Original sin: What to do about your child's sinful nature

The doctrine of original sin is one of the most misused and misunderstood of Christian teachings. Yet, original sin is the backbone of Christianity. Without original sin, there would be no need for a Savior. Yet, Christ shed His own blood and Rose on the Third Day after His crucifixion. So, there must be something to that original sin theory. How do you impart the doctrine of original sin onto children? The first place to look is your own sins.

Mankind has fallen from grace. Due to a peacekeeping past, all of mankind is accursed with a depraved and decadent sinful nature, deserving of nothing but DEATH and PUNISHMENT merely for existing as a species. God hates us all, and wishes punishment on us all. By default, all mankind is marked for deletion, with only a few of us being marked for salvation. What God absolutely hates about mankind is how we treat the youngest and most vulnerable humans among us, namely child-kind. 

How do you teach this lesson to a child? The idea is to teach them by example within the context of the doctrine of mutual submission. See Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers resting securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This implies that 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 wake of parent submission. Parents are to submit to children as their enemy, from beneath yet from above, revering and fearing children as vulnerable extensions of God. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) 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, 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 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 them as a quartered slave. Paul here was convicting 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.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to here, in this context, as modeling Christian discipline to children. The Christian standard of discipline is deserving of absolutely nothing, therefore grateful for absolutely everything, leading to a chastened up example for children to follow. Christian parents in the Early Church centered their entitlement in view of their children, and then children followed suit. Children were caught being good, instead of caught being bad. Whenever the child emulated the disciplined example of parents - perhaps by showing self-control or giving up something they really wanted - they were lavishly praised and encouraged to "keep going down the straight path". Children, however, were allowed to behave in an immature and childish manner otherwise, and parents let go of most childish behaviors and mischief, or responded accordingly with sustaining warmth. Sometimes, parents needed to give direct instruction to children. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to direct parental instruction. Parents in biblical times couldn't issue lawfully binding orders, and so parents pleaded with their children, expecting absolutely nothing in return, knowing they would get nothing in return. Most children listened to their parents anyways, because they had a secure attachment with their parents.

Children, without question, have a sinful nature, like we all do. This is not up for debate. But, children are also capable of self-improvement, if given the right environment to absorb the disciplined example of their parents. This requires parents to work to center their own entitlement, meaning declare themselves a depraved and entitled sinner who is deserving of absolutely nothing from anyone, including their own child. Then, when given a secure attachment, children will emulate this disciplined example from parents, and when this happens, parents should take the time and praise and encourage children in their endeavor to be good. Children don't need to be beaten in order to be convicted of their original sin.

How do you form a secure attachment with your children? The Early Christians practiced birth nudity. Children, for the first 6 years of a child's life, were pampered with constant closeness from mothers, meaning wherever the mother went, so did the child. Children followed their mother everywhere throughout the house, including to the cauldron when dinner was cooking. When out and about, young children - aged up until age 6 - were wrapped up next to the bosom of mothers in swaddling blankets. For the latter 7 years of childhood, fathers in the Early Church instructed both sexes in religion, meaning girls could take up Christian instruction if they were interested. Children often were interested in religion on their own, and so fathers left out a Bible where the child could find it, and usually, the child learned to read on that Bible. Children absorbed Scripture at their own pace, and then were baptized when culminating their religious education as adults. They earned their clothing only once they were baptized. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them forever be 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!