What Does The Bible Say About Child Abuse?
First of all, we must understand the difference between the proper discipline of children and at just what point that "discipline" becomes "abuse".There are many people who think that spanking a child is "child abuse", but in some cases the real abuse comes when we don't spank if a child needs correction. Our society has coined a new term known as "corporal punishment", but when I was a kid, it was just a limb off a peach tree in the back yard. By the way, I always needed it.
The Bible endorses the spanking of children
Proverbs 29:15 -"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."(ESV)
The Bible does set limits on spanking
Proverbs 19:18 -"Discipline your son while there is hope, but do not (indulge your angry resentments by undue chastisements and) set yourself to his ruin." (AMP)Some parents who are out of control themselves beat their children in an angry rage. These people not only need professional help, but also need the love of God in their hearts. Parents who abuse their children will normally harm them in other ways, sometimes by leaving them home alone, hungry, uncared for, and more tragically, unloved. The Bible teaches us not to spank our children with uncontrolled anger.
The Bible, of course, does not mention the words "child abuse" simply because the words had not been invented yet, but Jesus made it quite clear that children have a very special place in His heart.
Mark 10:4 -
"When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."(HCSB)
The Bible also teaches us how we should raise our children
Ephesians 6:4 -"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (KJV)Colossians 3:21 -
"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." (KJV)Proverbs 22:6 -
"Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it." (ASV)The key word here is "train". Most parents attempt to "teach" their children right from wrong, but don't follow through with the "training" part. Many parents yell and threaten but never follow through and the result is often an undisciplined and unhappy child.
The Bible tells us that Jesus would punish child abuse
Matthew 18:6 -"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (KJV)The Bible teaches us to teach and train our children in the way they should go and, if a justified, properly rendered spanking becomes necessary, so be it. It also teaches us that we should understand our limits.
NOTE: Several different versions of the Bible have been used here: (ASV)-American Standard Version, (KJV)-King James Version, (HCSB)-Holman Christian Standard Bible, (AMP)-Amplified Bible, (ESV)-English Standard Version.
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