Rule from beneath: The biblical tradition of reverent rebellion in parenting

Many parents believe in surrender from their children. In the United States, most parents prefer to get their parenting advice from religious sources, and the wrong ones usually, meaning pro-spanking sources. The fact of the matter is that children rule from beneath in relation to children. The doctrine of reverent rebellion is a Christian tradition dating back to its Jewish roots.

The doctrine of mutual surrender is the command for all Christian parents. Rome reversed the roles, so we reverse it back. 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, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to closeness in parenting leading to respect for parents, by way of secure attachment. This secure attachment, however, is policing in nature, meaning children demand, then parents supply or supplement, then children are happy and grateful in relation to parents, in a way that they can tell parents anything and not fear punishment or reprisal, ordering parents around, with parents providing for the every need of a child with a shamefaced smile, convicted of their wicked and entitled nature in relation to children, expecting absolutely nothing in relation to children. Children in the biblical context were treated as infants behaviorally, and were breastfed, until age 3, sleeping with mothers in the nude at night until adulthood, with mothers and daughters inseparable until she reached the age of majority. Children were needy and demanding in the biblical context, and parents supplied and supplemented the demands of children, reverently fearing their children, struck with reverent terror as to their needs, accepting their children completely and with trembling fear.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and literally translates to "stirring up" upset and resentment in children, referencing the Jewish idiom of "stirring the pot". This ultimately refers to offenses against children under the Law, meaning the slightest of offense perceived by the child, including any physical or mental punishment of a child. The Apostle Paul was, in vs. 21, chastising parents of Hellenistic descent for corporal punishing their children and treating them harshly, meaning with any punishment whatsoever. The Early Christian norm was attachment parenting, and Paul recommended it to all parents in the Early Christian churches of God. The attachment parenting recommended was based off of the Living Example of Christ, meaning being charitable with children in a way that teaches the charity and generosity that Christ emulated to the world, being the salt and light for one's children, meaning safe people to talk to and unload with, with parents being charitable and kind to children. Paul was ultimately warning that any punishment of a child would result in the child being harsh with parents in the form of unhealthy rebellion. Reverent rebellion was children telling parents how to raise them, and parents surrendering to such warning from children, with that rebuke seen as a petition for a need or redress of grievances, and thus listening to the child's needs. Children were extensions of God in a vulnerable yet convicting way, being the "least of these" on this earth.

Children ruled their parents from beneath, being submissive yet empowered. Children were subservient to parents in that parents were the leaders of children, but parents were not authority figures of young children. The Greek root word for "parent" is γονεύς (Latin: goneus) doesn't translate to an authority figure, by the connotations of the context, but to leadership, and that included many times children leading parents to what they need, not parents telling children what they need, meaning parents were open ears for the child's petitions of needs and redress of grievances, meaning children could complain that they were being treated unfairly, and parents had to hear them out. Parents couldn't complain much, however, since parents were bound and beholden to their child's needs, just as Christ is bound and beholden to the needs of His children. Children had a stronghold on their parents, and parents had to be kind and charitable, smiling shamefacedly in the service of their parental duties, lovingly diagnosing the needs of their children, accepting their children fearfully and reverently, expecting absolutely nothing in return for their acts of service to the child's needs.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Children rule parents, and judge them accordingly based on how they were treated as the "least of these" and thus extensions 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!