“When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.” — 2 Samuel 13:21
King David was furious over his son’s sin, but he did nothing. He kept his anger to himself and never brought correction. His silence opened the door to rebellion and tragedy in his family. The same silence is destroying our homes and our nation today.
Years ago, a small number of parents went too far and abused their children. The government stepped in to stop the abuse, and that was right. But instead of holding the guilty few accountable, society changed the rules for everyone. Because of the one percent who could not control their anger, the ninety-nine percent who loved their children lost the right to discipline them. The line between correction and cruelty was erased.
How the Laws Changed
In the 1970s and 1980s, laws were passed to protect children from real abuse. That was needed. But over time, the definition of abuse became so broad that even a firm correction could be questioned. In 1974, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act gave states power and funding to investigate abuse. In 1977, the Supreme Court allowed corporal punishment in schools in Ingraham v. Wright, yet most states soon banned it. Today, in many places, if you discipline your child too firmly, child protective services could show up at your door — and in some cases, remove your children.
Parents became afraid to discipline. Teachers became afraid to correct. Leaders became afraid to speak the truth. And as discipline disappeared, so did accountability.
Children grew up believing that actions have no consequences. They were rewarded for showing up, praised for effort they never gave, and taught that feelings matter more than facts. Now those children are adults, and they expect reward without work, rights without duty, and freedom without boundaries. They get angry when life tells them “no,” because they grew up in a world that never did.
But actions do have consequences, and every individual must bear them. No law, government, or movement can protect anyone from the results of their own choices. The truth is simple: discipline teaches responsibility, and responsibility builds character. Without either, people stay children no matter their age.
My wife often says, “If it does not hurt, it does not work.” She is right. Growth only comes through correction and hardship. When discipline stops, decay begins.
Billy Graham once said, “When discipline is absent, chaos takes control.” That is exactly what we see today. Our classrooms are chaotic, our families are broken, and our culture celebrates rebellion while mocking authority. King David’s failure to correct his children destroyed his house. Our failure to correct this generation is destroying our nation.
“LORD, do not let evil people have their way, or allow their evil schemes to succeed. Do not let liars prosper here in our land.” — Psalm 140:8, 11
Love is not letting people do whatever they want. Love is teaching them what is right and standing firm when they resist. Discipline is not cruelty — it is care in action. We cannot stay silent any longer. If we keep doing nothing, rebellion will rule, truth will fade, and the next generation will not know that actions have consequences they must bear.
Lord, give us the courage to correct, the strength to stand, and the wisdom to stop this madness.