Original sin: Why parental entitlement is at the core of our sin nature as adults

The doctrine of original sin is among the most misunderstood and misused of Christian teachings. Yet, on the same token, the doctrine of original sin is the backbone of Christianity. Without man being evil and wicked in nature, there would be no necessity for a Christ. There is no Christianity without original sin. However, original sin does not mean it is okay to strike or punish a child.

It says in Romans 3:9-12 KJV: 

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This statement reflects to the modern day what God thinks of humanity. God hates us all as human beings, especially us fallen adults, to the point of non-existence. God hates us so much that He does not want us to exist, except for a few of us that are saved. Ultimately, though, God is referring to us depraved and entitled adults. Every single adult has a depraved and entitled sin nature, and is deserving of DEATH and PUNISHMENT merely for existing in relation to children with that sin nature. Children are exempt from this deservingness of punishment, because children are still learning the Law, and don't know Christ yet - every single child that dies goes to Heaven. 

The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers to, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Unofficially speaking, it refers to wanting anything from children. It is not good to want anything in life, but we all want things in life, so we should ask politely for what we want, and accept the word "no". Children are watching our every move as adults, and so we should act in a polite and non-entitled manner, towards other adults and towards children as well. Want is the very definition of our sin nature as fallen human beings, and wanting things from children is at the core of that wicked and entitled nature.

The opposite of entitlement is Christian love, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to a specific form of submission to a child or anyone else that is your neighbor that places others first, and yourself last, with children at the top of the priority list. Putting yourself last comes from fearful conviction of your depraved and entitled sin nature, leading to the belief that you are entitled to nothing in life. When you feel that you deserve nothing in life, you tend to put others first instead of yourself.

The moral offense of parental entitlement ultimately leads to child abuse. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, including 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 intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in the context in which it was given, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishment or controlling demeanor towards children. Patrias potestas translates to "power to the father" or else "power to the parent", and refers to the right of fathers under Greco-Roman law to use as much force as they see fit to police their homes. No analogous law existed under Judeo-Christian law, with the Christian church in the 1st Century banning all striking or punishment of a child. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting for punishing their children too many times, with the parents being charged with kidnapping. Kidnapping, in the biblical context, is any damages stemming from hostage taking - punishing your child was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage for something he/she did wrong. Paul was lifting up this context to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. No such custom existed among the Early Christians. "Biblical spanking", as a teaching, does not come from the Bible, but from the Roman Catholic Church pandering to the punitive parenting habits of European pagan cultures who beat and whipped their children into submission.

What should a parent do instead about an angry or upset child? Parents should turn the other cheek. See Matthew 5:38-39 KJV:

Ye have heard that is hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

This means that when your child hits you as they are crying, do not seek to resist their aggression with force, but instead turn to them the other cheek to hit also, crying with them. Sometimes, your child is your enemy, but you as the Christian parent are to love your enemy, and allow yourself to be toppled over by your enemy, meaning be toppled over by children. You as the adult are not entitled to anything from children, and are deserving of everything hateful and resentful from children, and are to win over your child with kindness. I myself, as an adult, am entitled and deserving of nothing good and respectful from children, and everything bad and resentful from children. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever 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!