Letter to our pastor on spanking - Page 2

[my3peanuts]

You bring up so many great points! Do you mind if I print this out?

[Swirly]

Thank you for so beautifully stating your beliefs on thismatter, which happen to be my own also. I hope you do not mind if I save this as one of the tools in my box, in the event my family or church friends ever feel the need to question or condemn my parenting practices with regard to discipline.

[mama k nj]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

Excellent! I always thought of the "Spare the rod" statement as rod meaning a guiding staff, such as a shepherd uses, as well.

Me too! That's how I always took those passages. Like where is says in the Psalms "Thy rod and staff they comfort me"

[calidarling]

It is so nice to see someone with a fresh view on things. What a wonderful letter!

[funkygranolamama]

did you get a response from your letter?

[Ellien C]

This part is my favorite. That is an absolutely awesome and very brave letter. You and your family are a marvel.

"I would submit that the reason behind the euphemisms and rules that Christians create is that our conscience is condemning us. We are aware on some level that hurting those who are smaller and weaker goes against the nature of Christ, and feel a need to justify and minimize what we are actually doing."

[amylizpat]

Wow, absolutely wonderful letter! Do you mind if I post it on my blog, crediting your excellent writing, of course? Please let us know when your pastor responds. My brother is a pro-spanking pastor, and i can't to let him read this. Much better way of putting it then my typical angry way at Xmas dinner.

[dulce de leche]

Thank you all so much for the kind words! Anyone is welcome to pass it on or post it.

[the2amigos]

Incredible letter!! Please do let us know his response!! (Saving to computer....)

[RiverSky]

No update, Dulce? I'm guessing you haven't had a response yet? Has the pastor received the letter yet?

[FelixMom]

Well written, Dulce!

I too will be saving this letter to show my brother, who somehow thinks its okay to spank smaller and weaker children for discipline's sake. True, sadly our parents brought us up that way, but DH and I made a commitment NOT to discipline our children this way...

[oregongirlie]

Wow. That is wonderful -- and I'm an atheist! Seriously, you might consider submitting this to Christian magazines for publication. It's really great.

[Attached Mama]

Beautiful letter!! You presented the truth so gracefully too!

As someone who has a BA in Theology and a lot of experience with pastors, I would encourage you to also give more exegesis on those particular rod verses. Regardless of how persuasive all of your other arguments are and how true they are, if your pastor isn't convinced that it's not scriptural and isn't convinced of what those verses really mean, I doubt that he/she will change their view. Just speaking from experience...

Maybe some of the stuff on my blog would be really helpful as I deal with the verses at length along with their Hebrew meanings. Feel free to cut and paste into a second follow-up info letter. Just please ref the blog so maybe he/she can read it and learn more.

www.gracefulparenting.blogspot.com

Let us know how it goes.
Praying for you!!

[Soundhunter]

wow, brilliantly written!!!

[eurobin]

That is a beautiful and well-written letter!

[dulce de leche]

Originally Posted by Attached Mama

Beautiful letter!! You presented the truth so gracefully too!

As someone who has a BA in Theology and a lot of experience with pastors, I would encourage you to also give more exegesis on those particular rod verses. Regardless of how persuasive all of your other arguments are and how true they are, if your pastor isn't convinced that it's not scriptural and isn't convinced of what those verses really mean, I doubt that he/she will change their view. Just speaking from experience...

Maybe some of the stuff on my blog would be really helpful as I deal with the verses at length along with their Hebrew meanings. Feel free to cut and paste into a second follow-up info letter. Just please ref the blog so maybe he/she can read it and learn more.

www.gracefulparenting.blogspot.com

Let us know how it goes.
Praying for you!!

I am sorry that it took me so long to respond to this. I just now had a chance to read your blog, and I am unable to come up with words to say how wonderful you are. Wow. I wish that we had been able to include your blog in our original letter, but we will certainly direct others to it. Thank you so, so much for what you have written. I especially like the way that it goes beyond the issue of spanking into other aspects of graceful parenting. Would you write a book? I would buy it if you did, and probably extra copies to pass out to people. Thank you again!

[archibaldbc]

Wow, I love that. And I love that you stand up for what you believe in.

[ThreeBeans]

Bumping because I'm curious to hear if there's an update...a response?

[mowilli3]

What a beautiful letter. I am taking notes for my next visit back home! Thank you. Looking forward to the update.

[Wugmama]

Will you send that off to my (ex) church? (see my thread)

~Tracy