This essay was inspired by a talk-show segment. I have little respect for some of these moral-less, mid-day monsters of American TV who consume their viewers’ intelligence like a hungry dog. But the talk-show I saw was different. To its credit it was quite civilised and intelligent. After all, our host was a doctor, so he must know something!
The topic being discussed was ‘Spanking your child’. Our host was very much opposed to the idea. His argument seemed reasonable and fitted the framework of a civilised, modern society, which pleased his decent, middle-class, American audience. But as plausible as his reasoning was I couldn’t agree with him, and it wasn’t just because I was spanked as a child and turned out all right (although some may disagree). It was because his definition of spanking had distorted a truth about the human condition and diverted attention from the law of consequence, a law we must grasp as soon as possible, even if it’s not fully understood. Let me explain.
The talk-show host seemed to be defining spanking only as an act of violence (rather than a controlled consequence) used to direct an innocent, curious mind learning about the world it is a part of. What truth gets distorted with such a definition? Humans are not good. That definition subtly points us towards the fallacy that the heart of a person isn’t all that bad. It’s just curious; it just wants to learn and experience life. After all, didn’t we start out ‘innocent as a child’? What day does this so-called ‘innocence’ leave us? Or maybe, dare I say it, we never really had it to start with. The evidence seems to fit what the Bible says - we were born into sin. My sin-nature, as the Bible explains, lines up with reality. My sin-nature is literal. I can feel it everyday, even now! The human heart is depraved and Genesis 1-3 explains how, through disobedience and rebellion, the human race got its bias toward evil. The fact that evil exists in people’s hearts is undeniable. Something is wrong inside us and deep down we know it. We have a sin problem.
Let’s face the facts: we were born with a sin-nature and we are not innocent. We are sinners and have fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23) for which the consequence is spiritual death and eternal hell. But here’s the twist. More often than not it’s is the consequence that gets our attention and helps change our direction, not the fact our heart is evil and offends God’s holiness.
Newton’s third Law of Motion basically states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Or you could say, for every action there’s an appropriate consequence. A child may not understand the scientific reason why a hot stove burns his hand but he sure understands the consequence which in turn helps him make the right decision next time he has the option. I haven’t always understood the spiritual reasons why sin brings death, but from a very early age I understood it was the consequence. Knowing the consequence of our sin is what brings us to God. We need a saviour! Indeed, I would say if there were no consequence for sin there would be no Christians! Without consequences, I doubt we would consistently follow Jesus just for the love of it. Indeed, it is the consequences of sin that help us love and appreciate the cross.
The law of consequence is a powerful part of reality. We need to use it to help direct, protect and guide us through life, especially after becoming a Christian. You have probably already realised this, but your sin-nature didn’t leave when you became a Christian. God has given us the law of consequence as a tool to help control our sinful passions. When I look back and wonder why I avoided doing some things, like ’sleeping around’ for example, the honest reason I haven’t engaged in that activity isn’t because of a constant love for Jesus. It’s because of the consequences. I was warned, I read the Bible, I saw how much it would cost. I am amazed at what the reality of consequence has prevented me from doing.
Christians kid themselves when they think ‘Yeah, but God will forgive me’. Yes, He will forgive you but consequences will still occur. Nowhere does the Bible indicate that consequences will not follow wilful actions, even after we have asked for forgiveness. King David committed adultery/murder and even though he eventually repented in a most heart-wrenching manner ‘the sword never departed from his house’. The consequence of horrendous family problems from David’s actions lasted the rest of his life. Actions always produce consequences. No one makes a fool of the Word of God.
Some people think an emotional spiritual high will give them the consistent inspiration they need in the war against sinful passions. It’s the technique of trying to make the ‘altar call feelings’ last throughout the week. We need to realise it is not possible to live on an emotional spiritual high. The Bible clearly says in James 1:14 that we will be ‘drawn away by our own evil desires and enticed’. It is then we need to remind ourselves about the law of consequence. It will help inspire us to make the right decision. Adam and Eve enjoyed a unique relationship with God. It had a physical reality (they walked and talked together in the cool of the evening). They were close to God but that wasn’t enough to stop them from eating the fruit.
Satan enticed them to disobey their loving Creator by changing what they believed about the consequences, ‘You will not surely die,’ he confidently said. ‘Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…’ he added. They disobeyed because they believed a lie about the consequences. ‘So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.’ (Genesis 3:6 ESV) When we give more attention to selfish feelings and emotion than to truth and consequence, deception and wrong choices are inevitable.
We must read the Bible! It is full of truth; truth about consequences we must take notice of. But consequences are not just to be seen from a negative point of view. The consequence of Jesus dying on the cross is totally positive as now we can have peace with God. Jesus made peace with God’s holiness on our behalf. God’s uncompromising sense of justice was satisfied, for eternity. The eternal consequence of our sin has been fully paid for!