Redefining child abuse: Why child abuse definitions need to be expanded

Many parents get their parenting advice from the Bible. We as a nation are founded on Judeo-Christian family values. The Bible is a founding document of this country, above even the Constitution itself. The fact of the matter is that nowhere in these values does it legitimately state to strike or punish a child.

The Bible, in and of itself, prohibits all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any corporal punishment. The Greek root word denoting parental entitlement is πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and is defined as, officially speaking, wanting things from children, to the point of imposition. When that want was imposed on a child, and the child perceived it in some way, 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 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 was 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 Christians 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 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 as deacon. Indeed, Greco-Roman parents got out the scourge of cords in order to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were largely persecuted for being "too soft" on their children.

Sweden was the first nation in modern times to ban all corporal punishment and other controlling demeanor towards children. However, in ancient times, there were societies that prohibited child punishment. Ancient Israel prohibited all forms of punitive parenting as a form of kidnapping, with punitive parents - and all those defending them - being put to death by way of bloodletting. Sexual correction of a child was considered unlawful even in the Old Testament, with the abuser being burnt at the stake.

In modern Israel, punitive parenting was prohibited officially in the year 2000. However, even before that, Jewish courts prohibited punitive parenting among Jews. The Supreme Court ruling in modern Israel gave the police the authorization to unilaterally raid Christian and Muslim homes who used punitive parenting on their children. Family courts in modern Israel are sectarian based, meaning Christians, Jews, and Muslims are represented by their respective sectarian courts.

The police are the entity in modern Israel currently enforcing the ban on punitive parenting in Israel based off of the relevant criminal statute. If a child was grounded or placed in time-out, it would be considered false imprisonment. If a child was struck, it would be battery. If a child was reprimanded, it would be harassment. The police in Israel can unilaterally enforce criminal statures relevant in a child abuse investigation.

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!