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Pro 13:24: He that spareth his rod H7626 hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The literal rod is used for chastening, and to not use it if and as needed is actually hateful in effect, despite the emotion involved.

Allow me to add this detail to your discourse on The Rod:

The topic under consideration is "spanking." which I believe means striking with the open hand. In actuality, that is not the method the instruction of Scripture leads us to, which is the application of the rod, not the open hand. To wit, spanking is actually sparing the foolish child (or childish fool) from the God-ordained instrument of chastening, the rod; and thus causes the child to think that he/she is hated (or at least, 'loved less' as some would have it), rather than chastened with his benefit in mind.

Now in fact, I did not spank my children. I used the instrument that my mother employed, the leather belt, a strap, which would be a form of whip, but not in excess--only to the point where it was clear that the lesson had been learned. (I used a broad one, and that with only three strokes. It was never used on a child after the twelfth birthday.)

However, when my son grew up and had taken unto himself a godly wife, they taught me that the rod, not the hand or a whip, was the God-given instrument to be used, even for a tiny babe desiring to exert his/her will against the parent's!

So, how big and hurtful should the rod be, to begin to discipline the infant?

Well, when the baby (who was being breast-fed on a set schedule) started agitating at the wrong time of day or night, and cold not be hushed up by soothing, a soda straw was produced, shown and seen, then applied to the open skin of the babe's arm or leg to show displeasure. Then the babe was tucked back in with a goodnight kiss but without any reward of feeding at all. If the agitation began again after this quieting, the process was repeated. The babe soon learned that he/she was not the dictator, and that starvation, recreational feeding, or deprivation of affection was not a part of the lesson of establishing authority.

This, of course, lays the groundwork for the pattern of dealing with other behavioral issues as they occur in the child's growth and responsibility for self-control.

When the child was older and the straw-sign was too mild, a firmer instrument was cut from the longest straight part of a plastic (not wire) coat hanger, and used in the same way, but was applied until, and only until, the child's defiance crumbled, a quiet, lasting resolutiond be made, and assurances of love extended. The rod was of a size to fit in Mom's purse, such that when in public the child was causing Mom to reach inside for it, usually that was enough to bring restraint.

Speaking to the threat of an observer calling Child Protective Services, the complaining interloper would have a hard time explaining that any abuse was taking place, whereas a cuff or slap or quick kick accompanied by an angry remonstrance might be actionable.

In the end, though when his children were old enough to graduate to a half-inch hardwood dowel with my son administering it, it never had to be used, as far as I know. And so he and his dear wife have raised ten children, the youngest now turning eight, and the oldest this year finalizing his Ph. D. in Mechanical engineering. His sisters have gone on several missionary trips with one remaining in the field at a Costa Rican orphanage. His younger brother received his Army ROTC commission this spring and is now on active duty. All the other children continue to honor their father, their mother, and their home education with responsible behavior and self respect. My perception is that this is a commendation for the use of the rod of correction as an absolutely necessary part of the task of raising self-governing reliable citizens; that to fail in this is a deliberate "cop out.".

When as a child I visited my grandpa and grandma farmers, it only took a couple of times for grandpa to take down the razor strap hanging on the back of the bathroom door, double it, then snap it together with a loud pop for me to gain the clear impression that when he issued a request, he was not starting a debate about it. That's the way my Dad was raised, and very effectually induced me to follow the same pattern.

But it's the rod that works, when applied until resistance to properly instituted authority ceases, and remains that way as a fixed principle.

As a final comment: No spanking. It is not a God-given method for chastening, and it is a process not formidable enough to cause deep-rooted character to be formed in the trainee.

The literal rod is used for chastening, and to not use it if and as needed is actually hateful in effect, despite the emotion involved. Allow me to add this detail to your discourse on The Rod: The topic under consideration is "spanking." which I believe means striking with the open hand. In actuality, that is not the method the instruction of Scripture leads us to, which is the application of the rod, not the open hand. To wit, spanking is actually sparing the foolish child (or childish fool) from the God-ordained instrument of chastening, the rod; and thus causes the child to think that he/she is hated (or at least, 'loved less' as some would have it), rather than chastened with his benefit in mind. Now in fact, I did not spank my children. I used the instrument that my mother employed, the leather belt, a strap, which would be a form of whip, but not in excess--only to the point where it was clear that the lesson had been learned. (I used a broad one, and that with only three strokes. It was never used on a child after the twelfth birthday.) However, when my son grew up and had taken unto himself a godly wife, they taught me that the rod, not the hand or a whip, was the God-given instrument to be used, even for a tiny babe desiring to exert his/her will against the parent's! So, how big and hurtful should the rod be, to begin to discipline the infant? Well, when the baby (who was being breast-fed on a set schedule) started agitating at the wrong time of day or night, and cold not be hushed up by soothing, a soda straw was produced, shown and seen, then applied to the open skin of the babe's arm or leg to show displeasure. Then the babe was tucked back in with a goodnight kiss but without any reward of feeding at all. If the agitation began again after this quieting, the process was repeated. The babe soon learned that he/she was not the dictator, and that starvation, recreational feeding, or deprivation of affection was not a part of the lesson of establishing authority. This, of course, lays the groundwork for the pattern of dealing with other behavioral issues as they occur in the child's growth and responsibility for self-control. When the child was older and the straw-sign was too mild, a firmer instrument was cut from the longest straight part of a plastic (not wire) coat hanger, and used in the same way, but was applied until, and only until, the child's defiance crumbled, a quiet, lasting resolutiond be made, and assurances of love extended. The rod was of a size to fit in Mom's purse, such that when in public the child was causing Mom to reach inside for it, usually that was enough to bring restraint. Speaking to the threat of an observer calling Child Protective Services, the complaining interloper would have a hard time explaining that any abuse was taking place, whereas a cuff or slap or quick kick accompanied by an angry remonstrance might be actionable. In the end, though when his children were old enough to graduate to a half-inch hardwood dowel with my son administering it, it never had to be used, as far as I know. And so he and his dear wife have raised ten children, the youngest now turning eight, and the oldest this year finalizing his Ph. D. in Mechanical engineering. His sisters have gone on several missionary trips with one remaining in the field at a Costa Rican orphanage. His younger brother received his Army ROTC commission this spring and is now on active duty. All the other children continue to honor their father, their mother, and their home education with responsible behavior and self respect. My perception is that this is a commendation for the use of the rod of correction as an absolutely necessary part of the task of raising self-governing reliable citizens; that to fail in this is a deliberate "cop out.". When as a child I visited my grandpa and grandma farmers, it only took a couple of times for grandpa to take down the razor strap hanging on the back of the bathroom door, double it, then snap it together with a loud pop for me to gain the clear impression that when he issued a request, he was not starting a debate about it. That's the way my Dad was raised, and very effectually induced me to follow the same pattern. But it's the rod that works, when applied until resistance to properly instituted authority ceases, and remains that way as a fixed principle. As a final comment: No spanking. It is not a God-given method for chastening, and it is a process not formidable enough to cause deep-rooted character to be formed in the trainee.

While I wish that children never needed discipline, including with the rod, love for God and then for others sometimes requires it to varying degrees, but from soda straw to dowel, you would be called a child abuser by liberals, whose premise is that man is basically good, and that requiring obedience to obtain benefits, and that disobedience means the loss of such, is unjust, as all have the right to the same benefits regardless of merit, and thus the giving of which to their supporters is not mercy or grace, but justice, as is penalizing those who merit benefits by obedience to the Biblical model that the laborer is worthy of his reward, versus the indolent, careless, and dishonest. But that mercy and grace may be given to such in private charity, and should be to the truly disadvantaged, and all such should thus seek to be productive according to their ability.

They also hold that people do "bad" (a term they have trouble with in the Biblical sense due to conservatives who to any fair degree hold to Biblical morality and its system of mercy, grave and merit.

I wrote the following to this yesterday to a friend.

The devil selfishly wants to rule, and as in the beginning, his premise is that he should have what God does (position, power, etc). thus the "share the wealth" and "occupy movement," without even meriting it by obedience (overcoming souls shall sit with Christ in His throne: Rv. 3:21), and that it is wrong to require this, and wrong to penalize those who try to climb up some other way. Thus those who lack what others merit are victims who are entitled to those benefits regardless.

Thus the devil employed this "victim-entitlement" psychological appeal with Eve, implicitly charging that denying that God was selfish and unjust in withholding Divine power from her, and that she would be just in disobedience which would obtain this power.

By seducing Eve with this the devil obtained power, becoming the god of this world, and such has been the tactic of his proxy servants, such as Absalom who selfishly stole the hearts of the people by inferring the king unjustly did not care about them, (2 Samuel 15:1-6) to Communists, who sowed envy among masses at what others had obtained, fostering class warfare btwn owners and workers in a basically capitalist system.

In which system there was (and will be) some injustice, but the basic premise was that the system was unjust in which benefits are obtained according to labor and risks and ability, but who should show mercy and grace to who lack ability or opportunity, yet who seek to strive lawfully.

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy 2:5)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (1 Timothy 6:17-18)

But by sowing envy and instilling the "victim-entitlement" mentality, Communists "saviors," as with liberal "saviors" obtained power by promising to rectify the inequality of wealth via redistribution under their jurisdiction. But which progressively results in the purported "saviors" and their puppets being the only ones who fly in "business class" while the rest are progressively reduced to poverty in support of them. As we see most profoundly in modern day Venezuela.

This is where liberalism leads to, which (like a cult) uses some actual failings of a valid system to bring acceptance of a unScriptural one, instilling the demonic victim-entitlement mentality, and vainly promising what other had earned to those who did not.

And under which there is no mercy or grace, for rather than one no receiving the penalty the deserved for their failings and receiving benefits (by private charity) they did not earn then instead they are led to believe such penalties are unjust and that they have a right to what others merited. Which again, was the original manifest premise of the devil, the author of the "share the wealth" demand and thus the "occupy movement."

Thus liberal students would take over administration buildings, as if they had a right to be in that position climbing up some other way, and which proxy servants of the devil yet seek to do, inciting class warfare as a means to power.

In contrast to which is Christ, who emptied Himself, and as Lord of all showing mercy and grace, rewarding obedience, though in reality al things are of God, who alone is worthy of glory.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)