In the uk you don't get a way with smacking your kids.
You know, the policies a country has is absolutely NO indicator as to whether or not their policies are RIGHT. Every country generally thinks its policies are 'right'...I could name a lot of past "policies" in the UK that haven't been so great (just as I could about the US).
Comments like the above quote are somewhat irritating, in so far as they suggest a dependance on societal norms (which are always changing, like shifting sand) instead of a dependance on God's "norms."
The issue of spanking is very simple, really. We go to God's Word.
Hmmm...what does
HE say? What is
HIS opinion?
The question is NOT answered by saying, "Well, what do the Brits do?" or "What is done in the US?" That's how nonbelievers can answer their questions, if they so choose, but we Believers are held to a much higher standard than the ever-shifting sway of human opinion.
This even applies to those who feel that
all "rod" passages are purely figurative--you still must ask the question of WHY would God choose to use that particular allegory, when He certainly could have chosen a variety of others to make His point? IF spanking is ALWAYS so horribly abusive,
why did Yahweh choose to use such a terrible thing to illustrate his point?.
Certainly there are abuses that happen from the hands of violent parents. But do we then make the illogical jump and say, 'therefore, ALL spanking is abuse?' Because you know what, terrible things have happened in marraiges where God's Word has not been obeyed--therefore we need to do away with marriage (hey, sometimes the covenant is abused!).
...We also better do away with government, since we know that power can be abused too...And you know, I've known some school teachers who've abused their power--we'd better burn down all the schools while we're at it...
You see my point.
People can and do abuse their power (it's called: sin nature). That
doesn't rule out positions of power, or the godly use of such power--unless we'd all like to have a state of anarchy and just let sin have it's free reign.
Whether or not you agree PERSONALLY with spanking, I think one is hard pressed to say that
God is opposed to it. Of course, if you have some Scriptural passages that show how God feels ALL spanking is abusive, I'd love to see them.
Because that's what this discussion really needs to revolve around, if we want it to be at all productive: not what my country thinks vs. what your country thinks, or my personal opinion vs. yours...but
what does GOD think?
Blessings,
Molly
Really, though, Melissa is right, each child is different, you just have to find the way that's best for your little one. And the way that fits best with your personal beliefs. I think spanking is fine, even now with my 2 year old if she's in the middle of one of her "drama queen tantrums"
or something like that, one little swat on her bottom is plenty to get her attention!! Even as she grows older, if need be, I won't be adverse to spanking....altho now that I'm a mom, I think I can relate to the phrase "It will hurt me more than it will hurt you!"
