After reading your article about the conference at Mars Hill Church featuring Ted Tripp, the spanking advocate, (Ballard News-Tribune, page 7, Sept. 24), I felt sick to my stomach.

Using the Bible to teach people that spanking an infant or child is alright is so contrary to the testimony and witness of Jesus. There may be a few verses in the Hebrew Scriptures (specifically in the Book of Proverbs) that instruct parents to use the rod against their children for their own good, but Jesus' statements about children reveals a different view of how to relate with and treat children.

The whole point of Jesus' recognition and affirmation of children was to inform the people of his day that children were not mere objects (the customary view) that could be treated (disciplined) any way that an adult might choose. In fact, Jesus acknowledged that children belonged to the reign of God in the same way as any adult - thereby requiring the same respect and treatment for a child as any adult might expect in God's reign. In this reign of God that Jesus came to proclaim and reveal, no one has the right to strike another human being - no one!

The author of the Book of Proverbs may reflect the perspective of an earlier day, but certainly is not writing with any knowledge of how Jesus would give testimony and witness to the status and treatment of children. Consequently, any avowed follower of Jesus Christ who draws upon some wise old sayings from Proverbs to justify spanking children in this day and age totally disregards the testimony and witness of Jesus on this matter, and would be wise to reconsider his/her position, or be considered acting in a way that is contrary to the way of the One in whom he/she professes to believe.

The Rev. Ron Moe-Lobeda

Ballard