Cripes
MUM2BLESS - yes, I am a Christian and yes, I would agree that my faith helps me daily, minute by minute, with my parenting. However, this has nothing to do with any concept of my kids 'honouring' me because that is what it says in the bible. In fact my kids would be hard pressed to tell you anything that appears in the bible, with the possible exception of the whole Baby Jesus thing, and Noah's Ark, and Daniel and the Lions etc.
What helps me as a parent is the security and calm of being unconditionally loved, and the knowledge that whatever I get wrong, however badly I screw up, I can try again tomorrow with a clean slate because (contrary to OldLady's comment) no-one is keeping score. That's how my faith helps my parenting (and, incidentally, this is pretty much the sum total of my kid's religious instruction from me - that and answering any questions they have as and when they arise). This isn't the case for everyone and, although I would love it if everyone shared my faith (simply because I perceive it as a 'good thing' which helps me no end) I would never in a million years suggest that parents 'fail' because they have no faith and do not teach their children faith. Parent's 'fail' (and I use the word in its loosest possible sense) for a whole host of different reasons, most of them to do with a lack of practical support and real role models. God is a guide and a support, not a role model.
My children 'obey' me (mostly ) not because God tells them to but because I (or my husband) tell them to. I'm in charge, and my kids know the fearful vengence that will be wrought if they fail to obey .
I will agree with you though that it isn't a question of just reading the bible, but 'studying' it: that is to say, it is necessary to understand in context the individual parts of the Bible, which may include coming to the conclusion that parts of the Bible are allegory or myth common to all religious traditions and cultures(much of the OT, for example). Also, it is important to be aware of how passages have been translated through the ages and the fact that word usage has changed imeasurably over the years to the point that when we read a passage we find that it means something to us that would be very different to what it would have meant way back (eg the quote 'suffer the children' above - this is, in full, 'suffer the children to come to us' which today would be translated something along the lines of 'don't turn them away, let them come, let them be children - they are important'. It has nothing to do with making children suffer )
Also, I think it's worth remembering the vast difference there is between Christian teaching (ie what the Bible says / what Jesus says) and Church teaching. Much of church doctrine has no basis at all in the gospels and has been used through the ages to suppress and control the people (there's a good reason, for example, that there was such an uproar in the C16th at the idea that the Bible should be available in people's own languages, rather than Latin - I mean, imagine the revolution if people began to understand what the Bible actually said )
My point is that blindly teaching our children religious doctrine will not help them to grow into rounded, free thinking, adults - nor will it improve their discipline as children, unless it is through fear of retribution. By all means teach them that they are loved and valued as they are, and give them a good grounding in 'right and wrong', basic moral and ethical questions and, if it seems relevant, you can also teach them what the Bible says on any given subject. But if you do, it should only be one side of the story.
Yes, my faith helps me to parent and yes, I believe it would help many others too if they allowed it to. What helps me as much though is the friendships and support I have gained through my church community. This is what is lacking today, I believe - proper extended communities, role models, and practical support. Church attendance is one way of bringing that into your life (and, for me, the best way). But there are many other ways.