"Back talk": Why children have the right to talk back

Many parents think that children shouldn't "talk back" to parents, and that children deserve punishment for talking back to parents. This is a common belief among American parents. However, children are allowed to talk back in the Bible. It is a myth that talking back to parents is disrespectful to parents by the biblical definition. 

The centerpiece of a Christian parenting relationship is Christian love, which is denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to putting children first, and yourself as a parent last, in a convicted way leading to dutiful and selfless submission to children and their every vulnerable need, expecting absolutely nothing in return from children or others, with children resting safely and securely in 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. This form of respect for parents doesn't come from fearful compliance, but instead comes from restful trust in parents, with children telling parents anything and everything on their mind, including statements of contempt and resentment, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. Attachment parenting was the norm in Ancient Israel and the Early Church, with children venting into parents what upset them, and with that because children felt safe venting into parents how they felt, and parents listened and validated, not judged and condemned children for their emotions.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, namely child abuse in this context. Child abuse is defined as the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child, coming from entitlement. In this commandment, the Apostle Paul was lifting up the Law on punishment and controlling demeanor of children, rebuking Greek Christians for their pagan spanking custom that they brought into the church, with the Greek Christians misusing the book of Proverbs even back then. Paul was warning of the fact that Proverbs was simply wisdom literature, not a book about parenting. Paul himself was anti-spanking, and opposed punishing a child for every reason. Spanking itself did not come from King Solomon, as Solomon was also anti-spanking in the case of raising children. The form of abuse instead came from Greek and Roman pagan practices, namely whippings in the case of boys, and spankings on the buttocks in the case of girls who went astray of chastity norms.

Children had the right, in biblical times, to talk back and even directly oppose parents, petitioning for needs and a redress of grievances. Children in biblical times demanded their needs/wants from parents, issuing orders and edicts in their demands, with parents giving in and giving up, surrendering to the demands of children with reverent fear.

The family setup was very different in biblical times than today, and didn't forbid children having an opinion. Mothers were charged with providing nourishment and sustenance in a selfless manner, namely breastmilk and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. Children in Ancient Israel and the Early Church went naked wherever they went, and mothers went naked in the confines of the family home, otherwise wearing a thin dress much like a two-sided apron. Mothers snuggled with their children while in the nude, or in skin-to-skin format using swaddling blankets underneath her dress. Children never left the side of mothers for the first 6 years, and that is because predators existed, from scorpions to fathers at-risk for committing childhood sexual assault - most Hebrew and Christian fathers were attracted to their own children, especially older daughters, in "sun tan spray" connotational format. Bedtime separation anxiety is hardwired into a child's brain, because they could be preyed upon, and the fact that most sexual abuse is committed by a parent figure is a reason why attachment parenting actually keeps children safe from all forms of harm. Attachment parenting of this magnitude is what was practiced then, and in an attachment parenting home, parents are like your therapist, meaning you can tell them anything, and they will listen non-judgmentally, as is God's plan for the home. God's order is the attachment parenting order of parenting. Attachment parenting allows for the child to vent their emotions into parents, and this shows that children feel safe around a parent. If a child can tell you anything that is on their mind, they are surrendering in the right way...The context contained herein this paragraph is written for background as to what parenting was like in biblical times. This context can and should be applied today, including the nudity part if intentions of both mother and child are pure.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!