Reverent rebellion: Why the entitlement of children is understandable in nature

Many parents believe that children are entitled, and that is why they need discipline, usually in the form of punishment. The Christian teaching is that children are naturally rebellious. What does this mean for children? Under my Christian family values, children ARE entitled and rebellious, but isn't that what makes children who they are? Isn't it understandable that someone so young and inexperienced would be entitled and rebellious in their traits? 

The centerpiece of an attached Christian parenting relationship is Christian love, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao). This refers to Christian Agape love for children, namely prioritizing 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 does not come from fearful compliance, but instead restful trust in parents, with children telling parents anything and everything that is on their mind, including admissions of wrongdoing and non-conforming traits, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. In this accepting environment, children will then take after their parents, wanting to be like them, then following their example, with parents being their children's first role models. Children will not listen right away, meaning children have immature developmental traits, and thus a child of a certain age will not understand what is being told of them, as they are too young and their brain hasn't developed enough to even understand what parents or adults are asking of them.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, especially child abuse. Child abuse, under biblical law, at minimum, is the slightest of offense perceived by the child, including the slightest of offensive touch or speech, coming from entitlement. Child abuse, at minimum, is prosecutable as kidnapping/grand theft, or maybe fornication if the offense was sexual in nature. In this commandment, the Apostle Paul was lifting up the Law against punishment and controlling demeanor towards children, rebuking Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking children into the church. Christian parents of Greek origin were misusing the book of Proverbs to justify their punitive parenting habits. Paul was warning these parents that Proverbs is simply wisdom literature - a list of wise sayings - and not a book of parenting commands. The rod verses, in context, do not even refer to raising children, but to a form of judicial corporal punishment that was part of how Judaism was practiced then, meaning the 40 minus 1 lashes with the rod of correction to warn an evildoing ADULT child of them being put to death.

Children in biblical times were seen very differently than they are seen today. Children today are seen as pure and innocent. That was not the view of children in Ancient Jewish society, including the Early Church. Children were seen as naturally rebellious, but in an excused way that today can be applied as pro-social permissiveness. Children caused mischief, and children were expected to cause mischief. Children ran around the house, knocked valuables over, made messes, and then laughed about it - and parents and other adults laughed along. 

Children in biblical times were demanding in nature, meaning they gave clear orders, and as a parent, you were to give in and give up the fight, giving them everything the needed/wanted. Children weren't gracious in demanding their needs, and they weren't expected to be. They were seen as little human beings needing to be fierce in order to survive.

Christian love is about loving people for their flaws, not despite them, meaning wanting to serve your neighbor, including children, for their flaws, not despite them. Parents in biblical times doted on their children for their flaws, not despite their flaws, seeing childhood entitlement as understandable in an endearing way. Children were not forced into a narrow role of purity and innocence like American children are today, but were expected to cause a little trouble, run around, and rebel against adults, and adults just had to deal with it.

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!