Bible Teaching Versus Societal Thinking Parenting

Parenting  Society: If you are not ready to be a parent having an abortion is perfectly acceptable

Parenting  Bible Teaching: God knows us from conception (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41)

Parenting  Bible Teaching: God knows us from conception (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) In Old Law you were killed if you killed an unborn child (Exodus 21:22-25)

Parenting  Bible Teaching: God knows us from conception (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) In Old Law you were killed if you killed an unborn child (Exodus 21:22-25) In Old Law you were killed if you killed an unborn child (Exodus 21:22-25) God condemns murder – the taking of innocent life (Exodus 20:13,Proverbs 6:17) God condemns murder – the taking of innocent life (Exodus 20:13,Proverbs 6:17)

Parenting  Bible Teaching: God knows us from conception (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) (Psalm 139:13-14, Jer. 1:5, Luke 1:41) In Old Law you were killed if you killed an unborn child (Exodus 21:22-25) In Old Law you were killed if you killed an unborn child (Exodus 21:22-25) God condemns murder – the taking of innocent life (Exodus 20:13,Proverbs 6:17) God condemns murder – the taking of innocent life (Exodus 20:13,Proverbs 6:17) What is more innocent than an unborn child!

Parenting  Society: Physical discipline (i.e. spanking) outdated form of punishment

Parenting As of countries have outlawed corporal punishment in the home

Parenting “Will Children Services investigate me if I spank my children?” “There is no law in the state of Tennessee forbidding a parent to spank their child. The word of caution to any parent who spanks in such a way that they leave visible marks is that if someone reports them, they can be investigated for child abuse by Children Services anywhere in Tennessee and in most other places in the U.S. Through parenting classes and other child abuse prevention programs Children Services suggests more positive forms of discipline. However, if a parent feels corporal punishment is more effective, Children Services recommends that the parent never use an object (belt, board, switch) instead, the agency suggests the parent use an open hand on the clothed buttocks of the child.”

Parenting html html Father jailed in Tennessee for spanking his 16 year old daughter Judge orders father not to physically correct his daughter again

Parenting  Brent Horst, Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney  Nashville Tennessee. Licensed in Tennessee and Florida “ Before I go any further I want to make it clear that I do not prefer corporal punishment as a way to correct a child or set boundaries. However, I also believe there are some very strong willed and difficult children that on occasion will only recognize boundaries enforced by a spanking. Sometimes depending on the child and the situation a spanking is not only justified but is necessary. But is spanking legal?

I am unaware of any state that has expressly outlawed spanking by parents as a form of discipline. However, I know that many States including Tennessee have enacted child abuse laws that so broadly define “child abuse” that any spanking that is effective as punishment would by the definition of the “child abuse” statute necessarily be child abuse. For example, in Tennessee for purposes of being able to bring a child abuse petition against a parent in order for the State to step in and remove the child from the home Tennessee has defined abuse to include the “infliction of physical pain”. So, feel free to spank. Just don’t cause any pain or you have just committed child abuse. Of course one has to ask – is a spanking that does not cause any pain even a spanking? What is the point of a spanking that does not inflict a little bit of pain? Isn’t that the point?!

To bring sustain criminal charges or a criminal prosecution for child abuse in Tennessee the infliction of injury is required. However, there is no minimal level of “acceptable injury” so the slightest bruise, scratch, or red mark could be considered as injury and grounds for the State to bring a criminal case of child abuse against a parent.

Certainly the more serious the injury the more likely it is that the State will step in to remove the child from the home and to bring criminal charges. Although I have personally not seen any cases where the state has attempted to remove a child from the home where there was no injury inflicted, the fact that the State by statute has the authority to remove a child from a home simply because the spanking inflicted pain should be very scary to parents. Based upon other abuses of power that I have observed committed by the State of Tennessee and the Department of Children’s Services I certainly would not be surprised to see them bring such a case.

For example, I currently represent an individual who is the victim of just such an abuse of power by the State. My client was the step parent to a 14 year old girl. When she was caught lying he whipped her with a belt which caused some bruises. In Tennessee under a law called Haley’s Law which many other States have also enacted inflicting serious injury on a child between 8 and 18 is a class B felony punishable by an 8-12 year prison term, no probation, no parole. (for a child under 8 inflicting serious injury is a Class A felony, years). Serious injury includes “serious bruises”, what constitutes serious bruising is not defined by Haley’s law. The bruises on the victim in this case were not permanent, they did not threaten her life, and did not require hospitalization, and were far less serious than the injuries Mr. Peterson’s son suffered which have been posted on my Facebook page. Nevertheless the State is alleging that the bruises were “serious bruises” and is trying to put this man in prison for 8-12 years four inflicting bruises on a 14 year old, despite the fact that he has no prior criminal record for child abuse or any other violent behavior or any other felony. Facebook pageFacebook page

We are defending the case on the grounds that 1) the bruises inflicted were not serious bruises and 2) the Statute is unconstitutional because the punishment is disproportionate to the offense and is therefore a violation of the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Therefore, to answer the question posed at the beginning of this article the answer at least in Tennessee and in most if not all States is yes you may spank a child as part of valid punishment. However, be aware that even if you do so responsibly you are putting yourself at risk of being accused of child abuse. The accusation may be unjust but you may be forced to defend yourself nonetheless. Also be aware that if you spank your child and leave any injury you are putting yourself at great risk of going to jail.”

Parenting (American Psychological Association) Many studies have shown that physical punishment — including spanking, hitting and other means of causing pain — can lead to increased aggression, antisocial behavior, physical injury and mental health problems for children. Americans’ acceptance of physical punishment has declined since the 1960s, yet surveys show that two-thirds of Americans still approve of parents spanking their kids. But spanking doesn’t work, says Alan Kazdin, PhD, a Yale University psychology professor and director of the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic. “You cannot punish out these behaviors that you do not want,” says Kazdin, who served as APA president in “There is no need for corporal punishment based on the research. We are not giving up an effective technique. We are saying this is a horrible thing that does not work.”

Parenting  Bible Teaching:  Parents are not to spare the rod of correction (Proverbs 13:24, 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15-17)

Parenting  Bible Teaching:  Parents are not to spare the rod of correction (Proverbs 13:24, 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15-17)  Eli and David did not restrain their children (I Sam. 3:12-14, I Kings 1:6)

Parenting  Disciplining children (specifically physical discipline is difficult on parents  Children do not come with handbooks  No 2 children the same  Time and patience required to discipline consistently and correctly

Parenting  Disciplining children (specifically physical discipline) is difficult on parents  Children do not come with handbooks  No 2 children the same  Time and patience required to discipline consistently and correctly

Parenting  It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children about God and the Bible! Please do not leave this most important task up to others. Eph. 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.