Question about AP

LOL twinsandmore I can well understand why you didn't co-sleep with twins (another twin mummy here!)

[buttercup_97140]

Cristina,

Sorry it's taken so long to post, my Dad killed himself last friday, so this week has been up and down. We finally had his service today, and so I can think about other things again.

I wanted to say how I think it's wise, and I am sure the Lord blesses your decision about not spanking knowing your heart in the matter. I do believe that if you ask, he can change how you look at spanking and also heal the pain you have from your childhood, but I totally agree that if your motive would be anger, it's best to avoid it! So many people do spank in anger, which is totally sinful and damaging to a child!

I also agree that Secular people won't spank Bibically either, and usually the motives behind their spanks are selfish and angry...without the Lord, how can it be any other way?

One of the main reasons I say the Lord commands us to spank is that he says use the rod for one...and really, (as an example) how can time-outs be considered a rod in any shape or form? I understand people think that the Lord used the rod as a symbol, and as you said David using the rod, but when sheep go astray, they use the rod to nudge them or wack them on the behind.......also in Hebrews 12:11 it says: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. And again, I don't think every offense is a spank offense, and other methods work well, even different punishments for different kids...as we all know kids are soooooooo different in how the learn and react to everything!

I am not trying to make a debate or offend anyone. I actually think it's cool how we can share this info with each other see each other's ideas and beliefs...we can always learn something, or gain wisdom....even if we decide to not go with someone else's ideas or beliefs, I think it's still cool to chat! KWIM?

I hope you all have a great night, baby is pushing on my bladder again...gotta go!!!

Blessings,
Amber

[Dede]

Was wondering what you think the rod means in Isaiah 11:4 ?...the rod of his mouth....seems to me it would be the word of the Lord...spare the word of the Lord, (don't teach them the teachings of Jesus) and spoil the children....dd

[buttercup_97140]

DD.....first I want to say that maybe we should start a new post about this topic....I feel so bad that we have hijacked this post...even though discipline has to do with APing, in some matters, I feel this is almost getting to a debate-ish type of post, and wouldn't want to interfere with others who want to talk about APing! KWIM?

I will answer your question though....thanks for the question, I love being challenged and get to dive into the specific areas of the Bible and re-evaluate the verses!

In Isaiah 11:4 it talks about the Lord's return, and although, he is talking in a metaphor, it's more about what the non-believers will succumb to. In the other verses we are talking about, it's talking about discipline. Yes, he uses the word Rod, but the context is so important in how we read into verses.

There is a great website....biblegateway.com you can go to pretty much any version or translation, put in a word and see what verses has that word in it. If you put the word rod into it, you will see many verses in Proverbs....and many of them say that the rod is for the backsides of fools. To me, it's hard to see how you can make that symbolic...

Please remember though, these are my beliefs in what the Lord says. These are not salvation issues, and although I believe them to be super important, they do not make a difference whether believing them as one way or another will get me into heaven.....I do believe that they are important in the faith building of my children...I want them in heaven with me....but the Lord already knows their fate, I just try and follow what he says to the best on my knowledge and how I believe he says to do things. He is so graceful and so loving, and he knows our desires for our children. If we truely believe that we are following what the Lord commands, and not just molding the scripture to our philosophies, then he will give us grace for the parts we mess up in. We can keep reading, keep studying, keep asking questions, keep bouncing ideas off each other, and of course, keep bringing these issues before the Lord. KWIM?

If we were to move this to another thread, how would we do that? Or who would we ask to help us do that?

Amber

[GenLovesDen4ever]

fwiw. I believe the 'Rod' to be a tool of guiding and not striking. Sheep are skittish animals and if they are struck by their shepherd's rod they will scatter, the shepherd will have no flock. Also David talks about the rod and staff being a comfort to him. I interpret this as meaning God's guidance is a comfort to him. It just makes more sense to me. This is how I interpret the 'rod' verses. I will, however, start a new thread for the spanking debate.

[GenLovesDen4ever]

http://christian-mommies.com/forumsv...?p=53140#53140

Here is a link for the new thread discussing the spanking issue. Since this is a topic about ap and not about spanking specifically, if you wish to discuss the spanking issue please continue to do it on the other thread.
Thanks and happy debating!

[breezykc2]

Very well put Christina...I agree whole-heartedly. The "rod" comes in many forms that does not have to include physical punishment to be effective and Godly. (I'm not anit-spank if used in a non-angry setting, but we simply choose not to do so and to use other methods )

I also agree that the post regarding balance is very good...I think you have to give and take from different parenting styles and make a style all your own so that you can parent as stress-free and patient as possible that fits your child's needs, personalities of all in the family, and lifestyle. For instance, I am 100 percent for breast feeding...however, I can't physically produce milk, so we don't do it...and my hat is off to anyone who can do the cloth diapers! I simply know that with our on the go lifestyle and my squeamish stomach...it won't ever be able to happen! I snugglied kiddos as long as they'd let me and my back would let me! and we do co-sleep the first 6 months to a year with our kids though and find the cuddle time invaluable in bonding for us specifically and we try to be healthy in our diets and buy organic when we can find and afford it.....I guess you could name it the bits and pieces parenting style!

I personally think my eclectic parenting style is influenced from many camps of logic and that one style is not better than any other style if it allows you to be a more patient, loving, Godly, guiding source of wisdom for your family! That's the beauty of this site...you hear all of the drawbacks and strengths of different beliefs and styles of parenting and being a family and know that although we may not all agree on many things, we are all united in being the most Godly and supportive parents and wives that we can.

[Springtime]

Here is something about spanking from Dr. Sears' website:
Don't spank
As young parents with our first few children, we believed that spanking was appropriate in life- threatening situations, such as toddlers running out into the street. We reasoned it was necessary to make an impression on mind and body that the child would remember to prevent running into the street again. At the time we concluded that safety comes before psychology. But as we learned more about discipline, we realized there are better ways than spanking to handle even danger discipline. We realized toddlers don't remember from one time to the next, even with the "physical impression."

LOL he doesn't know my toddlers! Or maybe his just weren't very... um... quick?

To me, I have a Christian way of being AP. I try to use things as God intended - breasts for feeding my babies, suffering the pains of childbirth because Eve ate the apple, sleeping together (I believe that God intended us to be social and he puts families together), also by using cloth products we are being good stewards - frugal and caring toward the environment, etc etc etc.

FWIW, we no longer have to be punished by suffering through childbirth (for eating the forbidden fruit) because Jesus came and died on the cross for ALL our sins. So there is no need for women to do labour without pain meds. Just like men do not have to work themselves to the bone to provide for their families anymore. They don't have to grow their own crops, have their own livestock etc... Also most women are working outside the home now too. So why do we have to work outside the home to provide money for things when it's the mans job? The mans job is nowhere near as hard as it used to be. So why should our job of having a baby be worse? We are doing 1/2 the mans job as well as our own job of raising kids and being housewife and yet are still expected to go through labour without any pain medication. Hardly seems fair to me.......

As for breastfeeding... well, yeah he gave us breasts to breastfeed but he didn't exactly plan that very well because neither us nor baby just instinctively knows how to bf like animals do.

[AmyB]

As for breastfeeding... well, yeah he gave us breasts to breastfeed but he didn't exactly plan that very well because neither us nor baby just instinctively knows how to bf like animals do.

We've been down a similar road before, Renée. God is perfect, so your statement is so untrue.