Why crying is not bad behavior in children

Many parents in America believe that crying in children is bad behavior. This is a common belief among American parents, meaning most American parents dismiss their child's crying as bad behavior. The fact of the matter is that crying is not bad behavior, but merely a means to communicate needs to parents.

It is a moral crime against children to punish them for their crying. It says in Colossians 3:21 KJV:

Fathers, provoke not 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 offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch and speech perceived by a child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a prohibition on all punitive parenting, including any punishment or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children too many times, and receiving many warnings beforehand that their parenting was out of compliance with the Law. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined as the slightest of damage or offense stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, with punitive parents being seen as vipers and monsters out to get their children. Paul was lifting up this historical legal context to a group of Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. The Early Christians had no such custom as an established norm in the Early Church, as the Early Christians were persecuted largely for being "too soft" on their children, which was actually a violation of Roman law in and of itself. The Early Christians defied Roman law on parenting, raising their children with Christian love and kindness. 

Crying is not bad behavior. Parents in biblical times saw crying in children of all ages as the same as an infant crying. Children who cried in biblical times were not struck or punished at all, but instead were placed on the bosom of mothers. Children never wore any clothing, and mothers only wore clothing outside the home, and so children were treated to skin-on-skin co-snuggling whenever they cried. This was a measure to alleviate stress in both the mother and the child.

The bosom of mothers, meaning the breast area, naturally has a calming effect for children that come into contact with it, meaning usually children who are crying are soothed and lulled to relaxation by being held next to the bosom of mothers. Even when co-snuggling is done through clothing, if the child at least rests his/her head on the bosom of mothers, they will be reassured and lulled to a relaxed state. Breasts are not there for men to sexually objectify, but instead are there to nurture children. 

Biblical parents in the Bible knew that children cried when they needed something. So, they gave children what they needed when they cried. Then, children cried some more, which is a sign that children trust a parent or adult enough to be vulnerable with them. Children cried out loud for their needs, and parents provided for their needs. Children, however, never left the line of sight of parents, and never left the side of mothers until age 6. The bond between parent and child was that strong, and it all started when parents responded to crying instead of reacting with anger and punishment.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever 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 Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!