Chapter 11Embracing Biblical Methods: The RodThe sincere entreaty accenting every syllable caught my ear.(^) “Dear, you know what Mommy said and you did not obey
Mommy. And now I’ll have to spank you. You know, Dear, that I am
not mad at you, but you must learn to obey.”
(^) The baby was mute in the face of correction, but then she was only
a doll. And the mommy? She was 4-year-old Lauren. The speaker
behind the speaker was obviously her mother.
(^) Lauren learned how to discipline dollies from her mother
disciplining her. Lauren imitates Mommy. Her mother understands
that Lauren possesses abilities not found in dollies. She knows that
Lauren’s behavior has a moral dimension. Lauren is not ethically
neutral. Lauren’s misbehavior brings her into conflict with God’s law.
Her heart trades in issues of good and evil. Mother understands, too,
that the issues of correction transcend the present. All earthly
punishment presupposes the great day when destinies are eternally
fixed. Mother wants her to be ready for that.
(^) As I listened to this little 4-year-old, the clear structure and
gracious manner of this make-believe discipline session impressed
me. The lines were well-rehearsed. Lauren had heard them many
times. There was no anger, only firmness in her voice as she prepared
her baby for what was to come. The objective was also clear—“You
must learn to obey.” There was nothing in the manner of this young
imitator of “Mommy” that looked or sounded like child abuse. Yet
our culture regards all corporal punishment as cruel and abusive. For