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

Many parents think that co-sleeping is the wrong way to deal with a child who refuses to go to bed on their own. Bedtime refusal is a common excuse for punishing a child. However, it is normal for children to want to avoid bedtime. The fact of the matter is that children avoid bedtime because they are too young to sleep on their own. Co-sleeping not only is the way to deal with bedtime refusal, but also helps in preventing child sexual abuse.

Righteous co-sleeping is the centerpiece of the doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely onto the 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 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 children are to perform good works for their children, with children resting securely in the good works of parents. Good works here refers to doing good things for your child, meeting the child's every need. 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 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. 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 deacon.

It is common knowledge that children refuse to go to bed on their own. Bedtime refusal is a common excuse for parents to punish their children. However, children under age 6 are too young to sleep in their bed alone. This is because children under age 6 experience morbid fear of being devoured by predators. You might think that there are no predators today. You would be wrong. Most child sexual abuse happens as a bedtime ritual, with the abuser sneaking into the child's room and raping her. However, child sexual abuse was rare next to non-existent in the Early Church, and that is because the mother was right there, perhaps using herself as a human shield to protect her children from the sexual wrath of fathers.

A common excuse for not co-sleeping next to children comes from fearmongering on the part of pediatricians and mental health professionals serving children, with terms such as "sleep dependence". However, children co-slept next to mothers every night in skin-on-skin format, until the onset of puberty, which is when most children wanted their own place to sleep. However, even in the context of extended co-sleeping, there is always an end to your child wanting to co-snuggle with you at night. Most of the time, extended co-sleeping happens in the case of autism, ADHD, and/or bipolar disorder. 

I myself was punished by my father for wanting to sleep next to mom. At one point, he grabbed me by the throat. He wanted sleep with my mother. For many children, bedtime is a source of contention with parents. Maybe parents would then have time for intimacy, but at what cost to the child? Just give up the bedtime fight, and give into the desire for closeness that your child has for you.

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!