Question:
Pope sez’ Beating Children Divinely mandated…! Was the Pope beaten as a kid….? Well, you’ll likely be comforted to know that God is in general concurrence with the ‘beating’ punishment you received. The Bible has much to say on the matter of correcting children when necessary. The wisdom sayings of Proverbs are a good source of appropriate measures. They include "He that spareth his rod hatest his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."(Proverbs 13:24); and "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."(Proverbs 19:18—-the Hebrew word ‘yacar’ for ‘chasten’ means literally ‘chasten with blows’). A more obscure passage is "The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly."(Proverbs 20:30—-the Hebrew word ‘makkeh’ translated ’stripes’ means ‘beating’). The whole verse is problematical. But the sense of it is that ‘beatings and wounds produce a better attitude’. This sentiment is more clearly provided in "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."(Proverbs 22:15). Even clearer is the passage "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 shall deliver his soul from hell."(Proverbs 23:13-14). To reinforce the proper method of dealing with those lacking sophistication, such as children, we can turn to "…a rod for the fool’s back."(Proverbs 26:3). Almost in summary, Proverbs offers in passing "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame…Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul." (Proverbs 29:15-17—-the Hebrew ‘yacar’ translated ‘correct’, again means ‘chastise with blows’). A quick peek back into Deuteronomy reveals almost identical advise on child rearing in "Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee."(Deut 8:5). The letter to the Hebrews contains certain analogies comparing recommended treatment of children with God’s treatment of his sons. And so "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But is you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence…Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, after- wards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."(Heb 12:6-11– –the Greek word ‘paideia’ translated ‘chastening’, means ‘beating’). There’s MUCH more in the holy Bible regarding divinely approved physical child abuse. That’s enuf’ for this posting. Ain’t the Bible the GREATEST book on child- rearing you’ve ever heard of!!!!
Response:
<snip Ain’t the Bible the GREATEST book on child- rearing you’ve ever heard of!!!!
Actually, yes it is.
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