Growing up in North Minneapolis, we would cut through yards to get to our friends house. My back door was only one cut through yard to my dear friend’s house. He and I were tight, we went to school together, we hung out together, our families were friends, it was so nice having him only one street over from me growing up.

Being teenagers in the 80’s was so different than today. Our parents disciplined us, and sometimes even publicly without shame. I would get a pinch under the arm, a swat on the butt or even a look while in the mall that I knew I was to get back in line immediately. It was not abuse, it was called discipline and it trained me to be responsible, it caused me to mature, and it taught me how to treat my mom and other people.

My friend across the street had a similiar upbringing. I remember one time coming through the yard to come see him and his mom was disciplining one of the kids in the front yard. I knew to wait til she was done, so I paused before preceeding over there.

Discipline is where the word disciple comes from. If we don’t want to be disciplined we are not disciples. Then if we are leaders, we are under even stricter discipline first privately, but if we don’t respond, then publicly. We are living in a time of public discipline by the Lord on His leaders in both church and culture. It has gone public for some and is happening privately for others.

Psalm 99 says, “Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.”

We love God’s forgiveness but He is also an avenger. An avenger means “God held them accountable not to destroy them but to discipline them —- especiallly since they were leaders. God held them to a higher standard. Discipline was correction not destruction. God as an avenger means accountability.” (ChatGPT)

The God who is an avenger is disciplining not destroying people publicly. It is time for us to pause, hold our tongue and watch, not comment, criticize or condemn those who are being disciplined. If you grew up with discipline, you know both biblicallly and personally we only discipline those we love. God loves us so much He is being an avenger with His leaders in church and culture, because He has forgiven them but He needs to discipline them to show them He loves them.