I highly honor and greatly love my parents. I cannot
really imagine who would I be if they were not my parents. I could have been
uneducated, or perhaps someone who had sold properties for gambling, or may had
not even reach twenties after dying in a frat war. We were eight in the family
(I am the eighth) and we can describe our ever lovable parents in hundreds of
words. However, I and my siblings will agree that their being
"DISCIPLINARIANS" will make it to the top 10... or even higher. We
are products of rods and we are incalculably thankful for it. I would spank
them if they had not spanked me. I would not be me without those rods.
Therefore, I find lots of mess and nonsense with the
thoughts of representatives Susan Yap, Bernadette Herrera-Dy, and those who
lined on their ranks. The former two principally authored House Bill No.4455 or
“An Act Promoting Positive and Non-violent Discipline of Children.” Although
the Act aims for the best of children - to protect them against abuse, it
restricts parents and guardians to utilize corporal punishment, any punishment
in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or
discomfort, however light. In short, this bill will jail my parents if only we
are in the 80s.
With Bible on my hand, I will show that this
"no-spank" house bill still SPANKs.
Scorns GOD's Attributes
"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and
chastises every son whom he receives... For the moment all discipline seems
painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Heb. 12:6,11)."
GOD is infinitely loving, infinitely holy, infinitely
wise. If the premise of this 4455 that corporal punishment does no good but
rather has negative effects to kids is truthful, then GOD is the most foolish
of all parents. GOD is not worthy of imitation in parenting. And GOD is even
causing unwanted effects to His kids. Or is He? That's an insult to my holy
GOD's parenting methodologies.
Perverts Church Discipline
"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a
Gentile and a tax collector (Matt. 18:17)."
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the
presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear (1 Tim. 5:20)."
The church is designed by the Lord to be an assembly of
believers helping each other to grow in Christlikeness. It is a family of
siblings guiding each other to be like sheep worthy of the Great Shepherd. The
Shepherd, with a rod on His hand (Psa. 23:4), disciplines those in the flock
(through the church) who act as goats. Church discipline is so much important
that confessions (the Belgic Confession for example) consider it as an
essential mark of the true church. If families won't witness discipline in
their homes, church discipline becomes blurry or worse, unacceptable.
Abducts Parental Respect
"We have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and
we respected them (Heb. 12:9)."
The Bible is clear in saying that respect is what parents
get when they give discipline. Our experience will testify to this with a
thousand Amens. It is then safe to say that the worst thing that hardens the
hearts of children towards their parents, that robs them of their kids'
respect, is restricting them in practicing discipline.
Neglects Human Nature
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the
rod of discipline drives it far from him (Prov. 22:15)."
Jeremiah 17:9 refers to the heart of man as desperately
wicked, untrustworthy! We are sinners not because we do bad things. We do bad
things because we are sinners. After Adam's fall, the nature of man is
corrupted that it bends towards wickedness. This depravity manifests as early
as infancy and grows more and more conspicuous as someone progresses through
childhood. This further implies parents are not just facing simple naughtiness
but so much more than that. Parents, as they deal with their kids, are facing
man's corrupted and sinful nature. They are at war with the very reasons that nailed
Christ on the cross, the very reasons that caused GOD the Son. GOD disclosed a
secret tool -- the rod of discipline.
Knocks Divine Commands
"Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who
loves him is diligent to discipline him (Prov. 13:24)."
"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you
strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you
will save his soul from Sheol (Prov. 23:13-14)."
The crux of disagreements on this matter is actually
whether to have faith in GOD who inspired the Scriptures or not, whether to
listen to psychologists who lived a few years or to take heed on the words of
GOD who breathed the stars, whether to believe that the Bible is infallible and
is the sufficient guide to shepherding kids or not. The Bible has lots to say
about discipline. It is just a matter of admitting that you can never be wiser
than GOD.
Curiosity is creeping in, "Did these congress people receive corporal
punishments themselves?" If not, then who are they to talk with authority on
this matter? If yes, then aren't they proud of what they have become? I am
aware that there are lots of kids also who are battered on the guise of
discipline. They should really be saved and protected. However it is always
unwise to throw the baby out with the bath water.
