one who is precious to you. You are delivered from the inconvenience
and loss of time that biblical discipline requires. I believe this is why
the Bible says in Proverbs 13:24: “He who spares the rod hates his
son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” According to
this passage, it is hatred, not love, thatlove, which will keep me from
spanking my child. Love will force me to do it.
I’m Afraid I Will Hurt Him
(^) Often Christian parents respond negatively to the biblical concept
of the “rod” because they have endured abusive corporal punishment
in their childhood. The term rod brings to their minds angry parents
flailing their children in an uncontrolled rage. Such behavior is not a
biblical use of the rod. It is child abuse.
(^) Some parents are apprehensive about hurting their children. They
fear that some physical damage may result from corporal punishment.
Proverbs 23:13–14 anticipates this objection. “Do not withhold
discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not
die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.”
(^) Biblically-balanced discipline never physically endangers a child.
I’m Afraid It Will Make Him Rebellious and Angry
(^) As a parent, you want your children to love and appreciate you.
You want them to think Mom and Dad are great. You want them to
feel you are loving and kind. You may fear that spanking will make
them think of you as cruel and harsh. You may fear that discipline
will bring out the worst in them. Proverbs 29:17 states the opposite:
“Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight
to your soul.”
(^) Rather than discipline yielding angry, sullen children, it yields
children who are at peace with you. It produces children in whom you
delight.
(^) This is true not only in the long term, but also in the short term.