Oppositional-defiant disorder: Why children with ODD need less limits (not more)

Many parents think that a child with ODD is "spoiled" and needs more limits. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents punish their children for rebelling against parents. However, some children actually do have ODD as a secondary disorder. Such children need less limits, meaning not more limits. 

Children in biblical times were never punished, even if they were oppositional and defiant. When Christian parents in the Early Church punished children, they were excommunicated for offending their children out of entitlement. 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 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 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.

Children with ODD today are punished by their parents. However, Christian parents in the Early Church knew more than parents today that an oppositional and defiant child needs parents to give up the fight, and give in to the demands of children. Christian parents then knew that when you try to control a child, they fight back. ODD is the counterwill of a child on steroids. When you pick a fight with a child with ODD, they might actually win the fight. So, just give up the fight with your child, and give in to the child's demands. You may find that the child isn't asking for much.

ODD is a disorder that usually stems from not having the right medication to control the child's ODD symptoms. Most ODD is secondary to another mental health disorder, usually autism, ADHD, and/or bipolar disorder. Usually, all the child needs is the right medication. However, until then, parents should focus on keeping their child safe. Some cases of ODD involve a willful form of standalone autism that cannot be treated with medication, in which case a parent just has to accept their ODD child. Trying to control such a child is futile, as ODD involves a strong counterwill. 

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!