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California to Ban Spanking?

from the January 23, 2007 eNews issue
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Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Lieber wants to tell California parents that they may no longer legally spank their small children. The proposed law would make it illegal to spank any child under the age of four. Parents who violate the law could spend up to a year in jail and pay as much as $1,000 in fines. The bill has sparked immediate controversy. Those opposed to the measure say the law intrudes on the rights of parents to discipline their children as they see fit.

Reasonable people understand that there is a big difference between a quick swat on a child's behind and a beating. However it is important for us to acknowledge that, unfortunately, child abuse does exist. There are parents who do real physical harm to their children – whether in anger, or in the name of discipline. Yet there are already child abuse laws in place to deal with such situations. Lieber told newspapers that she wants to make the discipline of children a "black and white" issue. She does not see any difference between beating a child and having consistent, sharp but loving, consequences for intentional disobedience.

For parents who rely solely on other forms of discipline, such as time-outs or removing privileges, it may seem as though this bill does not apply to them. However such legislation has many broader implications that should be of concern to all parents. The bill implies that lawmakers, not parents, should dictate how children are brought up. It is important to look beyond the mere words of the bill. Parents should be concerned about the entire philosophy behind it. It would seem as though Lieber believes that the state is the true guardian of children, and that parents are merely convenient caretakers. Even those who do not believe in physical punishment should protest the hubris of a legislator who thinks she has more of a right over your children than you do.

The Bible gives the job of raising children to the parents, and most specifically, to the father. The father is responsible for properly raising his children, and for making sure they are disciplined - to make sure they honor him and their mother.

The Bible lays out the duties and responsibilities of the parents and the children, describing the honor that children should have for their parents (Ex 20:12; Deut 6:7; Eph 6:1; Col 3:20). The responsibilities of the parents to train up their children are clearly prescribed, including corporal punishment (Prov 22:6, 22:15; 23:13). Proverbs 29:15 says "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." Furthermore, the failure of parental authority will be one of the characteristics of the end times (Mt 10:21; Mk 13:12; Rom 1:30).

"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)."