Proverbs 16:6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

Though there are differences between the NIV and the Japanese, (“grace” rather than “love,” “guilt” rather than “sin”) I think it’s fair to say that the first half of this verse is strictly from the human per­spective. True atonement comes only through the blood of Jesus Christ by faith, but if we want those around us to forgive us, we had better be strong on love, grace, and faithfulness! However, it’s the second half of this verse that really caught my eye this morning. We have mostly gotten away from what has been called “avoidance therapy,” associating something unpleasant with behavior we want to curb. We still do it in training animals, but it’s being labeled “abuse” when we use it on our children. That’s a tragic mistake! I know someone whose grandson loved trains, and one day when he was about four he got out of the house and went down to the tracks. Someone spotted him and he was rescued, but he was lectured rather than punished. The next time he was not spotted, a train clipped him on the head, and after a week in a coma, he died. His parents and grandparents didn’t practice “avoidance therapy” with him! That’s why it says in Proverbs 13:24 that “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” The same principle applies in our relationship to God. If we think of Him like Santa Claus, always and only handing out goodies, we will not fear Him and we will have little motivation to avoid evil. God is indeed love, but evil is and always will be evil, and has horrible consequenc­es. It is precisely because God wants us to avoid those consequences that He applies discipline. Knowing we’re going to “get a whipping” can go a long way toward keeping us straight!

I’ve not avoided evil as much as would have been good for me, but I have certainly learned that God means what He says. As a pastor and as a teacher I am in the position of applying discipline to others at times. Just recently I gave exams, and those students who hadn’t studied properly, for whatever reason, didn’t pass their exams. It would be no kindness for me to let them get by without knowing the material, particularly since I teach students who will be medical professionals (nurses and therapists). I’m happy that most of them like me, but I must not place their liking me over their learning the material I have to teach them. The same thing applies in the church. I am to shepherd in love, but it is not love to ignore spiritually risky behavior. I am not to be a legalist, but I must never be dismissive of sin. To a degree, people need to learn the fear of the Lord through not wanting to cross me! I must not have an environment where people are afraid to speak up, or even correct me, but I also must not give the impression that sin is insignificant. I need to walk in the “fear and admonition of the Lord” myself, and lead others to do the same.

Father, this is a very difficult balance. Thank You that I can count on You to do it through me. Keep me from thinking for a moment that I can do it on my own! I pray that everyone in this church, present, past and future, would learn to fear You rightly so that they may love You rightly, and walk in all that You intend for them, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!