Rule from beneath: Why to fear your child

Many parents see their children as property, and hate them as such. It is sadly common for parents to commodify their children. Parents need to fear their children, just as biblical parents feared their children. In biblical times, children weren't like they are today. They were submissive yet empowered towards parents.

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 "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to "stirring up" upset and resentment in children, referencing the Jewish adage of "stirring the pot" regarding a child's emotional wellbeing. This referred to the emotional state of children in ancient Judeo-Christian society, which was calm and subdued in public, and very hyperactive and rambunctious in the presence of parents. The idea behind this command was not to provoke children to anger, meaning provoke a wrathful reaction from them from punitive attitudes in parenting. This commandment was intended as a ban on corporal punishment throughout the Christian Churches of God, with good Christian parents being afraid of the wrath of their child. Children were seen as very convicting figures, and an example of vulnerability used to convict an adult. Anyone who didn't care about the emotions of a child, and didn't care about the emotional wrath and demands of a child, were seen as cold and callous in both Hebrew and Christian communities.

Children in the biblical context were very open about their feelings with parents. The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to surrender to parents in response to the surrender of parents. Children surrender their emotions to their parents, showing their true selves to parents and parents alone, demanding things from parents, with parents supplying their every need, surrendering to the demands and lawful orders of children. Mutual surrender was the parenting norm in ancient Judeo-Christian culture, with the burden of proof falling always on the parent to submit to the child's needs, earning closeness in return from children, then respect later. Rome reversed the roles in parent-child relationships, meaning parents have to prove their worth, not children, whereas Rome would have it the opposite.

Every single adult is guilty for existing in relation to children, with parents and adults alike being struck with reverent fear and terror or children and their every vulnerable need, showing reverence for the convicting vulnerability of children, being blindly subject to the every vulnerable need of children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, engaging in good works for children, being and feeling grateful for one's fruitful toil and labor as a parent (Heb. 12:11). This convicted, hardworking attitude was the norm in ancient Israel and adjoining churches.

Children ruled from beneath in biblical times, meaning though they were technically subservient to parents, children had much leverage to manipulate adult decisions from beneath, with children being seen as a vulnerable yet convicting extension of God. Parents were loving, charitable extensions of Christ over children, loving children and serving their needs like in the same spirit that they would the needs of God.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their 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 prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!