Righteous child worship: Why the Early Christians were a child worshipping culture

Many parents believe that the biblical context calls for child enslavement. This is common myth about the context. Most parents think that the biblical context calls for child enslavement. However, the fact of the matter is that the actual biblical context is child worshipping in nature. Children were seen as extensions of God by both the Ancient Jews as well as the Early Christians.

God's Word is stated in Matthew 25:45-56 KJV:

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into eternal torment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The previous list made up of the "least of these" is not an exhaustive list of those considered the "least of these". Anyone who you perceive as more vulnerable was considered the "least of these". The only group that objectively is referred to in this passage is children. Most people saw children then as the "least of these" extended by God onto their doorstep for love and charity, hence why Christ did not specifically mention children as the "least of these". Children in biblical times were seen as like God to parents, with parents being in full and dutiful submission to children, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return.

Love for children is part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission, with the burden of proof falling squarely on the part of parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parents and children in the family home. This secure attachment come from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40.

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. 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 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 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.

Children in biblical times were not punished for anything. Instead, children were referred to by parents as "like God to me". Children were seen as the salt and light of the world, sitting atop a mounted hilltop, differentiating between the sheep and the goats, casting high judgment upon all adults.

Children were seen in biblical times as extensions of God. This ultimately meant that children were seen as extended to the doorstep of parents by God for love and charity. This love and charity basically involved giving to children without receiving. Parents are to be in full and dutiful submission to their children, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return.

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!