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Ephesians 6:4 says "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com

California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber wants to make it illegal to spank a child under four years old. While that law would not directly impact those of us who live in Texas, we should remember that California is like the coalminer's canary when it comes to societal trends.

The reason Ms. Lieber gives for not spanking children is that "there is no reason to slap a child." I am sure Ms. Leiber means well, but her law would greatly hinder, rather than help, child development.

On the other hand, those who think you should spank child for every single infraction are just as wrong as Ms. Lieber.

Notice the two key words, "nurture" and "admonition," mentioned in Ephesians 6:4.

"Nurture" as used here is a noun, meaning upbringing, education and environment. When used as a verb, it means to care for and encourage the development.

God wants us to raise our children in the "nurture" of the Lord. He wants their upbringing to be in a Godly home. Not just a home where you go to church on Sunday, but a home where the family recognizes God and lives what it believes.

God wants us to raise our children in the education of the Lord. He wants us teaching our children about Him and about Jesus. He wants our children to be taught tbe Bible. When God gave the Law to Moses (the Law being the 10 commandments and other laws given to Israel from God through Moses and recorded in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy), He made provisions that families would memorize scriptures, post them on the gates to their property and discuss the scriptures around the dinner table. Basically, He wants us to know the Bible and discuss it with our children.

Secondly, God wants our children brought up in the "admonition" of the Lord. Admonition means the act or action of admonishing, authoritative counsel or warning.

All throughout the Bible, God counsels and warns people. He wants us to do the same with our children. He wants us to counsel them in an authoritative manner and warn them of consequences.

So spanking should be done only when needed to accomplish this directive given to us by the scriptures.

God gives us children with the intent that we teach those children to be children of God.