Why children should have no rules under proper biblical parenting (they set the rules for themselves)

Many parents think that children need rules. Even with our parents here, in the beginning stages, there are rules, but no punishments or rewards attached. That is what gentle parenting actually is, meaning no punishments or rewards, and it is where most parent-child relationships end up in adulthood in many modern homes, where there is no spanking but it starts with time-out, which most parents give up anyway and want a friendship with their child. Children, however, in the biblical context, didn't have rules apart from the values modeled by parents.

It says in Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, as this is right. Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: bur bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to providing custody, meaning secure, vulnerable rest and trust in the love and grace of parents, with children being themselves in relation to parents, being able to tell them anything and share everything with them, with children fearing no punishment or reprisal, owing absolutely nothing towards parents, yet nonetheless showing gratitude and thanksgiving by way of emulating the example and teaching of parents. Children are not seen as extensions of parents, but extensions of God, and if you hurt or dishonor a child, you mean that to God, even if you don't physically (Matt. 25:31-46). Children were seen as convicting beings, meaning there was almost no fight - children got what they needed, and a lot of what they wanted too, meaning all benign wants. Children got their way, and when they didn't, it usually involved risk of serious bodily injury or death. Otherwise, the attitude showing the reverent fear of children was "how could you say no to...?" with an addendum of "they're only little once". Parents revered and feared their children, to the point of doting on them, both mother and father, with father being more distant and encouraging.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to the chastening of the Lord, meaning self-discipline and self-control that sets an example for children that emulates said self-control and self-discipline. The idea is that children listen most to the example of their parents, and then to the rare instruction of parents. This sort of conformity is not immediate, but is the outcome of exemplary teaching of children. Before then, children demand, and parents supply needs, or else reassure and validate the child's upset, with parents bearing the brunt of their child's every demand and upset, centering themselves in their self-restraint. Many times, when children did ask questions (which was welcomed with open arms) about Christian teachings in particular, they were met with a question that got them thinking, and then handed the right Scripture to internalize morality on their own, at their own pace. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the admonition of the Lord, namely instructions, meaning limits and boundaries, namely the word "no" and its various variants. Basically, any momentary instruction from a parent is the admonition of the Lord, and it should be rare, and it should be given without punishment, as a non-binding judgment. An example of the admonition of the Lord is putting a stop to buying the expensive toy, in which case "no" can even be supplemented by "We can't afford it" and if they are too young to understand, just pick them up and wipe away their tears. These two tenets are weighed by the pacifism of the Lord, which should be constant in a family home no matter what, which is denoted in the negative by the Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and literally translates to "bitter anger" and refers to the offenses under the Eighth Commandment of the Bible, meaning the slightest of offense perceived by the child, coming from parental entitlement, which is denoted by the Greek root word πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) which refers to the attitude of "I am the parent, and I deserve respect/want friendship" leading to seeking to imposing said standard or want onto children, leading to theft/abuse by way of offense perceived, deeming any adult behavior to be entitled until proven otherwise by the apology of the parent.

Children in the biblical context had no rules, meaning most children today have to grapple with the in-hone solicitor turned judge and jury, who metes out rules and consequences to punish the violation of rules. That's not how it was then, meaning children had every right to tell off their parents, in the form of reverent rebellion, meaning respect included children telling parents off about an unmet need, with parents respecting the blunt honesty of children, usually in their emotions, later, and chastening themselves up in that respect. Reverent rebellion, in this context, means children were allowed to rebel against parents, in a way that vented every upset into parents, with parents being expected to turn the other cheek and take the brunt of their child's upset and anger, wearing a smile despite a 4-year-old saying "I hate you", in which case a parent should lovingly say, with a smile "I love you too", showing restraint in the face of perceived adversity from one's child. Children then almost never left the line of sight of parents, meaning infants up to age 3 were swaddled next to mothers, with mothers breastfeeding children everywhere, at home or out and about, in constant closeness with children up until age 6, when they went with their father for the day, meaning that is when children usually started asking questions about God and Jesus.

The depraved and entitled parents will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them burn in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend forever end ever into the lake of fire where all entitled, punitive parents! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!