To Spank or Not to Spank

At VBS this summer, I read a missionary story. In it the main character had to give a student a whooping. The children asked, "What is that?" Their eyes got big when I told them it was a spanking. Later, I complimented my class on how well they behaved. On little girl said, "Well, we didn't want you to give us a whooping!"

In these days, many parents are afraid to discipline their children for fear of being accused of child abuse. I say the children are being abused by not being disciplined. So, many youngsters are growing up not being shown that disobedience brings punishment. Teachers can't control their classes. Children are controlling the homes. How will we expect them to respect the laws when they grow up? Or have a fear of God's holiness and justice?

A parent represents God to a young child. I'm not saying we're perfect, but we need to show a young child the difference between right and wrong, and make sure they know that wrong doing will bring a consequence. Children want to know the boundries. A child pushes until he gets some kind of response. It's up to us to set those boundries, so they can know how to live within them.

"When to spank?" is often a question new parents ask. "How do we know what kind of punishment fits the crime?"

My father, a pastor and school teacher, used a simple set of rules.

1. When a child does something wrong, quietly exlain what you expect.
2. If the child immediately and intentionally disobyes, then spank.
(This means a few whacks in the appropriate place, not beating the child.)
3. Talk and pray about it after the child has had a time to think about it.
4. Love them and forgive them.

Rebellion must be punished. Obedience is very important. We have to learn to obey our parents before we can obey God. Be patient and forgiving. Remind them often; they forget so soon. Isn't God patient with us?

If you discipline them when they are young (one-five years old), they shouldn't need many more spankings after that. They may not even remember those in their toddler days.

Be consitent. Everytime, you give in to their disobedience, you enforce their rebellion. Don't let their cries sway you. Better to hear their cries now, then later. It's not easy being a parent, but with God's help and guidance, we can raise our children to love and obey the Lord.


Proverbs 13:24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."