We like the love of God. You know, how God sent His Son to die for us and how He saves us and all that good stuff. But ... do we? I mean, for instance, when things go badly, we consider it a violation of love. “Why would a loving God allow that?” If God does what we want, He’s loving? Is He loving when He doesn’t do what we want?
The author of Hebrews wrote, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:6). We might be able to rationalize that “discipline” term. It means, simply, “to train.” Easy. Got it. But … “chastises”? You can’t dodge this thought. It means “to flog.” It refers to a literal whipping. Yes, the author is using it figuratively, but we can’t use that to soften it to say He doesn’t do it. There’s no way to avoid the claim that God “whips” those He loves in some sense. Are you okay with that?
This isn’t saying God gets out a whip and beats people He loves. It does mean He applies unpleasant circumstances for the purpose of teaching as a function of love. You see, most people view “chastening” as a punishment, and it can be, but God is 1) coming from a position of love and 2) teaching His children. It’s not punishment; it’s discipline. Punishment is about justice. Discipline is about growth. Punishment is for God’s enemies. Discipline is for God’s children. Punishment flows from wrath. Discipline flows from love. It’s not saying God is a harsh task master; it’s saying God loves His children enough not to leave them in immaturity. It is for good. It is to share in His holiness. It is to provide the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb 12:10-11).
The text isn’t about God beating children. It’s about God loving His children enough to shape them to reflect His character … very much like it says in Romans 8:28-29. He works all things together for the good of conforming us to the image of His Son. That might take pain. It did for Job. It did for Paul. It will for you and me. So … will you thank Him for that love? Will you trust Him when the tough times come that He’s doing a good thing for you because He loves you? I certainly hope so.
4 comments:
All too many people don't understand that YHWH has rules and chastisement in place because He wants what's best for us. His rules are for our benefit, not His amusement. It shouldn't be difficult to understand, but it is for some.
I see the notion that God will use hard times and difficult circumstances to grow us in Christlikeness as a perfect example of what I mentioned in my comment yesterday: that my idea of “good” and God’s are not the same. I would wish to avoid trials and tribulations, for my immediate comfort, but God employs them in a positive manner for my benefit. Just as physical exercise--often uncomfortable and even difficult--builds muscles and strengthens bones and organs, so God’s spiritual discipline builds Christian character. Sometimes, too, those hardships serve to humble us and increase our dependence on God’s strength, as with Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” All this falls solidly within God’s good and loving intentions for us.
Whenever you post about Christian discipline and growth through hardship, I think back to instances of this occurring in my own life. I have not had many trials or much tribulation in my life, but there are a few situations where I can now see (in hindsight) where God was working in difficult times in my life.
NEGATIVE SITUATION #1: My parents’ divorce during my teen years and the tumultuous relationships created through it. POSITIVE OUTCOME: A strong determination to provide a happy home life for any future children I might have.
NEGATIVE SITUATION #2: An abrupt and undesired ending to my ten-year year career at Princeton University due to mistreatment by a new supervisor. POSITIVE OUTCOME: A relocation from central NJ to southeastern PA, where housing was cheaper, enabling me to eventually be a stay-at-home mom (rather than a working mother in NJ).
NEGATIVE SITUATION #3: An extended bout with infertility/childlessness and its accompanying emotional distress. POSITIVE OUTCOME: Giving birth at age 36 and 39 afforded my husband and me greater maturity and wisdom in our childrearing efforts.
NEGATIVE SITUATION #4: More than forty years of friction with my mother-in-law (a bonafide “prickly person”). POSITIVE OUTCOME: Personal growth in the areas of graciousness and self-control through dealing with her; also, much good practice learning to express myself in writing (exchanging letters was the common practice in those days) with great care and intention, while avoiding offense and disrespect.
Maybe if we'd sin less we'd be able to tell the difference between punishment and discipline. But we are such capable sinners that we struggle to see the difference. Trusting in His Word is the only way to know there even is a difference.
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