Pro-social deification, pro-social child worship: Why children were worshipped in biblical times

Many parents think that biblical times were harsh for children, and point to false context that supports myths of children being put to work, being treated as property, and whipped like galley slaves. The fact of the matter is that Ancient Jewish culture, including the Early Christian culture, was a child worshipping culture.

Jesus Christ said in Matthew 25:45-46 KJV:

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

This commandment lifts up the concept of pro-social child worship. The list of groups of people before this passage is not an exclusive list, but just a list of groups forgotten by Christ's Jewish society. Children were well taken care of in Christ's Jewish society, with parents treating children with the same respect that one would show God. Children were seen as extensions of God to fear and revere, because of their vulnerability and not despite it.

The centerpiece of an attached Christian parenting home is Christian Agape love for children, as denoted in the New Testament 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 vulnerable need, with children being in place of God, expecting absolutely nothing 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. This form of respect for parents is not borne out of fearful compliance, but instead comes from restful trust in parents, with children feeling safe confiding anything and everything that is on their mind into parents, including admission of wrongdoing and non-conforming traits, expecting absolutely no punishment or reprisal in return. Attachment parenting was the established norm in Ancient Jewish culture, including Early Christian culture, and was mandated by way of customary law. This verse lifts up that customary law, creating a biblical mandate for parents to at least strive for attachment parenting in raising their children, striving for a secure parent-child bond.

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, 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 linguistic and legal context, as prohibiting all punitive parenting, including all punishment and controlling demeanor towards children. The Apostle Paul was lifting up the Law in order to rebuke Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Spanking does not come from the Bible, as the rod verses refer specifically to judicial corporal punishment imposed on ADULT children by the father, and only when the errant ADULT son was convicted of a crime. Punitive parenting of children ultimately comes from the Roman Catholic Church pandering to the parenting customs of European pagans, which were punitive in nature. Thus, punitive parenting is an idolatrous tradition that churches should weed out of their parishes and congregations. 

Children in biblical times were seen as extensions of God in the family home. Parents viewed themselves as extensions of Christ serving a Godhead which was their children. Children could issue lawful and binding orders demanding that they get a certain type of care or treatment, and then parents had to obey their child. Children rested in their throne, being pampered like royalty, and being worshipped like they were God on earth.

Parents reverently feared their children, with reverent fear being denoted in the New Testament by the Greek root word ψοβός (Latin: phobos) which refers to a spark that catapults a parent into action, usually in terms of servitude. A child's every demand should strike parents with reverent fear and terror, with parents being in lockstep with the child's every vulnerable need. 

What was this form of attachment parenting like in practice? Children went naked wherever they went, and women were traditionally naked in the home. Women went naked in the home in order to serve both their husbands and their children, separately. Children ranged beside their mother, with both mother and child naked, by day. By night, children slept next to mothers, with mother and child co-sleeping together, and the child soaking up the rays in skin-to-skin closeness with mothers. When mothers took their children out in public, the children were held to the mother's body with swaddling blankets and papoose bags. Mothers were a servant to their children, just as mankind is servile to God. The doctrine of parenting then was one of righteous enslavement, meaning just as mankind is enslaved to God, parents are enslaved to their children.

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!