May 29, 2014

Discipline

Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

THERE is a common statement I hear in the Christian community as it relates to how we deal with sin. When people talk of a person who is doing wrong, we often say, “We are not to judge.” Right on. That is Jesus’ teaching here.

     But there is often something basically wrong with why we say this.

     We speak such words in order to remove our responsibility to correct and rebuke. Too often we equate Jesus’ grace and love with ignoring the sin as we often add to, “We are not to judge.” with “Jesus loved everyone, even the sinners.”

     Yes, we all believe that Jesus loved everyone. So now let’s look at Jesus’ loving words to the church in Laodicea found in Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

      You and I know how important loving discipline is to a family structure. Why, then, are we so reluctant to discipline someone who sins against us, our family or our church? Yes, we bear the scars of sin in our lives. But we should not refrain from proper discipline to correct people who harm themselves or others.

     The imperfect Apostle Paul wrote often of having to correct people in the church who attempted to destroy the church with their sin. (Read 1 Corinthians.) He had to rebuke some men by separating them from the church to protect the whole church. Indeed, we have a “love one another” responsibility to rebuke sin.  

     Discipline is not judging. Discipline comes out of loving someone enough to say, “Jesus loves you. Stop your sin.”

LIFE Link: Discipline can keep one from judgment.