Fortunately, I did not have a great deal of contact with this particular body. I did have to go stand before the DC on a couple of occasions, though. I can't remember at this time what it was I did - - - some minor infraction. The committee was composed of staff members as well as my fellow students.
The university's code of student conduct was codified in a manual called the Student Handbook, which was updated each year. Students were expected to know its contents and to abide by its rules/regulations. When an infraction was made (and noted by a monitor - - the long arm of the law), you were "turned in" to the DC. A summons would soon appear.
The DC met on a regular basis. Your summons would be at a prescribed time of day. You had an appointment, that is. Upon arrival, and you'd better not be late, you'd sit until your name was called. Then, you'd have your private audience. As I recall, you were not told ahead of time what your particular misstep was. So, sometimes you could be surprised, and at other times - - - you knew quite well why you were there. It was all very intimidating. And, I know this: I never felt grateful after I left one of those audiences. Mostly, I felt annoyed.
Well, that system might or might not have worked effectively as one piece of overall student governance. It is not the point of this post to argue for or against it. I thought about the DC this morning, and my limited experiences with it, in light of our Hebrews text for today, 12:7-11 (ESV) - - -
7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
The best discipline is, of course, self-discipline - - - the kind that results when Christians allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to holy living. This yielding to the Spirit of God is what is meant in Hebrews 12:1 when we are exhorted to "throw off" the sin that so easily entangles us. The Greek for "throw off" is ἀποθέμενοι (apothemenoi) and is also translated as "laying aside" "putting away" "strip off" or "get rid of". All of these translations imply strong action on the part of the Christian to, through the power of the Holy Spirit, discipline oneself.
In the event temptation is too strong and we either fall briefly into sin or (God forbid) wallow around in it for a time, God steps in.
The parallel the writer of Hebrews makes is that of a loving earthly parent, who does not allow his or her child to persist in self-destructive behaviors. A "good" earthly father gives incentives for his child to "walk the straight and narrow". Some of those "incentives" are more like bribes, and others are swift, decisive punishment. Still others are merely allowing the child to experience the logical consequences of his or her actions. All are appropriate, depending on the situation. A wise, loving earthly parent usually knows when to use which approach to achieve the desired behavior change.
Our heavenly Father is the same. His discipline, in all its forms, is a hallmark of His love for us. However, His methods are always perfect, unlike earthly parents or the DC mentioned as an example above. No one enjoys discipline, but our passage today tells us that we should endure it, as it demonstrates God's ongoing love for us. He did not merely provide a way of salvation, a "ticket to Heaven", and then leave us to our own devices. After assuring us of our eternal salvation, He puts His own beloved children through ongoing discipline and training.
As noted in today's passage, God's discipline has two primary purposes:
1. So that we may share His holiness
2. So that we may have peace in our lives through righteous living
Holiness that comes from God brings peace to our lives. We can't achieve our own holiness by following a bunch of man-made rules, with or without the accompanying enforcement groups. No way! True holiness is produced IN us BY God's Spirit. It is a "fruit" that grows in us at His initiative.
Looking at my apple tree this morning, I was delighted to see it bearing immature fruit. Did I make it grow? Heck no! God uses His natural laws to produce earthly fruit just as He uses His spiritual laws to produce the fruit of righteousness in me. Sometimes, that requires He discipline me in one form or another.
I am grateful that He cares so much about me to intervene in my life in this way.
