I've been reading "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis. A great book! He talks about how we sometimes object to God's discipline, wondering why He continually pokes and prods at us, trying to improve us instead of just letting us alone. If He loves us just as we are now, why does He insist that we change?

It's easier to understand this when you think of a puppy:

The puppy comes into the family with lots of unpleasant aspects which when you think about it, are simply "natural." The puppy will do his business on the floor, he won't keep his fur clean (he smells) and he'll bite and bark inappropriately. It's his animal nature, after all. He can't help it. ...

But though we love the puppy just as he is, we do not love those ugly things about him. So we lovingly train him to be the dog we want him to be. We have his greater good in mind. And in the end, he is kept clean (washed in the tub even if he hates it) and he learns to obey us and he enjoys all the privileges and pleasures of being a domesticated animal. Despite the payoff, this process is painful for the pup because it involves discipline, which hurts (just like in child-rearing). But this is what it comes down to: If you truly love someone, you aren't content to let them remain sitting in their harmful dirt and rags. And so it is with God! He loves us just as we are; but because He loves us, He wants our hearts to be pure and clean.

Hebrews 12:11 says: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

And Isaiah 64:8 says: Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

In closing, here is a thought-provoking excerpt from "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis:

"Theoretically, I suppose, we might say, 'Yes: we behave like vermin, but then that is because we are vermin. And that, at any rate, is not our fault.' But the fact that we are vermin, so far from being felt as an excuse, is a greater shame and grief to us than any of the particular acts which it leads us to commit. The situation is not nearly so hard to understand as some people make out. It arises among human beings whenever a very badly brought up boy is introduced into a decent family. They rightly remind themselves that it is 'not his own fault' that he is a bully, a coward, a tale-bearer and a liar. But none the less, however it came, his present character is detestable. They not only hate it, but ought to hate it. They cannot love him for what he is, they can only try to turn him into what he is not. In the meantime, though the boy is most unfortunate in having been so brought up, you cannot quite call his character a "misfortune" as if he were one thing and his character another. It is he ~ he himself ~ who bullies and sneaks and likes doing it. And if he begins to mend he will inevitably feel shame and guilt at what he is just beginning to cease to be."

RELATED ARTICLES:

How My Cat Taught Me Grace

(c) 2010 - Bekah Ferguson

Permissions: By all means, you are welcome to reproduce and distribute my articles in excerpts or complete format as long as you don't change any of the wording. If you do reproduce any part of my articles, please include the following information: by Bekah Ferguson, Ontario, Canada. www.bekahferguson.com

Licensed under Creative Commons.

No one has commented on this article.

Please keep your comments brief and on topic. READ THIS: Copy your entry to your clipboard before submitting, just in case there is an error and you need to re-submit.
Name :
Title :
E-mail :
Website :
	Text ColorAquaBlackBlueFuchsiaGrayGreenLimeMaroonNavyOlivePurpleRedSilverTealWhiteYellow
Comment(s) :

J! Reactions 1.09.03 • General Site License
Copyright © 2006 S. A. DeCaro