spanking him because you are mean. You are not trying to force him
to submit to you only because you hate insolence. You are not mad at
him. You, like him, are under God’s rule and authority. God has
called you to a task you cannot shirk or shrug off. You are acting
under God’s rule. You are requiring obedience because God says you
must.
Confidence to Act
(^) There is tremendous freedom here for a parent. When you direct,
correct, or discipline, you are not acting out of your own will; you are
acting on behalf of God. You don’t have to wonder if it is okay for
you to be in charge. You certainly do not need your child’s
permission. God has given you a duty to perform; therefore the
endorsement of your child is not necessary.
A Mandate to Act
(^) Understanding that you are God’s agent as a parent deals not only
with the right to act—it also provides the mandate to act. You have no
choice. You must engage your children. You are acting in obedience
to God. It is your duty.
(^) To illustrate, the state of Pennsylvania, where I live, requires
schools to report any case of suspected child abuse. This law does not
simply provide the right to report abuse. It requires that abuse be
reported. The school official has no discretionary right to decide
whether to report child abuse. The law requires it. In the same way,
the fact that you are called by God to be an authority in the training of
your children not only gives you the right, but also the responsibility,
to train.
(^) As a school administrator, I observe that most parents do not
understand the appropriateness and necessity of being in charge in
their child’s life. Rather, parents take the role of adviser. Few are
willing to say, for instance, “I have prepared oatmeal for your
breakfast. It is a good, nutritious food and I want you to eat it. Maybe