Biblical Manhood: Discipline
One of the most difficult things for a loving parent to do is discipline their child.
Wrong actions must bring about negative consequences, however. If not, the child could come to think that they can do as they please and reject and resent authority.
Discipline does not have to be of a physical nature.
Pats on the hand, or swats to the backside are good to stop a small child from doing what he should not. A gentle, non-harmful sort of corporal discipline should teach a child to obey immediately. The older a child becomes the less they should be physically disciplined and the more they should receive the discipline of sitting in a corner, etc. The older they get the more they should experience the loss of privileges and the realization that restitution should be made in certain instances. In fact, this pastor believes that most discipline should be of the nature of explaining the wrong, then assigning an appropriate consequence to the wrong done should it occur again.
Discipline is not simply giving consequences to wrong-doing. It is primarily teaching right from wrong, modeling the right life and attitudes, and giving direction in doing right. Our goal is to produce children who grow to honor the Lord. We should always seek to foster in them a love for Christ, His Word, His ways, and His character. True discipline is a lifestyle more than it is a response to wrong-doing.
It takes a certain amount of firmness to do this, however. We love our children. We take joy in the fact that our children express their love to us. We don’t like to be the cause of their unhappiness.
If we refrain from consistent discipline, however, we contribute to life-long unhappiness. One simply cannot function well in life if they don’t understand how to lead a disciplined life, respect authority, respect boundaries, respect others feelings, etc.
Let us, as men, take the long view. Let us look to the adult years of our children. Beyond that, let us look to their eternal welfare. Let us train them to know that they are not God, but that He is in Heaven and is worthy of our love, respect, fear, and worship. Let us discipline our children in a way that will guide them into Christian adulthood.
It is our duty as parents to teach them these things, but especially to teach them to love, honor, obey, fear, worship, and adore their Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.