Pro-social deification, pro-social child worship: Why children were worshipped in biblical times

Many parents think biblical times were harsh and punitive for children. Rumors flow about how children were treated in biblical times, such as children having to work around the house, and the much more flagrantly false context of young boys being whipped starting at age 6. The fact of the matter is that children were worshipped in biblical times, as ancient Hebrew culture was child worshipping culture.

Jesus Christ said in Matthew 25:45-46 KJV:

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

This refers to pro-social child worship. Children in biblical times were seen as extensions of God, striking reverent fear and terror into parents with their vulnerability, with them seen as signs of God. Whatever a child wanted/needed was what God needed of parents. Parents are to submit to God through their children, by dutifully and selflessly submitting to their children. Christian love for a child, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao), and refers to putting the child first, and yourself last, to the point of submission to the child, being convicted dutifully of their needs, and prioritizing them, leading to total acceptance of one's child, coming from total submission to said child. Children then rest in the love and grace of parents, in mutual submission between parent and child. See 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" directly is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to restful surrender in the loving arms of parents. Parents in ancient Israel and adjoining churches relied on attachment parenting as a means of bringing up children, with children being wrapped up by their mothers with swaddling blankets into adulthood, with children at least age 3 being weaned from mother's milk. Older children alternated between free play within the line of sight of parents, and closeness to parents, with parents being "home base", meaning a safe place for rest and respite. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to provocations to anger against a child, meaning the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child. The Apostle Paul intended this to include any sort of punitive parenting, such as spanking, corporal punishment, or any punishment, regardless. Paul here was rebuking Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking children into the church. Punishing a child was defensible under Roman law, but never Jewish law. Under Jewish law in the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting (chenek) after 40 minus 1 lashes with the rod of correction - the same one described in "rod verses" such as Prov. 13:24 and Heb 12:5-11. The rod of correction was applied only to ADULT children as a sentence for crime. The verbiage in the English translation is vague, but only adult children are being referred to, and with the whipping only happening after a criminal trial for a capital offense under Jewish law. All capital and corporal punishment was abolished by Christ on the cross by Him enduring both forms of punishment, so we as God's children don't have to.

Children in ancient Israel and adjoining churches were seen as vulnerable yet convicting extensions of God, striking reverent fear and terror into all adults entrusted in their care, with adults shaking and quaking in the fearsome menace that is the vulnerable needs of children, and the assertive and demanding attitudes children took when petitioning for needs and a redress of grievances. Children usually got what they wanted in biblical times, and then some of what they needed alongside reassurance and validation when they didn't get their way. Children in ancient Israel were not spoiled, but parents usually compromised with their children instead of totally shutting them down, usually finding ways for things to work for both parent and child. The opinions of children were heavily valued in biblical times, and life changes such as moving to a new house might have been due to an immature fear a child attached to the old house. This context is to be applied today to the degree it can be, given the level of entitlement in the parent.

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 into the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!