Expanding child abuse definitions: Why the Bible endorses stronger laws to protect children

Many American parents think that the child abuse definitions should stay the same. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents believe that the Bible offers no solutions to our child abuse epidemic. However, the Bible is clear as to what child abuse is, and what it isn't. 

The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, parental entitlement is when an adult throws a temper tantrum when they don't get what they feel that they deserve from children. Any adult anger towards a child in the Bible was seen as parental entitlement. When this temper tantrum led to offenses or damages perceived by the child, it became child abuse. See Colossians 3:21 KJV:

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Sweden was the first country to ban all punitive parenting in modern times, with Sweden officially banning all punishment of a child, including corporal punishment, in 1979. However, certain ancient cultures banned all punitive treatment of a child. The Early Church prohibited all forms of punitive parenting, including corporal punishment. Roman law mandated that a parent discipline their children using punitive means. However, Christian parents then obeyed God over men, and refused to punish their children at all. In Ancient Israel proper, attachment parenting was the norm, with the only corporal punishment being for adults, in the form of the 40 minus 1 lashes. Christ did away with the harsh punishments in the Old Testament through His work on the cross.

Modern Israel banned punitive parenting in 2000. The 2000 ban on all punitive parenting was to allow for the secular courts to enforce child abuse law, extending to the parents the law by way of allowing the police to both make arrests and collect children when the family courts - who were sectarian in nature - refused to enforce existing law. Israel, ever since its 1948 founding, has never had a legal defense for punishment or force in parenting. 

Since the ban, Israel passed a law against domestic violence, and included in that law any punishment or reprimands towards a child. The law was the first law in the region to prohibit all forms of domestic violence, including domestic violence against children. Any violence or force in a family home is now considered domestic violence in the context of that home.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

 

Crying: Why crying is not bad behavior

Many parents think that a child who cries is being "naughty" or "bad". This s a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents punish children merely for crying. However, the fact of the matter is that children growing up in the Early Church were allowed to cry, with crying being responded to by mothers as communicating a need.

Tending to a crying child is part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely on parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40, 25:31-46.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Crying was not seen in the Early Church as bad behavior by parents when children cried. Crying coming from a child was seen as simply communicating a need, not seeking to "undermine" parents. When children cried, mothers cooed before picking them in skin-on-skin warmth and sustenance, and from there, she diagnosed the need and then met it. Maybe the child was tired. Maybe the child was hungry. Maybe the child needed mom's milk. Maybe the child needed mom, period. Whatever the child needed, and cried about, mom was there to meet that need.

Children have five basic categories of need; food, water, shelter, transportation, and attachment - with the greatest of these being attachment! Children growing up in the Early Church advocated for these needs by way of crying. Whenever children cried, mothers responded to the every cry of a child, not just the cries that she "allowed". 

A common reason for children growing up in the Early Church crying was the word "no". For the most part, parents were commanded under customary law to heel to the commands of their children. The only time parents could righteously usurp the command of their child was if the command from the child was unsafe, unworkable, and/or immoral. Even then, parents had to give an explanation and provide reassurance. But, most of the time, parents struck up a compromise with their children as opposed to a flat out "no".

The main thing a crying child needs is skin-on-skin sustaining warmth from mothers.  Children growing up in the Early Church were picked up and held close to the bosom of mothers when children cried, perhaps in swaddling blankets when mothers were out and about with children under age 6. The female breasts were not designed primarily for sexualization coming from men, but instead were there to nurture children. Children growing up in the Early Church were treated to being held close to mother's bosom, and from there, they could literally hear the heartbeat of the mother. The heartbeat of the mother pacified the child while crying. Mothers co-snuggled next to their children whenever possible when children cries, with both mother and child being naked within the confines of the family home.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Mutual respect: Why respect in parenting is earned

Many parents feel deserving of respect from children. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most parents in America punish and reprimand their children in order to "get" them to respect them. However, parents are instead commanded to respect their children first, in order for children to give back later.

Mutual respect is a part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely on the parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, with parents submitting to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 7:12, 22:35-40, 25-31:46.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as bolding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brough their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Respect for parents was a thing in the biblical context, but with respect meaning closeness to parents, not fear of parents. For the first 6 years of childhood, children were in constant closeness to parents, meaning that wherever mothers went, so did her child. For the first 2 years of childhood, children were constantly held by mothers, either in her loving arms, or on mom's back in a papoose bag when her hands were full. Between ages 2-6, children ranged next to mothers, following her around from room to room, not allowing mom out of their line of sight, morbidly fearing that mom would "go away and never come back". Whenever children cried, mothers cooed at their children before picking them up, and from there, she diagnosed the need and met it. Maybe the child was tired. Maybe the child was hungry. Maybe the child needed mom's milk. Maybe the child needed mom, period. Whenever mothers were out and about with children, mom wrapped up her child in swaddling blankets, with the swaddling blankets - and the child with them - tucked underneath the loose-fitting, revealing dress worn by mothers that resembled an apron. Come nightfall, children slept next to their mother in skin-on-skin format, with this skin-on-skin co-sleeping warmth, until the child reached the onset of puberty, which was when most children wanted their own place to sleep. Children went naked wherever they went, with mothers also going naked within the confines of the family home. This birth nudity setup allowed for easy skin-on-skin warmth and sustenance, as children received skin-on-skin rays of closeness even when simply picked up.

Respect in parenting is not handed out for free by children on a silver platter. Instead, respect is earned in parenting. Parents are deserving of absolutely nothing from children. Not even forgiveness. Not even respect. Not even affection. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. The doctrine of mutual respect means that respect is earned in parenting, not handed out for free. There is no free ride in parenting. All praise and respect in parenting is earned.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Attention-seeking behavior: Why children need attention in order to thrive

Many parents think that attention-seeking behavior in children is bad behavior. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents punish attention-seeking behavior in children. However, the fact of the matter is that attention is a core need for children. 

Giving children attention is part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof in a mutual submission relationship between parent and child. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40; 25:31-46.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Children have five basic categories of needs; food, water, shelter, transportation, and attachment - and the greatest of these is attachment! Children growing up in the Early Church were given plenty of attention, from day one. Attention was seen then as a core need for children to get from parents.

Most mischief that begs for your attention does in fact communicate a need for attention. When children don't get the attention that they need, they act our in a plethora of ways to get the attention that they need. So, why not pamper then with the attention beforehand?

What should a parent do when their child is just begging for your attention in their behaviors? The idea is to laugh with your child, and then clean up the mess later. If a child wants to show you their beautiful masterpiece on the wall, laugh with them, and then clean it up yourself later. 

Children growing up in the Early Church got the attention they needed during the first 6 years of childhood. Children then were given constant attention on the part of parents. Children were in constant closeness to mothers for the first 6 years of childhood, with children being held during the first 2 years of childhood, and then the children ranged next to mothers in the confines of the family home between ages 2-6. When children get the attention they need during the first 6 years of childhood, they don't act out for attention later in childhood. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Righteous child worship: Why children were seen as extensions of God in the family home

Many parents think that parenting is akin to being God. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents think they are like God in the context of parenting. However, parenting in biblical times was instead seen as serving God, with children being extended to the doorstep of parents for love and charity.

God's Word states in Matthew 25:45-46 KJV: 

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Children were seen in biblical times as among the "least of these". Children, in biblical times, were seen as extensions of God, with children being extended by God to the doorstep of parents for love and charity coming from parents. Love for a child was seen as full and dutiful submission to children, with children being an extension of God. The Early Christians were a child worshipping people, meaning that they submitted to God through their child, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return.

Righteous child worship is part of the doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely on the parents in that relationship. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Righteous child worship was seen as submission to children just as a parent would to God. Children were seen in biblical times as extensions of God on the doorstep of parents, for purposes of love and charity. Parenting a child was not seen as like being God, but instead was seen as serving God. Children worked for their child, hoping for a lump sum at the end - meaning that children are as independent as possible.

Whenever children cried, it was seen as a summonses extended by God at the doorstep of parents. Mothers responded to the every cry of their child, by way of cooing at their children before picking them up, and from there, she diagnosed the need and then met that need/ Maybe the child was tired. Maybe the child was hungry. Maybe the child needed mom's milk. Maybe the child needed mom, period. With any need, neglecting to give children what they need was seen as doing the same to God.

Punishing a child was clearly seen as punishing God in the Early Church. Whatever you did to a child or did not do to a child, you did so to God. If a parent spanked a child, or put them in time-out, they did the same to God.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Righteous submission: Why parents are to submit to their children

Many parents think that their children are to submit to them. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents believe that they love their children. But, do they really? Love is not a feeling, but instead is a verb. Christian love for your child can be understood in terms of righteous submission.

God's Word reads in Matthew 22:35-40 KJV:

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law. Jesus said unto them, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Greek root word translated "love" is αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to, in the context of parenting, full and dutiful submission towards a child just as one would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. Love for a child is charity towards a child, meaning parents are to give without receiving. Parenting is supposed to be a thankless job, as no parent is deserving of praise just for existing. Parenting in biblical times was seen as bondservice for a lump sum, with that lump sum being when children are as independent as possible.

Children are to rest in the love and submission of parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to their children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 25:31-46.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon. 

Righteous submission to children involves heeling to the command of a child. Most parents in the Early Church heeled to the command of their children, working so that children can have their rest in the love and submission of parents. The only way that a parent could lawfully say "no" to a child's command was when that command was unsafe, unworkable, and/or immoral. Even then, parents and children usually struck up a compromise, as opposed to a flat out "no".

Righteous submission can be understood in policing terms. Parents should give up the fight with their children, and give in to the command of their children. Christian parents in the Early Church were under the righteous command of their children, fearing children just as they would God. Sometimes, parents absolutely had to say "no", in which case the child was given an explanation and then a reassurance.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

 

 

Parent anger: Why not to get angry at your child

Many parents think that they are deserving of things from children. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents take for granted the anger they feel towards children. However, parents are not allowed to even get angry towards children under God's Law. 

The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, parental entitlement is when parents throw a temper tantrum for not getting what they feel that they deserve from children. Any anger towards a child was seen as parental entitlement in biblical times. When children were offended by the temper tantrum coming from adults, it was deemed child abuse. See also Colossians 3:21 KJV:

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards a child. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Parent anger, as well as adult anger, was seen in the Early Church as akin to a viper pouncing on a child. Anger was allowed for parents in biblical times, but only on behalf of the child. Getting angry TOWARDS a child was what was banned in the Early Church. See Matthew 5:21-22 KJV:

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry at his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell.

"Without a cause" means here that any time you are angry with your child, you are guilty of entitled anger. There is no reason to be angry towards a child in parenting. Children were seen as indemnified in the eyes of open court, meaning they could not be blamed for acts committed when they were still children. Blasphemy offenses such as fornication could be judged, but only in reverse coloration format once they were to be baptized into the church as an adult. Any child who died before knowing Christ went to Heaven, as children were seen as doing no wrong, even when they did do wrong technically legally.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!