What Does the Bible Say About Child Discipline?
The topic of child discipline has become a hot debate in African countries, especially with the rise of our own psychologists and parenting counsellors who promote the new version of parenting and similar approaches. But what does the Bible really teach? Is there such a thing as too much discipline or too little? What is discipline in the first place? And who on earth came up with it?
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What Does Discipline Really Mean?
Before diving into the concept of child discipline, we need to understand what discipline actually means. The word “discipline” is presented in the Bible in different ways, including: chastise, reproof, admonish, instruct, and more. In Greek, the word is “paideia,” which means education, training, and correction and covers nurturing, disciplinary correction, and chastening.
True discipline isn’t only about deterrent punishment. It involves shaping the mind, morals, and behaviour. It includes guidance, teaching, and, when necessary, correction for wrongdoing.
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How Does God View Correction?
The Bible has a lot to say about discipline. Consider the following scriptures and reflect on what they reveal about God’s view on correction:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 8:5 – Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
Lamentations 3:31-33 – For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.
Job 5:17-18 – Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.
Psalm 94:12 – Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law.
Proverbs 3:11-12 – My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11 – “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
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More Scriptural Perspectives on Child Discipline
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 23:13-14 – Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.
Proverbs 29:15 – The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Proverbs 13:24 – Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21 – Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Revelation 3:19 – Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
Having seen these passages, what do you reckon? Next, we shall look closely at examples of God’s discipline in the Scriptures, and subsequently, at abuse of discipline.
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