Reverent fear: Why parents should fear their child

Many parents think that children should be afraid of them, and fear punishment from them. The common attitude among parents is that children should listen to them, and obey them. However, the fact of the matter is that the Bible actually teaches that parents should fear and obey children, with God's reverent fear.

The Greek root word denoting reverent fear and terror is ψοβός (Latin: phobos) and is how parents should feel about their children, meaning children should strike reverent fear and terror into children just for their vulnerability, not despite it. Parents are to revere and fear their children. This teaching is similar to teachings that say to fear your wife. Just as a man should fear his wife, a parent should fear their child, as this is God's order of things, and will be until the end of time. Reverent fear is the base component of Christian love.

The centerpiece of a Christian parenting home is Christian Agape love for children, as denoted by the Greek root word translated 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, expecting absolutely nothing in return, 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 wrath, 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. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, sacrificing for their children just as Christ sacrificed for His children, with children resting in the sacrifice of parents, just as Christ's adopted children rest in His sacrifice. Parents labor, toil, and work to win over the trust and affection of children, and children rest in such love and good works. Attachment parenting was the established norm in Ancient Jewish culture, including Early Christian culture. Attachment parenting was mandated under customary law in Ancient Israel, and was also 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 this context. Child abuse, as defined under biblical law, 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. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in context, as prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any form of punishment and controlling demeanor towards children. Roman law allowed for the legal defense of patrias potestas, which translated to "power to the father" (or alternatively "power to the parent"), and meant that a father could use any force necessary to police his home, including even killing a child or wife. This legal standard was then introduced into the English common law when England was re-settled by the Anglo-Saxons. Certain Greek Christians brought this pagan custom into the church, and the Apostle Paul was educating Greek Christians on Christian ordinance, based on Jewish law. Jewish law offered no defense for punishing or being controlling with children, and prohibited all punitive parenting as kidnapping. Kidnapping, under Jewish law, meant any offense that involved hostage taking, which punishing a child certainly does. Corporal punishment, as a parenting measure, does not come from the Bible, but from the Roman Catholic Church absorbing the legal defense of patrias potestas and using it to pander to European pagan cultures whose custom was to whip and beat children into submission. Ancient Jewish culture, including the Early Church, had no such custom, as the custom of the Ancient Jews was one of attachment parenting.

The national parenting of the Ancient Jewish people, including the Early Christian church communities, was a special form of attachment parenting that deified children, in the form of pro-social deification and pro-social child worship, with children being seen as emblematic of God and His Authority on earth (see Matt. 25:31-46). Children were worshipped and venerated as extensions of God on earth, with parents being struck with reverent fear and terror by their child's every vulnerable want/need, being compelled in the Lord to meet their child's every want/need. The every vulnerable need of children was seen as Divine Law. Children could sue their parents under the Law, and by then, the case had already been decided, with children always prevailing when taking their parents to court.

I myself fear children reverently. I want them to boss me around, so that I know what they need, and I know children will be clear about what they need from me if they know that they will never be punished for it. I do not want to be seen as "the adult" meaning "the one in charge". I just want to be seen as an adult who provides and gives to children. Children police me as to what they want me to do, in the few chances I ever get to be friends with a child. They tell me what to do, and I listen. That is God's order.

The depraved and entitled adults who provoke children to anger through punitive parenting 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!