Pro-social deification, pro-social child worship: Why biblical culture was child worshipping culture

Many parents think that biblical times were harsh on children. This is a common misunderstanding that American have of the Bible. Most American parents believe that children were whipped in biblical times, and that whipping was acceptable in biblical times. The fact of the matter is that Ancient Jewish society, including the Early Christian church communities, was a child worshipping culture.

It says 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 eternal life.

This refers to, in the context of parenting, to the concept of pro-social child worship. Children, in biblical times, were seen as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to convict the charitable side of mankind. Children were to be judged as sacrosanct, meaning children were holy and unblemished. Children could do no wrong, even if they did do wrong, literally speaking. This Christmas season, we might properly be thinking about the Christ child. Most children in biblical times were valued similarly to Him, as extensions of God. The only difference in treatment was that He was God, period. Children were seen as holy and unblemished, unable to be stained by sin, even when children did behave in a way that ordinarily was regarded as sinful. Wronging a child meant wronging God in Ancient Jewish society, including the Early Church. Whatever you did or did not do for children, you did for God.

It says in 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. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ, sacrificing for their children, just as Christ Sacrificed for His children, with children being a Godhead for parents to serve, and with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are depraved and decadent sinners deserving of absolutely nothing, from children or anyone else. Respect for parents is earned in parenting, with the burden of proof falling on parents.

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 or speech perceived by a child, coming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up this legal context to a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Attachment parenting was the established norm in biblical times. The Early Christians, as well as their Jewish predecessors, used a specific and distinct form of attachment of parenting that deified children. Children were worshipped and venerated in biblical times as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to bring out the charity in all mankind, then judge mankind based on their charity. Children then issued lawful and binding orders to parents, issuing lawful decrees through their every cry and upset. Children could take their parents to court, and by the time it got to a church elder, the case was already decided in favor of the child. Children then got a lot of what they wanted, and everything that they needed. Children had much lobbying power in relation to parents and other adults, ruling their parents/adults from beneath.

Children, in biblical times, wore no clothing, at all, until they were adults. Women only wore clothing outside the home, and otherwise went in the nude, in order to serve their husbands and their children, separately. Mothers served their children by way of providing for them nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk (until age 3) and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. Children were treated like God by their mothers, with children being seen as extensions of God convicting mothers to do their best in treating children. The core aspect of Christian attachment parenting in the Bible was skin-on-skin co-sleeping. Children were pampered in such ways and were regarded as little gods and goddesses, being guarded from harm at night by their mother, sleeping in the nude next to her, in total bliss! Children were seen as holy and unblemished, as well as sacrosanct. A child could never do wrong then, even if they did in terms of their behavior.

The depraved and decadent 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!