So I'm sure Im not alone in this. How do you honor a parent who is not quite honorable? How do you protect your own children from the kind of hurt you experienced from them growing up? Shouldn't you be allowed to voice your objections when they continue to do hurtful things to you? How do you show honor and "resist not evil" and still protect yourself from an out of control parent? Is it right to remove yourself from their life? What's the Christian way to deal with difficult parents?
One has a duty to protect ones family against wrong teaching or action. Even if the parent is at fault you have a right to use moral persuasion, or even decisive action. There's a history of scriptural action against wrong doing. God Bless and guide your thoughts.
What highchurchman said. Consider it this way: to let them continue in their wrongdoing is to actually dishonor them. Prayers for you.
Many thanks for your kind words and prayers. God is working through this, as in all things. And will have his way in his good time. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
Most, if not All people, (including parents), are not quite honorable in at least some of their attitudes and deeds. When we reach the age of accountability with God though we are no longer responsible to our parents in matters of behavior and discipline, we are then responsible directly to God, and therefore become equally culpable, with our parents if we collude with them in their unrighteousness if it caused offence. For this reason we become accountable to God if we do not politely challenge any behaviour of our parents that is unacceptable to God. Obviously tact is required but eventually if the issue is serious enough and continues to cause problems, then sanctions will be necessary. Living God's way has never been always, 'a walk in the park'. Of course though, as equals under God, we should still be willing to consider advice or admonition from our parents, but as an equal, not a subordinate.
In the days of old Israel, everyone was under the leadership of the judges to make sure the parents were as upright as their children, thus it was easier to enforce these rules. But post-Israel, it is more like "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and give unto God, what is God's". Parents can only be obeyed so much as they obey and enforce what God is teaching.
Historic Anglican documents have answers on this topic: Dean Alexander Nowell, Middle Catechism, on the fifth commandment: http://www.anglican.net/works/alexa...-institution-of-christian-religion-1572/#p4-5 Bishop William Beveridge, Commentary on the Church Catechism, on the fifth commandment: http://www.anglican.net/works/william-beveridge-church-catechism-explained-1720/#p5-5