IS IT WRONG TO SPANK MY CHILDREN?
God's Word clearly commands parents to
discipline their children when they do wrong. The Bible says: "Chasten
thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying";
"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"; and "He that spareth
his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him
betimes" (Proverbs
Spanking, whether done with an open hand or another device which will inflict pain but no lasting physical harm, is at times needed to teach a child that he cannot do as he pleases, but must respect and obey his parents and do what is right. Once a child is older, other punishments may prove more effective. Spanking, or other forms of discipline, should not be done to inflict physical harm to a child, or to vent a parent's anger or frustration; they should only be done to chasten or correct a child who is unwilling to heed instruction. For this reason, parents are wise to take enough time to consider carefully what discipline is needed to correct their children. Striking a child in a moment of anger and frustration is NOT the kind of chastening and correcting commanded in the Bible, and may teach a child to vent his anger and frustration in a similar way!
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