Role of Parents of Adults

Question: What is the role of biblical headship when you have unmarried adult daughters at home? What does it look like?

Answer:

A parent will always be a parent, no matter how old your kids are. Your spiritual responsibilities remain just as much as your natural responsibilities remain. At this stage, they should be mature enough to appreciate any advice from their parents, spiritual or not. And they should be going to you for advice. Just don’t shun them off due to age, if anything. My parents are also my spiritual parents. They raised me up both naturally and spiritually. And age doesn’t graduate anyone from having spiritual parents. Even if they are married, you still have Biblical responsibility to lead them. Because when they get married, you’re still their mom. Even after you pass away, you are still their mom. Nothing will ever change that.

Question in response:

Does the leading become more of a walking beside?

Answer:

Not really. Spiritual parents have spiritual authority. This means that they have authority in the spiritual realm. When they pray for you٫ their prayers are very effective because they have authority in the spiritual realm. Similar to when Moses interceeded for Joshua as his spiritual authority and father while he fought (Exodus 17). They also have authority to bless٫ as when Jacob blesses his sons in Genesis 48. Spiritual authority is a good thing. It is like a covering of protection when the enemy attacks. Like an umbrella. i.e. They enemy cannot touch you if the mother bear is around. 

It is also a sonship relationship. Like how Jewish fathers train٫ guide٫ prepare and approve his son towards his wedding day. This includes financial stability and housing.

It is a father-son relationship٫ the linking of the generations much required٫ as stated in Malachi 4:6.