02/08/2013 - BUILDING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

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Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 23.13-14

The same way children need discipline, so do new converts. They are like newborns, therefore the rod – the Word of God – must not be withheld from them. There is not a single person who, being new to faith, does not have moments when his actions resemble more than those of a child. So it is good for us to always remember the beginning of our walk with Christ, when the Father had lots of patience with us.

Sometimes we may think that we are being too rigid or severe, but the truth is discipline is good for anyone who is new to faith. If they do not learn the right way to proceed, they might acquire bad habits and do things that will bring shame on other members of God’s family. What is even worse, depending on the gravity of their acts, their salvation may be jeopardized.

As a result, “beating them with a rod” is what the Bible recommends. We must be firm and wise; but, at the same time, we need to nurture fear of the rod – that is, fear of the Word – in those who have just joined the Body of Christ. The “gospel of convenience” says that God forgets our transgressions, but that is not true, as on Judgment Day we will be held accountable for our acts. Jesus talked about wailing and gnashing of teeth, which shows that suffering awaits those who live in rebellion (Matthew 13.42,50).

The Lord knows how to protect those who learn his lessons and guarantee that new converts do not die for being “beaten with the rod”, even if they feel sad for a while. What is important is that they will learn to respect God’s things and their brothers and sisters. So do not hesitate in rebuking anyone who starts joking around about the gift of tongues or any other gifts of God, for example.

Which one of these options is the best: make a neophyte suffer due to rebuking or let him grow without any limits, dishonoring the biblical message? The same way we act towards a rebellious child, who does not respect others, speaks too loud, uses bad words and does things that bring shame on his parents, we must act towards those who have recently joined the family of God, not letting them act as fools.

In fact, the Lord teaches us to discipline kids with the rod to prevent them from going to hell. And if we do not teach new converts the proper behavior those who are saved must have, we will be delivering them into the hands of the enemy. And whose fault will it be?

Of course that everything we do for the Most High must be guided by wisdom and orientations from heaven, since, without them, we might apply discipline in the wrong measure.

Lastly, brethren, there is nothing better than setting a good example, which will always help build the character of other Christians.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares