Today I plan to discuss if it is righteous to punish or reward some people for the actions of another and what culture believes about it and what the Scriptures teach. I have considered this and heard the opinions of others and read Bible passages and though I don't know the half of the answer to this issue, as far as I can figure, yes, in most circomstances it is right to punish and reward people for the actions of others.
Numerous times in history the Jews were punish and captured by various surrounding nations. They were inslaved by the Egyptians, carried off by the Babylonians, and ruled over by the Romans, to name a few. God did this as punishment for their disobedience, but numerous times we see that the righteous Jews were carried off along with the unrighteous. A case of punishing some people for the acts of others.
We will also note that, though they were righteous Jews, they still sinned. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Adam's sin brought sin and destruction down upon us all, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). Another example of a group being punished for the wrong doings of group members.
You see this in culture as well. We see this in stereotypes. Teenagers are stereotyped, that's the whole of it. They are known for mischievousness, filth/disorder/disorganization, disregard for all rules, attitude, and loitering. The actions of those teenagers taint the image of the rest of us.
Sports teams are like this also. All members are part of a team and that means you are one "body" of many people with one common goal. You win and lose together. Even if a mistake or the winning point is made by just one person the whole team gets the loose or the win.
In the case of children, I consider it wrong to punish or reward for something the individual did not do. If Susie put away all her toys when she had finished should Claire get the hug and praise? If Alison threw a fit should John get the punishment? What is there that justifies that?
So really, sometimes it's right and sometimes it is wrong and in this world of imperfectness and sin--we can never judge perfectly as to where a reward or punishment should go. This essay cannot, therefore, be perfect.
THE END
(This is the hardest thing I've ever written. :P )
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