Should christians whip their children?

Question

Didn't jesus say that anyone whomsoever hurt one of these little ones will never see the kingdom of his father?
yet I hear this one all the time"spare not the rod spoil the child!"

Answer 1

NO ONE should "whip" there children..
Christian or not...

Answer 2

Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Proverbs 23:13
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

Jeremiah 31:18
"I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God.

Hebrews 12:6
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Hebrews 12:10
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

OK, sorry for all the Bible references. I have a some points to make please bear with me.

First, I spank my children, swat their heads, and yell at them. I have used a rod and even a chopstick. I love my children, by the way they are 3(boy)and almost 5(girl). I am responsible for them until they can do it for themselves. Life is neither fair or just all the times. Those closest to you can hurt you the worst.

If you look at the scripture provided you will see the rod mentioned several times. Along with the rod you will see descriptions that I believe describe whipping. Now let us think not whip but a long flexible rod. Now flash back to the B.C. time frame or even the period of Christ. Parents ruled the child supreme and the children managed to not only live but learn to love the father that "beat" them.

Look also how in the last verse "as the Father thought best." We do what we can for the child's best and society as a whole. God too disciplined those he loved and while his son had not disobeyed he did not spare him the cross.

So while it is hard to say whipping or any other "extreme" form of discipline is not disapproved by God. But, if you do not have the child's best interest at heart you will have an uncomfortable day of judgment.

Finally, my children love me and though they fear me at times they know that I love them in word and deed. Everyone says how well behaved they are and I know they mean it. My Father was more in the real whip line and it was border abuse, but I love him and though I carry those scars on my body and heart he did the best he could and I do not fault him.

Oh, and if you do not discipline them there will come a day that some one will. Police or just another man that does not agree with your child will beat the snot out of them or worse stab or shoot them and your child that never saw a rod will be buried six feet deep.

Answer 3

When Christians whip their children, it's not to hurt, but to correct. It's better to use the rod of correction while the child is still young. Read Proverbs. It says something along the line of "Foolishness dwell in the heart of the child and the rod chases it out". Also "Whom the Lord loves he chasten. But don't go overboard. I believe we should talk to our children before problems arise then we'll all be much better off. Corporal punishment should be the last resort.

Answer 4

Discipline is best described as discipling, the making of good students. Not sparing the rod, I was diligent, constant, and consistent in training my children, although I NEVER used the rod to whip them. It is only someone I deeply respect and love that I would take such time and pain (on my part more than their's) to teach. I have two daughters who are like the polished corners of the temple, both of whom have married men after my own heart and are now raising up beautiful grandchildren. They learned from a careful model, albeit imperfect, how to seek out men who truly love and respect them and take time with their children. None of this happened by accident, and not a bit of it with abuse. One cannot sow oats and reap wheat. Sow violence, you reap hatred. I learned from a shepherd years ago that the shepherd who uses the rod to beat his sheep soon has no sheep to beat. The sheep will hear his voice and run, or see his rod and far rather face the uncertainty of predators than be directed into the fold under its painful certainty. Children are like arrows in the hand of the hunter, happy is the man who has his quiver full; he shall not be ashamed when he sits at the gate. (cf. Psalms 23, 127, 128, 143) I consider my children my revenge and my granchildren God's reward. And I may yet see the peace of Jerusalem. Ephesians 6:4 counsels, "Fathers provoke not your children to wrath."

Answer 5

I'm a believer, that all children need discipline. now a days children are so spoiled and think they deserve everything and dint know what consequence's are.a little spanking never hurt anyone, but some parents go way over board, and they dint deserve children, they deserve a cell in the nearest prison. i believe that undisciplined and selfish children, is whats wrong now a days

Answer 6

Well, I guess all Christians are screwed cause the Bible also says spare the rod spoil the child.

Answer 7

Definitely yes! We cannot dispute the biblical wisdom! If we do, we make fools of ourselves. Children have been spanked for thousands of years, and only in the last few decades many fools have been challenging the un-challengable! When Jesus spoke about the inviolability of the little ones, He meant the well-being of their bodies, souls, and spirits! Spanking is meant to enhance the children's physical, spiritual, and moral integrity, not to hurt them. Those who use spanking to hurt, should have their heads examined! In other words, discipline is meant to do good, not evil, and this is precisely what Jesus had in mind!

Answer 8

No, Jesus did not say that, He said"... whoever prevents one of these little ones from coming to me..."

and its "spare the rod and spoil the child"

That does not say you should beat your children to death every day-it says to discipline them when needed. You are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Answer 9

It is interesting that you bring this up because this argument has been effective at tearing down the authority of the parent. Parents are admonished by the Bible to teach their children in the way they should go. The rod is meant to symbolize keeping them on the right path, like a Shepherd uses a rod to guide his sheep. Observe children today whose parents are afraid to effectively show their authority, you will see children who are disrespectful, angry, rude, disobedient, they act up in school. Authority over children should become a mainstay of parenting and schooling, not beatings, but discipline. I am concerned that when my generation is older and depending on these children, that their lack of discipline is going to be an enormous problem.

Answer 10

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

Answer 11

Jehovah, a God of love, counsels parents: “Do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.” (Eph. 6:4) Discipline—instruction or training that molds—can be an expression of love. We read: “‘My son, . . . whom Jehovah loves he disciplines.’ . . . True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit.” That is so in the family, too.—Heb. 12:4-11.

But does loving discipline include a parent’s use of spanking? According to God’s Word, it definitely can, when the spanking is an expression of and in a manner consistent with love. Consider these verses from the inspired book of Proverbs:

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.” (22:15) “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.” (23:13, 14) “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” (13:24)—New International Version.

While such references to the “rod” could cover various forms of discipline from parents, physical chastisement is certainly included. Whether they do it with the hand, a wooden ruler or some other type of appropriate “rod,” parents are authorized by God to use spanking in lovingly disciplining their children.

The Bible, however, helps parents to avoid going to excesses by offering strong counsel against giving way to violent anger. (Prov. 16:32; 25:28; Col. 3:8) If a parent, ignoring this counsel about controlling anger, fiercely hit a child in an outburst of fury, that would be contrary to what God’s Word says about discipline being an expression of love. The Bible in no way endorses angry whippings or severe beatings that bruise and can even cripple a young child. That is child abuse, not loving discipline.