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

Many parents think that co-sleeping is the irresponsible choice on the part of parents. This is a common attitude on the part of parents. However, the fact of the matter is that not only is co-sleeping the responsible sleeping arrangement, but it also helps prevent child sexual abuse. 

Righteous co-sleeping is a part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely onto 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 here to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of children. This highlighted word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parents and children in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to serve their children selflessly, 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 here 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 not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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. 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 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 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 in his secular writings. Paull 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 oftentimes refuse to go to bed. Bedtime refusal is a common reason for parents punishing their children. However, the fact of the matter is that children under age 6 are not ready to sleep on their own. Children under age 6 had a primal fear of being devoured by predators. You might argue that no predators exist today. You would be wrong. Most child sexual abuse happens in the form of a bedtime ritual, with fathers usually sneaking into the child's room and, from there, rapes the child. However, this form of abuse usually could not happen in the Early Church, as the mother was right there, perhaps using herself as a human shield against the sexual wrath of fathers. 

The main reason for parents refusing to sleep next to their children comes from fearmongering on the part of pediatricians and mental health professionals serving children, with terms such as "sleep dependence". However, the fact of the matter is that co-sleeping, in the Early Church, happened every night in skin-on-skin warmth, with this co-sleeping usually ending at the onset of puberty, which is when most children wanted their own place to sleep. However, even in the case of extended co-sleeping, there always is an end to co-sleeping. Extended co-sleeping is a sign of autism, bipolar disorder, and/or ADHD. I myself have autism, and didn't sleep on my own until age 16, which was a means of asserting my independence.

Co-sleeping is the perfect way to gel a bond between parent and child. Co-sleeping in biblical times happened in skin-on-skin format, with the family bed happening in the nude every night. The father put his robe on a hanger. Mothers also put her loose-fitting, revealing dress that resembled an apron on a hanger. Children were closely guarded by mothers, with her acting as a stand-between between the child and their father. This stand-between setup helped mothers bond securely with their .

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting 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!