Katherine

I don't know how/when it started, but I honestly think it's just a blithe little catch-phrase that *sounds* good (to the punitive mindset) but doesn't really make any sense when you stop to think about it. It is used when teaching is clearly aimed at doing damage to a child's person in order to create the illusion of some sort of special "loophole" that justifies what's being done. Yes, we're advocating harsh treatment, but it's to break the "bad" part of her, not the "good" part.

There isn't any part of our children we should be seeking to "break." That is contrary to the idea of raising them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Those who would say we should be trying to break their sin nature are stepping into the shoes of God. That is not our place, and we do not have the power to "break" our own sin, or anyone else's. The purpose of the rod of Proverbs was to impart wisdom--which is the theme of that book, not to break any part of a person's being.

Isn't it dumb that people spend years breaking their children's WILL, while simultaneously teaching those children to excercise their "free WILL" by choosing God?

The ironic thing is that parents who believe in breaking the will are usually asking their child to exert GREAT force of will by obeying instantly, delaying gratification, denying his own desires when they conflict with Mom and Dad's instructions, etc. I would say that many parents require more "will-power" from their children than they do from themselves.

And the sad thing is that parents who try to break their child's "will" ARE in actuality, damaging that spirit which they say they want to preserve.