Why do we need 'discipline'?

Answer 1

1
Some time ago Howard Kershner addressed
a letter to young people who have elected to
turn away from responsibility. He said, in part,
You are privileged to live the kind of lives you lead
because other, responsible citizens produce the
undergirding which makes your irresponsible life
possible. Your illegitimate children are adopted by
stable families whom you despise. Your medical
needs are taken care of by hard working, diligent
doctors who work, as you are unwilling to work.
The motorbikes you ride and the cars you drive
were not made by people like yourselves, but by
men and women who are willing to discipline
themselves, as you are unwilling to do, and to
produce the things which you are unwilling to
produce.1
The word underscored by Mr. Kershner is discipline.
In Florida a rock group gave a lurid performance
before twelve thousand young people
(largely twelve to fourteen years of age) in which
an unspeakably degrading act was performed.2
The late J. Edgar Hoover stated,
An overwhelming majority . . . obey the law, but
far too few indicate that they are seriously
concerned with its violation.¹ . . . We are living in
a day when defiance of authority is becoming the
norm. Violent crime and thuggery are taking their
daily toll in injuries and loss of life. Fear and
apprehension prevail in the streets of most major
cities.3
Crime psychiatrist Dr. James A. Brussell asks,
Where is the respect of authority today when
authority—that is, the parent—turns around and
himself has no respect for authority? Where is it
when the teacher, the policeman, the social worker,
goes on strike and acts illegally?4
A motion picture producer is described in a
news magazine as a “connoisseur of chaos” in its
review of a picture filled with violence. The
same issue reviews a film that is unbelievably
pornographic which, according to the review,
“was allowed to be imported from Denmark
only after ‘I Am Curious (Yellow)’ made it safely
through United States courts.”5
Closer to home is an account in a church
bulletin which describes the necessity of a patrol
in the church parking lot because of car thefts
and break-ins.6
A notorious marijuana offender, set free by
the highest court of the land, announces his
intention of running for governor of our most
populous state.
Bad news, it is said, travels fast—and so it
does. Perhaps never before has there been so
much bad news in transit.
There is, however, a brighter side of the news.
Many thousands of young people are fed up
with unprincipled and undisciplined mobs.
Spontaneous rallies for decency are springing
up all over the nation. Great stadiums have been
filled with high-minded young people who are
eager to do their part toward the advancement of
decency and order.
I. THE PLACE OF DISCIPLINE
Notice first the place of discipline in the
nation. The time has come for people everywhere
to stop and consider exactly what laws
and regulations are. Laws and regulations are
rules which have been agreed upon over a long
period of time by the majority of the population.
Apart from such rules it would be impossible for
a government to exist. “For rulers are not a cause
of fear for good behavior,” says Paul, “but for
evil, do you want to have no fear of authority?
Do what is good, and you will have praise from
THE URGENT NEED
FOR DISCIPLINE
When discipline fades, the nation, as well as the individual, is doomed.
SERMONS ON THE HOME
by James Tollerson
2
the same” (Romans 13:3).
Obviously, there have been exceptions to the
precept laid down by the apostle. He himself
was subjected to all manner of suffering because
of his determination to follow after righteousness.
Our own nation was founded, in part,
because people believed they must escape from
the injustice of certain laws and regulations under
which they had been forced to live in the old
world. They came to the new world and forged
a republic in which the people established democratic
laws for their own guidance—laws which
gave free access to “life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness.”
Our government provides for a system of
courts in which every person has a fair trial
before a qualified judge made up of his peers.
The system was designed to protect the rights of
the individual. It is a good system. In my opinion
it is the finest system ever devised by man.
When a law is found to be unwise or unfair,
our system provides ways and means by which
a change can be effected so that justice may
prevail. Anarchy and riotous rebellion have no
place in the proper procedures for change. They
are as unnecessary as they are hurtful. They
destroy the privileges for all the people. Such
actions revert to the law of the jungle. There can
be no discipline when people flout the laws of
their land. When discipline fades, the nation, as
well as the individual, is doomed.
We move now to another area of great practical
importance—discipline in the home. Obviously,
the rules in the home are made by parents.
Just here I pause to underscore a fundamental
matter in connection with everything having to
do with discipline. Whether it be the laws by
which a nation is regulated or the rules governing
a family—it is imperative that these laws and
rules be observed implicitly. Long ago Moses
exhorted Israel,
“And these words, which I am commanding you
today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach
them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk
by the way and when you lie down and when you
rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your
hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your
house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
Children need to know the rules their parents
set up for them. Where there are no rules
there can be no discipline. Children need to
understand the motives behind the rules. Only
when regulations are carefully made, clearly
understood, and genuinely appreciated is there
a common ground of respect for them. Two little
girls were boasting about how much their mothers
loved them. One little girl said, “My mommy
loves me so much she lets me cross the street by
myself.” The other little girl responded, “My
mommy loves me so much she won’t let me cross
the street.”
At times, of course, the rules of a home must
be enforced. There is a definite pattern for procedures
which have been tried and proved satisfactory.
There is, of course, the matter of verbal
reprimand. A violation of some regulation needs
to be brought to the child’s attention. He needs
also to have explained to him the necessity of
compliance with the rule. Social disapproval in
the family circle is a matter of reproof and censure
brought to bear upon the offender. The
withdrawal of privileges is one of the surest
ways to promote discipline. When a boy forfeits
his right to use the family car he feels he has been
hit in a very vulnerable spot. At times physical
punishment must be administered. This is especially
useful in the earlier years of a child’s life.
Solomon said, “He who spares his rod hates his
son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently”
(Proverbs 13:24). The writer of Hebrews
observed,
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline
us, and we respected them; shall we not much
rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed
best to them, but He disciplines us for our good,
that we may share His holiness. All discipline for
the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;
yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
(Hebrews 12:9-11).
II. THE PRACTICE OF DISCIPLINE
Discipline requires strength, courage, and
love on the part of parents. Some take the easy
way out. They allow difficult situations to drift
along. They hold to the misguided opinion that
if nothing is done, all will work out well. This is
appeasement and appeasement is the way of
weakness and cowardice. It is also the way of
failure. Only the genuinely mature person is in a
position to act in accordance with his convic3
tions. There is an easy way but it is not the way
out; it is a way that leads to greater hazards.
Proper discipline takes time. The entire situation
must be studied. All sides of the question
must be heard. Only then can a just decision be
made. It is a matter of record that many who are
outstanding in their professions are notably inadequate
in administering discipline in the home.
This, largely, is because they have so little time to
give to this exceedingly important matter.
Effective discipline comes only from disciplined
lives. It is not possible for those who rebel
against their own superior to administer discipline
to their children. Paul asks,
You therefore who teach another, do you not teach
yourself? You who preach that one should not steal,
do you steal? You who say that one should not
commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
(Romans 2:21, 22).
Discipline must grow out of love. The child
must realize that his parents love him and are
deeply interested in his welfare. Richard Baxter,
the famous English preacher of the seventeenth
century, said, “We take all things well from one
who always and wholly loves us.” It was the
inspired James who said, “Let him know that he
who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude
of sins” (James 5:20).
I sometimes think the human race is comparable
to a herd of wild horses. Imagine, if you
can, a particularly fine young stallion fenced in
for the first time. He stomps the ground, rears
up, snorts, and whinnies. He resents the loss of
his freedom. He will resist anything that comes
near. Then a skilled trainer takes over. He manages
to get a bridle in the stallion’s mouth. Eventually,
a saddle is strapped on his back. One day
the wild range horse is brought under control—
but it did not come easily. Now, however, he is
ready to engage in some worthwhile work. So
long as he continued wild and untamed he accomplished
nothing. So it is with the proud,
rebellious spirit of man. Jesus said, “Blessed are
the meek, . . .” (Matthew 5:5). It is interesting to
note that the word Jesus used, in the original
Greek, pictures the taming of a wild animal. The
wild nature must be controlled and trained.
There must be external restraints in order to
insure proper discipline. Ultimately, however,
with growth and maturity there is a transferal of
external restraints into internal restraints. Now
the things that were once enforced are done
through one’s own volition. With maturity there
comes a recognition of the true value of those
things that are right.
Even so, wild desires and appetites must be
guarded against constantly. For example, James
speaks of the universal tendency to misuse the
tongue; this is a lifetime struggle:
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and
yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a
forest is set a flame by such a small fire! And the
tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the
tongue is set among our members as that which
defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course
of our life, and is set on fire by hell. But no one can
tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of
deadly poison (James 3:5, 6, 8).
The child is hemmed in by certain limitations.
He is led by the hand when he crosses the
street. Certain eating habits are insisted upon.
He must go to bed long before the adults in the
family. When he grows older, in a well-regulated
home, there are certain, definite dating
rules. There are rules for the use of the car and
restrictions on the spending of money. Limitations
should be placed on books that are read
and movies attended. This presents a real problem.
There is so much that is lustful these days.
In addition, a great deal of objectionable matter
comes into the home via television. Parents must
insist that those programs be placed off limits.
All of these, of course, are external limitations.
Eventually they must be transferred to
internal restraints. When this takes place the
young person has achieved maturity. Beyond
mere height, weight, and birthdays, he has grown
up; he has left childhood behind and has entered
into adulthood.
In the development of internal restraints it
would be well to consider five pertinent questions
regarding proposed courses of actions: In
which direction does it lead? Does this activity, this
book, or this film, lead toward God or away from
God? What kinds of people enjoy it? We learn
something of the worth of an activity when we
carefully examine those who habitually engage
in it. Do I wish to become like these people?
Would I want my most respected friends to know? If
the book, the movie, or the activity is something
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that we would be embarrassed for our most
respected friends to see us engaging in, it is a
strong indication that it is out of bounds. Would
I want to do it, see it, or read it, if I knew that today
was my last day on earth? Of course, we do not
know but that any day might be our last day. The
only wise course is to live each day as though it
were our last. Would Christ do it, see it, or read it,
if He were here? If we cannot visualize Christ
participating in this activity, then it is a good
sign that we who wear His name ought to stay
clear of it.
CONCLUSION
The Word of God is the absolute standard of
right and wrong. It teaches us to distinguish
good from evil. In his letter to the Romans, Paul
refers to those who “approveth the things that
are excellent” (Romans 2:18). Conversely, this
calls for disapproval of the things that are not
excellent. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul
says, “I want you always to be able to recognize
the highest and the best” (Philippians 1:10;
Phillips). The Hebrew writer spoke of “those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). The
Bible is designed in a large measure to create in
us a sense of values which will guide us away
from evil and toward the good. In the book of
Isaiah, for example, is the statement, “Woe to
those who call evil good, and good evil; who
substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). The New Testament
contains Paul’s striking charge:
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, is honorable,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your
mind dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8).
Discipline occupies a central place in God’s
plan for man’s redemption. Jesus said, “If anyone
wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”
(Luke 9:23). The denial of self is the discipline
whereby one brings his will into subjection to the
will of God. We see this in a sinner who comes to
believe in Christ (John 8:24), repents of past sins
(Luke 13:3), and submits to the cleansing act of
baptism (1 Peter 3:21). It is in this manner that
Christ becomes the Lord of a man’s life.
ENDNOTES
1Christian Economics, May 27, 1969, 1.
2Christian Crusade, May 1969, 16.
3F.B.I. Law Enforcement Bulletin, April 1969, 1.
4Plain Truth, April 1969, 49.
5Time, May 23, 1969, 112, 116.
6Central (Birmingham, Al.) Bulletin, May 7, 1969.
©Copyright, 1986, 2000 by Truth for Today
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

atp

Answer 2

people need to understand that there are consequnces for their wrong actions. discipline can be used in a way to manipulate others to seeing that one person is dominate and other isnt

Answer 3

we dont need it. its better to try to have fun in life than be a smart and successfull slave of this society. who cares about education, discipline, manners, morals, religion...... it dont mean a damn thing.

Answer 4

we don't.. we need guidance