Why adult authority does not exist: Understanding the Bible on caring for children

Many parents think that they are an authority figure over their children. This is a common belief amongst American parents. Most American parents believe that adults have authority over children, and can order children to do whatever adults want them to do. The fact of the matter is that the Bible prescribes that adults be caregivers, not lawgivers or lawmakers.

The actual parent-child relationship in the Bible is based on the doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling on the parent. 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. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children as they would God, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Children are to rest safely and securely in the presence of their parents, following them around like goslings to a mother goose. The Greek root word for "obey" in the New Testament refers to secure attachment.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethuzo) 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 too many times. 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 belief, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

I myself do not seek to be in charge of a child. I seek to, whenever the opportunity comes, care for a child. I want to be a good caregiver to a child, meaning one who pleases and appeases the every vulnerable need of a child. Parents in biblical times were not lawgivers or lawmakers, but instead were caregivers towards their children. Mothers nurtured up close, and fathers nurtured from afar. Think a nursing mother and a father standing guard with a staff and rod. That was how it was in biblical times.

Children, in biblical times, wore absolutely no clothing, at all, until they became 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 providing for them nourishment and sustenance, namely breastmilk (until age 3) and skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. Mothers nursed their children to health, then giving them sustaining skin-on-skin warmth and love. Mothers were the primary caregivers of children, and did not exert any authority towards children, instead allowing children up until age 3 to suckle her teat, and children up until age 6 to never leave her side. Fathers stood guard, protecting the mother and child, wielding a rod and staff to whip intruders (meaning NOT children) with. Fathers, like mothers, also developed a secure attachment to children, after seeing mother and child in complete skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy. Fathers, however, had a sexual attachment to children, usually daughters, and were instructed by the deacons and elders of the Early Church to follow the sexual thoughts to the end using masturbation. Daughters also were attracted to fathers, creating a mutually unrequited sexual dynamic in the home between father and daughter, which was a sign of sexual purity in the home then. Sexual abuse was rare in biblical times, but when it happened, it was seen as deserving of death.

The Bible is codified law in this country, above the law of the land in fact, and casts a dominion over all of America. Only a few of us - the elect - will heed the warning. God's Law is above the law of the land, and outlaws the concept of adult authority. Adults have no official, legalistic authority over children. Adults are to be caregivers of children, not authority figures, as the Bible prescribes. It is good to care for a child, and nurture them. A woman is to nurture up close, and a man from afar, but both genders are to nurture children, not be "in charge" of children and order them around like slaves.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke 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 Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!