The Observer (Kampala)
Apostle Edward Ssewanyana
11 November 2009
opinion
Few people will say they enjoyed the punishment they got from their parents when they were younger.
When I was a pupil at Kampala Parents School, I used to come to class before most of the other pupils.
I used to pick the cane from the cupboard and throw it out into the Pride Theatre compound since I knew it would most likely be used on me. Today, we have groups that want caning of children either by parents or teachers outlawed. However, the Biblical standard of discipline requires parents to promptly discipline their children.
It states that, "Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul" (Proverbs 29:17). Some would say that this correction should simply stop at verbal lectures, rebukes and grounding. The Bible goes on to explain the method of administering this discipline, "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 shalt deliver his soul from hell" (Proverbs 23:13-14).
The method of administering this discipline is through the rod. This scripture elaborates that it should not be a punishment that endangers the life of the child. This type of discipline even acts to deliver the child's soul from hell. We see so many children of Christian parents, including children of church leaders, engaging in behaviour that does not glorify God. The reason for this is partly because their parents did not beat them with the rod and hence led to their children backsliding from the Lord's ways.
One of the primary examples of the consequences of failure to discipline children is Eli, the priest and judge of Israel. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, ministered as priests in the temple of the Lord under the Old Covenant. As priests they were supposed to receive part of the sacrifice after the fat had been sacrificed to the Lord. These parts included the breast and shoulder of the animal sacrificed.
However, they sent their servants to forcefully confiscate any part of the sacrifice and even pulled the meat from the boiling pots, insisting that the priests do not eat boiled meat but will roast it for themselves (1 Samuel 2:12-17). This made many Israelites to despise the sacrifices. Above all this, they went ahead to commit fornication with the women who would come to the temple.
When Eli heard about these things, he told them, "Why do ye such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people" (1 Samuel 2:23). Eli merely gave them a slap on the wrist and told them that what they were doing was not good and they were sinning against God. He did not discipline them by removing them from the priests' office or rebuking them publicly. He let them go to continue in their sin.
God appeared to the child Samuel and spoke to him about Eli and his sons. "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever" (1 Samuel 3:13-14).
To make matters worse, on the same day God allowed both Hophni and Phinehas to die in battle, the ark of the Lord was captured by the Philistines, Eli died and his daughter-in-law also died in child birth. This does not seem like God takes discipline in the family lightly.
God Himself corrects His children and therefore expects Christian parents to follow His example (Heb12:5-7). Some parents and teachers have taken discipline too far and inflicted wounds or burns upon children and even caused death. True discipline will not involve acts of savagery or cruel violence.
Discipline should be done in love and true love will go ahead to lovingly use the rod to correct the child. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him quickly" (Proverbs 13:24).
The primary responsibility for discipline lies with the fathers and God will hold them accountable as He did with Eli (1Samuel 2:29).
As a Christian parent, the ball is in your court. Will you choose to listen to the modernist advocacy organisations or God's word in the Bible?
The writer is the Founder & Bishop of Worldwide Apostolic Church, Bugolobi
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