Respect for children: Why adults are not entitled to respect

Many parents think their children owe them respect. This is a common belief among parents - that they are deserving of respect. Most parents want to be respected, to the point of imposition on children. This is a form of entitlement in parents, known as parental entitlement. Parental entitlement is wanting things from children, to the point of imposition.

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 all under sin; As it 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 commandment was given to Roman Christians, rebuking them for becoming too prideful in their Christian faith. Today, this passage can be applied as a sign as to how God feels about human nature. God hates us all as human beings, and doesn't want us as human beings to even exist in relation to Him. He doesn't pay much attention to us, tending to His Kingdom more. Accepting this reality, as an adult, leads to feeling entitled to nothing, and thus feeling like you owe everything to your neighbor. When properly convicted, you feel that children are your neighbor. When you take the attitude of "I am a good parent", you start demanding respect from children and others, wanting people to treat you the way you want to be treated. You are not good as a parent, as your nature is wicked and entitled in nature, and so you have to earn your respect as a parent.

Respect for children is denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to prioritizing children first, and yourself as an adult last, to the point of dutiful and selfless submission to children and their every vulnerable need. In order to put yourself last, you need to be totally convicted of your wicked and depraved sin nature, to the point of undeservingness - where parents are not deserving of anything from others, at the same time placing children as a first priority, and placing everyone else as a priority about your own interests. 

Respect for parents is something that is earned. The Fifth Commandment refers to earned respect, in context. 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. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ sacrificed for His children, with parents serving a Godhead which is children, expecting absolutely nothing in return. Parents sacrifice for their children, being toppled over by their children, and children respond to the sacrifice by resting safely and securely in parents, feeling safe in giving orders as to what they need, and parents tending to the needs of children like waitstaff. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely offenses against children, as defined as the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in the context in which it was given, as a moral statute prohibiting all punitive parenting, including any punishment or controlling demeanor. Paul was writing to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking children into the church. No such custom existed among the Early Christians, with all forms of punishment of a child prohibited under church ordinance. Many ancient cultures were attachment parenting cultures. Ancient Judeo-Christian culture was one of them. In the Old Testament, whippings issued by fathers were only allowed as a sentence for crime when an adult descendant was convicted of a crime. Minor children could not be whipped, as the Law deemed them too young to be charged with a crime. No such form of judicial corporal punishment existed in the Early Church. Physical discipline only existing as a form of mutual accountability between spouses, with such spousal discipline being rare next to non-existent. Punishment was seen as an act of Law, and wives were seen as subjects of the Law under their husband's domain. Children were not seen as subjects of the Law, with parents keeping the Law for their children until children came of age. Children were instead seen as learning the Law, in which case they were not expected to keep the Law until they completed their religious education. Without being bound by the Law, no punishment could take place.

Respect for children is earned. No adult has the right to demand respect from a child. Respect is something you earn, generally. The burden of proof in a respect relationship, under Christian law, always falls on the bigger person, and in the context of parenting, always falls on the parent. The parent needs to win over the respect of their children. This can be done by a spirit of giving without receiving, bestowing charity upon your child in order to win their respect for you over. 

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!