Godly Discipline is Not Child Abuse

by Mike Pittman
Christianity Magazine
​10/20/2013

​“He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly” (Proverbs 13:24).
 
Seemingly some members of the church are being more influenced by society than they are by the Word of God. Society says that the use of the “rod” (spanking) is demoralizing, brutal and leaves scars. The Word of God says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom” (Proverbs 29:15).
 
In his class workbook, Co-Parenting with God, Wilson Adams provides the following chart:

Child Abuse	​Godly Discipline
Unfair and unexpected	Fair and expected
​Degrading and demoralizing	Upholds dignity
Extremely harsh and brutal	​Balanced and within limits
Tortuous and leaves scars	Painful-but no scars
Promoted by hatred	Prompted by love
Causes emotional damage	Strengthens self-esteem

Because some take corrective discipline to an extreme doesn’t mean that Christians should go to the other extreme. In fact, failing to use the rod when the rod is necessary is a form of child abuse!
​
Again, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly” (Proverbs 13:24).
 
Parents, who are you listening to: Society or God?