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The Corporeal Discipline of Children

All of you should know that the state government of California is attempting to outlaw spanking of children of any age as a means of child discipline or correction. In lieu of this, someone anonymously sent our Biblical presentaion on the corporeal discipline of children, written by our principal, Pastor David Sutton, to the Contra Costa Times. They proceeded to do a front page news article on it. The AP picked it up, so I noticed that the Denver Post and the Carlsbad, NM newspapers printed the story. Fox News came to our office saying that they wanted an interview this week. After that, Channel 11, local NBC showed up with their cameras and got our principal and one of our teachers. The next day a major radio station in Denver, KHOW (they’ll start talking to him at minute 12; at minute 21 of the second hour, consider the caller named Kent), called our principal to talk to him and did an interview with him.

We believe in Biblical spanking.

Biblical spanking lovingly disciplines or corrects a child for disobedience (sin), not for accidents or immaturity. Biblical spanking includes instruction. The Bible calls for the use of the rod, which is a wooden implement like a tree branch, thin and flexible, that causes a sting but not injury. This acts as a correction, deterrent, and punishment. Scripture says that it cleanses away guilt (Prov. 20:30). The Bible does not instruct in the use of the hand to discipline a child. This is what the state is calling for. The Bible does not instruct in speeches and in yelling, the Alec Baldwin methodology. When the will, not the spirit, of a child is broken, to where he becomes a respectful, submissive person, as opposed to a rebellious, self-willful person, he usually needs very few spankings. My children need very few anymore. They, however, are necessary especially between the ages of 1-4, and this is the time period the state is concentrating on prohibiting. Here are applicable passages on spanking:

Proverbs 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 22:15, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Proverbs 23:13, 14, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Proverbs 29:15, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”

The Bible says only “rod,” not hand, fist, electrical cord, or vacuum hose. The rod is God’s means for discipline and this is what Sally Lieber and the state legislature wants to take away from parents. She wants parents to rather strike them or hit them with their hand. The hands of a parent should be used to nurture, hold, hug, and protect his children. This is where someone, who hates Scripture and has power, wants ignorantly to destroy society. She, the cat owner with no children of her own, should keep out of parent’s affairs unless some real abuse or crime has been committed.

Opponents say, “But that’s only Proverbs and only OT. Jesus didn’t spank.” First, Jesus didn’t have children. Second, Jesus didn’t need a spanking, because He lived perfectly. Third, since Jesus did everything the Father would do or have Him to do, He would spank, because the Father spanks.

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: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 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? 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. Hebrews 12:5-10

See how really clear this actually is. It’s OT and NT. It’s what God says. We should believe God is a loving God, a wise God, and do what He says. The state should not be interfering with what God says.

Let’s review some truths:
1. God created everything, including us. We can’t create or sustain anything.
2. God is smarter than us.
3. God said use a rod.
4. God didn’t say use anything else.
5. We should trust God because of #1-4, and then just do what He says.
6. When people have done this historically, practiced Biblically, things have worked out well.
7. When people started not doing it this way, things got much worse.

Children have shorter life spans who do not get properly disciplined. We’re all against child abuse, but it is also abuse when a child doesn’t get the discipline he needs.

Here’s the NBC Channel 11, local story on us. You’ll see Pastor Sutton, Mr. Kutrieb, and then others. Notice the next story of a SCHOOL THREAT—apropos for comparison, supplying a reason to spank.


8 Comments

  1. It is really stressful when you get the unsaved bias media involved. I been through it, so I wanted to let you know I am praying for your church and wisdom for you.

  2. I agree with that caller named “Kent.” The guys on the program insisted on changing the statements of Pastor Sutton.

  3. Brother, praying for you on the Left Coast. You’re doing a good work there, keep it up. Every time I think “maybe California will drop off into the ocean today…” I am reminded of the righteous redeemed there doing God’s work.

  4. Pastor, it was a blessing to hear your voices again and to hear the truth according to the Word of God. I believe that the bottom line on that radio program was that they did not believe on the Bible as the Word of God and that there is no willingness to submit to Him, instead to follow their thinking or methodology on this matter. I am praying for the congregation and school.

  5. We’ll remember to pray for this situation.

    Enjoy reading your blog. I’ve added a link to your site.

  6. we are all sinners. and not everything in the bible is taken literally. there are some metaphors just like the moving mountains one like the lamb is Jesus and communion body is the bread and blood is the wine. you are not God and who is to say what God is trying to say. only God can say what he is trying to get across. if spanking kids is disciplning them then you cant stop there. you have to spank adults and the teachers who are misbehaving. never in my life have i ever seen an adult spank for their wrongdoing and i say never. why is it just kids? can you tell me that kent? you want to see things go your way, you see how it feels to be spanked. cant say i agree or disagree with you because you make good points but if kids are spanked then the adult members of the school should be able to be spanked too.

  7. Anonymous,

    This type of discipline is for children because that is who the Bible says it is for. We understand this based on some common sense too, but the Bible is what we base it on, and the Bible says “child,” “son,” etc., that is, terms for children.

    Regarding taking the Bible literally, we always take it literally, that is, grammatically and historically. The grammar and history of the verses on spanking show that they are actual corporal discipline, not something metaphorical. They don’t read as metaphorical at all.

  8. The reason that adults are not included in the text is because if you train up a child in the way he should go, he will not depart from it. Therefore, if a child is disciplined correctly, no adult should need discipline because they learned right and wrong when they were a child.

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  • Kent Brandenburg
  • Thomas Ross

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