Passing down the faith: How to bring up children in the Lord the right way (meaning without punishment or force)

Many parents want their children to have religion. This is a common wish amongst American parents. However, most American parents go about passing down the faith the wrong way - meaning breaking a child's will.

Passing down the faith is spelled out in Ephesians 6:4 KJV:

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 "provoke...to wrath" is n παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, not limited to, the slightest or 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 not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor. In the Old Testament, punitive parents after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punish 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 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 in the parish at Ephesus 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 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 his time as a deacon.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to here, in this context, melding the countenance of children. In this context, meaning in light of Eph. 6:4, stanza 1, this passage can only mean one thing - lavishly praising and encouraging children when they were caught in the act of being good. Whenever children were caught in the act of good behavior, they were given lavish praise and encouragement with statements such as "keep headed down the straight path". Children ultimately learned good traits from the Christian example of parents. However, this good example was backed up by lavish praise and encouragement, instead of harsh punishment or force. Children also need religious instruction, as religion is a human need for children and adults alike. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to self-directed religious instruction. This religious instruction started out with fathers leaving out a Bible for children to discover and explore. When children were caught in the act of being good, they were lavishly praised and encouraged with statements such as "that book is good for you". From there, religious instruction came in question and answer format, based off of what children saw in the text. Fathers were quick to give pointers on the context.

Children today learn religion differently than they did in biblical times. Today, children can discover and explore religion over the Internet. Most children grow towards a specific denomination or sect, after exploring different religious paths. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive discipline will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!