Pro-social deification, pro-social child worship: How children were viewed in the biblical context

Many parents in the United States see themselves, at varying levels, as an extension of God, or else God Himself on earth. The fact of the matter is that Rome reversed it. Children are extended by God in the family home to charge their parents with their duties towards children. Ancient Israel and adjoining churches were child worshipping societies, in the sense that childhood had some divine meaning.

It says in Matthew 25:45-46 KJV:

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

This is Christ speaking as God on earth, for Jesus of Nazareth was God on earth, in man form, meaning whenever He gave a command like this, He was God on earth. Here, He is implicitly delegating His authority to children. Christ appeared not as a strong figure, but a vulnerable yet convicting figure. So are children in the biblical tense. The Hebraic concept is that God appears to convict people in the most vulnerable of people.

It says in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: as 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 and trust in the love and grace of parents, coming from sacrifice for one's child, in the spirit that Christ sacrificed for His children; taking up the cross for one's child, in the spirit that Christ took up the cross for His children; martyring oneself for one's child, with children resting securely in the sacrifice of parents, showing gratitude and thanksgiving by emulating the example and instruction of parents, expecting absolutely nothing in return. This Greek root word ultimately uplifts the traditional Judeo-Christian parenting context of the Bible, which is attachment-based in nature, in a policing way. Children went nude in the biblical context, and that was so their mothers could treat them with skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding them until age 3, with mother co-sleeping with their child in the nude at night until adulthood, with mothers and daughters being inseparable for protective reasons (Heb. 18:17; 1 Cor. 6:18; Col. 3:21). Policing attachment was the most common form of attachment in biblical times, including the Early Christian churches, in the form of reverent rebellion. Children demanded, and parents supplied, and did everything for their children, no matter how the request came - including even brusque orders - and once the parent did everything for the child, the child ended up being grateful for everything, and wanting to give back to parents in some way. Children were seen as vulnerable yet convicting extensions of God to heed and obey as if they were God on earth. Children have the right to demand their needs and petition for a redress of grievances to their parents, and once parents comply, children are grateful for the providence of parents, asking for more, with parents providing more. "Back talk" wasn't a concept in ancient Judeo-Christian cultures.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and literally translates to "stirring up" children, as in "stirring the pot" in terms of their emotional welfare, with the command in Col. 3:21 being interpreted as a command not to punish children in any way, shape, or form, including corporal punishment. This was a direct command from God through the Apostle Paul against all physical or other punishment in Christendom, uplifting a Jewish law on theft and kidnapping and applying it to children. Paul handed out attachment parenting manuals which recommended a form of attachment parenting based on a Christ-like example, with gentle warnings just as Christ warned His followers, meaning warnings of the educational variety. These manuals taught fathers in particular to channel their aggression and sex drives for their children inward, with pedophilia being an open struggle then, not a closed one. Fathers were taught to convert a linear attraction towards their daughter to a connotational one, by way of training those instincts inwards through self-stimulation. The idea of children as extensions of God wasn't to pray to God for mercy, but to serve God at law, meaning children are enforcers of God's Law on the adult populace. Children were enforcers of what they needed onto parents, and parents were giving examples of Christ, with children growing up to take on that Christ-like example.

Children were deified in ancient Israel and adjoining churches, meaning they were seen as extensions of God on earth, meaning because they were so vulnerable, they could rule adults from beneath, and have the security to order parents around, and parents were giving and charitable in biblical times, enduring the orders and demands of their children, toiling and laboring for their child's every need, with parenting being a thankless job, but with many thanks later going to good parents who respected children, not abusing them. Christians, in the Greco-Roman world, were hated for being too soft on their children, meaning "pansies" for their respectful and attached parenting choices. Ancient Judeo-Christian culture was child worshipping society, with children being seen as a reason to rejoice, as an extension of God, in a convicting way. Children had real power over their parents and the adults around them, as children were fully accepted, at least by their parents, in that culture. Becoming a parent then was seen as being struck with reverent fear for your child's needs by God, through the demands of one's child.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them burn 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!