Children are born with the old, carnal nature. If they are not trained (nurtured), their flesh will destroy them and cause havoc within the household where they live. Until a child truly becomes born again they are natural rebels. Even when a person asks Jesus to be the Lord of their life they must still daily resist the temptation to allow the old man to manifest. This is why God chastens adults and why parents discipline and correct children. The old nature within all of us constantly strives to lead our lives. Without great spiritual maturity, the flesh will rule and get us into trouble or cause us to be killed through an accident or a fit of anger, etc. Children obviously do not possess the spiritual maturity to obey the spirit consistently. They must have boundaries and loving discipline if they are to avoid becoming a casualty of a humanistic parent whether they are Christian or not.
I strongly feel that spanking is a God inspired tool to be used by the parents and grandparents as well as others in positions of authority. I believe the inspired Scriptures cannot be completely humanly understood, but they must be totally trusted in many areas of our lives. Spanking is one commandment of the Bible that is necessary to raise God fearing, healthy, balanced children. When a parent opts out of this area of a child’s rearing, I believe they are causing harm to the child’s psychological development. God understands what is necessary in raising children to make them feel loved and secure. Whether we can explain it enough to satisfy secular individuals today is not justification to disobey God’s instructions on using “the rod” to mold a persons character and deal with their attitude, thus effecting their personality. I believe you do your child and society a grave disservice when you fail to spank. Let us now study some Hebrew and Greek terms in relation to various Scriptures:
Discipline
Strong’s # 4148 *
Hebrew: muwcar
Pronunciation: moo-sawr’
From 3256; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint:—bond, chastening ([eth[), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
Strong’s # 3256
Hebrew: yacar
Pronunciation: yaw-sar’
A primitive root; to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct; - bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.
Job 36:10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
Correction/Correcteth
Strong’s # 4148
Hebrew: muwcar
For definition, See Above *
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
Job 37:13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction.
Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 7:22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks.
Proverbs 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
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.
Jeremiah 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Jeremiah 7:28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
Habakkuk 1:12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Zephaniah 3:2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Strong’s # 1882
Greek: epanorthosis
Pronunciation: ep-an-or’-tho-sis
From a compound of 1909 and 461; a straightening up again, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (reformation):— correction.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Chastise/Chastisement/Chasten/Chasteneth
Strong’s # 3256
Hebrew: yacar
Pronunciation: yaw-sar’
A primitive root; to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct; - bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.
Strong’s # 4148
Hebrew: muwcar
Pronunciation: moo-sawr’
From 3256; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint:—bond, chastening ([eth[), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
Leviticus 26:28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Deuteronomy 11:2 And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm...
Deuteronomy 22:18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him.
2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.
1 Kings 12:14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
2 Chronicles 10:11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Job 34:31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
Psalms 6:1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Psalms 38:1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Jeremiah 30:14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Hosea 7:12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Hosea 10:10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
Strong’s # 3809
Greek: paideia
Pronunciation: pahee-di’-ah
From 3811; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction: — chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
Luke 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Strong’s # 3811
Greek: paideuo
Pronunciation: pahee-dyoo’-o
From 3816; to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment): — chasten(-ise), instruct, learn, teach.
Luke 23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children? My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
These scriptures not only convey to us the necessity to spank our children but they also warn us to nurture them in the process.
Ephesians 6:4 tells us, “And, ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Parents are supposed to lovingly raise their children by nurturing them through correction, patience and love, yet with justice.
Iverna Tompkins & Dr. Dianne McIntosh in Fearless Parenting tell us, “When the basic needs of children are not met-attention, approval, affection, affiliation, and authority - they feel devalued as a person. Depending on their temperament, the situation, and whether they know how to go to God to satisfy those needs, “X”s can develop. These “X”s will ultimately turn into responses and behavior that are maladaptive in expression as the child seeks to meet the need” (pg 107).
This is why it so critical for parents to fulfill their responsibilities in nurturing their children. It is not the job of the church, school, government, or society to train children. Rather, it is a task assigned by God to the parents of the children to “rear them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). If not, society will undoubtedly, eventually put them in prison if they have not already destroyed themselves through drugs, alcoholism, sex, vehicle accidents etc.
“Our concern is not simply to have a peaceful relationship in the home by whatever means, but also to have a home that functions in respect and in regard for the Lord. This necessitates the changing of the inner being. The aim is to nurture our children until their character is changed. The word nurture has in it the idea of disciplinary correction and may be translated in some places as chastisement. The biblical parent must discipline with whatever is needed for the truth to be laid to heart. They may need to use physical acts such as spanking or docking money, time outs, and restrictions. Parents admonish (to train by word and counsel) their children by rebuking them or warning and counseling them against fault or oversight...God wants parents to learn to nurture their children, train them according to His precepts, and guide them by His Word in conformity to His mind and will” (Ibid 161-162).
At World Theological Center for Evangelism and Missions, of which I am the chancellor, our Syllabus and Study Guide CC540: Parenting Is For Everyone by Dr. Diane McIntosh; Christian Life School of Theology tells us that the motives for spanking are:
- To produce sons of God through restoration
(Hebrews 12:5,10 and Romans 8:14)
- To please God “chasten of [the] Lord”
(Ephesians 6:4)
- To produce meekness and wisdom versus foolishness, the fruit of power under submission, and to teach the child to not resist or resent the parent’s will.
- Because we love our children.
(Hebrews 12)
- We are responsible to “train their will” as the “child will challenge authority’s right to lead.” When the child challenges in a defiant, sinful manner they need to be spanked.
We spank to correct defiant behavior, to teach justice with mercy, to get the attention of the child and to teach the child love with training. We spank the child when the child understands clearly the rules and deliberately disobeys them.We spank with a neutral spirit so we are not sinfully angry and we spank on the bottom of the child. When the child is old enough we should remove the diaper first and the spanking should sting, not maim. We spank immediately at the time of offense because toddlers have short memories and we do not want the older children to harbor bitterness or resentment. Remember that anger comes in reprimand, not in spanking. After the spanking, hold the child till they know they are loved and forgiven (Pg 113-118).
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 13;24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13,14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 29:15,17 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother shame. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Yes dear fellow parents and grandparents, spanking is a commandment from the Lord. It is divine counsel for the psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual development of the individual. Parents who foolishly ignore clear, authoritative, inspired instructions are flaunting their opinions and philosophies in the face of a perfect God who made each one of us. He knows what we need in the form of discipline needed to rear us in the fear and admonition of the Lord so we can avoid unnecessary grief and heartaches. Many times when parents disobey the clear teachings of scripture regarding spanking, not only do they risk inciting needless suffering upon their children, but at times the children suffer an early death due to accidents, experimentation, etc. When parents give implicit instruction, the child needs to obey immediately lest through the child’s disobedience, injury or even death result. I do believe in the rod of education.
As we approach the second anniversary of 9-11-2001, we at World Ministries International remember the lives lost and our heart’s cry is for the comfort of their families. Many people missed the message of 9-11. Where was God in this catastrophe? How could God allow this to happen? If we are students of the Bible, we know that God is predictable; He never changes. In several of our teaching videos and cassettes we delve into God’s judgment, wrath, forgiveness and mercy. Please order these video series for your personal library, for your church library or for your home fellowship.
•The First Anniversary of 9-11. A five part video series interviewing WMI pastors and staff members and where they see God in 9-11.
•The Science of Judgment. A five part video series explaining how God’s judgment is predictable if you study the Scriptures.
•Attack on America. Topics include: Future One-day Judgement, New York, Prayers of Blasphemy, Millions Will Die, Fallen Angels, Harry Potter, Arafat and Allah & Mohammed
•Unholy Alliances: President Clinton & Why America Was Attacked, King Solomon & America: Covenant Breakers, Deism in the American Constitution, Third-world Religions Bring Curses, Peace of Mohammed & Saladin Jews.
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