ʼn Reformatoriese perspektief op die ouer se rentmeesterskaplike roeping tot die handhawing van ordelike kinderdissipline in Suid-Afrika

Abstract

Kinders is ‘n geskenk van God wat aan ouers toevertrou is om as die primêre opvoeders en bewaarders van die kind op te tree. Verskeie vorme van oortredings en wangedrag is egter hedendaags aan die toeneem onder kinders. Dit is ‘n Goddelike opdrag en verantwoordelikheid van ouers om hul kinders te dissiplineer, maar daar is tans heelwat faktore en omstandighede wat ouers verhoed om hul rentmeesterskapsplig en verantwoordelikheid teenoor hul kinders na te kom. Onder hierdie faktore tel die Westerse wegbeweging van Bybelse waardes, hoë egskeidingsyfers en vaderlose gesinne. Deur middel van die toepassing van die interpretivisties-konstruktivistiese metode word hierdie faktore uitgepluis en word ‘n omskrywing van ouers (sorggewers) se rentmeesterskapstaak en -verantwoordelikheid gegee. Laasgenoemde is gefundeer in beginsels soos die feit dat ouers die primêre opvoeders van die kind is, dat tug en dissiplinering verantwoordelik behoort te geskied, dat alle handelinge met die kind in ‘n Skriftuurlike kinderantropologie gefundeer behoort te wees en dat ouers ‘n goeie begrip behoort te hê van wat opvoeding behels. 

Abstract

A Reformed perspective on parents’ stewardship calling to uphold orderly child discipline in South Africa
Children are a gift from God, entrusted to parents to serve as the child’s primary educators and guardians. However, various forms of transgressions and misconduct among children are increasingly prevalent in contemporary society. It is a divine command and a parental responsibility to discipline their children. Yet, many factors and circumstances currently prevent parents from fulfilling their stewardship task and responsibility toward their children. Among these factors are the Western departure from Biblical values, high divorce rates, and fatherless households. Using the interpretivist–constructivist method, these factors are examined, and a description of parents’ (caregivers’) stewardship tasks and responsibilities is provided. The latter is grounded in principles such as parents being the child’s primary educators, that correction and discipline should be exercised responsibly, that all interactions with the child should be grounded in a Scriptural child anthropology, and that parents should have a sound understanding of what education entails.