Why parents should be a child's first role model - and why discipline is for parents (not children)

Many parents believe in disciplining children. meaning punishing and controlling them. Many of these parents cite the Bible for their choice to abuse their child through physical and mental punishment. The reality is that discipline is for parents, not children, meaning parents model strictness to children, and children emulate it within a secure parent-child bond.

It says in Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

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

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to the chastening of the Lord, which is for parents, not children, meaning avoidance of entitlement in parenting in the Lord, doing the opposite of what parental aggressive instincts tell you, turning them inwards, being kind to your child when they cry out of nowhere, instead of punishing them, giving them loving attention when their behaviors seek such. It is a centered, chastened up personality that is nonetheless compassionate in terms of empathy, and is exemplary in terms of teaching. Parents in 1st Century Christian homes taught mainly by example, as extensions of Christ in the home, and giving extensions of Him at that. Parents were expected to be disciplined in a way that was charitable and generous towards children. Children learned to be kind and charitable by having parents dote on them with kindness and charity. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the word "no", which should be uttered rarely in flat out format in a Christian home, as there is usually always room to compromise with a child, and maybe plan something else that meets the needs of both parties. This is all weighed in intensity by the Greek root word παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and literally translates to "bitter anger", referring to the moral count of provocation to anger, which was a common tort or damage under the Eighth Commandment stemming from either fits of anger or acts of sexual aggression. It basically prohibits the slightest of personal offense perceived by children, coming from entitlement, as denoted by the Greek root word πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to wanting things from a child, including for children to do things for you, to the point of seeking to impose said want onto a child, leading to abuse by way of offense perceived.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest and trust in the love and grace of parents, coming from sacrifice for one's child, in the spirit that Christ sacrificed for His children; take the cross up for one's child, in the spirit that Christ took up the cross for His children; martyring yourself as a parent in everything, expecting nothing in return. Parents are an extension of Christ, and are to model Christ-like values, with children resting in the sacrificial example of parents. The Greek root word υπακουο uplifts a specific parenting context under ancient Judeo-Christian custom, meaning attachment-based parenting. Surrender to parents meant running to them, and following their example, and this was backed up by intense closeness to children. Child nudity was legal all through the biblical context, and that was so mothers could use skin-to-skin contact to bond with their infants and even older children, with children as old as age 3 being treated as babies. This intimate closeness, to the level of nudity, was intended to build a foundation for respect later for parents.

Children need good role models. Discipline shouldn't be about punishment, but discipline in the parent modeled to the child. Parents are to martyr themselves for their children, tearing themselves down, modeling martyring attitudes of the same to children. The first role models of a child are their parents, and if they punish, they are worthless as first examples to their children

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them burn in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death, which is Satan's final resting place! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!