Consequence or Penalty

My son is a very smart boy with the need to do more than what his order can hold. Each night, the task of completing his homework in a timely manner is often a great difficulty; but it is something that has to get finished before the next morning. Often his procrastination leads to no television or video games before bed. This is not a punishment but a reality, a consequence of procrastination. The homework must get done even if it takes the whole evening to do it. Even a bad grade the next day is not a punishment but a consequence. Although he feels like the loss of TV or games is a punishment he continues to put off completion. Why is it that many times we feel like consequences are punishment and forgiveness removes all results of our choices. I can tell my son that I forgive him for disobedience for not finishing his homework and he wonders why I still will not let him watch TV. The consequence is that he must complete all other tasks for the day and TV is not a required task. Hence the consequence.

Adults think because we are forgiven of sin that the consequences should be removed because of forgiveness but only the punishment can be removed. For instance, the Christian husband who has an affair fails to forsee the consequences. The sin of adultery is forgiven by the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. Death is the punishment for his sin but the penalty or punishment is conferred to his substitute, Christ. However the consequence of his sin remains; broken family, scarred children, lost trust and roles of leadership. One of the hardest concepts for people to understand about Christianity is Jesus' sacrifice transfers the penalty from one to another but the consequences remain with the original owner.

A consequence is the natural progression of effects following an action.

A person gains wisdom by realizing the consequences before an action takes place and chooses a different action based on the consequences, not because of the punishment. Too often people weigh the punishment and not the consequence.

Drinkers do not want to drink and drive because of fear of punishment, not because the consequence could be property damage, personal injury or injury or death to others bringing more consequence of rehab, broken and ruined families and lost opportnities. The punishment is fines and jail but the consequences remain.

"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." 1 Cor 9:27 NKJV