Christian attachment parenting: Why attachment parenting is commanded in the Bible

Many parents believe that the Bible commands them to punish their children. This is a common belief amongst American parents. Most American parents believe strongly in punishing children. Very few parents believe in attachment parenting. However, the Bible, when understood in context, prescribes attachment parenting as a means of dealing with children. Christian attachment parenting is secure attachment that backs up a Judeo-Christian example.

The Greek root word denoting entitlement, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, want, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, entitlement is defined as the slightest of unattainable want. It is not good to want anything in life, but since we all want something as depraved and decadent human beings, it is good to ask appropriately, and accept "no" for an answer. Entitlement is at the core of our sin nature, and want is at the core of our entitlement. We as fallen human beings have a depraved and decadent sin nature, and are deserving of absolutely nothing. If you want something that can lead to a temper tantrum upon hearing the word "no", don't want it, and avoid that want at all costs. Children are watching your every move as a parent, and thus parents should always impart a disciplined, non-entitled Christian example.

Christian attachment parenting is the component of a Christian parenting system that backs up a Christian example. Christian attachment parenting motivates the child to do the work to emulate the Christian example of their parents, by creating a safe place for children to do the work to be like their parents. Christian attachment parenting is based on the doctrine of mutual submission, with parents bearing the burden of proof in the relationship. 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. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, with parent believers resting in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents were seen as extensions of Christ, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children as they would God, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Children are to rest safely and securely in the presence of parents, with children following parents like goslings to a mother goose. The word "obey" in the King James Version, when translated into biblical Greek, refers to rest in parents due to secure attachment, not fear of punishment. 

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 a 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. 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, thereby 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 their children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Children, in biblical times, wore absolutely no clothing, at all, until they became adults. Women only wore clothing outside the home, and otherwise went naked in the family home, 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. The core aspect of Christian attachment parenting in the 1st Century was skin-on-skin co-sleeping, where mother and child were fast asleep next to each other in the nude, with children soaking up the rays of skin-to-skin contact in bed with their mother. Children went naked for a reason - so that mothers could easily cuddle them up and snuggle them up when children were crying or upset. Fathers who stood by as the mother co-snuggled with her children also developed a secure attachment to their children. Usually, though, fathers who formed a secure attachment to a child - which was most fathers of the time - developed a parent attraction to the child of the opposite sex, meaning usually their daughter. Fathers were instructed by church leadership to follow the sexual thoughts to the end using masturbation. The sexual fantasy about the child brought the father closer to the child, but usually only the child of the opposite sex. Mothers saw children on a more objective level, and loved brothers and sisters of both sexes equally.

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!