pleasing to their parents
Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he
will bring delight to your soul ( Proverbs 29:17 )
6. Children
are to obey their parents
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this
pleases the Lord ( Colossians 3:20 )
7. Obedience
will bring blessings to children
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do
not forsake your mother’s teaching. They
will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck ( Proverbs
1:8-9 )
8. The
most obedient children are also the happiest, most self-respecting children
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever
heeds correction gains understanding ( Proverbs 15:32 )
9. A
lack of discipline contributes to death – in the everlasting sense
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not
be a willing party to his death ( Proverbs 19:18 )
10. Discipline is the way to life eternal
These commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections
of discipline are the way to life ( Proverbs 6:23 )
The
above text is copied from the book Parenting by the Book : Biblical Wisdom for
Raising Your Child, by John Rosemond. The book is about parenting base on the
Bible. Parenting according to psychology,
according to the book, hasn’t worked, not working, and not going to work. Its time parents got back to parenting by The
Book. - Ongzi
