Original sin: How to bring up a child in the doctrine of original sin

The doctrine of original sin is possibly the most misunderstood and misused of Christian teachings. Yet, original sin is the backbone of Christianity. Without original sin, there is no reason for a Christ. Yet, Christ died and Rose for our sins. The key to imparting the doctrine of original sin in children is to take care of your own sins, and then children will naturally follow your undeserving attitude. Original sin is something your child should discover on their own, and accept while in the comfort of parents. 

The teaching of original sin boils down to one word. The Greek root word denoting entitlement is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and an is defined as, officially speaking, entitled existence. All of us as adults are deserving of absolutely nothing due to our entitled existence. It is the role of mankind to atone for our entitled existence. I myself have to atone, as I am a depraved and decadent pedophilic adult who is deserving of absolutely nothing. Every parent has a struggle in relation to children, in terms of entitlement, and working on your entitled existence helps children to work on theirs.

The doctrine of original sin is ultimately taught using the Christian 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. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, and are to submit as such. This surrender to parents came with strings attached on the part of parents, with children issuing righteous demands from their restful place, usually when parents were not pulling their weight in the family home.

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, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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 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 at the parish at Ephesus who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing their children. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women, but he sure loved children, and took in a few orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge of cords to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were hated largely for being "too soft" on their children.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to here, in this context, modeling and encouraging Christian discipline to children. The Christian standard for discipline is deserving of absolutely nothing, therefore grateful for absolutely everything, coming from a sinful nature, leading to a chastened up example for children to follow. Christian parents in the Early Church centered their entitlement in view of their children, with children following in their parents' footsteps. Children, in biblical times, were caught being good, as opposed to being caught being bad. Whenever children emulated the disciplined example of their parents, they were given lavish praise and encouragement to "keep headed down the straight path". Boys who were caught being good by their father received manly praise, whereas girls who were caught being good by their fathers received snuggles and physical affection. Sometimes, children needed direct instruction from parents. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the advice and counsel of parents, meaning that parents could only give advice when needed, or else counsel children when they were crying or upset. Otherwise, parents were under the divine authority of children, with children issuing lawfully binding demands on parents, and parents obeying all orders except those which were unlawful or unworkable. All parents had in their toolbox was pleading with their children.

Children, like us all, are born in sin. This is not up for debate. However, children are capable of self-improvement entirely on their own. All children need is a disciplined example to emulate. The idea is to accept that you are a depraved and decadent sinner who is deserving of absolutely nothing. Accepting this reality causes you to look around you, and causes you to become grateful for everything around you. Children are watching your every move, and when you see them showing discipline and/or self-control, be sure to praise and encourage children for showing the chastening of the Lord. Children absorb the example of parents in increments, with each increment being worthy of praise and encouragement 

What ultimately motivates children to follow the example of parents? A secure attachment is necessary for children to want to grow up to be like their parents. For the first 6 years of a child's life, children were in constant closeness with mothers, meaning that wherever the mother went, so did the child. The Early Christians practiced birth nudity, where mother and child were in the nude next to each other, in skin-on-skin closeness and intimacy. Whenever a child cried, mothers cooed at the child before picking up the child, then holding the child close to her bosom of mothers. Some children were milk-dependent, in which case mothers breastfed the crying child to sleep. When out and about, mothers swaddled their young child - under age 6 - in swaddling blankets. Come nightfall, children co-slept next to mothers in skin-on-skin comfort and sustenance. The co-sleeping did not end until the child reached the onset of puberty, when they wanted a place of their own to sleep.

The abovementioned closeness with mothers prepared children for religious education coming from their fathers. Fathers introduced children to the Bible by way of leaving a Bible out, for children to discover and read. When children were caught reading the Bible, they were given praise in the form of statements such as "that book is good for you". From there, the facts of life were an ongoing discussion in a Christian household, with children being eager to learn, and fathers giving pointers on the context. That, and a good example in view of children, leads to discipline in children. 

There is no need to tell your child that they are a sinner. Children will discover the teaching of original sin on their own. Children have their own pace of religious development, with age 6 being when children are ready to internalize religion on their own. When children figure out the doctrine of original sin, they will come to you about it, and expect comfort. The idea is to comfort your child, and stand with them until they accept the facts of life on their own accord.

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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!