Loving Correction

“We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction.” (II Corinthians 13:7)

Thoughts… I want you to think of the word “loving” in the title of this blog both as an adjective and as a verb. Both are essential to a healthy Christian life. Correction administered in love is absolutely vital to our spiritual growth. Likewise, an attitude that gratefully and willingly embraces discipline is absolutely vital to our spiritual growth. As authentic Christ followers, we need loving discipline and we need to love discipline.

Think back to the discipline that was administered in your life. If you came from a healthy family, you will have to admit that though unpleasant at the time, and perhaps even administered in less that perfect ways, it was good for you in the long run.

I received a lot of discipline when I was growing up—100% of it more than deserved. I can’t tell you how many times my father said before he corrected me, “Son, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” I never bought that line, until I became a parent. Then I understood exactly what he meant.

A good and loving parent never enjoys administering discipline, but neither do they shy away from it because they know it is essential to the life, health, growth and success of their child. So as best they understand how it should be administered, they lovingly correct their child for their own good.

On the other end, the child certainly doesn’t enjoy discipline either. But hopefully at some point along the way, they begin to understand the parent is disciplining out of love and concern. A healthy and maturing child then, will lovingly and gratefully submit to the parent’s correction.

As it is in a human family, so it is in the family of God, the body of Christ. Spiritual leaders have a Biblical charge to discipline members of the flock when necessary. If a leader fails in this regard, they are not a good spiritual leader and they are derelict in their duty. Furthermore, a failure to discipline will result in a failure to thrive in the church; God’s people will never grow into maturity, unity and effectiveness.

I think you would agree that correction in God’s family is essential. So now the question is, how do you respond to it when it comes your way? I hope you are not like a lot of people who agree with and applaud tough truth, until it is applied to them.

I want to challenge you as Paul challenged the Corinthians: Don’t get caught up in wrong by refusing discipline! I’ll guarantee this, when your spiritual leader has to bring discipline into your life, it is born out of Biblical duty, it is carried forth in love, and it will hurt them every bit as much to administer it as it hurts to receive it. So don’t refuse it by getting mad, causing problems or running off to another church. That is far too common and far too easy…and it doesn’t bring growth to your life.

As strange as this may sound, develop a love for correction. Don’t go out of your way to become a candidate for it, but learn to embrace it. You won’t thrive without it.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid!
—Proverbs 12:1

Prayer… Lord, give me the wisdom and the courage to embrace correction from spiritual leaders not only in theory, but in the reality of my life. And give them the courage to administer it with wisdom, courage, and love.

One More Thing… “Life is tons of discipline.” — Robert Frost