Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro

The Biblical Case for Physical and Corporal Punishment - Proverbs 20:30

07/06/2012

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Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes reach the innermost parts.   Proverbs 20:30
 
Physical punishment . . . here is a topic that brings out the most strident opposition in a lot of people.  When it refers to children  some call it child abuse - and when it comes to the punishment of those who break the law the phrase "cruel and unusual punishment" is used.  So what exactly is God's take on the idea of corporal punishment and some kind of physical response to disobedience and criminal activity?  
 
There are two levels to understand this Proverb - that of the physical and the responsibility of parents and the state - and a purely spiritual level and how it relates to our growth in a relationship with the Lord.  I'll begin with what is being addressed most clearly here - which is the response of parents and governing officials to disobedience and crime.  
 
Our justice system has turned away from the biblical view of crime and punishment.  We try to rehabilitate criminals without thought that they need to acknowledge that they've stepped over a very serious line in their behavior.  The results are not encouraging at all.  We have overcrowded jails and prisons where repeat offenders abound.  We've gotten to the point where we have more people interested in the rights of the criminals than in the rights of those they infringed upon with their godless behavior.  Our prisons therefore have revolving doors on them - and with the present focus, there are few who are rehabilitated while incarcerated.  Put our current record next to one of a modern state that practices physical punishment for a crime.  Several years ago a young American citizen was arrested from a crime in one of these states.  He was convicted and sentenced to a caning.  People in the United States, especially among liberals, went ballistic.  Yet the facts should be viewed without all the hysteria.  Their crime rates are much lower than ours.  What they see currently and have seen in the past is that truly stripes and strokes do scour away evil in the heart.  They do reach the innermost parts of a person.  They are a very powerful deterrent to crime and disobedience.
 
The spiritual level is little diffeerent.  God disciplines those He loves and, according to Hebrews 12, He scourges every son He accepts.  How does God deal with His own children?  He disciplines them with scourgings - stripes and strokes that scour away the evil of our hearts and make us think twice about being disobedient again.  We are fallen beings and have a sad tendency to ignore God and His commandments and turn instead to what our flesh cries out for constantly.  The way God deals with this is to bring us into discipline.  Anyone who has ever experienced this discipline knows that it is stern but loving.  There is no doubt that God loves us when He disciplines us - but He is dead serious about it too.  He knows what is at stake - and is wanting to deter us from walking in rebellion and sin.  These things will hurt us - and in some cases even destroy us - therefore He takes it very seriously a trip to the proverbial spiritual woodshed.  But do not ever be mistaken . . . God does these things because He loves us.  The same should be said for parents and for a society that crafts effective physical punsihments for those who break the law.  
 
Physical punishment and corporal punishment may be unpopular with the liberal elements of our society - but in all honesty, they are wrong.  Yes there need to be limits put in place - there needs to be a humane way to practice the death penalty - and there should be wisdom in a parents administration of discipline.  Yet there also should be a full acknowledgement that the sinful nature of man will not respond to a call to reform alone.  It is in the best interests of a family - and indeed a society to practice physical and corporal punishment.  How do we know?  The Word of God informs us.  
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Getting Rich But Not Getting Blessed - Proverbs 20:21

06/06/2012

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An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.  Proverbs 20:21Quick money is often thought of as a blessing - but often is more like a curse.  This proverb is all about warning us of the dangers of greed and quickly gaining money and wealth without having the character to deal with what we receive.  The best example of this is the prodigal son.  His father gave him his inheritance, but he was not ready morally to handle it.  What happened next is an altogether too often heard story.  He wasted his inheritance on loose living and partying with his new-found friends.  He only learns when the money is gone that he has no real friends among the sycophants who have gathered around him.  He only has regrets and abject poverty.  The inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning - was not blessed in the end.  

Note here that the problem is "hurriedly" gaining this inheritance.  A wise man will prepare his children and his children's children for the inheritance that they will most likely receive at his death.  He does this by teaching them the value of work.  This work ethic that is built into them gives them a proper perspective toward money.  They see money earned and see that they do not waste all their hard work on silly and frivilous pursuits.  When the inheritance comes - they learn to spend it and invest it in ways that will bring long-term blessing rather than just a short-term high.  

The best way to prepare a person for an inheritance is to have them focused on God rather than on money.  They see an inheritance is a blessing to pass on rather than to be wasted on their lusts and desires.  They want to see the family wealth passed to many generations.  This is called generational wealth - and it can bless multiple generations of one family.  But even more important than this is passing on to children the truth that the things of this world are passing away.  Therefore the wise man invests and sees real wealth in terms of becoming rich toward God.  This means investing in the kingdom of God - investing in good works - and investing in buiilding up disciples of Jesus Christ who can bless multiple generations.  Ultimately the wise man teaches his children that the greatest inheritance is that given to us by God.  We are blessed with a heavenly inheritance in Christ Jesus our Lord.  That inheritance will never pass away - and is reserved in heaven for us.  
Wealth - especially sudden, hurriedly gained wealth will test us sorely.  We will be tested in our values - in our view of what is truly valuable - and in our view toward eternally valuable things.  The man whose master is money (mammon in Scripture) will cling to that master and hate any others who rival him.  The man whose master is the Lord will be blessed not just in the short term as he receives an inheritance, he will be blessed in his own generation - in multiple generations afterward - and ultimately, he will be blessed in the presence of God forever.  Now there is an inheritance worth living for in life!
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How Our Heart Condition Affects Our Face . . . Proverbs 15:13

02/15/2011

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A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13

The state of our hearts is vitally important to the way that we live - and whether we will live in joy or sadness.  Also, as we will learn from this passage, the state of our countenance is also something about which we should be concerned.  To say that we are Christians and know God's joy, yet for this joy never to reach our face (i.e. our countenance) is a bad testimony to those around us - and especially to the lost.  This proverb holds a great deal of wisdom for us if we will open it and learn from it. 

First, we have the joyful heart.  This heart is the one filled with joy and as a result is exceedingly glad.  This gladness does not come from mere human prosperity - but truly comes from and is maintained by the blessings of the Lord.  In the New Testament this joy comes from knowing Christ Jesus and the salvation that He brings to us.  It comes from knowing that God loves us and that we are saved from the wrath of God through Him.  This is a joy that floods our hearts no matter what our outward circumstances.  It is a joy, as Peter expresses it, that causes us to greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.  The foundation of this joy - obtaining the outcome of our faith - which is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).  This joyful heart communicates with our countenance - and brings us to have a cheerful face.  No matter our circumstances we can stop and remember that our sins are washed away - that we are made righteous in Christ - and that as a result - we are saved.  That can bring a cheerful expression to any face. 

I find it disturbing that some are what I would call, "lemon-sucking Christians."  They seldom have a joyful or cheerful expression on their face.  They always seem sour about something.  It is almost that they are unwilling to be happy and joyful.  This is a horrible witness to Christ and to the salvation that He brings.  Sure there are things about which I am concerned - even heartbroken.  But, in spite of everything that happens and can happen - the one constant is my salvation - that I will not face the wrath of God and I will enjoy fellowship with God here and now - and forever in heaven. 

Then there is the sad heart.  The word used for "sad" here is "assebet" which clearly refers to emotional suffering - and not usually to pain or injury.  This is a sadness of heart.  It is truly fascinating to look at what brings on "assebet" in someone Scripturally.  This kind of sadness or grief is caused by idolatry (Psalm 16:4),  by a fear of spiritual discipline over our sin (Job 9:28), or by those who "wink the eye" in evil plots (Prov. 10:10).  Some might refer to this to speak of someone with a broken heart over sin or over the loss of a loved one - but that is not the way that "assebet" is used Scripturally.  This is a sadness brought on by disobedience, sinfulness, and a walk contrary to the ways of God.  This kind of sadness causes our spirits to be broken.  The word "broken" here means that we are stricken, smited, or scourged.  We have a bad situation in our lives due to sin - and our spirits are broken due to the consequences of our sin. 

When you look at this proverb and the meanings of the words used in it, you see that wisdom therefore is to walk with God.  When we do joy will come to us - and our countenance, our face will reflect it.  But to walk in disobedience and rebellion is to invite a brokenness and sadness into our lives which will fill our hearts with emotional suffering.  How many in our world walk in this kind of suffering every day.  But, dear saints of God, we can alleviate this suffering by sharing the gospel with them and encouraging them to come to Christ - Who can deliver them from their sin and flood their hearts with His own joy.  This Proverb truly helps us to see the difference between the lost and the saved - between those who embrace obedience to God versus those who mock such a lifestyle.  The difference is the Source of their joy.  The difference between a sad countenance - and a cheerful one - is the gospel and the joy of knowing that we are saved.

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You Can't Read a Person by Their Mirth - Proverbs 14:13

02/14/2011

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Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief. Proverbs 14:13

To read a face is easy - but to read someone's heart is far more difficult.  In today's proverb we learn that lesson.  Even when someone is laughing - their heart may still be in pain.  Just because someone paints a smile on their face - it does not always serve as a guarantee of what is happening in their hearts.  We are also counselled that the end of joy may be grief.  This is why we need to not read every person by what they showing on their faces.  

I remember a brother in Christ who used to ask me how I was doing.  One time I answered him that I was doing fine, even thought I was not on the inside.  Then he looked at me and said, "Really how are you doing - and this time tell me the truth."  It was then that I opened up to him and told him that I was not doing so good.  He took the time to really know what was going on in my heart - and then took the time to minister to me.  He was such a blessing in this way.  Where others would just take things at face value and move on - he really did what to know what is going on in someone's life.  It opened up a great deal of ministry for him.  

There are times when we will have to get past the facade that people put on for us.  If we do not, they will not open up and we will not be able to minister to their true situation.  So do not be deceived, even by laughter and supposed joy and mirth.  These can be real - but they can also be camouflage to keep people at an arm's length - when in reality they truly need someone to push through so that their pain can be addressed by the love of someone who truly cares.  
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The Purpose of Thorns . . . and Proverbs. Proverbs 26:9

09/26/2010

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Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Proverbs 26:9

A thorn is a painful thing to endure.  If one pierces your hand, you will know it instantly and you will learn from it.  Over the years of having this happen to me, I've learned which trees, bushes, and flowers have thorns.  I either avoid them - or act with great caution when I get around them.  A rose is a beautiful thing to see - and very pleasant to smell - but if you are unaware of the issue of the thorns - it can also be a very unpleasant thing to grasp in the hand.  Thorns are given in life to teach us - and to warn us.  We learn from them to be cautious and careful. 

This proverb tells us that a proverb in the mouth of a fool is about as profitable as a thorn in the hand of a drunkard.  A drunk is in a deadened state.  If a thorn were to fall into his hand, he might not even know about it until the following morning when he sobers to find a wound in his hand.  A drunken fool will be more likely to injure himself in a thorn bush and not really heed the warning of the thorns.  He is too drunk to realize that the bush is warning him to stop and get away.  Therefore he injures himself worse - and ignores the danger of the situation.

A fool with a proverb is the same way.  He may have a proverb right at the tip of his tongue.  But though he speaks it - he learns nothing from it.  He does not heed the warning - and may even mock it.  He does not follow the advice of the God who gave it for his blessing and wisdom.  Therefore it profits him nothing. 

If you want to be wise - you will have to be able to heed the warnings of God's Word.  You will want to avoid what the Lord tells you will harm you.  Those warnings are like thorns.  We are told some very valuable information that uses this same kind of picture by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. 

"In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd." (Ecclesiastes 12:9-11, NASB)

Solomon tells us that there was one who taught the people knowledge through proverbs he wrote.  Later he calls these proverbs and sayings goads.  A goad is a sharp instrument that was used to teach oxen how to plow without kicking at their master.  When they would kick at him - their leg would run into a sharp object that would poke them.  A well trained ox would never kick or buck at the direction of the farmer because the goad would have trained him that to do so was foolish - and painful. 

Proverbs are meant to be goads - thorns if you will.  They are meant to train us to walk in wise ways.  They warn us against painful moments that will come if we continue to walk as a fool in this life.  May God give us grace to be the kind of person to whom a proverb would be profitable - and not like a drunkard who has a thorn fall into his hand - and doesn't even feel it. 
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