"Naughty or nice": Why no child is "naughty"

Many parents think only "nice" children deserve Christmas presents. Santa Claus, in the popular media, is said to "have a list" and be "checking it twice, to find out who is naughty or nice". Santa has become a behavioral modification device for parents to use, in order to control children in an entitled way. 

Deeming a child as "naughty" usually comes with the desire to punish them. Punishing children, at all, is a violation of Christian law. See 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 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 a child. 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. Paul here was lifting up this legal context in order to convict 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.

Children were viewed very differently in ancient times. Ancient cultures were usually either child sacrificing cultures, or child worshipping cultures. Ancient Jewish society, including the Early Church, was a child worshipping society. Children, in biblical times, were worshipped and venerated as extensions of God, with parents fearing the wrath of their children, seeking not to incur the wrath of their children. Children were seen as installments of God, meaning sentries of God called to judge the charity and good will of parents and adults towards them. It was said in the days of old that children reported to God everything parents and other adults did to them, good or bad. Children were seen as deities having superhuman qualities, with fathers venerating their daughters especially as sex goddesses, indulging in masturbatory fantasy about their daughters. Mothers saw daughters as charity goddesses. Boys were generally seen by both parents as gods of charity. Children were seen as bringing out the charity, or lack thereof, in adults, exposing their charitable side bare. Children were seen, in terms of righteous judgment, as doing no wrong, even when they technically did do things wrong. Children's tantrums and mischief were excused by adults, or else only mildly and gently corrected.

The fact of the matter is that children can't help their "naughty" behavior. Most behaviors that adults call "naughty" are actually developmentally appropriate behaviors given the child's age and developmental level. When behaviors are not developmentally appropriate, it is usually due to a developmental disorder such as autism or ADHD. The idea is to let all these behaviors go, and cut children a break, until they are ready to learn how to behave better. Usually, they learn by following the example of a parent. If you are disciplined and chastened up  so will your child. Children usually grow out of their troublesome and puzzling behaviors in due time, as certain behaviors are specific of a specific stage in child development.

Children shouldn't have to be "nice" all of the time. Biblical children were not the nicest children to be around. Children in Ancient Israel and the Early Church were bold and rebellious, and this boldness in children was prized by parents. Boys especially were encouraged to engage in bold feats of independence, but also girls to a certain degree. Children in biblical times were far more bold and brazen than today's children. They said whatever they wanted, and did whatever they wanted, and they usually got what they wanted from parents. When parents absolutely had to say "no", parents braced for the wrath of their children, and listened to the upset of their children, reassuring their children with the words "this too will pass". 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger 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!