Discipline vs Punishment

As many of my friends know, God wants me to be a pastor sometime in the future. Consequently, he has allowed me to go through various different hardships. This passage in bold investigates why God has allowed this.

'Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?' (Hebrews 12:7)

Discipline and punishment can seem like the same thing to us sometimes. However, they are miles apart.

When God allows us to go through trials in our life, the usual response is to ask God why the suffering is happening to us. However, in this passage, God is saying that we need to endure this hardship. God knows that we aren't going to find out trials easy, so we need to be steadfast and stand firm, for it is written, 'he who stands firm to the end will be saved' (Mt 10:22).

Furthermore, we are told to endure such hardship as discipline. Now discipline is training, it looks forward to a beneficial result, it develops self-control, character and ability. In contrast, punishment is a penalty imposed upon someone for doing something wrong. It is the administration of justice. Indeed, the Greek word for 'discipline' in Hebrews 12:7 can also mean 'training'. Furthermore, God has also written 'those whom I love I rebuke and discipline' (Rev 3:19).

Now, being disciplined does not necessarily mean that you have done something wrong. It can mean that, of course, in the sense of corrective discipline. However, discipline can also be used in the 'training' sense, such as that of a football player training in the pre-season.

Since we have been forgiven of all our sins, God will never punish us for anything we do that is sinful. For Jesus Christ 'is the one who turns aside God's wrath, taking away our sins, and not only ours but also the sins of the whole world' (1 Jn 2:2). Jesus is the one who was punished by God for all the sins we would ever commit, so God will never punish us for our sins.

Thus, hardship is not punishment - it is discipline, it trains us and strengthens us for the future. Consequently, we should 'consider it pure joy ... whenever we face trials of many kinds, because we know that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything' (Jas 1:2-4). God has also said that we should 'rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance produces character (Ro 5:3,4).

In conclusion, whilst God allows us to go through trials, he promises that 'in all things he works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose' (Ro 8:28). God loves us, so he wants us to be ready to enter into the calling he has given us.

This is simply amazing. I will continue the investigation soon.

God bless, everyone.

Andy.