Control from beneath: Why children controlled parents from beneath in biblical times

Many parents think that they are in charge of their children. Many parents see their job in legal terms, meaning they see themselves as imposing law on their children. Most parents in America want to control their children from straight above. The fact of the matter is that children in biblical times controlled their parents and other adults from beneath, like a switchboard, righteously demanding what they wanted and needed from parents, having lobbying power from beneath.

Control from beneath is the righteous contention in the mutual submission relationship between parents and children. 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 rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children just as they would to God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are to submit to children as their enemy, from beneath yet from above, revering and fearing children as extensions of God.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, including 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, stemming 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 as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law 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 in his writings.

A child's righteous demand was seen as law in biblical times. A child could issue a righteous demand towards their parents, and parents could only say "no" if the "no" was reasonable given the circumstances, meaning it was completely and utterly necessary in order to protect the child or others from spritual or other harm. If a child thought that a deprivation of wants was unjust under the Law, they could appeal the case to church elders, and by that time, the case had already been decided in favor of the child. Parents could not defend themselves against their children in a moral legal exchange. They could say things in their favor, but only from the bottom of their heart. Their words did not have any moral legal significance. Parents could give instructions to their children, but the hope was that children would listen anyway of closeness towards and trust for their parents. Parents could not make their instructions law.

Children could order parents around as to what they needed and wanted, and usually, children got what they wanted, and always got what they needed. Usually, children under age 6 only asked for nourishment and sustenance, and did so by crying. Usually, it was the older children - children older than age 6 - that made righteous demands to parents. Biblical children could be very demanding, using sentence endings such as "right now" instead of "please", and parents toppled themselves over to meet the needs and wants of children. Children rarely heard the word "no", and when they did, it always came with sustaining warmth and reassurance, with children being told "this too will pass" while being held in skin-on-skin format next to the bosom of mothers.

Children held immense lobbying power in relation to parents and other adults. Children controlled parents and other adults from beneath with their righteous demands. Adults were controlled from beneath like a switchboard, being held to account by their children under the Law. Parents could not defend themselves in a court of law except from the bottom of their heart, hoping their children would honor their polite requests. Usually, children did listen to parents even when they didn't have to, because they had warm fondness for parents out of closeness.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their 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!