Understanding the rod of correction - a non-abusive understanding of the concept

 Many parents punish their children, meaning most all parents. 94% of parents physically batter their children as punishment. Support for spanking and punishment comes in a mosaic of parents who abuse their children through punitive means. Most abusers in our modern day are authoritative parents. The rod of correction is the centerpiece of the pro-spanking zealotry and false doctrine. There are different meanings to that concept, that rod, and some are pretty scary. However, it has one meaning to Christians today.

It says in Hebrews 12:5-8 KJV:

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh to you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whomever the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son who he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The Greek root word translated "scourgeth" is μαστιγόω (Latin: mastigoó) and refers to a literal scourge, here the Roman scourge, meaning cat o' nine tails, but is meant figuratively, as this corporal punishment was used in the legal environment around the Hebrew Christians, and was merely a figurative symbol of authority in this tense. Put it in a literal tense to the Hebrew Christians, and the scourge might be a symbol of their oppression within Greco-Roman legal jurisdiction, where it was illegal to be a Christian, and Christians met for mass in secret, in caves dug underneath the mountainsides. Being a Christian was a reason to be arrested, and were the lowest of the low, and one of the complaints was actually Christian parents being too "soft" on their children. This rod is intended for parents, to chasten themselves up. The Greek word translated "chasten up" and "chastisement" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to discipline from hard lessons in life, and refers to spiritual growth in parents especially, as modeled to children. The rod of correction is a symbol of accountability, with God holding all parents accountable. It says in Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right; Honor thy father and mother, as this is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live upon the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents, being able to share anything with parents, and tell parents everything, owing nothing to parents, but nonetheless listening to parents and trusting them as older, mature friends. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the admonition of the Lord, which is understood in the Hebraic context as the rod of correction, in figurative format. The rod is divided into two uneven prongs of non-binding judgment, with the longer prong being encouragement towards children, such as spending time together, going on walks in the neighborhood, or otherwise meeting attachment needs. The other prong is shorter, and reflects setting limits and boundaries with a child, preferrably only on rare occasions, using the word "no" or its various variants. Children are given room to play and move freely for the most part, with the occasional verbal limit set, and that's it. This is balanced out by the Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" and refers to παροργιζο (Latin: parorgizo) and is one of the Greek words to refer to the offenses under the Mosaic Law, which can include assault and battery torts even for children, and was summed up in the New Testament as the slightest of personal slights. The Greek root word denoting co-regulation is "nurture" and is referred to by the Greek root word παιδεία (Latin: parorgizo) and refers to self-discipline and self-control in a way that invites a child to confide in parents, and show all their emotions to parents, listening to and validating the big feelings of children, like a sounding board, leading to self-control and self-discipline later in life, when they've had all their attachment needs met.

Ancient Hebrew culture was attachment parenting country, meaning children remained close to parents, especially mothers, and rarely left her side, ranging and playing with siblings next to mother, with co-sleeping being the norm, as were other attachment-based techniques such as carrying a child on his/her mother's back or front, in what is called a papoose bag. Punishment was only legal as a sentence for a crime, for an adult. In the Early Christian context, the relevant context today, abusive parents were investigated collectively by the church, excommunicated and shunned. In the Old Testament, spanking a child was kidnapping, and punishable by 40 minus 1 lashes upon conviction, and death by hanging leading to blood-letting (chenek). Those death sentences don't apply literally today, but applied to the nation of Israel then, and are a testament to how God feels about holding children hostage with punishment, control, and other punitive parenting techniques.

The depraved and entitled parents will not inherit the Kingdom of God. They will languish and be tormented in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his angels. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!