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

Many parents want their children to have values. This is a common goal amongst American parents/ However, most parents seek to beat a religion into a child. But, the fact of the matter is that there are better way to instruct your child in the Lord apart from punitive parenting

God's Law on child discipline, including religious instruction, is spelled 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 first stanza of this commandment states that religious instruction should not be punitive in nature. Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers not just to spanking children. It refers to any entitlement in parents, leading to offense in children. Offense in children consists of hurt feelings where parents refuse to apologize, at minimum. With that said, if you ever lose your cool with your child as a parent, including while setting limits, you definitely need to give a formal apology for hurting your child's feelings with your anger, such as "I apologize for hurting your feelings with my temper". This stanza of this commandment cross- references the Eighth and the Tenth Commandments, with the Apostle Paul here convicting a group of Greek Christian parents who brought into the church their pagan custom of patrias potestas, which is a Latin term roughly translating to "power to the parent". namely the power to impose punitive sanctions on children, such as spanking or other forms of punishment of children. However, this commandment ultimately was perceived by the parish at Ephesus as prohibiting causing offenses in children as perceived by the child, at minimum. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punitive parenting in his secular writings. Attachment parenting was banned under Roman law, but the Early Christians did it anyway, obeying God over men. 

Religion does not need to be beaten into a child. Religion is a base human need for children and adults alike/ The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and is more aptly translated as "instruction" in more modern versions of the Bible. This passage refers here to religious instruction. Starting at age 6, fathers left out a Bible for children to discover and explore, with children teaching themselves how to read on a Bible. Fathers left the Bible open to a reassuring verse (such as the Beatitudes)/Whenever children were caught in the act of studying the Bible, they were given lavish praise and encouragement to keep on studying the Bible. Fathers then interjected something along the lines of "you can asl me anything about that book". From there, religious instruction came in the form of question and answer. Children were curious about Scripture. with fathers being quick to give pointers on the context. 

Church refusal is a common and normal behavior in children. Most of the time, it is a toddler or preschooler that is refusing to go to church. The fact of the matter is that children that young are too young for religion. Children naturally develop religious curiosity on their own, usually starting at age 6. Until then, it is good to leave the woman of the house and her young children at home. and pray for them as the man of the house at church.

Most Christian parents rush their child's normal and natural religious development. One example of this is non-entitled postures. I tie my hands behind my back when I am out and about. Nobody made me assume such positions. 

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!