Saturday, June 2, 2012

Redemptive Discipline

Because of the Fall (Genesis 3, Romans 3:23), every school will have its share of behavioral issues. Temptations abound, and students need to work through what it means to resist and live the abundant life through Christ. When students make wrong choices, a distinctively Christian school will use redemptive discipline procedures to help the child recognize the sin, repent, receive forgiveness, and be restored to the body of Christ. This does not negate earthly consequences for wrongdoing; students can learn that there are consequences for sin, but that in the body of Christ, there is also forgiveness and restoration. As Tripp suggested:
"The central focus of childrearing is to bring children to a sober assessment of themselves as sinners. They must understand the mercy of God, who offered Christ as a sacrifice for sinners. . . . The focal point of your discipline and correction must be your children seeing their utter inability to do the things that God requires unless they know the help and strength of God. Your correction must hold the standard of righteousness as high as God holds it. . . . Discipline leads to the cross of Christ where sinful people are forgiven. Sinners who come to Jesus in repentance and faith are empowered to live new lives."

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