{"id":6390,"date":"2013-06-18T01:00:17","date_gmt":"2013-06-18T08:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/?p=6390"},"modified":"2013-06-17T23:40:00","modified_gmt":"2013-06-18T06:40:00","slug":"how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/06\/18\/how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture\/","title":{"rendered":"How NOT to Discipline with Scripture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>&#8220;All\u00a0scripture\u00a0is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,\u00a0for\u00a0instruction\u00a0in\u00a0righteousness&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&#8230;but we can misuse it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6396\" title=\"HowNottoDisciplineJune18\" src=\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/HowNottoDisciplineJune18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/HowNottoDisciplineJune18.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/HowNottoDisciplineJune18-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word to discipline your children <strong>without a real love for God and His Word<\/strong>. Children are experts in detecting hypocrisy. They will see right through you, and be provoked to anger. They will be tempted to reject you or what you are trying to teach them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>When disciplining your children, don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word <strong>without wisdom<\/strong>. Study the Word. Learn what it really says. Don\u2019t just say what it means to <em>you. <\/em>What does it actually mean? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you. Get counsel, read commentaries, ask your pastor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word while disciplining your children, <strong>without loving them and clearly communicating that love to them<\/strong>. We want them to associate God\u2019s Word with justice, but also with God\u2019s great love that sent His Son to meet the demands of His justice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word without being <strong>accurate representatives of His grace and mercy<\/strong>. God sees us sin in ways we are not even aware of, but He does not convict us of every sin or crush us under the weight of guilt and constant discipline for every offense. He allows us time to grow, and teaches us along the way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">We must be patient, and <strong>show our children the same grace God shows us<\/strong>. They have a lifetime of sanctification ahead of them, and we will discourage them if we expect perfection. They will never be perfect (on this side of eternity), and it will take time for them to grow in their obedience and maturity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word with <strong>an attitude of pride and self-righteousness<\/strong>. Speak humbly as you read from God\u2019s Word, acknowledging your own sinful heart, and your own inability to obey God\u2019s Word without the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word as a weapon while you <strong>focus only on your children\u2019s wrong behavior<\/strong>. Use the Word as a means of blessing and encouraging them when they do right and as the revelation of God\u2019s holy but loving character.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t only pull out the Bible when your children are <strong>about to be spanked<\/strong>. Love the Word, and let your children see you love and study it. If it only comes out when you are disciplining them, they will not grow to love it. It will not be more precious than gold or sweeter than honeycomb (Psalm 19) in their lives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word as a means of teaching <strong>mere moralism<\/strong>. If we only give our children the law without teaching them about grace, we will raise up little Pharisees who trust in their own works instead of in the saving work of Jesus Christ.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t beat up your children with God\u2019s Word. The Bible <em>is <\/em>sharper than any two-edged sword, but <strong>you\u2019re not the Holy Spirit<\/strong>. Help your children see how the truths of Scripture apply to the details of their lives, but leave the results up to God. Don\u2019t use the Bible as an excuse to nag your children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t just focus on what Scripture says to <em>not <\/em>do.<\/strong> The Bible is full of positive commands. God has called us to action. He has told us to <em>put on <\/em>good works, and to demonstrate our faith and love through our actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use the Bible in your child discipline <strong>without praying first<\/strong>. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives understanding. He is the one who will change your child\u2019s heart. You cannot do this alone or in your own strength.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t leave your children without hope.<\/strong> Don\u2019t hold up the standard of God\u2019s Word without telling them about the only One who has ever fully obeyed it. Help them take hold of Christ\u2019s work on the cross, the saving work that satisfied God\u2019s holy requirements and that empowers them to live lives of loving, grateful obedience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-left rtsocial-icon\"><div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon \"> <div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-button\"><a title=\"Share: How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F06%2F18%2Fhow-not-to-discipline-with-scripture%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-button\"><a title=\"Tweet: How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=How%20NOT%20to%20Discipline%20with%20Scripture&via=@doorposts&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F06%2F18%2Fhow-not-to-discipline-with-scripture%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-button\"><a class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/06\/18\/how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture\/&media=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/rtsocial\/images\/default-pinterest.png&description=How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" target= \"_blank\" title=\"Pin: How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"perma-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/06\/18\/how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture\/\" title=\"How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\"><\/a><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"rts_id\" class=\"rts_id\" value=\"6390\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"rts_media_nonce\" name=\"rts_media_nonce\" value=\"a1a9375e5c\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390\" \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;All\u00a0scripture\u00a0is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,\u00a0for\u00a0instruction\u00a0in\u00a0righteousness&#8230;&#8221; &#8230;but we can misuse it. Don\u2019t use God\u2019s Word to discipline your children without a real love for God and His Word. Children are experts in detecting hypocrisy. They will see right through you, and be provoked to anger. They will be tempted to reject you or what you are trying to teach them. When [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-left rtsocial-icon\"><div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon \"> <div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-button\"><a title=\"Share: How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F06%2F18%2Fhow-not-to-discipline-with-scripture%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-button\"><a title=\"Tweet: How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=How%20NOT%20to%20Discipline%20with%20Scripture&via=@doorposts&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F06%2F18%2Fhow-not-to-discipline-with-scripture%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-button\"><a class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/06\/18\/how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture\/&media=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/rtsocial\/images\/default-pinterest.png&description=How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" target= \"_blank\" title=\"Pin: How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"perma-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/06\/18\/how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture\/\" title=\"How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\"><\/a><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"rts_id\" class=\"rts_id\" value=\"6390\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"rts_media_nonce\" name=\"rts_media_nonce\" value=\"a1a9375e5c\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390\" \/><\/div><a role=\"link\" class=\"rtp-readmore\" title=\"Read more on How NOT to Discipline with Scripture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/06\/18\/how-not-to-discipline-with-scripture\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More \u2192<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[134,9,25,27,8,7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6390"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9456,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6390\/revisions\/9456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}