The bible say's lots of things does not mean we follow every one of them, to hit a child in anger is wrong , to give a little slap on the bottom or hands when they are doing something totally unsafe and to do it out of love for the child and his/her well being is in my opinion acceptable. as a parent of a 26 and 24 year old they certainly got a few slaps but always with love guiding me and a good talk later, mostly we used time out's in minutes of their age.

It seems to me that the scriptures somewhat reflect the culture of their times - it is not surprising that 6000 years ago children were expected to respect, honor and obey their parents and those in authority - and that it was the parents responsibility to see that they did, using whatever force was deemed necessary.

It is more surprising in my mind that by 2000 years ago a prophet named Jesus could take time out of his day to pay attention to children, and uphold them as important.   "Let the little children to come unto me."    "Become as little children."  "Have the faith of a child."   He took notice of them and used them as examples in his parables:   "Children playing in the marketplace"    and he forbid anyone to harm a child  "it would be better a millstone be hung around his neck and he be flung into a pond (than to have harmed a child)."   Quoting from memory - not exact quotes.

The Bible might contain a few phrases that mention the beating of children.  It also condones slavery, and the treating women as non-persons.  But we don't do that anymore.   Or do we?

Yes, that would be disgusting indeed. What denomination are these Baptists in? It's not something in the FEBCC.

What does around comes around:

Socrates (died 399 BC) wrote --- Our youth now love luxury, they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders, and love to chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their household. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers.

Kids those days, huh?

.

Ain't that the truth!

My parents spanked all of us kids when we were growing up and I believe the last spanking I received was when I was 12 or 13. In fact when I first had children I spanked my own children to discipline them sometimes, It wasn't until I reached the age of 29 that I realized there were other choices. Started reading more and talking to other parents and actually chose to break the cycle. It took more time at first to implement other methods, but in time, it was more effective and less stressful for all of us.

It seems so foreign to me now that I ever thought this way. It's a form of degradation and discipline through fear and intimidation and totally unnecessary IMO.

If people stoned their insolent sons the way the Bible says, there'd be far fewer off-message adults and many more happy doctrinaire politicians. Still... we ARE building more prisons for our irritating minorities so that's a start.

While we believe in punitive responses to social issues, we're on track with the teaching.

When will we ever learn?

Hi Happy Genius

The Hebrew word for rod is shebet ---this is form Strongs Hebrew Lexicon

The NAS Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon

 These are some scriptures that most people use to justify spanking or beating children

Proverbs 13 v ²⁴ Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
   but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

Proverbs 22 v  ¹⁵Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Proverbs  29 v ¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left undisciplined brings his mother to shame.

If you look at the meanings one of them is --sceptre  which is Mark of Authority

So could it be that the word rod here refers to correction or to correct not spank or beat .So if you read the verse and use correction or correct in place of rod it does not say it is OK to hit or spank but to correct the child.   

Food for thought.   ---Peace

striking your children has been proven ineffective as a method of discipline many times already...

anyone who recommends beating your children obviously has no idea how to parent.

I think beating children is quite wrong. And The Bible says so. I don't have time to look it up right now, but there is authority in the Old Testament to report disobedient children to the village council so that they can be stoned to death by the villagers.

I mean, if you're going to to a job, do it right.

ROTFLMAO!!!

graeme, when you are on, you are ON.

LOL, Graeme!

Hi Happy Genius,

I believe that the message communicated by the text in question is not that you must beat your child.

I believe that the message that is communicated by the text is essentially, "If you will not dicipline your kids when they are out of line you are doing them no favours."

Disciple is the root of discipline, I think that the best contemporary understanding would be teach or instruct.

The most literal translation of the text is not the most faithful translation since the text is spoken in a distinct context and that context is not our contemporary context.

Our contemporary context contains a lot of experience that simply did not exist in the initial context.

The ancient context is beyond our experience.  That does not prevent ancient wisdom from having contemporary application.  The trick is how to gain that ancient wisdom without mistaking ancient practice, or worse, a poor translation of ancient wisdom, as contemporary instruction.

A wise disciple grows to be a wise teacher.  Discipline still works for disciples.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Would that the preachers who were filmed and shown on CNN thought so.

"You much inflict pain" he emphasised to a large congregation...

Thanks for that. Total agreement. To think that there is a Christian denomination that believes otherwise, was a disheartening shock.

Peace that grace brings to you sir!

Hi Happy Genius,

That they don't is why they are filmed for CNN.

"If it bleeds, it leads."

Grace and peace to you.

John

Socrates did not write. It must have been that uppity youngster Plato, who often used Socrates in his plays. Young people also steal from their elders, like Plato.

Did a little research. It is actually a paraphrase of a quote from Aristophanes' Clouds, a comedic play known for its caricature of Socrates

The documentary included interviews with those who were beaten in these 'church homes' Several. As well as the preachers 'sermon' 

Sometimes if it bleeds it SHOULD lead.

There is seldom grace and less peace in the newsroom.... (As I recall)