The StakesSo how important is it to deal with the sinful nature? According to Scripture, the stakes are huge:
Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death (Proverbs 19:18 NASB). The imperative to discipline “while there is hope” certainly implies that a time is coming when it will be too late. “Do not desire his death” – it is clear that God sees discipline as a matter of life and death.
Thou shalt beat him with the rod and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Proverbs 23:14 KJV). Not only is discipline a matter of life and death, but physical discipline has eternal ramifications.
And if you love your children too much to spank them then consider this verse: Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24 ESV).
So why should spanking be an integral element of disciplining our children? Because God said so – that’s why!!!
Continues on Monday with part 5 - The Straw Man
Go On To Part 5
Go Back To Part 3
Go Back To Part 1
9 comments:
Isn't that picture scary!
*cough* Discipline doesn't have to mean physical violence.
This post uses three different convenient translations to prove spanking. So ...
Don't hold back training from a child. If you correct him, he won't die. So correct him. Then you will save him from death. Proverbs 23:13-14 (NIRV)
Train your child. Then there is hope. Don't do anything to bring about his death. Proverbs 19:18 (NIRV)
If you do not punish your children, you don't love them, but if you love your children, you will correct them. Proverbs 13:24 (NCV)
These three quotes conveniently don't refer to beating nor spanking. You love, train, correct. Why? God said so!
Newtaste, you will find your answer in the Hebrew. Do a search on the word "rod" and it's Hebrew equivalent. Try Proverbs 23:14 for example. It is fantasy to deny this clear explicit truth.
This Christian S&M website has numerous Bible quotes to prove it is ok for a man, in a relationship, to spank his wife. The woman can't spank the man ... why ... because the Bible says she can't.
http://christiandomesticdiscipline.com/home.html
It is absolute rubbish.
Your thoughts?
Rod - a figure of speech for loving discipline of any kind.
A light spank with an open hand on the bottom is ok.
These series of posts however, advocate using an instrument of discipline to inflict real pain. I know what that feels like. At primary school I was hit on the bottom with a large T-square, and in high school i was caned on the hand. The punishment dealt out to me was violent.
The Malaysian corporal punishment of caning with the rattan is abhorrent. As is using physical violence as domestic discipline. No matter how many Bible references someone can drag up to justify it.
Jesus, the Lamb, gathered children around him and loved them. There is no reference at all in the New Testament in any translation, original Greek or Hebrew translation, to Jesus hitting children with a rod, stick, staff or branch.
So Provernbs 23:14 is about beating children with a metaphor? Get out of fantasy land. There is a such thing as abuse which is also dishonoring to Scripture.
There is such a thing as handling Scripture well and applying it properly. Then there is nonsense like that website you mentioned. Asking whether Jesus spanked children is irrelevant strawman. The Bible clearly instructs parents to love, disciple, and discipline their children and a part of that discipline is physical correction with the use of the "rod of correction".
For a more in depth discussion I would recommend reading up on Tedd Tripp and Voddie Baucham.
I didn't ask whether Jesus spanked children. I stated he didn't.
And it is not irrelevant.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 (NIV)
Jesus didn't say 'hit one another with the "rod of correction" as I have loved you'.
Yes love is the central issue here. And the Scripture clearly teaches that if you don't physically discipline your children then you don't love them - in fact it says that you hate them.
Have to make sure of course not to hit too hard with the cane or ruler, because if you leave a welt those nasty community services workers who don't understand Biblical discipline principles will cause you problems.
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