The Rod of Correction by Mrs. M. A. Loper

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1902

“The Rod of Correction”

By Mrs. M. A. Loper

MRS. M. A. LOPER

DURING recent years there has been much discussion concerning the rod, pro and con, some advocating its necessity, and others its uselessness in establishing the principle of implicit obedience in the heart of the wayward child. But the words of inspiration quoted as the heading of this article, are an expression of one whose wisdom was a special gift of God, and, if rightly understood, need not be the occasion of any controversy. The “rod of correction” is the rod which corrects. It is plucked from the tree of life by the hand of wisdom, and its every stroke is a new manifestation of sympathy and love. It is very different from the rod of destruction so commonly used at the present time. This is a branch from the thorny tree of selfishness, wielded by the hand of tyranny, the result being increased impatience and anger on the part of the parent, and greater stubbornness and rebellion on the part of the child.

“God is love.” And “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” But he chastens in love, and only that we may be enabled to see and to correct our mistakes, and thus be drawn closer and closer to him.

What a difference there is between the “rod of correction,” which tends to bind the child closer to the parent, and the rod of destruction, which separates them farther and farther. The practice of using the rod in anger has become so widespread that there is little wonder that those who see the wickedness of such a carnal weapon should also see the imperative necessity of its discontinuance. Since God chastens us only in love, the Christian will follow the divine principle in dealing with the lambs of the flock.

But God does not chasten all his children alike, nor does he deal alike with the same offense in different individuals. He gives just the experience needed in every case, that the best opportunity possible may be afforded to perfect the soul for heaven. So the Christian will seek for wisdom from above to know just how to deal with every mistake on the part of the child, so that it may be properly realized and finally overcome. This will require communion with God through the study of his Word, and through frequent and earnest prayer. Every trace of anger, impatience, and retaliation must be put away, while sympathy and pitying love so fill the heart of the parent that whatever mode of correction he may be impelled by the Spirit of God to administer, will wound his own heart deeper than that of the child. He will never seize upon the rod when a few loving words of counsel will better accomplish the purpose. On the other hand, he will not refuse to take the rod of correction in his hand when the Holy Spirit impresses him that it is for the salvation of the child. But, O how many needless whippings are administered by those who have never yet learned to govern themselves, but who seem to find comfort in resorting to this extreme measure upon the slightest provocation?

How many children are compelled to dwell in an atmosphere that from morning till night reverberates with muttering tones of impatience and thunderclaps of impending punishment! They become so accustomed to such expressions as, “I’ll whip you,” or, “I’ll punish you,” that they live in constant fear, and may obey outwardly for a time, simply to escape the consequences of doing otherwise; or, perhaps they may be driven to resort to falsehood, to avoid the inevitable whipping.

The incorrigibility of many a child whose parents “have whipped him and whipped him,” is not such a puzzling problem after all, as is the conduct of the parents in wielding the rod of destruction. It is so productive of evil consequences that it only establishes the child more firmly in his downward tendencies. Therefore, if you are not positive that the rod which you have been accustomed to wield is the “rod of correction” of which the Bible speaks, you may well expect that your efforts will prove futile; that “the remedy will be worse than the disease.” O that the hand of impatience and anger might be turned away forever from Christ’s little ones! “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Let us as parents look well to ourselves, lest our administration of punishment be a greater sin in the sight of heaven than is the offense on the part of the child. The needless whipping done in an impetuous moment is in direct opposition to the divine command, “Provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

If we as parents will only permit Christ to live his life in us before our children, we may be happily surprised at the infrequency of the need of even the “rod of correction,” and at the little punishment of any kind that will be found necessary to the salvation of the precious souls intrusted to our care.