Does God tell you to spank kids?
On the theology of corporal punishment
Christians have often taught that corporal punishment, i.e. spanking, is instructed by God! Isn’t it right there in Proverbs 13:24?
Many Christians will cite this verse as if it comes right out of the divine child-raising manual called the Bible:
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” (NIV)
Or there’s the religion’s re-write: “Spare the rod, spoil the child.”
The Bible has many teachings on children.
Children are the representatives of the truly divine state. As Jesus says in Mark 10:15: “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
If God had wanted to make sure that children were spanked, Jesus had somehow forgotten to mention it. He does send out warnings against the abuse of children. But he never calls for corporal punishment.
So is it really true that spanking is taught and authorized in a single Bible verse? Maybe there’s a little more to the story.
