Righteous co-sleeping: Why God wants parents to sleep next to children

Many parents believe that co-sleeping is the irresponsible choice in parenting. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents outright oppose children co-sleeping in their bed. However, co-sleeping is recommended by the Bible, when using the context as a guidepost. Co-sleeping also has benefits in terms of preventing child sexual abuse.

Righteous co-sleeping is a part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely on 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 submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to their children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40, 25:31-46.

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 a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but nor limited to, any punishment, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The 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 as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking or punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

It is common knowledge that children under age 6 often refuse to go to bed on their own. This contention in the home is a common reason for parents punishing their children. However, the fact of the matter is that children that young were not ready to sleep on their own. Children under age 6 had a primal fear of being devoured by predators. Parents may argue that no such threat exists in a modern home. They would be wrong. Most child sexual abuse is a bedtime ritual. However, child sexual abuse was rare in biblical times, and that is because mom was right there. If necessary, mothers used herself as a human shield when the father of the house wanted in on the action.

A common excuse for not co-sleeping next to children comes from fearmongering by pediatricians and mental health professionals serving children with the myth of  "sleep dependence". However, the fact of the matter is that co-sleeping in biblical times, in most cases, lasted until the onset of puberty, which is when most children wanted their own place to sleep. However, even when children still wanted to sleep next to mom, all co-sleeping has an end. I myself shook off co-sleeping closeness from my mom when I turned 16, as I wanted to prove my independence. 

Skin-on-skin co-sleeping was the ultimate way for mothers to gel a bond with children. Come nightfall, children co-snuggled and co-slept next to in skin-on-skin format. The family bed happened one way in the Early Church - in the nude. Skin-on-skin co-sleeping is the centerpiece of a secure attachment between parent and child.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will nor inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever inro 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.