Understanding Core Concepts

First of all, perhaps I should explain certain discipline terms/ideas:

Punishment: Easton's 1897 Bible dictionary says "Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must be maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others from sin. These results may be gained, but crime in itself demands punishment. (my italics)

Training: Dictionary.com says "to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction"

Discipline: This word has at its core the idea of "making a disciple". According to Dictionary.com., it involves "teaching self-control", "enforcing order", and "the rigor or training effect of adversity". Although it is often used synonomously with "inflicting punishment", I believe this is incorrect usage, because as already established, punishment "is not primarily intended for reformation..." and discipline DOES have at its core a goal, an ideal, a "re-forming" of the character. While it does not encompass punishment, it does encompass adversity, whether simply through the rigors of effort or due to the imposition of order when boundaries are crossed. Discipline does involve "consequences".

Chastise (or chasten): Websters says: 1)To inflict pain upon, by means of stripes, or in any other manner, for the purpose of punishment or reformation 2) To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free from faults or excesses.

There are other terms used in the Bible- reproof, rebuke, correcting... all which I will address as we come to them. But, I find within the foundational four terms above some important differences, not only in technique but in attitude. Punishment has no intrinsic motive of restoring the person to good behaviour; it merely seeks to "return tit for tat". It is the "eye for an eye" spoken of in the books of the law (Genesis-Deuteronomy). Punitive treatment of children, in my opinion, is not in keeping with a New Testament, or "new covenant", Christianity; Jesus has taken all the "punishment" in our stead, and therefore, punitive action is no longer appropriate in our dealings with our children. If you would like to go back to "an eye for an eye"- the epitomy of "punishment", Deuteronomy instructs parents to have their rebellious and stubborn sons stoned. Thank goodness for the mercy and grace of God expressed through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. He took my place and my children's place so that God no longer exacts our punishment.

"Training" is probably the most popular word used in Biblical circles due to the verse in Proverbs which says "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". Training, in its nature, does not involve negative consequences (except, perhaps, the time and effort of redoing until it is learned correctly) . It is the positive aspect of teaching your child what *to* do, as opposed to the more negative aspects of enforcing boundaries. A good example of this is taking a new job. Being trained as an employee involves learning how to do a job properly. If a trainee fails at a technique, it is re-explained and re-attempted until the technique is properly executed. Therefore, training involves teaching someone "how to". A person may make a mistake as they are being trained, but they are not penalized for not getting it right; they are still learning! Personally, I have become rather disgusted with the prevalence I see of Christians spanking their child and equating this with "training". Training suggests a person doesn't know how to do something properly and must be taught; spanking doesn't "teach" a person how to do something right; if anything, it teaches that you are wrong. If you were trying to learn something new and were repeatedly told "You did it wrong", and were not shown how to get it right, this would not be "training" you. The Bible explicitly does NOT say "Spank up a child in the way he should go..." Any disciplinary action, then, SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL ALREADY HAS BEEN TRAINED ON PROPERLY EXECUTING A SPECIFIC BEHAVIOUR. Discpline and chastisement as a part of training is more accurately understood as part of the "training career"- throughout the course of your child's training for independent life as an adult, discipline and chastisement are tools used to keep you on the correct course. They do not train you on how to do something properly; rather, they keep you in the form you were trained to execute should you veer away from it.

Although "discipline" is often used synonomously with "inflicting punishment", I believe this fundamentally opposes the core idea, because as already established, punishment "is not primarily intended for reformation..." and discipline DOES have at its core a goal, an ideal, a "re-forming" of the character. While it doesn't encompasses punishment, it does encompass adversity, whether simply through the rigors of effort or due to the imposition of order when boundaries are crossed. Discipline does involve "consequences".

Chastisement relates completely to consequences associated with wrong-doing. Strong's concordance speaks of both literal chastisement (blows) and figurative chastisement (words, or rebuke). The Webster's definitions also leave room for both a physical action and a non-physical one; regardless of the form it takes, it is certainly speaking of strong action meant to change the course of an individual's action.