Nathan,
There are several, and pretty consistently stated too;
This from the Sep. 1992 Awake!
The Bible's Viewpoint
"The Rod of Discipline"-Is It Out-of-Date?
"Foolishness is tied up with the heart of a boy; the
rod of discipline is what will remove it far from
him."-Proverbs 22:15.
"Any physical punishment is emotionally abusive and
should not be sanctioned."-Parents Anonymous.
THE BIBLE'S mention of "the rod of discipline" ignites
fiery controversy. This is understandable, for each
year thousands of children die as a direct result of
physical abuse by a parent. Perhaps this is why one
Bible commentary passes off the Bible's sanction of
physical punishment as merely a "culturally
conditioned opinion."
But cultural opinions did not inspire the Bible-God
did. (2 Timothy 3:16) Are its comments on "the rod of
discipline" unreasonable? It is important that we
examine "the rod" in its context. To illustrate: The
individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle make little
sense. It is only after fitting them together that one
can see the whole picture. Likewise, "the rod" is just
one piece of the puzzle. To see the full picture, we
must fit "the rod" in with other Bible principles
related to discipline.
A Balanced View
Does the Bible endorse only physical punishment?
Consider the following advice:
• "Never drive your children to resentment."
• "Don't over-correct your children, or you will take
all the heart out of them."
'That's much more reasonable than the Bible's advice,'
some may say. But this is the Bible's advice. It is
recorded at Ephesians 6:4 (The New Jerusalem Bible)
and Colossians 3:21 (Phillips).
Yes, the Bible's viewpoint is reasonable. It
acknowledges that physical punishment is usually not
the most effective teaching method. Proverbs 8:33
says, "Listen to discipline" not, 'Feel discipline.'
And Proverbs 17:10 points out that "a rebuke works
deeper in one having understanding than striking a
stupid one a hundred times." Furthermore, Deuteronomy
11:19 recommends preventive discipline, taking
advantage of casual moments to instill moral values in
one's children. Thus, the Bible's view of discipline
is balanced.
What About "the Rod"?
Still, the Bible does mention "the rod" of discipline.
(Proverbs 13:24; 22:15; 23:13, 14; 29:15) How is this
to be understood?
The word "rod" is translated from the Hebrew word
she'vet. To the Hebrews, she'vet meant a stick or a
staff, such as that used by a shepherd. In this
context the rod of authority suggests loving guidance,
not harsh brutality.-Psalm 23:4.
She'vet is often used symbolically in the Bible,
representing authority. (2 Samuel 7:14; Isaiah 14:5)
When referring to parental authority, "the rod" does
not refer exclusively to physical punishment. It
encompasses all forms of discipline, which most often
need not be physical. And when physical discipline is
employed, it is usually because other methods have
proved unsuccessful. Proverbs 22:15 says that
foolishness is "tied up" ("anchored," NJB;
"deep-rooted," The New English Bible) with the heart
of the one receiving physical discipline. More than
mere childish frivolity is involved.
How Should Discipline Be Administered?
In the Bible, discipline is consistently linked with
love and mildness, not with anger and brutality. The
skillful counselor should be "gentle toward all, . . .
restrained under evil, instructing with mildness those
not favorably disposed."-2 Timothy 2:24, 25.
Therefore, discipline is not an emotional outlet for
the parent. Rather, it is a method of instruction. As
such, it should teach an erring child. When
administered in anger, physical discipline teaches the
wrong lesson. It serves the need of the parent, not
that of the child.
Furthermore, effective discipline has boundaries. "I
shall have to chastise you to the proper degree,"
Jehovah says to his people at Jeremiah 46:28. This is
especially vital to remember when administering
physical discipline. Hitting or shaking an infant can
lead to brain damage or even death. Going beyond the
intended purpose of discipline-to correct and to
teach-may lead to child abuse.
The Bible Does Not Promote Abuse
Before correcting his people, Jehovah said: "Do not be
afraid, . . . for I am with you." (Jeremiah 46:28)
Discipline should not leave a child feeling abandoned.
Rather, the child should sense that the parent is
'with him' as a loving, supportive encouragement. If
physical discipline is deemed necessary, the child
should understand why. Proverbs 29:15 says that "the
rod and reproof are what give wisdom."
It is a sad fact that today many use "the rod" of
parental authority abusively. Yet, fault cannot be
found with the Bible's balanced principles. (Compare
Deuteronomy 32:5.) When we consider "the rod" in its
context, we see that it serves to teach children, not
to abuse them. As in other matters, the Bible proves
to be "beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for
setting things straight, for disciplining in
righteousness."-2 Timothy 3:16.
[Footnotes]
The book Outgrowing the Pain: A Book for and About
Adults Abused as Children cautions: "Spanking can
become child abuse when it is done in an
out-of-control way, with enough force to leave
injuries. Using instruments to hit, spanking with a
closed fist, hitting very young children, and hitting
in vulnerable areas (face, head, stomach, back,
genitals) can increase the likelihood of corporal
punishment becoming child abuse."
The book Father Power, by Dr. Henry Biller and Dennis
Meredith, notes: "Physical punishment need only be
quite mild to be effective. If it comes from someone
he loves and whom he knows loves him, the emotional
impact will be enough to make the child think about
what he has done."
[Picture Credit Line on page 26]
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