Passing down the faith: How to instruct your children in the Lord without punitive measures

Many parents think that children need religion. Religion is a normal need for children and adults alike. However, most parents think that religion needs to be forced onto a child, such as forcing a child to go to church. However, parents don't need to break a child's will in order to teach them about the good news of Jesus Christ. Make it a game.

God's Law on 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.

This stanza of the commandment clarifies that religious instruction should not hurt. The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers here to offenses or damages, 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. It is not enough to stop spanking or punishing children - you need to avoid offense in your child. However, hurting children's feelings is inevitable in parenting, in which case you as a parent should be willing to give a meaningful apology whenever you cause upset in your child, lest it officially be an offense. But, if you ever lose your cool as a parent, you should definitely apologize to your child, and then commit never to lose your cool ever again, as losing your cool as a parent, in and of itself, is entitlement. This commandment cross-references the Eighth and the Tenth Commandments, with the Apostle Paul here convicting a group of Greek Christian parents in the parish at Ephesus who brought into the church their pagan custom of patrias potestas, which is a Latin phrase roughly translating to "power to the parent", including the power to impose punitive sanctions on a child, such as spanking or other forms of punishment. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Attachment parenting was banned under Roman law, but the Early Christians did it anyway, obeying God over men.

This second stanza has to do partially with proper religious instruction, which comes in light of the first stanza prohibiting anything punitive with a child. Religion is a human need for children, and thus punitive measures in religious instruction are wholly unnecessary. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and is better translated as "instruction" in more modern versions of the Bible. Religious instruction then started at age 6, when fathers left out a Bible for children to discover and explore. When children were caught in the act of studying the Bible, they were given praise and encouragement in their biblical studies. Fathers then said "you can ask me any question about that book". From there, religious instruction came in question and answer format, with children being eager to learn about Scripture, and with fathers giving pointers as to the context. Religious instruction was made into a game, meaning it was intended as fun for the children. Maybe the child found different denominational beliefs, but at least they had values.

Many Christian parents believe in the false teaching of breaking a child's will. This is a common setup in Christian households, where children are repeated beaten until they "submit to Christ". Children have a human need for religion, and thus they don't need to associate it with punishment or force. That setup is the core creator of atheists nationwide. Children do not need a will broken when there is no will there to begin with. A child is simply a big ball of primal instinct, and should be treated with respect to that vulnerability.

Children develop religion on their own. There is no need to force things such as grateful postures - they develop them naturally when they reach a certain level of perfection. Grateful postures are simply something to look for, for good spiritual health. I tie my hands behind my back automatically - nobody made me.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke your 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!