The effects and limits of Discipline
There has always been a war raging in psychology about how the personality is formed. It is biologically inherited, or is it learned through our environment? You may know of it as the nature vs. nurture argument. We are definitely learning creatures, and we allow inputs of information to form our world views. However, we are definitely material, and have a biological makeup. So, where do we draw the line?
It seems many verses in the Bible seem to promote the idea of God's discipline.1 Discipline has the connotation of going through a crises or hardship, and being effected by it. There is no question, in my mind, that people are changed by circumstances in their lives. However, I have also seen people punished; over and over again, with no real result.2 Of course, this leads to frustration and heartache. So, where do we draw the line?
It is easy for most to trust God on this subject. Given all of God's attributes, such as being all-knowing, we could assume God understands what is currently mutable and what isn't. However, is it easy to trust other people? Teachers, lieutenants, police officers, parents, friends, etc. It would seem that most of us are not endowed with being omniscient. According to the Bible, parents are instructed to discipline their kids,3 and people are instructed to "sharpen" friends.4 So, where do we draw the line?
There are examples of people claiming they cannot change what many label as a sin. The most famous subject is that of homosexuality. Well, there are those who claim discipline doesn't work,5 and those who claim it did.6
So, the big question is, where do we draw the line?
God bless,
Ryan
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1 Proverbs 3:11-12, 5:23, 6:23, 10:17, 12:1, 13:18, 15:5, 15:32, 19:18, 23:13; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:11, etc.
2 The punishment wasn't necessarily from God. Although, some of the subjects, believed it was.
3 Proverbs 13:24
4 Proverbs 27:17
5 Website critical of "same-sex correction" ministry.
6 Ted Haggard's healing overview
It seems many verses in the Bible seem to promote the idea of God's discipline.1 Discipline has the connotation of going through a crises or hardship, and being effected by it. There is no question, in my mind, that people are changed by circumstances in their lives. However, I have also seen people punished; over and over again, with no real result.2 Of course, this leads to frustration and heartache. So, where do we draw the line?
It is easy for most to trust God on this subject. Given all of God's attributes, such as being all-knowing, we could assume God understands what is currently mutable and what isn't. However, is it easy to trust other people? Teachers, lieutenants, police officers, parents, friends, etc. It would seem that most of us are not endowed with being omniscient. According to the Bible, parents are instructed to discipline their kids,3 and people are instructed to "sharpen" friends.4 So, where do we draw the line?
There are examples of people claiming they cannot change what many label as a sin. The most famous subject is that of homosexuality. Well, there are those who claim discipline doesn't work,5 and those who claim it did.6
So, the big question is, where do we draw the line?
God bless,
Ryan
__________________________________________________________________
1 Proverbs 3:11-12, 5:23, 6:23, 10:17, 12:1, 13:18, 15:5, 15:32, 19:18, 23:13; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:11, etc.
2 The punishment wasn't necessarily from God. Although, some of the subjects, believed it was.
3 Proverbs 13:24
4 Proverbs 27:17
5 Website critical of "same-sex correction" ministry.
6 Ted Haggard's healing overview
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