Friday, Jan 16, 2009

TWG - January 16, 2009 - Corporal Punishment

Download this episode (19 min)   
TWG – January 16, 2009
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Joshua 1; Psalm 124; 1 John 1

Today is January 16, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. TWG is a complete turn of events; it is a 180 degree turn around. God is changing us and turning us around as a community. This is not business as usual, this is life transforming, this is spiritual, this is essential.

Susan is gone! So it’s just me around the house. The dog sits on his chair by the window staring, hoping for Susan to drive up. But that’s not going to happen for a week. I had a little heart attack at work! (not literal) I am working to set up our Awana program still and make it usable, so I’ve moved it around on the computer. I deleted it from one spot, and then couldn’t find it in the other! I thought I’d erased the whole thing! I had already emptied the recycle bin! After 15 minutes of panic, I found it! No more heart attack. I helped Bill and Jim, mostly with my incalculable wisdom, while they were putting up sheetrock. I think Bill was just about ready to thump me! But it was fun irritating him. They are doing a great job. John and Colleen stopped in for music practice… oh but did they ever look dashing and professional in their pilot uniforms! I solved one of the Ingram’s computer issues and worked on Bible Study. Then I went to dinner with Jim, Bill and Helen. Bible study was great! As usual we had more fun studying God’s Word than is humanly possible. I put a picture of Dylan’s one big eye on the blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out. He was seeing just how close he could get to my camera.

Today’s thought comes from Hebrews 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 11 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.

There has been no more maligned concept in our society than spanking as a form of discipline. Social scientists would have us believe that if you spank your child you will damage him permanently. They equate spanking and abuse. And if you are out of control and swing too wildly, too hard or too often that it is abuse. Some people apparently can’t tell the difference! But that’s like suggesting that eating is equivalent to gluttony! After all food is the cause of obesity! If you eat too much or too often or too wildly you will get fat! So let’s not eat at all! What irresponsible drivel! Hebrews 12 has a response for that; “do not despise the discipline of the Lord.” Our heavenly Father disciplines us. His discipline is a model for family discipline. There are various forms God uses: Chastening. Chastening includes both correction and instruction. The most common type of child discipline is the seemingly incessant correction of a child’s errors and instruction in what is acceptable. The form of chastening often follows this firm pattern: “Son, that behavior is not acceptable. You must be kind, share, cooperate (or whatever the correct response is).” Another form of discipline is the rebuke. The rebuke is a stern form of chastening. It is even stronger disapproval. It may include further disciplinary action. “Son, because you did not listen to me, you must now sit in the corner for a time out. Do you understand why I am doing this? Your behavior is unacceptable.” A third form of discipline is the swat team. The word in Hebrews for spank is scourge. Tom Sawyer called it “a whuppin’!” It is the idea of using a belt or paddle to convince a child that his continued rebellious actions have painful consequences. If neither chastening or rebuke corrects the problem, then a parent should go to step three: State the nature of the offense. Explain the exact nature of the penalty. Describe how you expect your child to respond to this punishment, “I expect you to hold still and take the punishment you deserve like a little man or woman. You may cry, but you may not scream.” They will still squirm and cry out but continued practice helps them learn self control. Corporal punishment may take various forms. A spoon on the back of the hand is effective, as it is on the soft of the leg. They may be as effective as paddling the bottom. The whole point is to induce enough of a sting of pain so that they respond in sorrow and humility. If they respond in anger, your punishment didn’t do the job. The purpose of all discipline is to bring peace to the house and right living to the life. Try and remember that when you feel like wading in with both eyes blazing. We don’t discipline out of anger, we do it as a teaching tool because we love our children. Use self discipline first and child discipline second.

Dear Lord. I know that I need your correction. Help me to respond in humility and sorrow when I do what is wrong so that I have a change in my behavior. And when you do correct me, please give grace to know that it is all out of love.

He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:51 AM |   

<< Home