"Back talk": Why children are allowed to talk back to parents

Many parents want children to be obedient and listen to directions, and many expect children not to question parents. Many parents cite the Bible as to their "proof" that children have to listen, especially the Fifth Commandment. The fact of the matter is that back talk has nothing to do with child surrender. 

The Fifth Commandment, in full, denotes the teaching of mutual submission and respect between parent and child. It says in 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 become discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest and trust in relation to parents, with children demanding needs and benign wants, and parents supplying said demands, with children being able to talk about anything and everything under the sun with parents, being themselves in relation to parents, owing nothing in return to parents, and parents deserving nothing in return from children for their good works for children, yet nonetheless with children showing gratitude and thanksgiving for the charity and generosity of parents by emulating the example and instruction of parents. The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to "stirring up" anger and upset in children, referring to the Greek idiom "stirring the pot" regarding one's child's emotions, leading to the offenses under the Law, meaning the torts and damages system under the Eighth Commandment, including assault and battery laws that protected children as well as adults. Striking a child then was illegal, as was the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child. Any sort of punishment was seen as kidnapping, due to the hostage-taking nature of it.

Children in the biblical context were allowed to talk back to parents, meaning be open and honest about their feelings towards parents. Children then were very close to parents, meaning treated as infants until age 3 and swaddled to the bosom of mothers, with older children carried on the mother's back in a papoose bag, with children nestled closely with parents, resting in closeness to parents, leading to cooperation between parents and children. Children were allowed to talk back, meaning verbally defy or oppose parents, and parents took the brunt of the anger of children, listening and validating the child's upset, with children being allowed to be vocal and outspoken about their needs, and their parents respecting the child later for standing up for themselves. The goal of parenting then was independence, not blind compliance, and closeness to parents lead to the sheltering and cushioning needed for children to be independent apart from parents in a resourceful way. They got out all their emotions on their parents, and thus become more mature faster due to not having their emotional development stifled by punishment and controlling attitudes, which were illegal then under the Mosaic Law, and possibly punishable by death for kidnapping in the Old Testament. Most younger men who got the rod of correction were guilty of child abuse, not rebellion against parents.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them burn and languish in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death, which is Satan's final resting place! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!