Spanking and Correcting children!

The issue of corporal punishment (spanking) of children has long been controversial. Since about the 1960's, spanking has come under attack by so-called experts who have claimed that physically spanking your children harms them in multiple ways, but is this true, and what does God have to say about it?

People, even today, claim that the bible cannot be taken literally when it comes to the issue of such words as "rod" regarding physically spanking a child. The bible can and does often use words metaphorically... not meant to be literal, but it also even MORE often, uses words exactly as they were intended... literal applications. How do we determine when it should be literal and when it should be figurative? The key is in scriptural context, and in taking all the scriptures together to present a picture.

Let's take a look at a number of scriptures which will address this topic and allow God to teach us about what He means when He says that we are to correct our children. Let's look at the word "rod" which is often used in conjunction with correcting children, especially in Proverbs:

Prov 10:13 "In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding."

Prov 26:3 "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back."

This isn't necessarily directed at children, but it could be. Notice that this seems plain enough that the rod is for a particular area of the human body.

The word "Rod" comes from OT:7626 shebet (shay'-bet); from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan: - correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.

Literally, this is speaking about a physical stick of some sort which was being applied to the back of the one "void of understanding."

The following scriptures discuss this "rod" in correction and chastening...

Prov 13:24 "He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes.

The word is stick or physical implement in the original Hebrew.

Prov 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Correction comes from the Hebrew word "muwcar" (moo-sawr'); from OT:3256; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint: KJV - bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.

Notice in Proverbs 22:15, there are two words used in conjunction with each other... "rod," and "correction." If this were to be taken figuratively, why would there be a need to use two different words, and yet say the same thing with both? In other words, why say, the "rod of Correction," if they both are figurative? Why say it twice?

Let's word it in a way that makes this more plain...

"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the stick (or hand) of correction shall drive it far from him."

If we take the actual words used, their meaning, and then look as to how these words are used throughout scriptures, it seems to be making it plain that the use of physical punishment via spanking of some type is intended as part of the training children are to receive, of course, where and when needed.

Prov 23:13 "Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat (5221) him with the rod , he shall not die.

Prov 23:14 "You shall beat him with the rod , and shall deliver his soul from hell." (Death).

Prov 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself - not in original] (left -without correction) brings his mother to shame.

smitten/ beat = OT:5221 nakah (naw-kaw'); a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively):

Reproof = OT:8433 towkechah (to-kay-khaw'); and towkachath (to-kakh'-ath); from OT:3198; chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence): - argument, chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, be (often) reproved.

Would it make sense to say the "reproof and reproof," or "correction and correction," if this was intended by God to be figurative use of both words? The word "AND" shows it is two different thoughts being conveyed in Proverbs 29:15.

Prov 29:17 "Correct your son, and he shall give you rest; yes, he shall give delight to your soul."

Correct = OT:3256 yacar (yaw-sar'); a primitive root; to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct: KJV - bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.

Jer 2:30 "In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction(rod):"

Jer 5:3 "O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? you hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; you hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction : they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return."

Of course, God would not have parents physically spank their children where words would accomplish the same thing. Most children I'm aware of that are raised with love and God's teaching are very easily directed without spanking. The above two scriptures could also indicate a more figurative use of the words.

God deals with us through the use of BOTH spanking AND words, as we will see later.

Since the 60's, the use of spanking in correcting and teaching children as been falling... in efforts for people to be "politically correct" or in today's nonsense, "woke." What is the fruit of this? What does the crime rate today show us? What do the gangs, the seemingly lost youth of today, say about where they were directed in their lives and in how to control their own thinking?

Lawlessness is abounding. Disrespect for authority, gang families, selfishness, no self control... and why? Is this just chance? What is a cause for this? Will people try to claim there is no relationship between the lack of effective correction and children growing up to be criminals? How many of these children hold morals that God authorizes? How many live together, without marriage? No relationship with a lack of proper training? Fathers missing from the families?

What warning did God provide us regarding the times close to the end?

2 Tim 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Does this sound familiar? "End times" doesn't necessarily mean the last few years. It means the ending years of the age, which could easily be a generation or more, where human nature becomes more and more corrupt.

The attack on parental guidance and spanking is just one force set to destroy human potential. The family structure has been under attack for decades with women's lib. Fathers have had to travel away from the home to find work because we have strayed from an agrarian society to one of corporate powers and control.

Divorce has been a fruit of societies acceptance of children "going steady," which is simply practicing for divorce. The more relationships you have that are "serious," and the more times you "break up," the easier it is to call it quits when one DOES marry. Commitment of any kind becomes cheap and worthless, and lacking in real relationships.

How many times have any of us seen the spoiled child in a public place where the mother continually "talks" to the child trying to get them to behave. "If you don't stop, you'll be in trouble" but the child knows there is no real punishment. The kids have trained the parents well...

Isa 3:1 "For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, does take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, 3 The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. 4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. 5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable."

Continuing in verse :9 "The show of their countenance does witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe to their soul! for they have rewarded evil to themselves. 10 Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths."

Can anyone look around today's world and NOT see this prophecy being fulfilled? Not just in children today, but in those that WERE children in the 50's, 60's and 70's and beyond who are in leadership positions. Look at the rampant disregard for law... the corruption in governments across the country and world. The scandals, the prison terms, the blatant disregard for the constitution and people of the country. Selfish, greedy, power hungry, inconsiderate, treasonous, murderers, thieves, liars and more. They relish in it.

We have disregarded God's word regarding how to raise our children and conduct our own affairs. Kids are farmed out to child day care facilities because both parents choose to, or have to, work to pay the penalty for greed in government and lawlessness in extracting taxes and other financial considerations. Children suffer because of this. Latch key kids who rule themselves, and have public education (read government propaganda) as their new parents.

Many will argue against the above facts, but the greatest proof in how God expects us to deal with our children is in how God deals with us adults. Throughout the bible, God uses physical correction as part of the training program. He allowed ancient Israel to wander in the desert for 40 years till everyone above 20 years of age who rebelled against Him died. Desert life is NOT fun, and it is NOT figurative correction.

The New Testament is full of facts regarding how God works with us... through physical trials which is for correction and instruction. Trials are a form of spanking from God to correct us and to make us stronger and better able to make sound decisions. Paul had a thorn in the flesh... for correction and training. All of God's people receive physical correction along with verbal correction. Sickness, financial problems, family problems... are physical in nature, as well as emotional and mental. God's spanking of His people is proof that God knows that physical punishment is necessary at times to properly train children.

Isa 3:1-12

3:1 "For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, 3 The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator."

4 "And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them . 5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable."

6 "When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, you hast clothing, be you our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand: 7 In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. 8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory."

9 "The show of their countenance does witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe to their soul! for they have rewarded evil to themselves. 10 Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths."

We see this unfolding daily across the world. Sin is not hidden anymore (homosexuality, criminal activity, political evils, sexual sins, etc.) but is paraded in the streets, in TV shows or on the news for all to see.

Is lack of correction to blame?

Heb 12:5 "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, (illegitimate son) and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.

chastening = NT:3809 paideia (pahee-di'-ah); from NT:3811; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction: KJV - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

Rebuked = NT:1651 elegcho (el-eng'-kho); of uncertain affinity; to confute, admonish: KJV - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.

Chastens = NT:3811 - paideuo (pahee-dyoo'-o); from NT:3816; to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment): KJV - chasten (-ise), instruct, learn, teach.

Scourges = NT:3146 - mastigoo (mas-tig-o'-o); from NT:3148; to flog (literally or figuratively): KJV - scourge... ( Sound figurative? Was Christ's scourging figurative in nature or did it actually, physically, take place?)

Which corrected = NT:3810 paideutes (pahee-dyoo-tace'); from NT:3811; a trainer, i.e. teacher or (by implication) discipliner: KJV - which corrected, instructor.

The above discusses God dealing with converted people who have His spirit and who respond to verbal correction, often after previous physical correction helped train them to listen and obey.

Children who are spanked early where necessary learn from this how to control themselves, and that doing wrong bring a penalty. The nation's stand in the early 20^th century clearly shows the respect children had for elders and parents. The schools showed it and crime rates showed it. Today, in the 21st century, we are reaping what we sowed last century.

Look how David describes God's physical punishment when David was sick...

Ps 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word."

Ps 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted , That I may learn Your statutes."

Ps 119:75 "I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me."

Let's now look at a prophecy which deals with our future. This has NOT happened as yet to the world, or America, which is often spoken about in prophecy...

Lev 26:2 "You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD. 3 'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, 4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing;you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid;I will rid the land of evil beasts,and the sword will not go through your land. 7 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. 9 'For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. 10 You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. 11 I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright."

Has not America, the greatest, most powerful nation the Earth has ever had, performed the above? Have not a few turned thousands to flight? God has been with us but we have been walking away from Him in every aspect of life... and we need to remember who we are...

14 "But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you:"

We, as a people, have cast God out of schools, government and every public exchange. If we have not done it directly, we have allowed it to be done where we have authority to prevent it. The very concept of God is despised, and most people, including so-called Christians, abhor His commandments and simply will not submit themselves to them or to God's Sabbaths. Our nation has certainly broken this covenant God speaks about.

:16, continued - "I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. 18 'And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit."

21 "Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate. 23 'And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, 24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied."

27 "And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, 28 then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise (OT:3256 yacar (yaw-sar'); to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words) same word as in dealing with children) you seven times for your sins. 29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you. 31 I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas. 32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. 34 Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall rest - for the time it did not rest on your Sabbaths when you dwelt in it."

36 "And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee;they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues. 37 They shall stumble over one another, as it were before a sword, when no one pursues; and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 You shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And those of you who are left shall waste away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; also in their fathers' iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away."

Does any of the above sound "figurative" to you? God does spank His people. Physical, corporal, punishment in spanking, in Love, as God does to His own, IS biblical, and those forces which attempt to deny this are simply playing into the enemies hands and weakening our people, society and, spiritually damaging our potential in this age.

That all being said, is spanking something that is relied upon at every infraction, especially with older children such as teens? God's whole purpose for training up children is so that they will learn to make right decisions once they are older...

Prov 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."

The most important formative years for a child in learning how to control their own thoughts, and the truth that there are consequences for wrong behavior, is between birth and approximately 8 years old. Some children are hard-headed. It can't be argued that children will somehow instinctively know how to behave properly once they get older, if they did NOT have adequate training and experience as they develop. They are empty vessels which must be filled with basic living tools.

When a new mind comes into this world, it is subject to the same "prince of the power of the air" as all humanity. A new mind cannot possibly know how to fight this deceptive power without learning. It isn't instinct, anymore than it is instinct for a dog to somehow "know" how to NOT poop in the house without training. Children don't absorb knowledge through osmosis, and it does NOT come "naturally" as some believe. Why would God give us such warnings about educating our kids?

Eccl 8:11 "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

Experience has shown millions of families and parents that if corporal correction is done at the right places and times, the lessons are quickly learned and applied in young children. As they get older, use of spanking really isn't necessary because they are able to actually make connections between behavior and results. A young child doesn't have the capacity to yet make connections between their actions and thinking, and the results. In other words, you can't simply "talk" to a three year old alone, and expect them to understand what you are saying and properly apply it. It takes the physical connection because that is the ONLY way they get the big idea... empty vessel, remember.

When thinking becomes more organized, as they age, they are able to piece things together and the "spanking" can now come in the form of verbal correction, or actual loss of privileges, or other thinking-based results which they can relate to and understand. To NOT properly correct and train thinking simply sets kids up for failure in society because they have become totally selfish and self-absorbed... and don't think bad of taking others property or life, or treating them badly. If they never had to pay a real penalty for wrong behavior in their childhood, why would they think there would be any penalty as an adult?

The use of such words for spanking as "hitting," or "beating," is "woke/politically correct" propaganda and is simply lame attempts to force corporal punishment into the "torture" and "inhumane" areas. Those who advocate NOT spanking children are countering God directly, and are helping the enemy in sabotaging our children's futures and their relationship with God and others. If it is good enough for us, by God's own hand and word, it is certainly good enough for proper child-rearing.

God's plan is to mold and shape humanity into His own image, and that takes time, correction and knowledge. Without that, there is NO hope of ever being in His family, or being like Christ, who learned obedience through suffering, just like we do...

Heb 5:8 "Though he were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;"

If the very son of God, eternal and perfectly sinless had to learn from suffering physical things, how much more will we require such? To suggest otherwise is to be against Christ and the Father, and their plan for a perfect family that can live forever in love, obedience and contentment.

Children must be properly and Godly guided in their early years if we love them and want them to succeed. Don't destroy your child's potential by ignoring correction!

He who has the ears to hear, let them hear.

Children: God's Heritage.

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