Comments on: Rethinking Discipline

By: Steve Hayes

Steve Hayes — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:14:03 +0000

There is a similar tendency I've noticed with the related words "ascetic" and "asceticism".

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:31:27 +0000

Thinking about discipline in the spiritual sense…I recently noticed something while studying about discipleship. I noticed that the Greek word translated "disciple" is simply, "learner" or "pupil". In other words, "disciple" wasn't really Jesus' term. WE are the ones who have used that Anglo-Latin word, and all the variations of it, to focus on the "disciplines" of "discipleship", when Jesus just wants us to follow Him and learn from Him. Yes, there is the "discipline of the Lord" and all, but have we possibly misunderstood the heart of following Jesus because of this translation of the word?

Just something to add to your thoughts.

By: Karl

Karl — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:53:28 +0000

Short answer – yes. Dallas Willard and Richard Foster have a lot to say on this topic.

The concept of discipline does contain and involve rules and consequences, but those are just a couple (out of many) aspects of discipline, and they are means, not ends. i.e. in and of themselves rules and punishments/consequences aren't "discipline" but are small parts of a multifaceted whole that results in one being a "disciplined one" or a disciple.

By: jewlsntexas

jewlsntexas — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:06:50 +0000

My thoughts on this are all over the place. I'm into grace based parenting – and want that to invade ever relationship that I have with everyone. I get stuck with the legalist camp. I find it hard to extend grace to them.
More thoughts possibly later.