The myth of adult authority: Why it doesn't exist

Many parents and adults think that they are authority figures in the lives of children. Society rewards this draconian mindset in adults, with parental rights activists making being the adult sound "empowering". Being the adult in America isn't empowering at all, but shameful. Adults serve children, and don't rule over them.

The centerpiece of a Christian parenting relationship is Christian love, and 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 does not come from fearful compliance, but instead comes from restful trust in parents, with children telling parents anything and everything that is on their mind, including admissions of wrongdoing, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. Children shouldn't take orders from adults. Children should have the right to tell adults off, order them around, and vent into them their upsets. Attachment parenting was the norm in Ancient Israel and the Early Church. Think a Christian mother holding pales of water, wrapping a young child up next to her bosom in swaddling clothing, and with an older child strapped to her back in a papoose bag. That was the parenting then, meaning parenting then was selfless, not authoritarian in nature. These parenting ideas apply to school personnel as well, as parents then homeschooled their children, with children then allowed to learn at their own pace.

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, under biblical law, at minimum, is 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 against punishment and controlling demeanor towards children, rebuking Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking children into the church. The Greek Christian parents were misusing the book of Proverbs even then. Paul was warning the parents of Greek Christian descent that Proverbs is simply wisdom literature, not a book on parenting. Paul himself was anti-spanking, and opposed striking a child for any reason. 

Adult authority is a myth. Adults simply provide for and serve children, being bondservants for children beholden to their every need, revering and fearing children as being in place of God. In Ancient Israel and the Early Church, adults did not line up against children and order them around as "one united front", but simply provided for children, giving them nourishment, comfort, and sustenance.

Children went naked wherever they went in biblical times, and mothers went naked in the family home. Children snuggled next to mothers in the nude, receiving skin-to-skin closeness from their mothers, with fathers standing by. Young children were wrapped up in swaddling blankets when the mother left the house with them, with older children being placed in a papoose bag.

It is also a myth that a schoolteacher has full authority over their students. Schoolteachers should be friends with the children they look after and instruct, allowing schoolchildren to tell them anything and everything that is on their mind, in a laid back, informal setting. Children should be told to do work, but should be allowed to play on break after 5 minutes of work, with the play break lasting 5 minutes, with the cycle continuing. Children should be allowed to oppose the teacher, and even screaming in the teacher's face. I recommend homeschooling for children because obviously, public schools don't operate like this. School is like prison for children, where there is forced learning, and free play quashed by endless drills and work. Under state law here in Pennsylvania, it is legal to embrace or hold a child for purposes of comforting or reassuring the child - there is no hands off policy in Pennsylvania. Same with a lot of other states.

Homeschools in Ancient Israel and the Early Church were largely self-directed by the student. At the age of 6, on average, children developed interest in theology, as well as worldly academic topics such as mathematics and reading. Children taught themselves how to read, but with distant guidance from fathers. Fathers and children would compare notes about biblical interpretations and what they learned through researching in textbooks. The father would provide the textbooks, and his children would do the reading. It was a friendly, casual discussion, not a formal educational setting. Schools should reflect this laid back educational tradition modeled by the Bible.

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!