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Post by purinheart on Apr 25, 2008 6:43:14 GMT -5
Could you please tell me how the command to spank our wayward children (in a calm, restorative way) does not conflict with the nonviolence of Jesus' teachings and life? He is our newest Teacher, and gave different insights from the OT when He would say, "you have heard...but I tell you..." Also, if we are acting on behalf of God as discipliner, wouldn't this mean that Christians could be policemen and military soldiers with the same excuse? Thank you. (I told you guys I would have questions when I joined this forum! )
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Post by Brother Ben on Apr 25, 2008 12:28:15 GMT -5
First, we must rid our thinking that spanking is violence. It should never be an act of violence. If a spanking cannot be done in a calm and restorative way, some time should be spent calming ones spirit before the Lord and seeing this as an opportunity to help this child see their wrong and see how they have broken God's command. Though many things of the O.T. are done away with in the N.T., this is not one of them. The Lord uses chastisement as a picture of His dealings with disobedient believers.
Hbr 12:3 ¶ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hbr 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hbr 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: Hbr 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hbr 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Hbr 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hbr 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Hbr 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. Hbr 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Do you see the parallel drawn in scripture. He is not speaking figuatively, no, he is showing us from the illustration of dealing with children, how Father deals with us.
That is one individual Christians have to hash out between them and God. Being a discipliner is merely reinforcing God's desire for authority to be established in the home by the God-given agents in that setting...mom and dad.
In government, God has ordained agents for law enforcment too.
Rom 13:1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. Rom 13:5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
These minister of God, as Paul calls them, are for the purpose of enforcing the laws of the land. Where the conflict comes in (and again, the believer must wrestle with God over this,) is whether we can be this agent, who at times, must take matters into his hands and deal, sometimes, violently, with those who have chosen to violate the laws of the land.
Jesus said:
Mat 5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
SO, we are loving our children when we are spanking them in a calm, teaching way. I know some fail, and this is wrong, and we are to be mature in the Lord, seek His face, and do it in a spirit of reconcilation. When we see spanking for what it really is, namely, spiritual love, and not natural, we will see that it is in the heart of the Father to correct our children so they will love what mom and dad love, and in time love what Father loves.
We are living in a day when corporal punishment is looked upon as a violent act, this is sad. When done right, it is a good way to help our children be a positive part of society, knowing that they have limits and that life has consequences. Unfortunately, some do not know how to correct their children in a loving way and bring reproach upon spanking and the government feels it must do something to stop injustice. This is not an act that is derived in malice, but in a desire to bring control into the lives who will not control thier anger and injustice.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
So lets make sure we:
Eph 5:2 . . . walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
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