Whacking the Kids
We live in a politically correct society where whacking the kids has become a social taboo. At the same time we have rising juvenile crime, mostly from kids who never received any discipline from their parents (or whoever was looking after them). Schools are having problems recruiting teachers, the main issue being pupil behaviour problems. Youth clubs are having to close down because yobbos are smashing up the premises. This article attempts to put aside the sociology and political correctness, and find out what the Bible says about this issue.
The Commandment With a Promise
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12)
Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (Deut 5:16)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Eph. 6:1-3)
Blessings and Curses
Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. . . . And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (Deut. 27:16 - 28:1)
The passage continues with a list of blessings for those who obey, then it says what happens to those who don't obey.
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. (Deut. 28:15-16).
The list of curses continues, to the end of Chapter 28. This is a long chapter, having 68 verses altogether. The curses are really dire, including famine, disease, invasion by foreign armies, and people driven to such desperation that they will eat their own children. The question we have to ask is, considering that all these curses are available to those who make light of their Mum and Dad, is it so bad just to get a whack?
Silly Kids, Including the Big Ones
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Prov. 22:15)
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. (Prov. 23:13-14)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. (Prov. 26:3) Note: This verse says nothing about children. If they don't grow out of their folly, they continue to qualify for the rod.
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Prov. 29:15)
Note: None of these verses say anything about smacking with the hand. They authorise the use of a stick.
Love and Hatred
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Prov. 13:24)
Don't Provoke the Kids
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Eph 6:1-4). Note: We have seen the first part of this already under "Commandment With a Promise".
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (Col. 3:20-21)
The instruction to fathers, not to provoke the children, could be misunderstood as a counter-argument against whacking, but that's not what it means. It doesn't actually say anything about whacking. The context was a church where there were many converts from paganism, and families were divided so that some members were Christian and others were still pagan. If the father was converted, the whole family might follow his example, but not in all cases. (see 1 Cor. 7:12). Fathers were encouraged to diligently teach the faith to their children over a period of time, without expecting them to become instant converts, otherwise they might become offended by a new and unfamiliar lifestyle.
Conclusions
I am not going to try and predict the popularity of this article. The followers of political correctness will no doubt disagree with it, but there might be some support from exasperated parents, teachers and youth workers. All I have done is to show what the Bible teaches.
Mike Gascoigne
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