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Caning, corporal punishment, biblical or not?
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Historically, some type of corporal punishment has been used at least since the law of Moses was given the Jews, in one way or another. The biblical examples and admonitions for it’s use have to be examined closely and considered somewhat differently by Christians.
You find examples of corporal punishment by the Jewish elders for minor offenses by adults in such places as Deuteronomy 22:18 and 25:2, Proverbs 17:10. and many others in the Old Testament and the New Testament as well.
There are also admonitions for corporal punishment with children also. Our society, almost world wide, has determined that we are more knowledgeable and wise than were the inspired writers of the Holy Bible and have virtually condemned all use of corporal punishment for children or adults, regardless of the offense. It should be obvious that this new found wisdom is failing miserably in it’s results.
There are several countries, namely Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Afghanistan, Jamaica, Bahamas, Singapore and Iran who still use caning as the punishment, or partial punishment for many crimes. I am hesitant to endorse their punishment even though, I believe it to be more just and efficient as a deterrent than jail time. Consider, a family man for instance, if he were caught selling illegal drugs. Which would be more sensible, to give him a year in prison while his family suffered, or twenty strokes with a cane, having his naked buttock beaten with a cane, adding the humiliation of public viewing?
A young man named Michael Fay, American who was living with his mother in Singapore and was a student there became involved in some vandalism, here is a paragraph from Wikipedia concerning his problem:
"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 four months in jail, $2,214 USD and six 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 three to twenty-four strokes of the cane for illegal aliens as well as for those who employ them. For those who might be interested in seeing exactly what transpires in one of the canings in Malaysia, you may see one on video at: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5ab_1172940415 Please be aware that it is rather difficult to watch .
The beatings are severe to say the least, and some are simply inhumane. However, so is the death penalty, but what is to be done? We can put someone away for life and allow him to live off taxpayers until he dies. Give him every comfort of home, in most cases. What of the little twelve year old girl who was abducted, raped repeatedly and then killed in cold blood? Which of the above are justified for the perpetrator? This writer cannot help but say that nothing is severe enough to be unjust in such cases.
Under the Mosaical law, many crimes were to be recompensed by the same as the offense. An eye for an eye. Limb for a limb. And many crimes were cause to be stoned to death. So, it is apparent that God approves of severe punishment for willful crimes. But, now we come to the Perfect Law of Liberty given through Jesus Christ and for which he suffered a cruel death. What about a Christian and corporal punishment?
God has ordained governments whose duty is to serve and protect it’s people. They have the God given right (and responsibility) to assign punishments suitable to deter and recompense for crimes committed against their subjects. The teachings of Jesus completely forbids a true Christian to seek revenge of any personal crime against him or his family other than that of the laws enacted by the ruling government.
We are not to hate those who harm us, or those who would harm us. Rather, we are to pray for a penitent heart for them that they might be forgiven. This may be one of, if not the most difficult steps for a Christian to add to his life. Study, meditate upon God’s word and pray often.
