Many parents feel entitled to children honoring them. This is a common want on the part of American parents. Most American parents insist on honor from their children. However, honoring parents refers ultimately to taking care of aging parents.
The Fifth Commandment states in Exodus 20:12 KJV:
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
This commandment does not mean that parents have the right to insist on respect from children. Instead, the Fifth Commandment simply means caring for your aging parents. However, that care for aging parents is earned, with parents getting care from their children as a reward for giving them a memorable childhood. When children were abused at all, they had the right to shun their parents.
The Fifth Commandment is repeated in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:
Children, obey your parents in all things: as 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 parents. This highlighted word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to perform good works for their child, with children resting securely in the good works of parents. 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 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 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.
The Fifth Commandment, when understood in context, does not mean that parents have the right to insist on respect or honor. Instead, parents took good care of their children. In return, children took care of their parents as they aged. However, even then, children had the right to disown and shun their parents if the parents were abusive.
Honoring parents ultimately refers to giving back to parents after they gave to you when you were a child. I myself was abused by my mother, but I sure give back to her anyway. as she apologized for abusing me. A genuine apology is the only reason an adult child is obligated to forgive their abusive parents. I give back to my mother by paying for dinner at the restaurant.
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Any comment that
1. Endorses child abuse (including pornography of such)
2. Imposes want to the point of imposition, meaning entitlement.
3. Contains self-entitled parent rhetoric, to the point of self-victimization
will not be published. Flexible application. Debate is allowed, but only civil arguments that presume the best of intentions in their opponent, on both sides.