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 I
learned a lot from the cotton stalk, peach tree limb and 1X4 —
primarily, that there are types of behaviour that are
unacceptable. Not one of those lessons was enjoyable but most
were very needed. But then, Gideon “took the elders of the
city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he
taught the men of Succoth” (“taught” means correction and
could be translated “threshed”), (Judges 8:16).
Punishment
of children for wrongdoing is primarily the responsibility of
parents. The “chimney -corner- scripture” “spare the rod
and spoil the child” is not unlike Solomon’s statement: “He
that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him
chasteneth him betimes,” (Prov. 13:24). This does not justify
beating the child “black and blue;” however, there are times
when only the imprint of the whip impresses a lesson on the
heart. Permissive parents supply the hammer for their own
heartbreak.
While
punishment and discipline sometimes become a necessity, there is
a limit to motivation by spanking. When I was four, Mother
thrashed me so many times one day that the last one didn’t
hurt —I just took a deep breath, turned and walked away. The
only things you can teach a child by the rod is that
misbehaviour brings disapproval and pain. But if “no” is all
he hears and the smack of the hand is the only teacher, his
character becomes negatively lop-sided. The will to do good
should also be instilled in his heart.
Paul
reproved Peter rather sharply (Gal. 2:11-14). He also sternly
rebuked brethren
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for keeping company with a brother who was a
fornicator (1 Cor. 5:1-ff), and called some “deceitful workers”
and “false apostles” (2 Cor. 11:13). Not only did he reprove
sinners himself, but he also charged Timothy: “reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine,” (2 Tim.
4:2). There are times when such is needed, but let one never
confuse reproof with vindictiveness —“Vengeance is mine, I
will repay,” God said (Rom. 12:19).
When
I first began preaching, I felt it was my responsibility to lash
those who were not conducting themselves properly — no thorns,
just stern rebuke. I had no desire to hurt them, but felt that
if they knew what was amiss, they would appreciate the spanking
later, as I have now that years have passed. I learned after
using many different kinds of whips that a steady diet of
negative lessons only served to depress the congregation and
frustrate me. The problem was not that the members didn’t
understand what was wrong, but that they had a greater desire to
do other things and be other places.
Several
years have passed and I continue to reprove sin and sinners. I
use the whip if it is needed, but a sound spanking helps not the
depressed, discouraged and weak — they need encouragement. It
really doesn’t help the person to try and beat him into
subjection. The man without the will is about as tasty as the
lobster’s shell. Christ wants men who “will to do his will.”
—— Jim R. Everett
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