“Alright, piggies, time for some military discipline!” Piggie was a term of endearment frequently used by “Mac,” a platoon sergeant from another platoon. It was September of 1972, and it was the beginning of our Officer’s Candidate Course at Quantico, Virginia.

I had met Mac at Parris Island, South Carolina, when he and my twin brother Roger were drill instructors together. I thought he was sort of a friend. Au contraire! I was excluded from every platoon being formed because I knew one or more of the platoon sergeants or sergeant instructors from Parris Island. I didn’t know anyone in the last platoon, but by then they all knew about me.

Mac failed me on my inventory Physical Fitness Test (PFT). The PFT consisted of pull-ups, sit-ups, and a three-mile run. I could max the sit-ups and do fairly well on the run, but at the time I could only do 5-6 pull-ups. You needed three to pass. Mac stopped counting after two. When I dropped off the bar he loudly proclaimed, “You’re on remedial PT, piggie!” I swore revenge under my breath. Looking back, it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. By the time I graduated I could max the pull-ups, which I continued to do for the remainder of my career.

All too often Christians put a negative connotation on the term “discipline.” To a military man, it is an important part of training. The Guidebook for Marines states discipline “is the state of order and obedience among military personnel resulting from training.” It goes on to say it “is the exact execution of orders resulting from an intelligent, willing obedience.”

I believe that God has the same process in mind when it comes to biblical discipline. A good portion of Hebrews 12 deals with the subject of discipline. Hebrews 12:11 sums up the commentary when it says this: “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (ESV). The Greek word translated “discipline” here (“chastening,” KJV) is paideia, defined as “instruction, training” (Young’s Concordance).

Parents discipline their children to create harmony within the family. Military units instill discipline to ensure the “exact execution of orders.” Survival on the battlefield makes military discipline an absolute necessity. Discipline in the Body of Christ is an absolute necessity as well. If we are to be His representatives in the world, we must cultivate “the peaceful fruit of righteousness,” which only comes through the process of discipline. I will tell you that the best units are those in which each individual willingly undertakes personal discipline to enhance the performance of the unit as a whole.

Let’s take that and apply it to the Church as a whole. How many Christians realize that their church is a “unit” engaged in an ongoing battle with an organized enemy force that is experienced in the rigors of warfare? How many Christians are willing to subvert their own personal interests to the greater good of the “unit” rather than their own ease and comfort?

Let me remind you that the goal of military discipline is “willing obedience,” not begrudging acknowledgement. As an officer, I took to heart this concept: “the goal of military leadership is to obtain the loyal and willing cooperation of their subordinates.” A disciplined unit is one that embraces this philosophy. For that to happen, it necessitates good leadership.

As Christians, we have the ultimate in good leadership, serving in the army of the Lord under King Jesus. He asks for my “loyal and willing cooperation,” and He receives it because I am loyal to my King. He gave His life for me, and for you. There is nothing too menial He might ask of me that I will not immediately respond in obedience. King Jesus sees the battlefield ahead. He knows every move of the enemy. He has a plan of victory we cannot know, nor do we need to know. All we need to know is He is worthy of our obedience. Am I willing today to submit to the discipline of the Lord? Are you?

What say ye, Man of Valor?