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

Many parents support the child abuse definitions already on the books. Most parents think that child abuse is a modern concept, and that the ancients in the Bible had no concept of child abuse. However, the Bible has its own definition of child abuse, namely whatever the child victim perceives as abuse. 

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 consists of parents being sorely disappointed when they don't get what they feel that they deserve from children. Parents are deserving of absolutely nothing from children just for existing. Any parent anger directed towards children was seen in biblical times as parental entitlement. When this sense of entitlement in parents was perceived by the child as offensive or damaging, 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 here 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 initially 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 deacon. 

The Greek root word translated "they be discouraged" is αθυμέω (Latin: athumeo) and refers here to long-term damages, namely trauma. The ancients did have a concept of trauma. Whenever a child went atheist while growing up, it was a smoking gun that incriminated the parents. Atheism was seen then as a sign of trauma. Atheists in the Early Church were afforded sympathy, but nor much else. 

The prosecution of abusers of children in the Early Church was based off of the concept of pro-social rumor. When adult children grew up to be atheist, and disowned their parents, word spread far and wide of a child being abused. When word reached the council, a panel of 3 elders heard the case of the abused children, and from there, the council reached a verdict. If the parents were convicted, the child was given a choice - go with parents, or go with pedophiles. Usually, the child went with pedophiles, running to the "child savior" for a big hug and refuge from abusive parents. However, the most pedophiles could do with a child was lactate to nurse orphaned children back to health. 

The Bible is an anti-spanking document. The writers of all 88 books of the Bible were Jews, and no Jew worth mentioning has ever endorsed punishing a child in any way. All of the biblical writers endorsed attachment parenting. Even King Solomon recommended attachment parenting for the little ones. The rod of correction simply refers in context to the 40 minus 1 lashes, meaning that whippings were a sentence for crimes committed by an adult child. Christ fulfilled the Law, thus repealing the harsh punishments in the Old Testament. The Early Christians shunned Roman floggings, and did not whip even those who ardently offended against their neighbor or the church. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoked 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!