[relizabeth]

This is something I wrote recently in response to a defense of spanking.

As an evangelical Christian and parent, I’m tired of verses in Proverbs being twisted and misinterpreted to justify the very modern practice of spanking. The alternative to spanking is not wildly permissive parenting, nor verbally abusive parenting, as this essay implies. Rather, authoritative biblical parenting leads by example and through relationship. Instead of skirmishing to assert ourselves in an adversarial relationship with our children, we can rest assured that our developmentally and spiritually appropriate discipline will bear good fruit. I recommend Tim Kimmel’s Grace Based Parenting or Clay Clarkson’s Heartfelt Discipline for thorough exposition and practical guidelines.

I'm sick of apologizing for or defending my position as a Christian parent who doesn't spank. I'm done. From now on, I will speak with AUTHORITY, because I know from searching the Scriptures, consulting with godly pastoral authorities, and searching my own heart for confirmation from the Holy Spirit, that my convictions about gentle, authoritative, Biblical parenting are correct. I will NOT surrender the interpretive or moral high ground to those with a punitive paradigm any longer. I will not be defensive about my position, because my feet are planted on a solid rock. I will let my evidence speak for itself.

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:02 PM ----------

I will be kind though