Pro-social deification, pro-social child worship: Why children were worshipped in biblical times

Many American parents believe that biblical times were hard on children. This is a common view amongst American parents. Most parents believe that children were whipped by their fathers, and put to work at a young age. However, these assumptions are a form of false context on the part of the parents who assume these things about the Bible. The fact of the matter is that children in the Bible were worshipped and venerated as extensions of God on earth, not treated as slaves or bondservants.

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 eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

This passage, in the context of parenting, refers to pro-social child worship. Children in biblical times were not regarded as "to be seen and not heard". Children in biblical times were regarded as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to convict parents and other adults of their charitable role, then judging all adult-kind of how charitable they actually were. Parenting manuals warned parents, in a searing and convicting manner, that parents were to value children as extensions of God, and to know that children are reporting to God as to how good of a job parents are doing. Children are installments of God, called to be monitors of how charitable parents and other adults are to them. Parents were struck with reverent fear and terror, feeling convicted and compelled to serve their child's needs thoroughly, as the parenting manuals warned that neglecting even the slightest of needs of children could land a parent into Hell. Children in biblical times, in terms of righteous judgment, were sacrosanct, meaning children could do not wrong then, even if they did.

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 in the 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, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Children are to rest safely and securely in the presence of parents, following mothers especially around like goslings to a mother goose. The Greek root word for "obey" refers chiefly to secure attachment, not fear of punishment.

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. 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 then 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, practiced a specific, distinct form of attachment parenting that deified children. Children then were regarded as extensions of God, meaning installments of God called to convict parents of their charitable role, and then monitor parents to see how charitable they actually are, reporting to God in everything regarding the charity of parents. The topic of children was a sobering, convicting topic among the Early Christians, and among the Ancient Jews preceding them. Children issued lawful and binding orders as a Godhead casting a dominion over parents. Children could even take their parents to court, in which case, the case was already decided - the church elders always ruled in favor of the children when in mediation sessions. Children in biblical times were seen as wrathful, in a way that you heeded to such wrath, pleasing and appeasing children, staying on their good side, keeping them happy. Parents were literally afraid of their children, meaning they didn't want to make them mad.

Children, in biblical times, wore absolutely 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. The core aspect of Christian attachment parenting in the 1st Century was skin-on-skin co-sleeping, with mother and child fast asleep in the nude, and with children soaking up the rays of skin-to-skin contact. Children went naked then for a specific reason - so that mothers could snuggle them up and cuddle them up in their arms, in order to reassure them when they are crying and upset, giving children time in, in skin-on-skin format. Fathers stood guard to protect the mother and child, wielding a rod and staff to whip intruders (meaning NOT children) who trespassed onto the premises. Fathers also developed a secure attachment to their children, after witnessing bonding between mother and child. Usually, secure attachment for fathers came in the form of a sexual attachment to children, usually the child of the opposite sex, meaning usually daughters. Church elders and deacons instructed fathers to follow those sexual thoughts to the end using masturbatory fantasy (pro-social fantasy). Daughters were also attracted to fathers, creating a mutually unrequited sexual dynamic between father and daughter, which was a sign of sexual purity in the home. Sexual abuse was rare in biblical times, but when it happened, it was seen as deserving of death.

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!