Spanking: Sparing the Rod and Spoiling the Childby Melissa J | More from this Blogger 04 Apr 2007 02:02 AM This is one of the most controversial topics out there and by request I've decided to brave it. I would like to first make note that I do not believe any good parent intends to place their child in harm's way with discipline. I am not here to condone or condemn spanking, rather to share what I've come to learn based on what the Bible has to say on it. One of the arguments I've heard against spanking is in reference to Proverbs 13:24:
It's been said that a shepherd would use his rod to guide his sheep, not beat them; therefore the message of this scripture is not to beat your children but to guide them. However, if we look ahead to Proverbs 23:13, we learn this isn't the message of the Proverbs 13 scripture at all:
This sounds very harsh I know. When we look up the Hebrew definition of "rod" (7626; Strong's) from Proverbs 13, it means "shebet" a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc. The word "beat" (5221; Strong's) in Hebrew means "nakah" to strike lightly or severely. So, there shouldn't be any question what the Bible is talking about in Proverbs in regard to physical discipline. When we look at the context in which physical discipline was given we can see the purpose is ultimately to save the child from eternal death. I do not believe it was the writer's intent to convey physical discipline should be administered to any or every offense. My reason for this is found in Ephesians 6:4:
Consider the loving way God deals with us. He is slow to anger; He disciplines us justly. He is full of mercy but One worth respecting. I believe as parents it's our responsibility to discipline our children, teaching them the direction they should go. Our children are entrusted by the Lord in our care and I believe we will be held accountable for how we choose to raise them. As Proverbs 22:6 tells us:
Please visit these related blogs: California Considers a Ban on Spanking Scripture references are quoted from the NKJV. Relevantchristian tags User Comments  Valorie Delp (49340) 04 Apr 2007 03:58 PMThis is an excellent blog. Thank you for sharing! I think you are right on. . .truth be told shephards actually used to break the leg of a sheep who wandered to frequently or sometimes they would just kill it. It is very interesting to study the life of a sheep herder and to look at sheep behavior. It really puts insight into some of these scriptures that refer to us as sheep. Sad to say but sheep are very, very dumb animals. They require the most work out of all the animals on a farm.  Melissa J (13710) 05 Apr 2007 07:48 AMIsn't that interesting! I had heard about sheep being less intelligent and got the comparison to us however I didn't know about shepherds breaking the lamb's leg should they wonder. Wow! PDeverit (283) 31 Aug 2008 10:14 PMThe Rev. Thomas E. Sagendorf, United Methodist Clergy (Retired), Hamilton, Indiana. Personal communication, 2006 "The much-touted 'biblical argument' in support corporal punishment is founded upon proof-texting a few isolated passages from Proverbs. Using the same method of selective scripture reading, one could also cite the Bible as an authority for the practice of slavery, adultery, polygamy, incest, suppression of women, executing people who eat pork, and infanticide. The brutal and vindictive practice of corporal punishment cannot be reconciled with the major New Testament themes that teach love and forgiveness and a respect for the sacredness and dignity of children-and which overwhelmingly reject violence and retribution as a means of solving human problems. Would Jesus ever hit a child? NEVER!" . Exodus 22:18: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Leviticus 25:44,46: Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen forever. Numbers 31:18: But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves lesliedw (30) 03 Sep 2008 06:00 PMNot every child is the same. Some children need only verbal admonishment, while some others need hands on treatment. There must be a certain amount of fear of the parent for a child to respect and obey. Just like the Bible says about the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Our children should fear our reactions to wrong doing on their part. If they don't, then there is no respect, and then no obedience. Would Jesus strike a child? No, but then he is our brother through His name. What sibling spanks a brother or sister? But the Father is the disciplinary, or at least he should be. Father God will and does discipline us, for His own Word says that the Father disciplines those He loves. Whether it's harsh or gentle depends on what the individual needs, and only He knows what is necessary. We must also remember not to discard the Old Testament just because we don't like how God is. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Remember that Jesus beat, yes, BEAT, the venders out of the temple. He is not a gentle lamb, but the Son of God. He does have a limit to patience. As far as slavery, adultery, polygomy, and other such, God made allowances for the weakness of men. Those things were never in His plans, but since the world was such, He tried to help His people survive in a world that was infested with sin and death. The New Testament does not cancel out the Old Testament, it simple fulfills the prophesies and takes the commandments a step further from outward obedience to the intentions of the heart. Discuss this article
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