To what extent do we honor our parents?

[Readthebook]

The Bible teaches us to honor our parents. Does that mean "no matter what?" I was lucky to have a good mother. She has dementia as a result of two strokes. I have her here at home because she needs the support of her family. What if she had been a bad mother; a mother who abused me and did not raise me in a loving home? Would I still be held to that commandment? What of fathers who sexually abuse their children? How much honor do bad parents deserve?

[Job_38]

You do as such until it goes against Gods teachings, then you do not obey. God is before your parents.

[Blessed-one]

and hopefully as one grows up, one will learn to bestow mercy and love on one's parents, so that changes can be brought through love.

this thread has been moved to a more appropriate forum.

[fieldmouse3]

To me, honoring your parents means respecting their wishes, doing what they say, ect, unless it goes against God's teachings, as others have said.

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by fieldmouse3
To me, honoring your parents means respecting their wishes

That needs to be defined a little more explicitly. Does "respecting their wishes" include things like whom you marry or what hair style you have? Why or why not?

[CaptKC]

To certain extent, you have to be your own person. God also made you who you are, not who your parents want you to become...

[eldermike]

We can honor "bad parents" by forgiving them. God intended that whole families be in His will which makes going from one generation to the next much easier. Many families are not that way but God is fully capable of picking up all the pieces once a child becomes an adult. We are also told to leave our fathers and mothers and to cleave to one spouse (a new generation). So, no matter how one is raised we have to assume the responsibility of begining a new chain, it starts with us. Otherwise we are making a decision to continue generational sin.

Blessings

[BeanMak]

I agree with eldermike. We can respect "bad" parents by not speaking ill of them, and forgiving them.

As far as "resecting their wishes", regarding marriage or hair style, you can respect them by listening to their rational for their decision, not arguing, but you don't necessarily have to "mind" them.