I was spreading the good news, that everyone will go to Heaven through faith alone in Jesus Christ, when I came across a girl who loves the Lord and she said an offhand comment about her parents potentially “wooping” her because she called 911 when her mother left the stove on and almost burned the house down.
Not only was the child in the right to call 911, since the cookies they were baking came out half burnt when the mother came and it could have turned into a serious fire, but as well, The Lord is against violent punishment.
“Wooping” here could refer to a spanking, a beating, or anything else that’s physically abusive. So, I said “The Bible is against the corporeal punishment of children”.
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
And further I said “The Rod that the Bible talks about is the same rod that Shepard’s use to guide their sheep.” Shepard’s don’t beat their sheep, that’s animal abuse. Thus, parents must not beat their children, that is child abuse.
A rod
שֵׁ֣בֶט (šê·ḇeṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe
The Rod shows that a parent must always be there for their child, watching over them, instructing them righteousness.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
When a child is beaten, they become angry. Scientifically, physical hurting a child triggers intense stress hormones to be released in their brain which is the textbook definition of the emotion of anger.
The Bible says to not provoke children to anger. Do not scream at children, or aggressively yell at them. Instead, firmly and kindly say to them what is good, constantly. Discipline refers to giving a child rules to follow, telling them right from wrong, teaching them to be kind to others.
When you spank a child, you don’t respect them as another human, another one of God’s creations and you insult the Lord.
As well, there are many psychological studies that show that spanking is not only an ineffective method of discipline, but in fact encourages children to become more violent. And the Lord hates violence!
1 Timothy 3:3 Not violent but gentle
Proverbs 3:31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways
Psalms 11:5 Those who love violence, he hates with a passion.
Proverbs 13:2 But the unfaithful have an appetite for violence
Proverbs 10:6-7 But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked
Proverbs 16:29 Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, outbursts of anger.
Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence
Ezekiel 45:9 Thus says the Lord GOD: Put away violence.
An excellent thread on Tentmaker talks about this too.
Another Christian article that’s against the physical abuse of children.
As well as some other scientific studies on the negatives of spanking of children.
So, to continue with my Evangelism conversation, she replied “Oh, they barely hit me”, but even still, barely hitting someone hard is still hitting someone.
Matthew 18:6 - But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
This is also another reason why Sheol will not have a physical fire, but rather, a mental one. They will feel mental pain and guilt for their actions in contrast to God’s love. God does not repay evil with evil.
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil
Romans 12:17-18 Recompense to no man evil for evil
It is a great evil that spanking children is still widespread, just as it is a great evil that the belief in Eternal Conscious Torment in Hell forever is still widespread. I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to write this, with a similar conviction that I felt when compelled to write about Universal Salvation.
So, to all parents, please love your children. Do not harden your hearts. Because God loves us as a parent loves their children and will save everyone through Christ. Amen.