If you spare the rod, you'll spoil the child.?

Question

How do you feel about Proverbs 13:24?

THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAT YOUR CHILD SENSELESS! SOME OF YOU NEED TO READ AND THINK. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPANKING AND CHILD ABUSE PEOPLE!

I was spanked for things I did repeatedly, but most of the time all my mom had to do was give me "the look." That's all it took sometimes, and sometimes I needed to be spanked. My parents never spanked me to the point of leaving marks. That's when it's taken too far and THAT'S abuse. Time out works for some children, sometimes simply takng away the things they enjoy doing works, same aspect with spanking. Whatever works for you and the child.

Answer 1

This is talking about boundaries. Everyone needs them...especially children. When we teach them what is right and wrong; what's expected and acceptable, they will need less discipline.

((NLT)) PROVERBS 13:24 If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don't love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them.

Amplified: Proverbs 13:24He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early

Discipline is taken from the word Disciple, to teach.


Actually, after reading they best manual for raising children and living life (as an adult)...you won't go wrong.

Answer 2

In order to raise a child from its natural selfish impulses driven by personal survival to a level of community with others, there are going to be times when you need something more than, "No, no, Johnny. Mustn't do that. It's not nice". When Johnny persists in his antisocial behavior, sterner measures may be the only way to alter behavior.

What you want to do is imprint the lesson deep within the neuronic pathways of the brain. In other words, canalize the cortex. Pain canalizes the cortex better than anything because it is so basic a survival mechanism. Therefore, if all else fails and Johnny is STILL acting like a barbarian, a swat or two across his well-padded posterior (one provided free with every child, courtesy of God, who as a Father, REALLY understands these things) is eventually necessary. Not a beating, not even a strapping with a belt, just a couple of bare-handed smacks where they'll do the most good with the least harm.

Johnny's brain will get the message and the next time Johnny is about to embark on negative behavior his brain will holler, "Whoa, fella. Remember what happened last time? You had a hurtin' butt. You want that again? HUH! Didn't think so. Now cease and desist." Johnny listens and the lesson has taken. Johnny is a better person for it.

Answer 3

Children need discipline. I am not sure a rod is necessary but the idea that children need to be disciplined is a valid point. Look around you to see the evidence. The disrespect, drugs, theft and violence has gotten way out of control. I know if I would have tried saying some of the thing I hear kids say now my mother would have slapped my mouth or washed it out with soap. The morals of some children today is out of control. My kids have been spanked and so was I. They treat me and all their elders with respect. They know that they are loved and they are free to be individuals but they also know that when giving their opinion it needs to be done in a respectful manner.

Answer 4

The rod in the Hebrew does not mean anything but rules . I learned that years ago. People mistaken that for a belt or something to spank a child....wrong...
It means as they are growing up- spend time disciplining and giving boundaries. If you have a two year old or older there are so many ways of discipline...a time out chair for example...
and as they get older, there are so many bounderies and directions given........ Beating and consistently spanking are not what the Bible teaches .

Answer 5

I believe that mild-to-moderate spanking is okay, but I just got done saying on another question that in my state you can be in trouble even if you chew at your kid or give him the mildest of spankings. Sometimes a kid will innocently mention how he was discplined or stood up to by his parents and BANG! CPS is at your door. They told me to give my kids a bunch of strong prescription drugs to get my kids to behave themselves. Apparently misbehavior is not a matter of free will, it is a disease!

If you can get the state out of your way, then I think discipline method is an individual thing with each child. Rod may have been symbolic for any disciplinary measure, but I'm not sure. God never intended for kids to be battered, but I get the impression that He does approve of some spanking if necessary.

Answer 6

I've never raised kids of my own (I had a baby at 17 and she was placed for adoption), but I hope that doesn't disqualify me from talking about this -- especially since now, at age 41, I'm getting married soon and I hope to have kids either through birth or adoption.

I know people who never spank their kids, and their kids are really out of control sometimes.

The worst thing that happens to them is that they get put into "time out" -- hah!

The only "time out" that happened when my siblings and I were growing up was when Mom took "time out" from her housework to whap one of us in the butt when we misbehaved!

But she never went beyond that, and neither did my father, who passed away when I was 11. No beatings, no closed fits, no hitting with any sort of object. Just a whap or two on the butt was usually enough to put us back on the straight and narrow ...

I was just talking about this the other day with my sister, who has two beautiful little kids. She says that she's never had to hit them -- but that she would if she had to, and only as a last resort.

Answer 7

Discipline is okay, as long as you don't end up abusing the child. there's a thin line. Personally, no rod at our house, and our kids ended up just fine. Time-outs and groundings, sure, but no hitting, at least since they were two and tried to run into the street. There are times for a good smack on the rear end, and anyone who ever tried to reason with a two-year old knows that simply doesn't work.

Answer 8

absolutely. My three younger sisters were raised with a lot less whooping and now that we're all adults there is a noticible difference in the way they speak to my mom. She admits that they dont have the same level of respect me and my brother have. None of us were ever abused but a spankin is more recognizable consequence to a child whose concepts of right and wrong are just being formed. Be very wise do not discipline your children in the midst of anger, God is also very clear about not treating your children harshly.

Answer 9

I raised my children this way and now I'm raising my two grandchildren ages 2 and 3 (12 months apart) only rarely did I ever spank them. But they knew if I had to I would do so. My grandson is hardheaded so I had to be more patient with him, it took me probably 3 months for him to really understand that I meant it. We go walking every day on the sidewalks but if he gets in the street or the neighbors flower beds then I simply take him back home and he has to stay in with his Papa while his sister and I play. This has been very effective. And you can never spoil them with hugs, kisses, rocking.....they need that love and attention. I love my children and my grandchildren but I wanted to be able to take them everywhere I needed to go and behave themselves. No one ever minds children coming over as long as they are respectful.

Answer 10

I think people sometimes take this as beating your child. I got a few spankings when I was little and I tell you it helped. I wasn't beat, however. My kids will get spankings.