GODLY DISCIPLINE
One reason people read the Bible is to be reminded of and comforted by God’s promises. While this is well and good, there is a problem in the fact that religion teaches that any promise God has made for good or blessings will apply to them unconditionally. This problem is made worse by the fact that religion only teaches about discipline within religious organizations, within a family, self discipline and spiritual disciplines, but never about Godly discipline — except for people who do not share the beliefs and practices of the religious organization.

It is a testimony to the depth and power of religious pride that each and every hierarchical level and denominational strain within Judaism and Christianity sees itself above the need for discipline. Every religion is so convinced of the purity and correctness of its doctrines and traditions that it cannot fathom the possibility that there would ever be a need for God to discipline the religious organization or people who adhere to the organization’s doctrines and teachings. Their religious pride causes them to imagine the  need for God to discipline other religions and unbelievers, but they are blind to the truth that they also need Godly discipline.

Such self-righteous attitudes are based on the teachings of men that appeal to gullible people who like to have their itching ears tickled with smooth talk that never hints at the need for discipline. If any religious organization did teach about Godly discipline that might be directed to adherents of the religion, that religion would soon die for lack of followers. That is why discipline is never taught except in the most general way that exhorts people to stop sinning.

The truth is that, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of stories of Godly discipline of the children he loves — including the Messiah. We tend to interpret these stories more as history than instruction, but they are there for us to learn when and how God disciplines/corrects his people.

When reading Bible stories we should always observe that Godly discipline has a good outcome for those who receive it but a bad outcome for those who do not receive it. This is fully consistent with what the Bible says about how God uses discipline to produce righteousness, wisdom, knowledge and understanding in his people.

What we should learn from these scriptures about discipline is that we should desire and seek discipline when we read the Bible. We should always expect to find application of Bible stories and teachings to our own lives. When reading with these expectations clearly in mind we confirm our faith in what God says about the benefits of scripture regarding correction, reproof and training/discipline that leads to righteousness. But if we read with other motives and do not apply the lessons to our own lives so that our hearts are broken when we recognize that our religious activities are sin, and then willingly seek and accept discipline while we study, we prove that we are not children of God who desire the fruits of righteousness.

Combining what God said about the usefulness of scripture with other scripture that tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we conclude that studying for discipline that transforms us by the renewal of our minds and changes our behaviors in response to the exhortations of the prophets is one way that the law is a tutor that leads us to faith.

Admittedly the books of the prophets are as difficult for us to understand as they were for ancient Israel which was sent into exile because it refused to change its religious ways. But if we do not understand the prophets and change our ways we will suffer the same consequences Israel suffered. If we do not understand what God is trying to teach us when we read and do not turn from our evil ways (i.e. religion), we show that we have hard hearts just like Israel.

In summary, we must learn to read, interpret and apply the entire Bible in terms of discipline designed to turn us from religion to hearing and obeying to God’s voice.