Please explain this commandment to me. I do not uderstand exactly what "honor" means here. I mean, what if a child's parents are abusive? Does this commandment still apply? I guess some would say that it is a rule from God and applies no matter what. However, what do you think? In an abusive situation (mental, physical, or sexual) how can a child honor his/her parents?
2006-12-12 13:23:08 · 16 answers · asked by Amanda D 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
jsjmlj, this is one of the commandments, and it says "honor" not hate. For the record, my parents have not physically or sexually abused me.
2006-12-12 13:31:28 · update #1
I think there is an assumption that the parent is raising the child correctly and in the ways of God.
These days we have a lot of parents addicted to drugs or alcohol, or who are abusive, or simply don’t know how to be parents because they were raised so badly. You can’t expect children to honor abuse. Do forgive them because carrying resentment of the abuse creates a lot of emotional problems for the abused.
But to any young person in this situation, please seek help. This is not the way you are supposed to be treated. Find a trusted adult, a teacher, counselor, family friend, pastor and talk with them. If the person you confide in plays it down or doesn’t see the need for intervention, talk to somebody else. Keep talking until you find somebody who will listen.
No matter what, realize this is not your fault; it is the fault of parents who don’t know how to be parents. Get help!
2006-12-12 13:35:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All parents are not perfect in the first place, if you Respect your father and mother you will
learn from them, you take the best each has to offer and make them your own. Respect will teach about the bad aspects and why they get angry or why they do the things they do and most often you'll understand that people for the most part are what they grew up with. If you don't want to grow up with the same, you learn from them without being judgmental or critical and eventually breakout to Honor your father and mother, Honor yourself, Honor GOD. For every parent regardless of how bad they are
want their children to be better off then they were or what they had to live with.......
2006-12-12 14:22:43 · answer #2 · answered by Hiqutipie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that honor means give credit to. My mother and I do not have a good relationship. She was very abusive when I was a child and she isn't that great of a mother now. I still give her credit for being my mother. We rarely see one another but I don't talk badly about her and put her down. She was able to conceive me but other than that she had no idea what it meant to be a mother, and now a grandmother. I thank God that she chose to give me life rather than abort me. I can't imagine that God would want me to act fake and pretend to be all adoring to my mother when I really just don't like her. I'm not sure that my answer helps but it's the best that I can come up with regarding my own situation.
2006-12-12 13:29:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To honor means to obey. Unfornuately, we have people, parents as well as others, that attempt to use the Bible to fit their comfort. God gave us common sense. If you are being abused, you should tell someone that will listen. You are not alone. At not time, do I believe, that God meant this commandment for others to abuse and use it for their own desires. The person that is writing this came from one abusive home and was placed in another. I did tell and eventually was placed in a safe and secure environment. Tell!!!
2006-12-12 13:33:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know where you're coming from. I experienced all those types of abuse, and I can tell you it's a difficult leap of faith. Let me try and explain it.
God commands us to honor our parents because our parents are supposed to reflect man's relationship with God. He has appointed them with authority over you, so you must obey and honor them.
If they violate that trust, that's a separate issue. They will not escape God's judgement and punishment for abusing that power and for abusing the child. But none of that releases the child from his/her obligation to obey God.
So, the question is, what does it mean to honor your father and mother? Let me assure you that God does NOT expect people to follow immoral orders from tyranical parents. Sometimes, the best way to honor your parents is not to allow yourself to be destroyed by their bad parenting. It is an undeserved honor if your children grow up to be honorable, despite your bad example, and refuse to use their bad experiences as an excuse.
2006-12-12 13:31:29 · answer #5 · answered by Privratnik 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To honor means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect (but not to obey them if this means disobedience to God.) It means following their teaching and example of putting God first. Parents have a special place in God's sight. Even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them.
2006-12-12 15:20:09 · answer #6 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't expect us to honour sin in anyones lives. What He means in this commandment, I believe, is that we are not to act in such a way as to be willfully disobedient to them in the GOOD things they are trying to instill in us, or to be hateful or unforgiving towards them for their failures; and lets face it; they WILL FAIL, we ALL DO as parents. Only God is the perfect parent, and sometimes children can go through their entire lives blaming everything on their upbringing rather than at SOME point decide to take responsibility for their own actions.
2006-12-12 13:32:30 · answer #7 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How on earth can a child learn to "honor" anybody....when they have never been treated with honor themselves?
Give me a break.
2006-12-13 07:10:32 · answer #8 · answered by canwynn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love him, pray for him, and stay quiet once you spot this abuse he inflicts on himself. once you do finally get on your own then you are extra able to confront him, yet continually, continually say issues in love. let him comprehend that you adore Him. do not, even with the undeniable fact that, enable him. by this I recommend that if he ever would ask you what you idea-about his abusive then lay out your concerns. do not tell him it truly is okay. on the instantaneous he doesn't favor to hearken to it. Heroine is between the worst drugs round for it consumes someone and at the same time skins them alive. Pray that the Lord would position your dad contained in the area to repent and turn from his ideas. it will be demanding to video exhibit, even with the undeniable fact that it ought to take position. i will pray alongside with you. God Bless.
2016-11-25 23:56:29 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should honor everyone and the ones who do bad things you
bless them walk away and live your life not allowing them to influence yours
2006-12-12 13:28:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋