Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child?

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Proverbs 13 24 says whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

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Is the Bible seriously advocating spanking with this verse? Yes it is. Physical discipline, corporal punishment, whatever you want to call it, it is a common instruction in the book of Proverbs.

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Because folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

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But understand the motivation behind this form of punishment. It is not anger, but love.

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He who loves his son will discipline him. Spanking should not ever be something a parent uses to vent their anger.

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It is to lovingly teach a child. Make sure your child understands why they are being punished. This will help to bring them to an awareness of their sin, then use that to point them toward the saving power of the gospel.

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The harshness of the rod in Proverbs is not spared in the New Testament. Hebrews 12 uses the same words from Proverbs to describe the

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Lord's discipline. My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.

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For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. If not for his discipline, we'd be illegitimate children.

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All discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

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It's true that there are a lot of cultural stigmas against spanking, but do not be intimidated. Spanking is not child abuse.

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As Proverbs 23 .13 says, if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. In fact, when used lovingly and biblically, it will help to save your child from death when we understand the text.