If Christians can't make laws based on faith, can we stop laws that violate our religous freedoms?

Question

There are so many, but if CA passes the law that no parent can strike, swat, or smack any child under the age of three, and I believe what the Bible says about "spare the rod, spoil the child" doesn't that law violate my religious freedoms? (Besides the fact that it is simply ludicrous! Child abuse is already illegal. Child REARING is a parent's business!)

I did a search for "California law banning spanking" There are a lot of sites, of course, because it is in the news. Here's one:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/16484624.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_northern_california

Answer 1

"Spare the rod, spoil the child" is a in Proverbs 13. (I couldn't find it for a while, and originally attributed it to a modern source.)
HOWEVER,
in the same chapter it says "Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly."

So here is some knowledge.

1. Hitting children is an emotional reaction rather than an educational one.
If you are capable of hitting a toddler without being angry, then you are a sadist.
If you are angry and hitting a child, you are out of control.

2. The role of a parent is to educate, not punish. You must first educate yourself about how to perform this task most effectively and lovingly. While punishment can have a role in education, it should be a thoughtfully applied and age-appropriate punishment, not an emotion-driven, power-mad reflex.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 2

The law should be based in what is decided or believed by the majority of the population,except in those few cases where it's obvious that the law is specifically designed to hold down a minority. If this law bothers you greatly because you feel it is against your religious freedom then you should oppose. Although how you could argue that is hard to see. Spare the rod,whatever it won't matter no one could win that case so I guess it's just the law whether you like it or not. Besides how enforceable is this thing when 90% of the time this would be something that would happen behind closed doors,and if a parent is so out of control that they're whacking the crap out of their kids in public then maybe something does need to be done. I believe the occassional spanking has a purpose but taken to the extreme many parents do makes it useless.

AD

Answer 3

Spare the rod, spoil the child, is a metaphor for discipline. It means that if a child is not repremanded for actions which are unacceptable, they will turn into spoilt brats.

At the time the Bible was written using the rod was what people believed to be the only form of discipline for a child. Experts today know better, discipline is necessary, but it does not have to be violent. Beating a child is something which most Christians would agree is regressive, and a lazy option used to substitute constructive discipline.

I believe that people should have freedom to practice their religion within the laws of the land. A religion is a belief system, nothing more, religious freedom laws have allowed criminal organisations like the Church of Scientology to aquire a bullet proof vest in regard to defending their crimes and practices in court. Just look at www.xenu.net or www.xenutv.com if you want to see how dangerous religious freedom laws are when abused.

Answer 4

Since there is a difference between a spanking, and a beating, I would not think a swat on the bottom is a bad thing.( There are three passages that speak of the rod of discipline) The correction should be from the heart, and not anger.
I agree with using the heart for correction, and the hand is an extension of the heart.
If we are to follow the examples of Christ, then we must honor our established government, just as we are to honor our mother and father.
There is a difference though when honor, and duty collide.
If a government decided to make prayer illegal, and God instructs me to pray constantly, then I would not honor the duty as Government says, but as God instructs.
I believe that so long as I am not placing a stumbling block in the path of another, then any of man's "law" that forbids me something, if in contrast to Gods laws or teachings of Christ, can and must be ignored.
I also realize that I may find myself in Mans courts because of this, and as Christ commanded, I will not fear, or worry, for when the time comes to speak my piece, God will give me the words, strength, and courage.
Do not use this as permission to use any rod, belt, board or other object.
An open palm, used on the bottom in a firm, yet caring swat is different than hitting and leaving bruises, bright red marks, or drawing blood.

Answer 5

The Bible actually says "Spare the rod and hate your child". Isn't it amazing that discipline has now turning into puishment. Western civilization is the only society that has this problem. Other culture understand and teach their children, through mutual respect. When discipline is needed, it is giving with love, not abuse.

God only told us to violate the civil laws when they contridict His law. As far as I know, disciplining isn't part of His law. His law says have no other gods before Him, etc. Daniel's rebelion against the laws of the king are different, because those laws prevented Daniel from worshiping God. We, so far, don't have those types of Laws in America.

Answer 6

There is absolutly no reason in the world to strike,swat or smack any child that young, they don't know any better and can't do anything so wrong to be hit in any way ,shape or form, that is child abuse. Remember also the bible says be careful what -so-ever you do to one of these little ones as the face of their angel looks always upon the face of God.

Answer 7

~sigh~


In general, laws ought to be somewhat liberal in the sense that they allow for a variety of behavior within them.

I belong to a nationwide organization, and within that organization, I belong to a local branch of it. This organization has procedural rules, membership requirements, and so on.

The national guidelines for application and acceptance cannot be abrogated - that is, one cannot, at a local level, relax the rules for membership. One cannot accept as a member a person who does not meet the national requirements for membership. But at the local level, one CAN have more stringent rules for membership, as long as those rules are approved at the national level and they are voted in by the local group.

The same ought to be true with our laws. They should allow for as much individual freedom for individual citizens as possible. One can always be MORE conservative than the laws...if the law allows for any adult who passes the appropriate tests and such to drive, you are not required to drive, and indeed, if you think that it would violate your religious or family rules to drive, no one will make you do it or arrest you for not driving.

A problem arises when a minority group of people who are philosophically opposed to driving try to make it illegal for anyone to drive.



What law are you talking about? This is the first I've heard of it, so could you please supply links to anything about this?

Or were you just posing that as an example?

Answer 8

We are in the last days and the devil is so...busy trying to oppress the saints of God. I am not giving the devil credit but He is allowed of God to usher these things in due to the season we are living in time. These leaders are being influenced by the devil. If we stand back and watch all these ludicrous things done by men and or women and remember they all have a job to do to help usher the times, then maybe it will help us to wait on God. They are busy trying to make a name for themselves that they aren't even counting up the cost. The Lord told us in the Word to "train the children up the way they should go and when they are old they won't part from it." He said many of us will be "put in prison for His names sake." Thank God He knows all this is going on! God bless and I will remember you in my prayers.

Answer 9

You need to read a book called Constitutional Chaos (What happens when the government breaks its own laws) by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. He discusses religion and the Constitution. He is a very wise and honest man...great book!!!

Answer 10

The Book says, "Men justify the things they do to other men".
"I'm just following the rules", and then they bend them for
themselves and friends.
Man makes the Laws, and man can change the Laws.