Parenting

     Everyone has biological parents from whom we receive a genetic inheritance. Many of these biological parents also rear their children and provide an environmental inheritance as well. No one has perfect parents because only Jesus is perfect. ( Hebrews 5:9) God has set things up this way. He has also mandated that parents are the ones to whom He has given authority and responsibility to rear their children. ( "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1 ESV; "Children, obey your parents  in everything, for this pleases the Lord." Colossians 3:20 ESV; "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching." (Proverbs 1:8) Godly parents may delegate their authority to others but may not abdicate their responsibility.
    God commands parents to train and discipline their children. "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) "A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke." (Proverbs 13:1 ESV) "My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." (Proverbs 7:1-3)
     The most important commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul and mind and strength." ( Luke 10:27, Mark 12:30) The number one responsibility of godly parents is to teach their children to love God. In the early years especially the parents represent God. We must assure children of our love for them. Unfortunately our human ideas of love are often at variance with those of God.
     God commands discipline of children. This includes judicious corporal punishment in cases of defiance and rebellion. The following Proverbs make this clear.
"Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." (Prov. 13:24ESV)
"Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death." (Prov. 19:18)
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." (Prov. 22:15)
"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod he will not die, if you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol." (Prov. 23:13-14)
"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." (Prov. 29:15)
"Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart." (Prov. 29:17)
     The absolute refusal of many who identify as Christians to discipline their children is rebellion against God.
There much more to say on this subject but too much for this post.
Note: In English the correct word is to "rear" children. I was once publicly corrected on this point when i used the word "raise" instead. My auditor was correct. Raising is done with animals.
Note: The command to honor one's parents is mentioned about eight times in the Bible. It is the fifth commandment. (Exodus 20:12) It is also reiterated in the New Testament. (cf. Ephesians 6:2