Care Conversations 18 – Why Reinforce and Correct

What we have tried to communicate during these conversations is that Discipline is not just for the sake of good order. It has a strong Biblical Christian foundation and a much bigger purpose than good behaviour.

Last time I suggested that we are wanting to lead our students to:

“Understand right from wrong and possess the strength of character to act accordingly”

Why is this important?

The Bible is crystal clear about our motivation for living; we are to

“…love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength…  and to love our neighbour as ourselves.”.[1]

(Sometimes we think that these commands are unique to the New Testament; but they have always been the heart of God[2])

The question we need to ask is, “What is the right way to live?” The answer: “Love God, Love people.”

Anything that is not directed towards, or informed by, these two things is deficient.

We tend to see that the ten commandments are the rules for behaviour, but they are in fact a subset of the “greater commands” Love God, Love people.” They set boundaries for the command to Love God and Love people.

There is a pattern to God’s redemptive acts. The Ten Commandments are introduced by:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”[3]

This is reflected in Isaiah:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

And again, in various New Testament passages where we see Christ’s full redemptive truth

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.[4]

Here is the brilliance of grace – God redeems us in our unworthiness and disobedience – redemption is an act of God, not a prize we have earned.

The pattern is:

  • God redeems His people
  • The people must keep (not obtain) the covenant through obedience
  • Obedience will lead to blessings.

Obedience to what? God’s commands

  • Rescue comes before rules.
  • Redemption before regulation.
  • Deliverance before demands.

This requires some more conversation!

Blessings
Brian

 

 

[1] Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:27

[2] Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18

[3] Exodus 20:2

[4] Colossians 1:13-14