Discipline in parenting: Why parents need it (not children)

Many parents believe in disciplining their child, usually through punishment of some sort. However, discipline means teaching, of a chastened up way, and thus parents need to learn to behave, as children follow the example of parents in everything, for good or for bad.

It says in Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother, as this is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers here to the chastening of the Lord, meaning centering oneself in a way that sets a good example for children, chastening up oneself by doing the opposite of your entitled aggressive drives as a parent, turning them inwards, forcing oneself to show compassionate empathy to a child who is upset or frustrated, bearing the brunt, thus imparting a disciplined example, lovingly encouraging strictness in older children instead of enforcing it. Strictness with oneself as a parent is charring oneself as a parent by knowing your evil nature, then purifying yourself by choosing to act against that nature for the greater good, meaning not punish a child at all. This all serves as a disciplined, chastened up example for children to follow, with parents being the primary role models. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and literally translates to "warning" and is the admonition of the Lord. Sometimes, children are in unsafe situations, perhaps during free play, that they need to be warned that they are endangering themselves, sometimes physically by running into the street, possibly eloping if they are autistic. A warning is basically the word "no" in its proper order, which should be rare, as children and parents should work together for a compromise. The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers to the moral count of provoking one's neighbor to anger, which is a form of theft in the Old Testament, uplifted explicitly here in order to crack down on corporal punishment of children, and other forms of punishment. Ancient Jewish culture, including 1st Century Christian culture, was attachment-based in nature. Greco-Roman culture was punitive with children, with the Greeks and the Romans both having customs that punished children for misdeeds such as "effeminacy" and "unchastity".

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest and trust in parents, coming from sacrifice for one's child, in the spirit that Christ sacrificed for His children; taking up the cross for one's child, in the spirit that Christ sacrificed for one's child, expecting absolutely nothing in return...and then children rest in the sacrificial, martyring example of parents, showing gratitude and thanksgiving for one's parents by following their example. The Greek root word translated υπακουο ultimately uplifts a traditional biblical context on parenting that is attachment-based in nature, with intimacy and closeness to mothers even as older children being to the level of nudity, with mothers co-sleeping and sleeping next to their children, cuddling and snuggling, with the father foreshadowing with his staff and rod, protecting his family, not punishing them, providing for them as a breadwinner. Secure attachment is a must in parenting, which feels like tagging along with your parents, in a compelling yet comforting way, as even an adult child of a parent who used attachment

Parents are the ones who need discipline, not children, and the reason why is simple - parents have to set a good example, and goodness in Christianity means discipline. So lose the cell phone, put down the remote, and spend some time with your children, modeling compassionate empathy to them by showing it to them. Be selfless as a parent, sacrificing yourself for children like the good Lord sacrificed for you on the cross, not expecting anything in return, just like Christ denied gifts when He rose on the Third Day.

The depraved and entitled parents who set a poor example for their children will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them suffer and rot in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend forever and ever into eternal Hell-fire, being tormented for all eternity, with God turning His back on them. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!