Thinking Through Discipline

By Pastor Will Baker, Campus Minister

"My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." – Proverbs 3:11-12

There are words that evoke images, reflexes, and emotions when we hear them. God made us as creatures that feel. For good or bad, when these words are spoken, we can’t help thinking or feeling as we do. Words like "discipline," "punishment," and "consequence" often stir negative feelings within us. A semantic discussion of these and other related words might prove fruitful, but this article will focus merely on the word discipline.

Why is it that we feel and respond the way we do about discipline? Often, the explanation lies in our past. We have experienced the pain of discipline, and the pain highlighted the incident so that it sticks in our memory like few things can. Perhaps, the power of the pain was augmented by poorly or vindictively delivered discipline. This is a perversion of God’s good and beautiful plan for discipline in our lives. King Solomon helps us to understand the tender discipline of the Father and encourages us to accept the correction because of the acceptance He has given us as His children.

At Capstone, our first pedagogical manual is the Scriptures. Teaching children to love the Good, True, and Beautiful flows from our conviction to obey God's command to glorify him in everything. The Bible, then, is our guide to show us how to instruct our students through the discipline process with the Father’s discipline as our pattern. The principles we read from Solomon, which are also quoted by the New Testament in the book of Hebrews, are not just for those who receive discipline. They are for those who give it.

In the construction and execution of our discipline program, we orient ourselves by delighting in the uniqueness and worth of each child. Our conscience desire is to love these precious souls and, to the best of our ability, help them know that they are loved. We actively pursue reconciliation in every possible direction so that the student might know grace in a tangible way. We administer the Gospel of grace that they might learn the acceptance found in Christ—and then offer that to others. We proclaim the truth of God’s wisdom and precepts that they may be protected from the destruction and death that sin brings in this life and the next.

Our team is so thankful for your willingness to partner for the glory of God through discipline. It is a special privilege to personally learn God’s grace through his loving correction. We pray for and have no greater joy than to see that your children walk in Truth.