Love Requires Discipline

Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
 
“WE are not to judge.” is a quick response in the church today to another’s sin. Yes, that is definitely Jesus’ teaching here. “Do not judge.” commands us to not condemn others in their sins. “Love one another.” And “Forgive one another.” commands the Lord. Judgment is the Lord’s responsibility. However, it seems we often equate, “We are not judge.” “Love and forgive others.” with, “Let’s ignore the sin. We’ll just love them.” What is right to do?
    Let’s see how Jesus expressed his love to the church in Laodicea: Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”  The loving Lord rebuked his church for being lukewarm in their faith. He called them to realize their sins and repent. He disciplined them with strong admonition, “You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17b) Is this love?
   Of course it is. God’s love demands he disciplines his people. How could it be otherwise? In Eden, God went to the sinful couple. He rebuked them for their sin. Then he clothed them to cover their shame and called them out of their hiding place. God set a penalty for their sin. Still, in his love the Father cared for his son and daughter even in their new life of toil. Because God is love, he did not judge them to destruction, but he judged them to salvation. Out of this broken couple would come the righteous Son of God to heal mankind’s sin.
   God rebukes. God corrects. God loves. God forgives. This our pattern for Christian living. We must recognize sin in ourselves (See next lesson.) and one another to remove it. How can true love exist if there is no correction for wrong? A God-cantered discipline requires rebuke, admonition and penalty. His love requires, too, forgiveness, healing and restoration. Loving discipline is essential for mankind because we sin against one another. No family, community, church, city or nation will exist as a functioning, effective body if we are lukewarm to God’s laws.
   Why, then, are we so reluctant to discipline someone who sins against us, our family, our church and our God? True, this is difficult, and none of us can say, “I am without sin.” But to discipline is not to judge. God-like discipline is truly loving someone enough to restore them to a righteous life.
 
Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight.