Hebrews 12:5-8: Why this passage is not a spanking passage

Many parents think that the Bible endorses punitive parenting. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents believe that the Bible is a pro-spanking document. The fact of the matter is the Bible - America's book - is an anti-spanking document. The core evidence of the pro-spanking argument is the misinterpretation of Hebrews 12:5-8. However, that passage is not even about parenting. 

God's Word is stated in Hebrews 12:5-8 KJV:

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

When interpreted correctly, this passage is comforting to me. The Greek root word translated "scourgeth" is μαστιγόω (Latin: mastigoó) and has a figurative meaning to it. This form of metaphor is called rod language, meaning instead of saying in the Ancient Greek or Hebrew "I had a long day at work", you instead said "God whipped me hard today". The modern way to sum up this passage is "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. God sends trials and tribulations to all the children that He loves all so dearly. The idea is to endure all odds, which chastens up the believer.

God whips His children, like only He can. However, God only punishes His children when it doesn't harm then, whereas earthly parents only punish their children when it does harm them. Due to this flaw of human nature, Christian parents are to parent as comes naturally, meaning attachment parenting. This passage in Hebrews is not even about earthly parenting. However, parenting is mentioned in the Bible. See also Ephesians 6:1-4: 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on 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 "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parents and children in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40, 25:31-46.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers here to melding the countenance of children. Since punitive parenting is banned in the Bible (see above paragraph), the only way to meld the countenance of children is by giving them lavish praise and encouragement. Children in biblical times were instead given lavish praise and encouragement when on their best behavior. Children were frequently praised and encouraged in showing self-control in their countenance, leading to more of the same. Children also need religious instruction. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to self-directed religious instruction. This religious instruction started out with fathers leaving out a Bible for children to discover and explore. When fathers caught children perusing and exploring the Bible, they were praised and encouraged by fathers to keep up the good work. Children, like all human beings, have an innate need for religion, and so it is good to spoon-feed the child, meaning they explore the Bible, and ask their parents for gentle pointers on what the Bible means in context.

Mothers nurture from up close, and fathers nurture from afar. Children never left the side of mothers during the first 6 years of childhood. When children turned 6, they went with their fathers for religious instruction. Fathers were not allowed to punish their children at all, including "hand-me-down-the-slate". Instead, fathers masturbated to sexual thoughts of their children. It is okay to look the look, and even think the think later. But, there is a big difference between thinking the think and doing the deed. If you find yourself in a flirtatious and/or sexual situation with your child, you shouldn't have even approached her. It is a myth that fathers sexually corrected their daughters in biblical times. When sexual abuse did happen, it was usually alcohol-related, with the daughter initiating the sexual contact. Think the story of Lot, knowing Lot was the one slew by God. The Greek root word denoting lust in the Bible is έπιθυμέω (Latin: epithumeo) and refers not to ordinary sexual desire, but to sexual entitlement, as evidenced by the adult in question approaching a child with hope of flirting or sexual favors. The only way out of the approach is to masturbate to sexual thoughts of your child. In the Early Church, fathers masturbated righteously, meaning in order to stay out of trouble. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to wrath through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!