In this candid episode of Naughty vs Nice, we tackle the misunderstood command: “Honor your father and mother.” What does honor look like when parents (or authority figures) are manipulative, unsafe, or abusive? Laura, Todd, and Kelly unpack the biblical meaning of honor (Strong’s G5092, timē: value willingly assigned), why honor ≠ unlimited access, and how boundaries, truth-telling, and wise distance can be profoundly honoring—and more loving—than passive compliance.

We explore:

How Scripture frames honor as authentic, willing value, not coerced obedience.

The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation (and why reconciliation can require time, fruit, and safety).

Boundaries you can actually enforce—and how to communicate them.

Evaluating good vs. bad fruit and why “service” alone isn’t spiritual fruit.

Why obeying God rather than people matters when Scripture is weaponized.

What churches should do when abuse surfaces: advocate, report, protect.

Practical questions to discern health vs. harm in family dynamics.

If you’ve been told “honor” means enduring mistreatment, this conversation aims to untangle theology and give biblically grounded, real-world tools for walking in truth, love, and safety.

Scripture

People / Works Mentioned

Strong’s Concordance (G5092, timē, “honor”)

Timothy Keller (teaching on Ephesians 6 and parenting dynamics)

Example narratives referenced: Jacob & Esau; Isaac & Ishmael; Paul & Barnabas (Acts 15:36–41)