Child abuse definition overhaul: Why the Bible calls for a ban on punitive parenting

Many adults believe the popular wisdom of "spare the rod, spoil the child". This is a common belief amongst American parents, no matter what their religious denomination they belong to. The fact of the matter, however, is that the Bible calls for punitive parenting, in all its forms, to be banned.

God cast a dominion over all of America, yet only a few will heed the warning. America is a Christian nation, founded on Judeo-Christian family values. Those values have effect on what laws are passed. The secular law should reflect the Judeo-Christian values that this country was founded on. If Jews and Muslims can want their law, why can't Christians want their law as well?

The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement in the New Testament, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés). Parental entitlement is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Once this imposed want led to offense perceived by the child, it was deemed child abuse. 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, 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 as the slightest of offensive touch or speech stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your children 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 parent 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 secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers brought out the scourge of cords in order to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were persecuted largely for being "too soft" on their children.

Modern Israel banned all forms of punishment, including corporal punishment, in 2000. However, even before then, punitive parenting was a reason for the state to come in and collect the children. Israel has sectarian family courts, with each religious denominations having their own courts. The reason for the court ruling that banned punitive parenting in Israel was that certain Christian communities and Muslim communities weren't removing children from abusive homes fast enough. Israel never had a "reasonable chastisement" written in their legal codes. After the court ruling in favor of children, the police gained the power of singlehandedly enforcing the corporal punishment ban by way of making a criminal arrest. Maybe the Muslim and Christian minority sects were ghettoized, but that is simply collateral damage for a greater good which is protecting children.

Here in Pennsylvania, in recent years, the definitions of child abuse have been broadening. It used to be that only life-threatening injuries were cause for concern by the county Children and Youth service agency. Now, even "tanning their a**" is something that can be prosecuted if caught. Also, striking an infant under age 1 is illegal. Most injuries that constitute child abuse are on the buttocks, and thus are hidden except by way of exam. Most child abuse that is unlawful happens when lawful child abuse goes too far. But, why should any abuse of a child be lawful? 

I support a ban on corporal punishment similar to what is prescribed in the Bible. The Bible considers anything offensive or damaging to a child, stemming from entitlement, as child abuse. The Bible is the document that guides our way of life as a country, and is a founding document of this country, even more so than the Constitution itself. 

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