Bashing people for Christ

Now, whether or not the Anti-Smacking Law is a law we should have is indeed something of interest to discuss. [My own view is that there is a difference between smacking and full of physical abuse, but the law is hazy about grey areas.] And some people are going to do more than discuss it, they are going to be charged under it for hitting their children. Such as this man.

Why did he hit his kids? Because, and let me quote this: "I believe very strongly in smacking as a form of discipline. I'm a Christian, and believe it's what I've been commanded to do." That's right. The book of peace and love instructed him to hit his kid with a rod (or wooden spoon, as the case may be).

The actual passage is from Proverbs 13:24

13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Mmm...feel that peace and love... Now that is from the Old Testament. Which is an interesting point. So we have a Christian who is following the teachings from the entire bible. Well then, let me quote from Deuteronomy 21: 18-21

21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
21:19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21:21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Why beat when you can stone to death? As encouraged by the bible! (Ah, Deuteronomy, such crazy stuff...)

I'm sure he would be the first to say "that's going too far"...but it's in his bible. If he isn't following it, then he's picking which bits of the bible to follow (leading to what we call "supermarket religion"), but, more important, he has some criteria to decide which bits to pick. Clearly, that criteria has come from outside of the bible (as the bible says "take everything!"). And if there is something outside the bible that tells us what's good and what isn't...whyfore then do we need the bible?

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