2006-08-14 08:02:00 · 12 answers · asked by Nyema 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not a Christian, but the bible is fairly obvious in it's message, here.
The scripture that you're talking about is Proverbs 13:24
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."
Christians in favor of corporal punishment tend to interpret this as approval of striking a child to correct them. Christians against corporal punishment interpret "rod" as "guidance". If we read just a bit further in Proverbs, however, the scripture is very explicit about what it means.
Proverbs 22:15
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
Proverbs 23:13
"Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."
Proverbs 23:14
"Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."
The verses mean exactly what they say: in order to correct your children's bad behavior, you should beat them with a rod.
I don't support this view of child-rearing, as I don't support a great deal of biblical instruction. Nonetheless, the relevant verses require no interpretation.
2006-08-14 08:46:03 · answer #1 · answered by marbledog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not telling you to beat your kids.. as it seems many people like to interpret it. It is speaking about proper discipline. Children must be corrected with punishment as well as rewards.
'Time outs' that people seem to be so fond of these days just don't always work. Whatever the punishment is, it should be just, and consistent. For example, if you spank your child for stealing, that might be a just punishment, along with forcing the kid to return the stolen item and apologize to the clerk (very humbling, but ultimately the right thing to do!)
Without proper guidance, through encouragement and punishment, a child does not properly learn right from wrong. This applies to all areas of learning: behavior, beliefs, attitude, etc. When you come across a very well behaved child, the reason that child is that way is not for a lack of punishment, but correct punishment and a lot of love.
The senior pastor at my church teaches "three pats for every poke" that is, the ratio of good things you say to and do for people should be 3 good/nice to 1 bad (corrective).
Why is that important? Because we are flawed. None of us is perfect, so we will mess up, and must be corrected for that; in the hopes that we will not do it again. That's the 'poke' the negative correction needing to be doled out. Of course correction can be offered in a positive manner, it often depends on what and who is being corrected.
God is love. Notice I said He IS love, not that He DOES love, or LIKES love, or wants us to love.. No. God IS love. God created us in His image, therefore we are a piece of God's love. While our love can never be as pure or true as His, we all long for that love.
Why do you suppose compliments and positive words of a job well done sound so sweet to us? Perhaps partially because we do not hear it enough, but I think more so because of that love that God has for all of us. So when we speak to one another with love, we speak to them in God's own language. Tell your children when they do well. Let them know that you are proud of them, and their accomplishments.
Never let the bad outweigh the good, but do not be weak in your enforcement of correction for bad behavior, beliefs, etc.. No matter how much positive there is, any amount of negative will be all the child sees at the time of correction. Remember that we are created to love one another, so keep love in your hearts while you punish your child.
Remember too, this doesn't apply strictly just to children. Adults need to be held accountable just as much, if not more so, that children. We too need correction, and we too like to hear good things.
One last note on the positive words we all need to hear: If you are an employer, remember to thank your employees for the work they do. Do this on a regular basis. They will enjoy working for you more, and as such will do better work.
2006-08-14 08:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by tcindie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The 'rod' is a 'shepherd's crook', used for guiding sheep. The verse means that unless you provide children with the proper guidance, they will not be fit to conduct themselves properly in society.
It has absolutely nothing to do with corporal punishment.
2006-08-14 08:11:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In proverbs.
If you have ever met children who are never punished for their misbehavior, you know what it means.
It does not demand corporal punishment, but discipline.
On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with spanking, when it is discipline done in love for the good of the child.
2006-08-14 08:17:28 · answer #4 · answered by GetRight 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the "rod" is the "Law"... if you spare teaching them the Law, they will end up like spoiled children.... at least, this is the best explanation given to me by a Jew.
2006-08-14 08:40:38 · answer #5 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you dont spank or disipline your child he will realize that when he does something wrong he wont get in trouble and will keep doing it (thats the part of the spoiled child) and he wil basically turn into a brat
2006-08-14 08:09:34 · answer #6 · answered by hot_pink_angel_04 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You correct your children!
Or you hate them and let them be destroyed.
Look at our country now, how many gangs are there, how many could care less about anything other then themselves.
There call good kids if they can stay out of jail, and there just miss understood if they go to jail!
2006-08-14 10:23:57 · answer #7 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without discipline the child will grow up without respect for authority.
2006-08-14 08:16:18 · answer #8 · answered by williamzo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do't refrain from discipline.
2015-03-20 01:55:09 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
discipline appropriately...according to the bible
2006-08-14 08:08:00 · answer #10 · answered by garfield 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋