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Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Romans 12:2

The Bible and the Rod

by Brian Schwertley

The biblical training of children involves much more than a mere transmission of knowledge from a parent to a child. There must also be correction, which involves chastisement and admonition. Biblical correction, which often involves the pain inflicted by spanking, is absolutely necessary for the proper spiritual development and well being of covenant children. The rod, biblically applied, drives out foolishness (Pr. 22:15), delivers from hell (Pr. 23:13-14), saves from destruction (Pr. 19:18), gives wisdom (Pr. 29:15) and is an act of love (Pr. 13:24; Heb: 12:6-8).

Modern "experts" on child-rearing condemn spanking as a form of child abuse, and many Christian parents have abandoned this practice in favor of "time-outs," grounding, toy-bribery, yelling, and other sanctions. Other Christian parents restrict the use of spankings to only the most severe infractions. The modern tendency is toward leniency and substitutions for the infliction of physical pain.

Because parents are often reluctant to use the rod, the Bible encourages parents to inflict the pain of spanking. Proverbs 23:13-14 says: "Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell." God says that one's child will not only survive discipline, he will survive because of it. What should a Christian parent prefer for his child, the pain of discipline now or the lake of fire in the future?

Once parents understand the necessity of discipline, that God requires spanking for the proper training of covenant children, they often ask questions such as: "What do we do?" or "How do we apply biblical discipline in our home?" There are many principles of biblical discipline that need to be considered.

First, biblical discipline must occur in a context of love. It must occur in a consistently Christian home atmosphere. Thugs, drunks, and cruel and neglectful fathers sometimes spank their children, but this is not Christian discipline. Christian discipline is set in a context of love that includes care and compassion and an atmosphere where God's law-word is paramount. It is a home where Christ is Lord and God's word reigns, where the parents are providing for their children physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is a home where the principles of Deuteronomy 6:6-9 are practiced. Such a home is a Christian culture, a society of biblical love.

Second, discipline must be for real infractions and not for accidents, normal rambunctiousness, and immaturity. Little children spill their milk, knock over things, and trip and fall. These sorts of things, however, are not ethical violations but are merely a result of immaturity. God does not discipline His people for accidents but for violations of His holy law, and earthly fathers should likewise imitate their Father. One also should not discipline a child for being a child. Young children (in particular boys) are full of energy and like to play aggressively. Parents need not allow wild games in the living room; however, they should allow their children to have fun as long as sin is not involved.

Third, discipline must be proportional to the offense committed. Just as there are different levels of bad behavior, there must be a proportional level of chastisement to fit each situation. Relatively minor infractions that often result from ignorance can be dealt with by means of a verbal reproof. In a covenant home that has a pleasant loving atmosphere, the displeasure and seriousness of a parental rebuke is often sufficient to achieve a biblical change in a child. Many infractions merit a normal spanking and admonition, while serious violations merit a more severe spanking. Throughout Scripture God deals with His people according to the offense committed (e.g., not every crime is a capital offense in the Law). The Old and New Testaments, for example, make a clear distinction between sins of ignorance and high-handed sins (e.g., Nu. 15:30, 31).

Fourth, discipline or chastisement must be painful. When the author of Hebrews describes chastisement he writes: "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:11). Chastisement is supposed to produce painful and not pleasurable emotions. If discipline is going to be effective then it must cause pain. That is why verbal correction often needs to be accompanied by a good spanking. Solomon writes: "Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart" (Pr. 20:30).

Fifth, discipline (i.e., physical chastisement) must always be accompanied by reproof, correction, or admonition. Paul tells fathers to bring their children "up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). The word admonition (nouthesia) means literally a "putting in mind." Physical chastisement is never enough by itself. In fact it is useless if a parent does not also correct or counsel the errant child by applying God's word directly to the situation.

Sixth, biblical discipline always leads to a restoration of fellowship. This means that fellowship must be restored with the parent who administered discipline, and if the sin was against another person such as a brother or sister, then a restoration of fellowship should also be required there. The restoration of fellowship involves a confession of wrongdoing on the part of the child, the asking of forgiveness of the offended party, the giving of forgiveness by the offended party, and a reassurance of love and acceptance on the part of the parents. Parents should hug their children and give them loving words so that they will understand that the discipline was an act of love and that there is a full restoration of fellowship. There, of course, should also be prayer to God confessing sin (Ps. 32:5), requesting forgiveness (Ps. 51; 1 Jn. 1:9), and asking God for the grace to overcome this sin in the future.

Rev. Brian Schwertley is the Pastor of Chalcedon Christian Church in Haslett, Michigan, a member church of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States. He and his wife Andrea have been married for 18 years and have five children, all of whom are homeschooled.

See also In Favor of Abolishing Corporal Punishment of Children.
Return to Volume 9, Number 2.