Letting children call the shots: Why children rule adults from beneath

Most American parents think that they call the shots. This is a common mistake among American parents, and it is all backed up by false and abusive religious doctrine. The fact of the matter is that children call the shots, as children called the shots back in biblical times. Children were in charge of having their needs provided for. Children demand, and parents provide.

The centerpiece of an attached Christian parenting relationship is Christian Agape love for children, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao), and refers to prioritizing children first, and yourself as a parent last, in a fearful and convicted way leading to dutiful and selfless submission to children and their every need, expecting absolutely nothing in return from children or others, with children resting safely and securely in the good works 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. By rest, this word means rest on a throne, meaning children are pampered and doted upon. This form of surrender to parents is not a constraining one, but one that allows children to be their true selves in the love and grace of parents, and then they demand things, and then parents provide. Attachment parenting was the established norm in Ancient Jewish culture, including the Early Christian culture, with such parenting being mandated by church ordinance in the Early Church. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, namely child abuse in context. Child abuse, as defined under biblical law, at minimum, is the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was understood, in its original context, as prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including all punishment and controlling demeanor towards children, rebuking Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking children into the church. Some Greek Christian parents, even in the 1st Century, justified their pagan punishment customs using the book of Proverbs. Spanking does not come from the Bible, but from the Roman Catholic Church pandering to European pagan cultures who beat and whipped their children into submission. The rod verses themselves - all seven of them - are repealed verses, as they do not refer to parenting in the modern day, but to a form of judicial corporal punishment where fathers were appointed by the court to issue 40 minus 1 lashes upon an ADULT son. MINOR children could not be charged with a criminal act or civil wrong, as they were not seen as subject to the Law, but simply learning the Law. Thus, MINOR children could not be punished or whipped for anything. The Early Christian churches prohibited any participation in Roman floggings or executions.

Children were heavily deified in biblical times, meaning they were worshipped and venerated as extensions of God to be obeyed and submitted to. Children demanded their wants/needs. The every want/need demanded or petitioned by the child was seen as a lawful and binding order, meaning a summonses from God. Children cried, and parents provided. Children were lawful authorities in the family home, with parents serving children just as Christ serves adult believers, with children being a Godhead demanding and ordering parents around, with children being a force to be feared and revered by all adults everywhere.

Children had much lobbying power from beneath in biblical times, and they used it. Children had the right to issue lawful and binding orders on their parents, and parents could not issue lawful and binding orders to their children, no matter what the child did to offend them. With dependent adult children who dishonored parents through elder abuse, parents had to call in a third party to judge on their behalf.

How did this setup pan out? Children went naked wherever they went, and women were naked in the confines of the family home, in order to serve their husbands and children, separately. Mothers served their children with nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk and skin-to-skin closeness respectively. Children were seen by parents in this context in an angelic, thundering way that deified them. Mothers especially, but also fathers, obeyed the deity that was their child, and did so by responding to needs such as nourishment and sustenance.

Children were more inclined then to follow the Christian example of parents, known as the Living Example of Christ. They were more inclined to follow in the footsteps of their parents because Christian parents then were very generous to their children. It is the concept of righteous barter - parents gave to their children and tended to them from day one, and children respected their parents later on in life, giving thanks for having attached parents. Children did not come to follow the example of parents until young adulthood, when they were mature enough to control and discipline themselves. A minor child is simply learning how to control themselves, and will make many mistakes along the way, and those mistakes need to be forgiven. Most behaviors punished by American parents are for developmentally appropriate behaviors. Children will grow out of those phases that annoy you (but not the child or anyone else). 

The depraved and entitled adults 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!