Instruction by example: How to impart good Judeo-Christian family values onto children

Many parents in the United States want to teach their children Judeo-Christian values, as America is a Christian nation founded on Judeo-Christian family values. Anti-spanking and attachment parenting stances are often associated with rally cries to abolish Judeo-Christian family values. But, one does not have to give up on their values in order to give up spanking and corporal punishment. Good values are taught by example, and that example does not need to be backed up by any punishment whatsoever.

The Greek root word denoting entitlement in the New Testament, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers, officially speaking, to wanting things from or of others (including children), to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, it refers to any want, whatsoever, from another person. Ask, and you shall receive. Demand, and you will get nothing. Children are constantly watching your every move, and they do so for future reference, so they know how to behave as young men and women. So, work on your entitlement issues, which we all have as fallen and depraved human beings. If you want something you can't have, stifle anger surrounding the issue. Entitlement is like a fuse, meaning if you have that fuse attached to wanting anything, it is an entitled want. This includes wants from children, meaning if wanting something from your child makes you blow a fuse, you should stifle that want, and do the opposite of that want.

On the other hand, Christian discipline is denoted in the New Testament by the Greek root word παιδεία (Latin: paideia). This word refers to a specific standard of Christian discipline that starts with the person admitting their original sin, and ending with an attitude that one is entitled to nothing, and thus grateful for everything, leading to a chastened up attitude that is good to model to children. Children won't be able to put that example into practice at first, but as they approach young adulthood, the good values should sink in, meaning children are observing your behavior for later, so behave in a peaceable and orderly fashion around them. That means, also, behaving in a peaceable and orderly fashion towards children, meaning being calm, in a listening and validating manner, when they cry or are upset, instead of throwing a temper tantrum of their own.

An example does have to be backed up by something, meaning something has to motivate a child to take up an example, and that method must motivate the child to look up to an adult and like an adult, as a role model. Punishment causes separation between parent and child, and thus demotivates a child to follow the example of parents, with children being unmotivated to learn the good values of their parents. The centerpiece of an attached Christian parenting home is Christian Agape love for children, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao), and refers to prioritizing children first, and yourself as a parent last, in a fearful and convicted way leading to dutiful and selfless submission to children and their every vulnerable need, with children being in place of God, and with parents expecting absolutely nothing in return from children or others, with children resting safely and securely in the good works of parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. This form of respect for parents is not borne out of fearful compliance, but instead out of restful trust in parents, with children feeling safe confiding anything and everything into parents, including admissions of wrongdoing and non-conforming traits, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. Attachment parenting was the established norm in biblical times, with such parenting being mandated under customary law as a means to back up the Christian example of parents, and win over the cooperation of their child. Parents in biblical times did not demand respect, but instead earned it, and earned the honoring of their example as well.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, namely child abuse in this context. Child abuse, as defined under biblical law, at minimum, is the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was understood, in its original linguistic and legal context, as prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishment or controlling demeanor. The Apostle Paul here was lifting up the Law to a few Greek Christian parents, rebuking them for bringing their pagan custom of spanking children into the church. Greek Christian parents were misusing the book of Proverbs to justify their pagan punishment habits even then. Spanking and punitive parenting does not come from the Bible, but instead comes from the Roman Catholic Church pandering to European pagan cultures who beat their children in order to discipline them, which was the case throughout mainland Europe. Punitive parenting is more of a European tradition that got transported throughout the world through the colonial powers. God chose Israel because Ancient Israel was an attachment parenting society.

Children will not take after their parents from day one. One can expect children to have poor self-regulation, and thus they will not be able to emulate the example of parents right away. But, children are observing and absorbing everything in their environment, from what is on TV, and also your behavior. This includes your behavior towards them. Children tend to treat adults as they are treated by adults, and if treated with respect by adults, they will do their best to treat adults with respect. This does not mean they will obey 100% of the time, but they will understand for later - when they can do better - how to behave by how parents behave.

Children should be won over in terms of backing up an example, not broken down and punished. Children in Ancient Israel were worshipped, meaning deified as extensions of God, with parents being righteously enslaved to their children. Children could issue lawful and binding orders and take their parents to court, but parents could not do the same for a minor or dependent child, meaning children demanded, and parents provided. The reason for this setup was that the ancients knew that a charitable parent could win over their child over to the Judeo-Christian values of society then. Ultimately, children got most of what they wanted, and all of what they needed, and so they wanted to honor the example of their parents. Mothers especially did everything for their children, and so adult children treated their parents with fondness and affection.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let the pro-spanking parents descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!