|
d3schaffiro -> Please help me understand... (5/12/2008 8:02:43 PM)
|
Proverbs 13:24 - He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Recently, in a conversation with my father-in-law, the subject of discipline came up. I explained that my wife and I have agreed that we will not use corporal punishment on our children, but rather use other methods of punishment (such as a loss of privilages and time-outs). Then my father-in-law quoted the verse above, saying that we must use spanking if we love our children, otherwise they will not learn respect.
I have had a lot of time to think about this since we spoke, and the conclusion I came to was this:
The rod, mentioned in the Proverbs passage, was most likely a reference to the rod and staff that a shepherd would have used to keep his sheep safe. If I'm not mistaken, the rod is a tool used for correction, not for hitting. Am I right? Can someone with more knowledge than I confirm this? Was a rod used to hit sheep? Was the rod, mentioned in the passage above, a reference to the staff a shepherd would have used?
If this is the case, then is it not possible that the 'rod' of discipline spoken of is a symbol of love and protection? And does that not mean that correction and discipline can take many kinds of forms? In fact, is not spanking and/or using a belt the exact OPPOSITE of the rod mentioned in Proverbs? (Since a leather belt invokes fear, humility, and pain, and a hitting parent only begets a hitting child?)
Any thoughts? Please don't feel offended by my post if you do believe in spanking or any other kind of corporal punishment. I am not judging anyone who uses that kind of discipline. I just want to know if the Bible does in fact say we should specifically spank our children and if Proverbs 13:24 is a reference to that, and what other passages there are which instruct a parent to spank their children.
|
|
|
|