Mutual respect: Why parents should respect their children first

Many parents in America demand respect from their children, usually backed up by punishment and control tactics. Respect is golden in society, but respect is earned. We have a lack of respect in our society because parents model disrespect to their children by disrespecting them. The burden of proof is on YOU, dear parents - respect your children.

Every single parent and adult is guilty in relation to children, and is deserving of DEATH and DESTRUCTION merely for existing in relation to children, with parents/adults being meek and shamefaced in relation to children. Parents especially are to put their children first, and themselves last, leading to dutiful and selfless submission to the every vulnerable need of children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with the child in place of God. Children are to be allowed to rest in the love and grace of parents. 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 to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Parents are to listen to and validate their child's every upset, with children not fearing any punishment or reprisal for confiding into parents, with parents expecting or demanding nothing in return for listening to their children, yet with the child being happy and grateful when well done. Attachment parenting was the norm in biblical times, with mothers wrapping up even older children in swaddling blankets, holding them close to their bosom in skin-to-skin closeness. Closeness was a goal for biblical parents in both ancient Israel and the Early Church, as parents held children close, breastfed them until age 3, and still held them close until they were age 6 at the earliest. Even after that, children ran to the comfort and closeness of mothers from time to time. The Greek root word translated "children" is τεκνον (Latin: teknon) and refers to anyone dependent on parents, just as adult believers are dependent on Christ. Yes, parents, you must also provide for your adult children who live at home. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to provocations to anger, referencing the commandment in Judaism and Christianity to love your neighbor and not provoke them to anger, with children being your neighbor, with this defined as the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including the slightest of offensive touch perceived by the child. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul as prohibiting all punishment and control of children, including spanking and other forms of corporal punishment. Paul here was rebuking Greek Christians who were misusing the book of Proverbs to justify their pagan purification ritual of spanking children. The seven verses in Proverbs that describe the rod of correction are repealed verses, as they reference a dated form of judicial corporal punishment unique to the Old Testament legal context - the 40 minus 1 lashes with the rod of correction. Such was a punishment for ADULT children that was closely conflated with the death penalty in ancient Israel, for offenders of all ages of adult. Minor children could not be charged with a crime, with parents apologizing for them in court.

Parents are to respect and love their children, and expect absolutely nothing in return. Children do not have to love parents back while dependent on them. Adult children should respect parents on the level that parents respect them, like a mirror. If a parent is being non-listening, the child has the right to be non-listening in return, with the obligation of listening falling on the party charged with the care and protection of the child - the parent. If a parent isn't being respectful, they shouldn't expect any respect in return. But, even if a parent is respectful, they shouldn't expect any respect in return as well, because respect is earned, not given on a silver platter by a child. In biblical times, parents showed respect to children, and did not expect any respect in return from children or others, loving their children unconditionally in a servile, attendant way.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! 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 Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath for all eternity! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!