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.

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