Spanking a Biblically Supported Method of Discipline

Spanking a Biblically

Supported Method of Discipline

Sandra Scott

BCOM/275

September 30, 2013

Helen Holt

Spanking a Biblically Supported Method of Discipline

Many have tried to take portions of what the Bible says and mold it to fit their agendas; the use of spanking as a discipline for a child always has been and will be supported by the Bible. According to the Center for Effective Discipline(CED) (n.d.), spanking used as discipline is a violent punishment and an act that Jesus did not teach the use of, but showed through the power of His words that love is the answer. Love is the answer to effective discipline with spanking and not the reason to stop spanking.

“In our study of scripture, we will see that man has been convinced of things that simply are not true. He has serious misconceptions about spanking children for disobedience. Unfortunately, most Christian parents today do not get their understanding of discipline from the Bible. They get it from the world.” (Reagan, n.d., para. 4). In today’s society, spanking is viewed in the same light as child abuse. The world looks at it as simply hitting a child; this is not the case when an effective, loving spanking is administered.

The problem with spanking is not its use, but it is the miss-use and administration performed in anger instead of love. When studies recommend talking with children is important, such as the CED (n.d.) does, it takes the stand that spanking is violent and uses a scripture in Isaiah to prove that speaking is what God had in mind for discipline. Isaiah states “…and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” (King James Version, 11:4) This verse is not trying to tell us that we need to only use our mouth when dealing with our children, the verse is emphasizing that the power God has is superior and with just His words he punishes the wicked; the parenting of children is nowhere around this scripture....