Author : Scott Futrell
Times have changed. Yesteryear is gone. The discipline that lived during that era has died with the generation that used it. The stories of spankings and parent discipline are told as tales of the past. There would be nothing interesting or unique about the stories if the discipline of the past existed today. It does not exist today, therefore, we are shocked and in awe when we hear these “war stories.” No one can successfully deny that our mode of discipline has severely changed over the last few decades. What do you think about the results of our discipline change? Do you think times are better? I am shocked at all the shootings, killings, rape, and violence at our public schools. What’s more, there are severe drug and substance abuse problems. We are a product of our environmental and societal customs. We are taught not to spank or hit our children. School systems can’t spank children anymore. The “paddle” is a word that goes with Ping-Pong. Time-out is not just stopping the clock at a ball game anymore. I can’t help but laugh! In all honesty, I have a smile on my face as I write this article. I would have jumped for joy if my dad had given me the option of sitting quietly in the corner or getting a spanking! What do you think I would have picked? Right! Who wouldn’t! I can sit here and imagine the look on my dad’s face if I would have asked to not get a spanking, but rather, sit quietly in the corner in time-out and reflect on my rebellious actions. He would have sent me to a shrink! (After the spanking!) I can also imagine dad’s face if I told him not to hit me me because it will only teach me to hit! He would have responded, “I’m your personal trainer!” I wonder where these “old timers” got their discipline ideas from anyway? Let’s find out!
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24). Do you love your children, or do you hate and despise them? Look at the NIV translation of the same verse. Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” The Bible says you hate your child if you do not spank them. The wisdom of the world says, you hate your child if you spank them. Which standard do you walk by? Let’s look at various Biblical passages and the lesson is yours. I can’t force you into obedience to God’s word. You will either live by the passages or reject them. The choice is your’s. Just remember one thing, eternity in heaven hinges on your obedience to God!
Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Proverbs 23:13-14 says, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”
Two things to remember:
1) Spanking with love will not kill the child;
2) Spanking will deliver your child’s soul from hell.
Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
The Bible teaches discipline is necessary for bringing up a child in the ways of the Lord. We must stick with the scriptures and not let the modern theories abound in our life. The Bible does not teach abusive discipline that would leave a child half-dead. I am not advocating any abusive action to be taken on a child. The Bible condemns that! However, a good old-fashioned spanking is what most kids today need! We need to look on the positive side of discipline.
I often wonder if we have a negative view with God and his discipline for us. Think on the following passages and apply the principles to your personal families.
Hebrews 12:5-11 says,
5, And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7, If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8, But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9, Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10, For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11, Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Love your children as God loves you!
