Submitted by: Joel Hendon(3,426) Joel Hendon Log in to become a member of Joel Hendon's Fan Club!
There is perhaps no subject with wider disagreement, among people of the world, than modes of punishment from every angle. Many even feel that no parents (or anyone else) should use any form of corporal punishment on children. Others disagree with any group or government utilizing any form of corporal punishment on lawbreakers. And still others feel that there should be no capital or corporal punishment under any circumstances. One person cannot answer for others simply because of difference in feelings and priorities. Priorities, to this author, is the area where common sense and experience should prevail. As a firm and strong believer in the Holy Bible and it's teachings, I find it impossible to condemn any of it's precepts and I am convinced that it's methods for handling those who commit wrong, are just.
Caning is a category of punishment which has been practiced for millennia and was advocated in biblical instructions. It is a term implying what we know as a whipping or even a paddling. Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV) tells us: He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Judicious discipline has always proven to be the best training for children. I realize that any type of discipline is now frowned upon by most parents. But the results are showing up in many different levels and ways. All of which seem to me to be undesirable. I still believe, when a child knows certain things are forbidden or undesirable, and it still does that, he/she should be punished. Not cruelly or harmful but in a manner which will make them very hesitant to do it again. Talking seldom does the job. And especially if the child already has learned there will be no consequences.
Laws and sentiments have all but eliminated discipline in schools. How very sad. I had two whippings in school. One was justified, the other was not but I still respect those teachers who were trying to help train me to be a decent and respectful citizen. Minnesota has a law forbidding any corporal punishment.
But caning as punishment by governmental laws is somewhat of another matter. Some countries who have corporal punishment for lawbreakers have many discriminatory and unjust laws. Most have read of the case in Saudi Arabia where a young man and a young woman were in a car together when seven men took them, raped both of them and then turned them over to the authorities for being unmarried and alone together. The rapists were sentenced from 10 months to 5 years but the young woman was sentenced to 90 lashes and six months in prison, then when she appealed, her sentence was increased to 200 lashes. Only after international outrage and even a message from President Bush, was she pardoned by King Abdullah. Even then, he and the other officials stated they believed her sentencing had been just and fair.
Then there is the case of Michael P. Kay born in St. Louis in 1975.. This is a story of a young boy whose parents divorced when he was 8 years old and his mother married a man, Marco Chan, and moved to Singapore. Michael lived with his father to begin with, but later went to Singapore to live with his mother and step-father. To clarify the circumstances of the problem which arose, following is a paragraph from Wikipedia:
"Singapore's
The Straits Times newspaper in 1993 was full of stories about car vandalism in Singapore. Unknown individuals, although they were thought to be residents of the HDB[Housing and Development Board…JHH ] flats in which 85% of the local population had been living, went after their neighbours' cars with hot tar, paint remover, and hatchets. Taxi drivers complained that their tires were slashed when they let people off. In the city center and the condos, where the better-off 15% of the local population and foreigners live, people keyed cars, making deep scratches, and threw car doors open denting the cars next to them. One man interviewed by the Times complained that he had had to refinish his car six times in six months. In the fall of 1993 a vandal took red spray paint to six cars in a garage off Orchard Lane, making the vandalism highly visible. The next night someone sprayed a line of red paint right through the official seal of a judge's car, left out on the street by his son who had forgotten his key."
Several students, including Michael Fay, were arrested and charged with 50 counts of vandalism. Fay pled guilty to vandalizing the cars in addition to stealing road signs. He was sentenced to 4 months in jail, $2,214 USD and 6 strokes of the cane. Although Bill Clinton (then President) and several senators appealed to them for a pardon, the sentence was carried out. Singapore also has sentencing of 3 to 24 strokes of the cane for illegal aliens as well as for those who employ them.
Seemingly, China and it's holdings, and those countries with Shariah (Islamic) Law are primarily the ones who have this type of corporal punishment. Some are meted out mercilessly. If any care to see a video of a caning administered by the Malaysian police, you may see it here:
But after we study and witness these videos and photos, as horrible as they are to see, just what is the solution for stopping lawbreakers? Place them in country club style prisons and feed them better than they have ever been fed and housed? Those who brutally rape and kill little girls? We all try and form our opinions based on our feelings.
One finds in the Old Testament, many instances of punishment by God Himself, and more by His people Israel at His bidding. Some seems exceedingly harsh to us. And it is harsh and strict. But there were reasons for it and the reasons were just. In the beginning, there was no authority to mete out justice, except God. When the first man and woman lived in a garden of peace and plenty with no lack of any kind, God placed one restriction upon them. They ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He punished them by casting them from this paradise, introducing them to working for their livelihood, childbearing and death. Sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it?
Then when the world later became so evil that God could no longer tolerate it, he destroyed all of mankind except for eight righteous people, Noah, his wife and his three sons with their wives. Drowned them. That was pretty harsh, wasn't it? When the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah became so totally wicked, God pulled four people out and destroyed the rest with fire and brimstone. Harsh.
The inhabitants of the land of Canaan had completely left following after God and so He gave the land to the Israelites, instructing them to literally eradicate those evil people as they took their land.
Upon giving Israel (the Jews) the Law through Moses with all of its requirements and restrictions, Aaron and his male descendents were to be the priests and the only priests. Each of them were instructed in detail as to their duties as priests. Yet read this
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. (Leviticus 10:1) and the next verse tells us that "fire went out from before the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord". Strict and harsh.
But let us consider whether or not corporal punishment is effective. I have no statistics to show whether or not they effectively reduced the crimes they are used for. But consider, do you think that Michael Fay would ever again chance vandalism of cars or stealing road signs in Singapore again? I wonder also, how many employers in Singapore take the risk of employing illegal aliens with up to 24 licks with the cane as prospects for doing so. If you feel it is not a deterrent, I challenge you to go back and watch the Malaysian video I have linked above. I do admit though, that particular type of caning is absolutely outrageous. I did not learn what the offense was that brought it on this fellow, but it was supposed to be 20 strokes. After seeing 5 of them, I cannot imagine the poor fellow having any buttocks left at all after 20. Man!!
The prime factor, however, is how just and right are the laws to which one is subject. Where laws are as they should be and people willfully break those laws, they have taken a calculated risk. Some kind of punishment is deserved and, depending upon the severity of offense, something should be done which will deter further such action. The offender has knowingly placed himself in the position of being punished and, if the crime warrants the punishment, I have no further sympathy for him.
If a man kidnaps, rapes and brutally kills a 10-12 year old girl. What punishment should he get? Death? Life in prison? 20 years in prison? Or 100 lashes with a whip and 10 years in prison? Or maybe 2 years probation? Frankly, I lose my restraint in such cases.
A Christian has no right to seek revenge on anyone. I'm glad. If it were my place to make such decisions as cited in the last paragraph, I fear I could not maintain my life as a Christian. But God has ordained governmental authorities whose responsibilities include for one thing, protection of their subjects. As in the Old Testament individuals, except in a few cases, were not to take vengeance upon another. But the ruling powers were. And so it is under the law of Christ (New Testament) also. We are to be subject to the powers that be unless their laws require us to break God's law. I believe judicious corporal punishment is proper and right. Likewise, I believe capital punishment is justified for certain crimes, and I do not feel that the methods of performing executions are of any consequence.
They stoned people to death in ancient times with God‘s acquiescence and sometimes at His command. I am convinced that none or our methods are as painful as that. A man guilty of a crime worthy of death, has lost his right for sympathy.
Author Biography:
Joel Hendon was born September 20, 1930 near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace in 1997, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He produces a bi-weekly publication, The Household of Faith Ezine which is free for the asking. Archives are accessible at: http://www.piedmontcoc.org/archives.html He is also the author of Final Stronghold, published in 2003, available from Amazon.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
» left by robert melaccio sr (224 days 21 hours ago.)
Well Joel what if we have the wrong guy? Best wishes. RTM Respond to this comment
» left by Joel Hendon(3,426) Joel Hendon (224 days 19 hours ago.)
I've never advocated punishing anyone if there is any question as to their guilt. What would be the alternative? Should we just turn everyone free because we MIGHT have the wrong guy? Five years in prison given wrongly is unacceptable. Thanks for the comment. Respond to this comment
Was
this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
organization.
