while on children and the bible...
Chris and Kelli Bailey
from dr. sears' website (who is apparently
pro-attachment parenting):
HITTING IS ACTUALLY NOT BIBLICAL
Don't use the Bible as an excuse to spank. There is
confusion in the ranks of people of Judeo-Christian
heritage who, seeking help from the Bible in their
effort to raise godly children, believe that God
commands them to spank. They take "spare the rod and
spoil the child" seriously and fear that if they don't
spank, they will commit the sin of losing control of
their child. In our counseling experience, we find
that these people are devoted parents who love God and
love their children, but they misunderstand the
concept of the rod.
Rod verses - what they really mean. The following are
the biblical verses which have caused the greatest
confusion:
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the
rod of discipline will drive it far from him." (Prov.
22:15)
"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves
him is careful to discipline him." (Prov. 13:24)
"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you
punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him
with the rod and save his soul from death." (Prov.
23:13-14)
"The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child
left to itself disgraces his mother." (Prov. 29:15)
At first glance these verses may sound pro-spanking.
But you might consider a different interpretation of
these teachings. "Rod" (shebet) means different things
in different parts of the Bible. The Hebrew dictionary
gives this word various meanings: a stick (for
punishment, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.).
While the rod could be used for hitting, it was more
frequently used for guiding wandering sheep. Shepherds
didn't use the rod to beat their sheep - and children
are certainly more valuable than sheep. As
shepherd-author Philip Keller teaches so well in A
Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, the shepherd's rod was
used to fight off prey and the staff was used to
gently guide sheep along the right path. ("Your rod
and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4).
Jewish families we've interviewed, who carefully
follow dietary and lifestyle guidelines in the
Scripture, do not practice "rod correction" with their
children because they do not follow that
interpretation of the text.
The book of Proverbs is one of poetry. It is logical
that the writer would have used a well-known tool to
form an image of authority. We believe that this is
the point that God makes about the rod in the Bible
parents take charge of your children. When you re-read
the "rod verses," use the concept of parental
authority when you come to the word "rod," rather than
the concept of beating or spanking. It rings true in
every instance.
While Christians and Jews believe that the Old
Testament is the inspired word of God, it is also a
historical text that has been interpreted in many ways
over the centuries, sometimes incorrectly in order to
support the beliefs of the times. These "rod" verses
have been burdened with interpretations about corporal
punishment that support human ideas. Other parts of
the Bible, especially the New Testament, suggest that
respect, authority, and tenderness should be the
prevailing attitudes toward children among people of
faith.
In the New Testament, Christ modified the traditional
eye-for-an-eye system of justice with His
turn-the-other-cheek approach. Christ preached
gentleness, love, and understanding, and seemed
against any harsh use of the rod, as stated by Paul in
1 Cor. 4:21: "Shall I come to you with the whip (rod),
or in love and with a gentle spirit?" Paul went on to
teach fathers about the importance of not provoking
anger in their children (which is what spanking
usually does): "Fathers, do not exasperate your
children" (Eph. 6:4), and "Fathers, do not embitter
your children, or they will be discouraged" (Col.
3:21).
In our opinion, nowhere in the Bible does it say you
must spank your child to be a godly parent.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/6/T062100.asp
____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
pro-attachment parenting):
HITTING IS ACTUALLY NOT BIBLICAL
Don't use the Bible as an excuse to spank. There is
confusion in the ranks of people of Judeo-Christian
heritage who, seeking help from the Bible in their
effort to raise godly children, believe that God
commands them to spank. They take "spare the rod and
spoil the child" seriously and fear that if they don't
spank, they will commit the sin of losing control of
their child. In our counseling experience, we find
that these people are devoted parents who love God and
love their children, but they misunderstand the
concept of the rod.
Rod verses - what they really mean. The following are
the biblical verses which have caused the greatest
confusion:
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the
rod of discipline will drive it far from him." (Prov.
22:15)
"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves
him is careful to discipline him." (Prov. 13:24)
"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you
punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him
with the rod and save his soul from death." (Prov.
23:13-14)
"The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child
left to itself disgraces his mother." (Prov. 29:15)
At first glance these verses may sound pro-spanking.
But you might consider a different interpretation of
these teachings. "Rod" (shebet) means different things
in different parts of the Bible. The Hebrew dictionary
gives this word various meanings: a stick (for
punishment, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.).
While the rod could be used for hitting, it was more
frequently used for guiding wandering sheep. Shepherds
didn't use the rod to beat their sheep - and children
are certainly more valuable than sheep. As
shepherd-author Philip Keller teaches so well in A
Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23, the shepherd's rod was
used to fight off prey and the staff was used to
gently guide sheep along the right path. ("Your rod
and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4).
Jewish families we've interviewed, who carefully
follow dietary and lifestyle guidelines in the
Scripture, do not practice "rod correction" with their
children because they do not follow that
interpretation of the text.
The book of Proverbs is one of poetry. It is logical
that the writer would have used a well-known tool to
form an image of authority. We believe that this is
the point that God makes about the rod in the Bible
parents take charge of your children. When you re-read
the "rod verses," use the concept of parental
authority when you come to the word "rod," rather than
the concept of beating or spanking. It rings true in
every instance.
While Christians and Jews believe that the Old
Testament is the inspired word of God, it is also a
historical text that has been interpreted in many ways
over the centuries, sometimes incorrectly in order to
support the beliefs of the times. These "rod" verses
have been burdened with interpretations about corporal
punishment that support human ideas. Other parts of
the Bible, especially the New Testament, suggest that
respect, authority, and tenderness should be the
prevailing attitudes toward children among people of
faith.
In the New Testament, Christ modified the traditional
eye-for-an-eye system of justice with His
turn-the-other-cheek approach. Christ preached
gentleness, love, and understanding, and seemed
against any harsh use of the rod, as stated by Paul in
1 Cor. 4:21: "Shall I come to you with the whip (rod),
or in love and with a gentle spirit?" Paul went on to
teach fathers about the importance of not provoking
anger in their children (which is what spanking
usually does): "Fathers, do not exasperate your
children" (Eph. 6:4), and "Fathers, do not embitter
your children, or they will be discouraged" (Col.
3:21).
In our opinion, nowhere in the Bible does it say you
must spank your child to be a godly parent.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/6/T062100.asp
____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs