Christian attachment parenting: Why the Bible commands attachment parenting

Many parents think that the Bible commands parents to be controlling with their children, including by punishing them. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents think punitive parenting is the way to go. The fact of the matter is, however, is that the Bible instead commands Christian attachment parenting. What is Christian attachment parenting? The practice of attachment parenting while imparting the Christian faith.

Christian attachment parenting is based on the doctrine of mutual submission, as applied to parenting. Submission is love, and love is submission. The Greek root word denoting Christian love is αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to, in the context of parenting, prioritizing children first, and yourself as a parent last, to the point of dutiful and selfless submission to the every vulnerable need of children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, valuing children as extensions of God. True Love for children is not based in pride or desire, but instead fearful conviction, where you come to the conviction as a parent that you are a depraved and decadent sinner who is deserving of absolutely nothing from children or anyone else. This prompts the sinner/parent to pay due penance, and serve their children. Children were loved in biblical times as the neighbor of their parents, not the enemy. See Matt. 22:35-40.

Parents are to submit to their children selflessly and dutifully, expecting absolutely nothing in return. In return, children rest safely and securely in the wake of the submission of parents. It says in 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. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ sacrificed for His children, with children being a Godhead for parents to serve, and with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are depraved and decadent sinners, who are deserving of absolutely nothing from children or anyone else. Respect from children is to be earned in parenting, with the burden of proof falling on the parent.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely 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 intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time (see Exod. 21:16). Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thus treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up this legal context to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Attachment parenting was the established norm in biblical times. The Early Christians, as well as their Jewish predecessors, practiced a specific form of attachment parenting that deified children. Children in biblical times were worshipped and venerated as extensions of God, with children being seen as installments of God called to convict parents and other adults of their charitable side. The topic of children was a convicting, sobering topic for the Early Christians, as well as their Ancient Jewish predecessors. Children had the lawful authority to sue their parents at law, and in such cases, parents could not countersue. When the case got to a church elder, the case had already been decided, and the court took the child's side every time.

Children, in biblical times, wore no clothing, at all, until they became adults. Women only wore clothing outside the home, and otherwise went in the nude, in order to serve both their husbands and their children, separately. Mothers served their children by providing for them nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk (until age 3) and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy, respectively. The core aspect of Christian attachment parenting is skin-on-skin co-sleeping, with mother and child fast asleep in the nude, and with the child soaking up the rays of skin-to-skin contact. Children went naked in biblical times for a reason - so that mothers could cuddle them up and snuggle them up in skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. For the first six years, time with children was to be spent together. For the last six years, time with children was to be spent apart, with fathers encouraging bold feats of independence in children...This context is applicable today just as it was in the days of old, albeit with some tweaking.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them 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!