Instead I want to dispel the myth that spanking is a mandate from God. Many people seem to believe that the bible commands parents to spank their disobedient children. But this is simply not true. Here are some facts to help clear up this misconception.
1. There is no mention of hitting a child on their buttocks.
Proverbs 23:13 suggest that you might strike your child with a rod. And Proverbs 13:24 warns us not to spare the rod of discipline (unless you hate your child). But Proverbs 26:3 points out that a rod is for the backs of fools. Nowhere in the bible does anyone suggest that you might hit a child on their bottom.
2. There is no mention of hitting a child with anything other than a rod or whip. See above, and read the book of Proverbs for yourself.
3. The bible gives no specific age-based guidance. Any such guidance that you've heard or read is based on someone's opinion or possibly a research study.
4. There is no mention of hitting a girl. You may conclude that this is due to culture, literary genre, and/or translation. But it's worth mentioning.
5. Every single verse which refers to hitting children is found in Proverbs. All of the verses about discipline found in other books of the bible speak in more general terms. This is a very important point. Because, as any pastor or theologian will tell you, Proverbs is a book of general wisdom taken from multiple ancient sources. It is not a book of rules or commandments. And some of the advice found within it should not (and cannot) be followed in every situation. Therefore, any strict doctrine based entirely on the sayings found in Proverbs will not have much biblical authority.
As one of the authors of Proverbs says in verse 11:14, "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety." (King James) Therefore it is reasonable to carefully study the book of Proverbs, add in the larger context of God's word from the entire bible, and consider the advice of medical experts and psychologists. In the multitude of counselors, it is my hope that you - and your children - will find safety.
Proverbs 23:13 suggest that you might strike your child with a rod. And Proverbs 13:24 warns us not to spare the rod of discipline (unless you hate your child). But Proverbs 26:3 points out that a rod is for the backs of fools. Nowhere in the bible does anyone suggest that you might hit a child on their bottom.
2. There is no mention of hitting a child with anything other than a rod or whip. See above, and read the book of Proverbs for yourself.
3. The bible gives no specific age-based guidance. Any such guidance that you've heard or read is based on someone's opinion or possibly a research study.
4. There is no mention of hitting a girl. You may conclude that this is due to culture, literary genre, and/or translation. But it's worth mentioning.
5. Every single verse which refers to hitting children is found in Proverbs. All of the verses about discipline found in other books of the bible speak in more general terms. This is a very important point. Because, as any pastor or theologian will tell you, Proverbs is a book of general wisdom taken from multiple ancient sources. It is not a book of rules or commandments. And some of the advice found within it should not (and cannot) be followed in every situation. Therefore, any strict doctrine based entirely on the sayings found in Proverbs will not have much biblical authority.
As one of the authors of Proverbs says in verse 11:14, "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety." (King James) Therefore it is reasonable to carefully study the book of Proverbs, add in the larger context of God's word from the entire bible, and consider the advice of medical experts and psychologists. In the multitude of counselors, it is my hope that you - and your children - will find safety.
