Your child has misbehaved and you need to deliver some type of action to show your displeasure. You have choices. What will you decide to do? Read on...
There has always seemed to be much controversy over spanking as a means to discipline kids. There are two sides to the issue, and many well-spoken points to argue for both sides. So, is there any real advantage to using spanking as a means for discipline, or should it cease to exist? You decide.
Why some believe spanking is effective:
It is a physical way of modifying a child's behavior without causing physical injury.
The Bible supports this type of discipline when used as actually prescribed by the Bible.
Other methods of discipline have not worked.
Why some believe spanking is ineffective:
It only teaches a child to fear his parents and not respect them.
It teaches a child that you can use physical means to get your way.
It can physically harm a child, especially if a parent is angry when delivering the spanking.
It hurts a child's self-esteem.
Most parents would agree that there is a huge line between spanking as a disciplinary measure and actually abusing a child with physical harm. Spanking is defined as, "To slap on the buttocks with a flat object or with the open hand, as for punishment. " (Dictionary.com) This definition does not imply beating a child to get your point across. It has also been suggested that before spanking a child, you should tell the child why they are being spanked and do it in a calm manner. In other words, it should not be delivered in the heat of anger.
The Bible does have Scripture to support discipline. Proverbs 13:24 says, "Those who don't correct their children hate them. But those who love them are careful to train them." (NIrV) While this verse does not specifically state spanking a child is the way to train your child, the NIV version of this verse says, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Many Christian parents have taken this to mean a stick (or nowadays a hand) as the means of discipline. A rod was used by shepherds to direct their sheep where to go. It is sometimes thought that the rod used to discipline children is any means that keeps a child going in the right direction, and not necessarily with the use of a spanking. What do you think?
Still some parents just strongly disagree with the whole spanking issue and have found alternatives to spanking, such as "time-outs" or taking away privileges. Some parents like to take a pause before they talk with their children about what made them angry. For instance, tell your child, "I am angry right now, and I am going to discuss this with you later." This way the child knows that you are displeased, but you want to gain composure before handling the situation.
Hopefully, after reading some of the points discussed in this article, you will be able to satisfy in your mind what is right for your family.
The copyright of the article Childhood Spanking in Christian Parenting is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Childhood Spanking in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
While I disagree with a few of the statements in this article, I feel that
each person is entitled to their own opinion. One thing that I did feel
compelled to comment on was the use of scripture and the interpretation of
it.
A very literal and modern translation of Prov 13:24 would
read, "He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him
disciplines him promptly."
I understand that one could look
at this verse with the idea that "the rod" might be a symbol for
any form of punishment. Another similar verse, Prov 22:15, reads,
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of
correction will drive it far from him." This too could be thought of
as a symbol of any form of discipline, while it does seem to imply corporal
punishment.
If we look to the word "rod" used in
these passages, the Hebrew word is shebet. This is a masculine noun with
the definition from the Hebrew Lexicon being: a staff, stick, rod;
specifically used for beating or striking. After reading the definition of
the word "rod", it would lead one to assume that these passages
were indeed referring to corporal punishment.
While the
previous two verses were had the potential for symbolism of the use of the
word "rod" as different forms of punishment. Consider the
following verse-
Prov 23:13 "Do not withhold correction
from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die."
First off, I would like to clarify that the Hebrew word for
"beat" used here, nakah, has the meaning "to strike."
So it does not imply the senseless beating of a child. The purpose of this
verse was to exhort parents to use corporal punishment without fearing the
injury of their children. If done correctly, corporal punishment should
NEVER leave any form of injury.
Conclusively, I believe that
the bible does very clearly exhort parents to use corporal punishment. And
while this has no bearing on non Christian parents, a parent who was truly
seeking God's views on corporal punishment should take these verses to
heart and pray about how they can be used as a part of the discipline of
their children.
Sep 18, 2009 10:26 PM
Guest :
It is always best, especially in the book of Proverbs, to compare scripture
with scripture. If you look at other "rod of... " verses in
Proverbs, you will see they are all symbolism. (rod of thine inheritance,
rod of his mouth, etc). Similarly, if you look other verses that use
inanimate objects as symbolism (ie "table of thine heart",
"fountain of life", "crown of the wise) you should be able
to see that "rod of discipline" is no different, it is symbolic
for authority and discipline. These verses are talking about correction,
and chastening, which is teaching, training and correcting. Also check out
1 Cor 4:14-21. Was Paul going to come and spank the people in the church
when he referred to the "rod"? No, he was referring to
discipline. Spanking is never mentioned in the Bible. Discipline is.
