Many Christians ardently defending "spanking" again today
Bolstered by (IMO) eisegetical claims & doctrinal interpretations, they insist that God requires adults to hit young children & claim that is what God does for us.
I find this to be profoundly unChristian. 🧵/10
Bolstered by (IMO) eisegetical claims & doctrinal interpretations, they insist that God requires adults to hit young children & claim that is what God does for us.
I find this to be profoundly unChristian. 🧵/10
Jesus did not force compliance. He invited ppl & instructed His followers to…follow His example.
He sent them out to do His healing and liberating work, saying, “Freely you have received; freely give.”
Neither did the apostles punish ppl into behaving. 2/10
He sent them out to do His healing and liberating work, saying, “Freely you have received; freely give.”
Neither did the apostles punish ppl into behaving. 2/10
Traditional Christian doctrines identify sanctification as occurring through the Holy Spirit’s inner work to transform us into the likeness of Christ.
We are not beat or punished into Christlikeness. 3/10
We are not beat or punished into Christlikeness. 3/10
Indeed, we are given "one-anothering" instructions, and these, too, apply to children.
Yes, wise Christian parents instruct, teach, train, correct, but *how* they do it should align w/fruit of the Spirit & should not embitter/provoke their children. 4/10
Yes, wise Christian parents instruct, teach, train, correct, but *how* they do it should align w/fruit of the Spirit & should not embitter/provoke their children. 4/10
B/c of course I think of the children. What is the incalculable impact of this kind of teaching on children?
Because they are the ones who will be on the receiving end of painful punishment from devout (or otherwise) parents. 5/10
Because they are the ones who will be on the receiving end of painful punishment from devout (or otherwise) parents. 5/10
They will be the ones who will be told their pain is a measure of their parent’s love.
They will be offered the framework of a God who finds value in dealing out injury, whose capacity to bring about transformation is apparently reduced to the methods of human Empires. 6/10
They will be offered the framework of a God who finds value in dealing out injury, whose capacity to bring about transformation is apparently reduced to the methods of human Empires. 6/10
Never fails to amaze me that the bulk of “Christian” parenting teaching neglects to mention Jesus Christ, His teaching, or His attitude toward children.
Jesus who identified Himself with vulnerable children and said, “Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me.” 7/10
Jesus who identified Himself with vulnerable children and said, “Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me.” 7/10
Jesus, who took a little child in His arms and said “become like this.”
Jesus, who, when children were brought to Him, took them in His arms and blessed them.
Jesus who had strong words for those who cause little ones to stumble. 8/10
Jesus, who, when children were brought to Him, took them in His arms and blessed them.
Jesus who had strong words for those who cause little ones to stumble. 8/10
Christian Parents, let me speak plainly & with great compassion: it will not be Wilson or whomever else is giving you this advice who will reckon with the cost of it.
It will be you navigating the losses & grief & pain of betraying your own children. 9/10
It will be you navigating the losses & grief & pain of betraying your own children. 9/10
https://x.com/MBurtwrites/status/1695498596156834169?s=20
It is never too late to find an alternate course.
And to the adult children reading this, to those who know all too well the confusing pain of multiple betrayals blended with spiritual imagery?
I am so very sorry. /end
And to the adult children reading this, to those who know all too well the confusing pain of multiple betrayals blended with spiritual imagery?
I am so very sorry. /end
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