Discipline and strictness: Why parents should be disciplined (and strict with themselves)

Many parents believe in disciplining children, and that means setting limits towards them, with most parents backing it up by punishment. Most parents are Christian in this nation, and most of them go by church advice for parenting, which may or may not be accurate, but usually isn't. Strictness and discipline is for the parent to master, and the child to emulate.

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 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 to the chastening of the Lord, meaning self-discipline in parents in a selfless manner, modeling discipline and self-control to children. This involves stifling anger in parenting and throughout life, holding back anger from resentful taunts from children, and likewise someone cutting you off on the freeway, modeling good discipline habits to children, also modeling charity and selflessness to children by treating them in the same way. Children should also be warned rarely of their misconduct, usually when they are endangering themselves or others, The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to gentle admonition or warning of children by parents, meaning an agreed upon warning that the parents know in advance that they child would not object to or else thank parents later (in the case of, say, a child running into a busy street), and such warnings should never be backed up by punishment. Sometimes, children may know the boundaries once warned, but cannot heed the warning due to impulsivity due to immature development, meaning this accounts for nearly all of when young children especially do not heed parental warning. This is all weighed by the Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" which is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and literally translates to "bitter anger" and refers to the offenses against children, namely the slightest of offense perceived by the child, which includes any physical or other punishment, threats, or menaces against a child, that the child may perceive as abusive.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is ὑπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, warm rest in the love and grace of parents, just as mature believers rest and trust in Lord Jesus Christ. Respect for parents in the Bible is closeness, leading to fondness and admiration for parents in late childhood, then honor. Parents channeled the energy and rambunctiousness of children toward them, with parents as safe people, co-sleeping in the nude with children until adulthood, with daughters especially being inseparable from mothers right up until young adulthood. Children were given a safe space by parents to develop their own self-control and self-discipline, with parents being the first role models a child may have. Child surrender is running to the loving arms of parents, and taking after the values and self-control of their parents, with parents practicing self-discipline, and children copying it as their own. Strictness is not antithetical to gentle parenting, but must not be enforced on a child, but encouraged in a child lovingly and warmly, with children following the example of parents and elders, perhaps copying phrases so be careful what you say around them, or to them in fact.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger through enforcing discipline on a child 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 tomb! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!