Redefining child abuse: Why child abuse should be a perceived crime (not a constructed one)

Many adults believe that the Bible is silent on child abuse. This is a common belief amongst American parents and other adults in this country. The fact of the matter is that, in biblical times. the ancients did have a concept of childhood, similar to ours, but with child abuse being defined broadly, not narrowly.

The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement, and cross-referencing the Tenth Commandment, is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés), and is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. Once the child perceived that imposition of entitlement, it became 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 of 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 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 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. 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 got 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.

Sweden is the first country in modern times to ban spanking and punishment of children. In Ancient Israel, punishing your child was a capital offense, with punitive parents being executed by way of bloodletting. Contrary to popular legend, there was no sexual correction allowed under the Law. Fathers were to deal with their parent attraction by masturbating righteously to sexual thoughts of children.

Even modern Israel is on board with children's rights. In the year 2000, the Supreme Court in modern Israel ruled that punitive parenting such as corporal punishment, is unlawful. However, even before then, there was never any defense under the Israeli penal code for "reasonable chastisement". In Jewish courts, long before the official ban, took children into Jewish foster care who were punished by their parents. But, some communities in Israel were hesitant to apply a full force ban on punitive parenting, and so the Israeli Supreme Court had to step in and issue a national ban on corporal punishment, basically allowing the police to unilaterally enforce a spanking ban. Maybe it ghettoized certain minorities, but that was collateral damage for a greater good.

God chose Israel as His chosen country, and from there, spread Judeo-Christian values around the world. Israel is God's country, and even in His country, punishing children is illegal. Judeo-Christian values were catapulted by Jesus Christ's message of peace and forgiveness. Christ died and then Rose on the Third Day, with the good news spreading around the world of Christ's death and Resurrection.

Currently, in Israel, parents who punish their children are charged with a criminal offense that best denotes the punishment. Time-out would be false imprisonment. Spanking would be physical battery. Yelling would be harassment. Any time a child feels unsafe, they can dial 100, and then the police will settle the domestic dispute between parent and child. Usually, the police then would take the side of the child.

The Bible dictates how we live our lives here in America. The Bible is clear on what entails child abuse. Child abuse is any damages or offenses stemming from entitlement. Merely harboring parental entitlement is a moral crime according to the Bible. Once that parental entitlement is imposed on the child, it is child abuse.

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!