As a parent, I often lack in my compassion towards my children. I am a deficient ‘long-sufferer’ especially when dealing with discipline issues. Just the other night right after family devotions and right before bedtime, I was far too harsh and sinful in my disciplining of Owen, our little guy who just turned 4 on February 16. I did not model the Father’s love to him and my daughters as he received my angry tirade and spanking. It makes me sick to think of the fear in his and my daughters’ hearts as they sadly watched their little brother receive an unjust spanking. In this busy season of church planting, all the more I need to not only watch my doctrine, but I must be vigilant in watching my life and fighting the all-too-easily hidden, ‘respectable’ sin of neglecting to be a godly father, pastor dad.
The palpable, supernatural grace of God was evident in that almost immediately after my sin, as I lay down next to him, I asked him to forgive me and asked if he loved me. In his emotionally exhausted state, he turned toward me and gave me a hug and said “I forgive you daddy and I love you.” Snoring ensued soonafter… but what a reminder of how I need to be childlike in my faith and forgiveness. And how I need the Spirit’s strength to cultivate this fruit in my life! “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.” Solomon’s sagacious words may repulse many a parent in our day and age of self-esteem-ocentric parenting, but his words ring true when heeded wisely and with compassion.
When Owen was two years old, I got into the sinful habit of pontificating these cold and calloused words whenever he hurt himself: “See what happens?!” Now there’s something to disciplining a child when he/she continually hurts herself because of disobedience. If your kid keeps stickin’ stuff in the electrical outlet, you had best discipline him fast and furiously in love. But I must sadly confess, my “see what happens” were not so much out of a compassionate concern for his well-being as they were for my sinful desire for comfort on demand. It got to the pathetic point that whenever he did hurt himself, I’d look over at him with unfatherly eyes and sarcastically blurt out, “Owen, what’s dad gonna say?” To which he would tearfully reply, “See what happens…” Believe it or not, this chapter of sad parenting devolves all the more. One day, at the tender age of 2 years and a few months, Diane observed Owen hurt his shoulder against a portion of the kitchen wall that slightly jutted out. In fear of not wanting to reveal his accident, Diane overheard him tearfully mumble to himself, “See what happens…” That was a crushing, but yet compassionate and convicting blow of discipline from my Father in heaven—discipline that I dare not despise or take lightly.
What a great sinner I am, and what a great Savior He is. Grace upon grace…
Yesterday, there was a USA Today report that the wife of prosperity televangelist Benny Hinn has filed for a divorce. Yes, his prosperity gospel teachings are absolutely poisonous, and he is being and will be held accountable for his great sin. But let’s not approach Hinn’s situation with my sinful “See what happens?!” heart posture. Rather, let’s pray for the Hinns—for Gospel reconciliation to permeate their lives and radically revolutionize him.
