How to Raise Godly Children (Part 2)

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.  For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate children at all.”  Hebrews 12:7-8

To God, the discipline of children is an assumption.  A given.  As it is written,

“He who spares the rod hates his son; but he who loves his son disciplines him promptly.” Proverbs 13:24

Some make the rod in scripture a symbol.  So be it.  What does it symbolize?  Whatever it symbolizes, the reality should match it.  That’s the nature of the relationship between the symbol and the reality.

I’m not trying to persuade you to spank or stop spanking.  I’m giving you this realization:

To God the discipline of children is an assumption; and the nature of discipline is an assumption, as it is written:

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”   

Hebrews 12:11.

Whether you spank or sit your child in the time out chair, discipline must happen as an assumption.  And it must be painful at the time.  Constructively painful.  “Tough love.”   

Even Super Nanny and Doctor Phil know that!

And I can tell you as a Corrections Officer that either you will do it or a Corrections Officer will!  Either you put your son in time out, or we will put him in time out, which we call “lock down,” while they are literally strapped in to a restraint chair!  Literally.  Forced time out!

Either you “spank” your daughter now, or we will pepper spray her later, which is much worse than any spanking, I can tell you that!  How do I know?  Because in my academy I WAS PEPPER SPRAYED!  Don’t miss what I just said!  Before I could administer pepper spray, I WAS PEPPER SPRAYED MYSELF!  And before you discipline your children, you must be SELF DISCIPLINED.   

Before you deliver the necessary pain of discipline to your children, you must embrace the pain of your own self discipline!  (click here for part 3!)