One of the greatest problems in the Christian home and family is a lack of loving, firm, Biblical discipline.   Parents, for some reason, think that they know better than the Bible, and think that their way is better than God's way.  Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote the book of Proverbs under divine inspiration.  Let us consider God's method of disciplining children as set forth in Proverbs:

Seven "Peas" From Proverbs

Parents are to exercise loving, Biblical discipline in order to . . .

[The above outline courtesy of Dr. Richard Mercado, Director, Mexican Gospel Mission]

Parents used to SPANK their children (in the days when society was on a far more solid footing than it is today); today parents SPOCK their children (a reference to Dr. Benjamin Spock, a popular child-car author, who frowned upon corporal punishment).   Today's generation of parents have lost the art of applying the board of education to the seat of learning. In this politically correct but morally corrupt society, spanking has become anathema. 

Part of the problem is society's great fear of child abuse which has become an enormous problem in many homes.  But the solution is not to go to the other extreme and abandon loving, Biblical chastisement on the part of the parents.  "Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence" (Hebrews 12:9).  Proper, God-honoring correction does not even come close to injuring the child.  It is done out of love for the child, and out of a pure desire to teach the child the difference between right and wrong, obedience and disobedience, respect and rebellion.

The father ought to take the lead when it comes to child discipline (Heb. 12:9; Eph. 6:4), though he should certainly enlist his God-fearing wife for her help and support as they work together for the child's highest and best. She may need to take the lead when Dad is away from home. Discipline should never be done out of anger.  It should be carried out thoughtfully, calmly, carefully.  It should hurt but not harm.  The child should know exactly why he or she is being disciplined.  Parents should calmly talk to the child, confirming their love to the child, both before and after the event. It's good to pray with the child as well. 

Children have been given two clear commands in God's Word:  "Children, obey your parents in all things" (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20).   "Honor your father and mother" (the fifth commandment).  This indicates that there are two things that parents must not tolerate:   1) Disobedience;  2) Disrespect.  And remember, God does not tolerate disobedience and disrespect among His children (Malachi 1:6; 1 Sam. 15:22-23).

It is generally true that when Christian parents exercise Biblical discipline in the young years, there is far less discipline that needs to be done in the teen years.  Doing things right at the beginning may save many a headache and heartache later on.  May the Lord help us in these challenging days to be the parents He would have us to be.  Christ is sufficient for every situation (2 Cor. 9:8).