Expanding child abuse definitions: Why the Bible calls for expanding child abuse definitions

Many parents oppose the idea of expanding child abuse definitions any more than they are defined now. However, the Bible has its own definition of child abuse, with that definition being broader and more expansive. In short, anything perceived as offensive or damaging by a child is considered child abuse under God's Law. 

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. Unofficially speaking, parental entitlement is an adult temper tantrum when the adult in question doesn't get what they feel that they deserve from children. In fact, any anger towards a child coming from an adult was considered entitlement of the parent variety. When this temper tantrum was perceived as offensive or damaging to a child, it was deemed child abuse. See also 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 punishment, 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. The 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 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 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 a deacon.

The first modern country to ban all punitive parenting towards children was Sweden, dating back to 1979. However, several ancient cultures also prohibited all forms of punishment of a child. The Early Christians were one of those ancient cultures. In fact, in Ancient Jewish culture as a whole, spanking and punishing a child was deemed a capital offense.

Even in modern Israel, a court ruling officially banned all forms of punitive parenting. However, even when Israel was founded in 1948, there was no legal defense for punishing a child. Certain family courts that were sectarian in orientation overlooked punitive parenting. However, the court ruling allowed for the secular courts to hear child abuse issues, and enabled the police to both arrest parents and collect the children.

In recent years, Israel's Knesset has passed a law against domestic violence in all spheres of life, including domestic violence or abuse against children. Any violence or abuse within the context of the family home was deemed domestic violence, or else domestic abuse.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children 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!