Few people
will say that they enjoyed the punishment they received from their parents when
they were younger. The punishment I received form my father and my teachers as
a child did not go down well with me. When I was a student at Kampala Parents
School I used to come very early for classes before most of the other students.
I used to pick the cane from the cupboard and throw it out into the Pride
Theater compound since I knew it would most likely be used against me.
In this
modern day we have groups that have come out to outlaw caning of children
either by their parents or by teachers. However, the Biblical standard of
discipline requires parents to promptly discipline their children since it
states that, "Correct thy son, and
he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul”
(Proverbs 29:17). Some would say that this correction should simply stop at
verbal lectures, rebukes and grounding. The Bible goes on to explain the method
of administering this discipline, “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” (Proverbs 23:13-14). The method of administering this discipline is
through the rod or the stick. This scripture elaborates that it should not be a
punishment that endangers the life of the child since he shall not die when
this is done. This type of discipline even acts to deliver the soul of the
child from hell. We see so many children of Christian parents, including
children of church leaders engaging in worldly behavior that does not glorify
God. The reason for this is partly because their parents did not beat them with
the rod and hence led to their children backsliding from the Lord's ways.
One of the
primary examples of the consequences of failure to discipline children is Eli
the priest and judge of Israel. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, ministered
as priests in the temple of the Lord under the Old Covenant. As priests they
were supposed to receive part of the sacrifice after the fat has been
sacrificed to the Lord. These parts included the breast and shoulder of the
animal sacrifice. However they sent their servants to forcefully confiscate any
part of the sacrifice and even pulled out the flesh from the boiling pots,
insisting that the priests do not eat boiled meat but will roast it for
themselves (1 Samuel 2:12-17). This made many Israelites to despise the
sacrifices. Above all this they went ahead to commit fornication with the women
who would come to the temple. When Eli heard about these things he told them "Why do ye such things? for I hear of
your evil dealings by all this people" (1 Samuel 2:23). Eli merely
gave them a slap on the wrist and told them that what they were doing was not
good and they were sinning against God. He did not discipline them by removing
them from the priests' office or rebuking them publicly. He simply called them
aside privately and told them that they did something wrong and let them go to
continue in their sin. God appeared to the child Samuel and spoke to him about
Eli and his sons, "For I have told
him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth;
because his sons made themselves vile, and HE RESTRAINED THEM NOT. And
therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house
shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever" (1 Samuel
3:13-14). The Lord was so angry with Eli for failing to restrain or discipline
his sons that he proclaimed that this was an unforgiveable sin forever. Parents
who neglect the rod should learn a thing or two from Eli. To make matters
worse, on the same day God allowed both Hophni and Phinehas to die in battle,
the ark of the Lord was captured by the Philistines, Eli died and his
daughter-in-law also died in child birth. This does not seem like God takes
discipline in the family lightly.
When parents do not discipline their children they are rendering
their children bastards since all parents are expected to discipline their
children (Heb 12:8-9). God Himself corrects His children and therefore expects
Christian parents to follow His example (Heb12:5-7). Some parents and teachers
have taken discipline too far and inflicted wounds or burns upon their children
or students and even caused death. True discipline will not involve acts of
savagery or cruel violence. Discipline should be done in love and true love
will go ahead to lovingly use the rod to correct the child, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son:
but he that loveth him chasteneth him quickly” (Proverbs 13:24). The
primary responsibility for discipline lies with the fathers and God will hold
them accountable as He did with Eli (1Samuel 2:29). As a Christian parent, the
ball is in your court. Will you choose to listen to the modernist advocacy
organizations or God's word in the Bible?
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