As I mentioned, I'm reading some of these books that are in the OT of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, but not in our OT. I've been reading through the Psalms of Solomon, and it's a bit surprising just how much of it is all about God's discipline.
I think in our culture we've been desensitized to, or talked out of, the idea that God disciplines those whom he loves. But it's all over the OT, and it is not contradicted in the NT. I used to believe that God does not "punish" people in this life, but I now realize that this was based on 1) wishful thinking, and 2) the problem of confusing punishment with discipline. Also, I think there is a real sense in which our culture has an aversion to the idea of redemptive suffering, but that's a conversation for another day.
For now, I'll just note that I was reading Psalms of Solomon number 13, and there it's very clear that, not only does God discipline (you know, as a loving parent disciplines a child), but in this Psalm it's made very clear that God's discipline IS two things: guidance, and purification. God's discipline can be for course correction in life, or for sanctification, or both, but there is nothing in Scripture that would support the idea that God does not discipline us.
Unless anyone can think of something I'm missing?
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
St. Albert the Great - teacher and mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas
The Original Church
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The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
