In Which I Am Very Angry
Those who don't share my religious beliefs pretty much might want to look away now, because this is entirely a Religious Rant, with Bible quotations and the whole nine yards. You have been warned.
David Polreis, two years old, beaten to death in 1996
Christopher Forder, 8 years old, beaten to death in 2002
Louie Guerrero, 11 years old, beaten into renal failure and hospitalization in 2002
Sean Paddock, 4 years old, beaten and then wrapped in a blanket;suffocated, 2006
Lydia Schatz, 7 years old, beaten to death in 2010
Zariah Schatz, 11 years old, beaten into renal failure and hospitalization in 2010
All these children were beaten by people who believe the "rod verses" in Proverbs command parents and authorities to "spank with the rod." Every Christian Parenting Guru I have read refers parents to Proverbs 23:13 ("Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.") in encouraging spanking, but of course the word used for "beat" in that passage is also translated "slay", "kill" and "slaughter". There's something goofy about taking a word that God uses to refer to killing everyone but those in the Ark (Genesis 8:21) and saying it means "a few gentle swats to the tush," as the average Christian Parenting Guru does.
Maybe Christian Parenting Gurus should stop taking the book of Proverbs quite so literally, or *at least* start taking the books of Law equally literally -- like, fer instance, when God limits beatings to forty stripes? (Deuteronomy 25:3) Of course, sticking with the Law books makes it tough to "win, even if it takes a repeated [spanking]" (James Dobson) or to accomplish the "unconditional surrender" Richard Fugate recommends, or to get the "total submission" Michael Pearl says is necessary. Fishing around in one of the books of Wisdom, the one which regularly and deliberately contradicts itself (Proverbs 26:4&5, for the most obvious example), and treating said Proverbs as Law, makes it a lot easier to find verses that support what you already believe.
The Bible may call on Christian leaders to be gentle (Galatians 6:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 3:2), and on Christians as a whole to be merciful and full of forgiveness, but for some reason all those ideas just go out the window when it comes to Christian Parenting Gurus. God may say children are holy just by the fact of having a Christian parent (1 Corinthians 7:14), but the Gurus warn that if you don't discipline them just right, they'll be lost. The guys who really kill me straight out say, on a regular basis, "punish your kids or God will punish them" -- as if a sinner like me is better equipped to rightly punish my kids than the perfect God is!
Yeah, that makes sense. Sure.
/sarcasm
The Bible tells me to discipline and teach my kids, true, but that's a whole 'nother thing from "get in between your kids and that scary God who'll really hurt them if you don't straighten them out first!" In my experience, following Deuteronomy 6:7 by reminding the kids of God's Word at the appropriate times, and then stepping aside, allows God to work on my child's heart direct. It is, after all, God who holds my child's heart in His hand (Proverbs 21:1), not me, and God who will enable my child to truly obey (Galatians 5:22 & 23, Ephesians 5:9).
IMHO, whether parents spank or not is their own business as a rule. But when someone teaches that God *orders* parents to strike their children, and that corporal punishment is *necessary* to bring children happiness and salvation, they have crossed a line that should not be crossed. And they can claim Biblical support until the cows come home, but that doesn't make it so.
See this news report:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/15/video-spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child/?hpt=ac_mid
(2 parts)
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/17/video-ungodly-discipline/
(there's a part 3)
Anderson Cooper: “What do you think influenced the Schatzes to beat, terrorize, and torment their children?”
District Attorney Ramsey: “The book by Mr. Pearl. There’s no doubt about that.”
[...]
Cooper: “Do you think that if the Schatzes did not read the Pearls’ book, there would be a good chance that Lydia would still be alive?”
Ramsey: “I would think that there would be.”
Two reasons Ramsey is particularly pointing at the Pearls:
1. The Pearls specifically recommend plumbing line for spanking and have for years, and that's what was used.
2. The Pearls, contrary to 90% of all spanking gurus, interpret "the back" being beaten in the various Proverbs verses as meaning this:
The Bible says, “the rod is for the back.” That would include anything that is not the front-the back from the shoulders down to the feet. When training, and not chastening or punishing, any convenient place on the body is effective. When you have told a child not to touch, and he reaches out, you can thump or swat his hand. If he is trying to climb down from his chair after being told not to, you can swat his legs. But when you are engaging the child in serious chastisement, the small of the back down to the thighs is the most effective. You can spank half as hard on the back with a light, stingy switch and be more effective than spanking harder on the bottom or thighs.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=84&cHash=0c46541c13&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=89&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12
Although it seems that the ancient Hebrews interpreted "back" here to mean the same thing we mean when referring "back" (the rear area of the body from shoulders down to hips), all Christian Parenting Gurus I've read, aside from the Pearls, interpret it to mean "buttocks" (or buttocks and lower back; buttocks and upper legs) -- even though there's a Hebrew word that means buttocks and God does not hesitate to use it when that's what He means (2 Samuel 10:4, Isaiah 20:4). The Schatzs clearly understood it to mean from the shoulders to the feet, meaning they were following Pearl's interpretation. They were not following the Bible (all 13 versions I checked said "back" in the Proverbs verses, and the dictionary definition on that is " The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips" or "The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis"), and they were not following another Christian Parenting Guru (who define the back in these passages as the buttocks area, generally making clear that this does NOT include the shoulders or feet). They were following Pearl, because he is the only source of that definition.
Sean Paddock's mother was also a Pearl follower; when he died, he and his surviving siblings were all bruised by the plumbing supply line. What's particularly infuriating about Sean's death is that he and his siblings had reported the mom for abuse during the adoption process -- the mom insisted he was bruised because he fell, and the social workers ended up taking her word for it. Michael Pearl does not advise directly lying to social workers, so far as I know, but he does advise deliberately hiding punishment sessions from them so not a big step.
http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org/SeanPaddock.html
Personally, I think all the Gurus are whacko, and profoundly unbiblical, but Pearl goes waaaaaaay out there. Allow me to demonstrate.
The Bible teaches that God limits beatings to forty stripes (Deuteronomy 25:3). Michael Pearl* teaches that "there is no number that can be given" because you must "continue until he [gives] over his will" -- until "total submission." **
How many licks?
There is no number that can be given. It would be better to administer more licks that are less forceful than to administer few licks that hurt severely. It is much more effective to administer chastisement or punishment in a slow thoughtful fashion. Our goal is to cause the child to voluntarily surrender his will. We want to impress upon him the severity of his disobedience. It takes time and thoughtfulness for the child to come to repentance. I have told a child I was going to give him 10 licks. I count out loud as I go. After about three licks, leaving him in his position, I would stop and remind him what this is all about. I would continue slowly, still counting, stop again and tell him that I know it hurts and I wish I didn’t have to do it but that it is for his own good. Then I would continue slowly. Pretending to forget the count, I would again stop at about eight and ask him the number. Have him subtract eight from ten, (a little homeschooling) and continue with the final two licks. Then I would have him stand in front of me and ask him why he got the spanking. If his answer showed that he was rebellious and defiant, he would get several more licks. Again he would be questioned as to his offense. If he showed total submission, we put it all behind us, but if he were still rebellious, we would continue until he gave over his will. …
If you ever have a child who stands his ground of defiance and you let him win, you have lost his heart forever-unless you are able to go back and win a confrontation and keep on winning. If you ever let his rebellion triumph just one time, it makes it much harder to conquer in the future. After he gains the upper hand, one victory on your part will not be sufficient. You will have to persevere in several contests of wills until he is convinced that he can never stand against your authority.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=84&cHash=0c46541c13&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=89&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12
The Bible teaches that God is merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31, 2 Chronicles 30:9, Psalms 116:5, Joel 2:13, etc), and that his followers should be, as well (Micah 6:8, Zechariah 10:6, Matthew 23:23, Luke 10:37, etc.). Michael Pearl teaches parents to show no mercy.
Consistency on your part will break that habit in just a few days. Never threaten, and never show mercy. One squeak of a scream gets a switching. (No Greater Joy, Vol 1, pg 26)
The Bible teaches that God loved us, and showed us that love, while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8, Acts 3:26, 1 John 4:19). Michael Pearl teaches that "When [your children] do something lovely, then you can love them."
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=20&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=98&tx_ttnews[backPid]=22&cHash=ac6e7bf821
The Bible teaches that doing good out of fear, or pride, or from any motive but love, benefits you nothing in a spiritual sense. (Obviously, there are other benefits.) You can even give all you have, up to and including your life, but if you don't do it out of love, doesn't help move you toward salvation. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) But Michael Pearl* teaches works righteousness and argues that teaching obedience improves your child's odds of salvation, even if it is obedience born of fear.
You, the parents, must equip your child to save himself from this “untoward generation” (Acts. 2:40). God already has a prototype of the finished child: It is that he might be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). You must work with God toward the day when your children will be conformed to “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). The promise of God is still operative: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). You can begin the child’s “sanctification” long before his salvation.
Chapter 2, Train Up a Child
The Bible teaches that it is grace that frees us, not the works of any man. (Ephesians 2:9) But Michael Pearl teaches that the rod will "absolve the child of guilt" and "cleanse his soul."***
The rod can bring repentance, but it goes much deeper than that. The rod in the hands of a righteous authority will supply the child’s soul with that moment of judgment that he feels he so deserves. Properly applied, with instruction, it will absolve the child of guilt, cleanse his soul, and give him a fresh start through a confidence that all indebtedness is paid.
To Train Up a Child, Chapter 6
The Bible teaches that punishment will have no real impact without a change of the heart, and will not cause that change, either. (Proverbs 27:22, Isaiah 9:13, Jeremiah 5:3) But Michael Pearl teaches that correct use of the rod will turn the child away from hell.
A child properly and timely spanked is healed in the soul and restored to wholeness of spirit. A child can be turned back from the road to hell through proper spankings.
To Train Up a Child chapter 6
The Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8); and that Christians are known by their love (John 13:35). We are drawn to God by his love. (Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 4:19) Both God's grace that saves us (Ephesians 2:8) and the great love within us (Galatians 5:22) are gifts of God. Obedience is the fruit of knowing Christ (Ephesians 5:9, Philippians 1:11, 1 John 2:3), something he does for us and in us. But Michael Pearl teaches that Christ wanted us to obey the law, NOT to have faith in Him.
One of the faults of modern preaching is to preach the person of Christ without preaching His message. To disassociate Christ from His message. To preach Christ simply as a personal relationship or as the satisfaction of a need, be it accurately defined, but fail to preach His message. Jesus didn’t present Himself as a person who needed to be accepted. He didn’t do that. He didn’t prove His deity so that men would accept Him based on His person. Jesus presented a message of righteousness, and challenged people to believe what He said, and do what He said….
…when you look at the parable, Jesus said, ‘the rock’ - He didn’t say ‘the rock is Me’ - He said ‘the rock is a man doing My sayings. When a man hears what I say, and does it, he’s like a man who builds his house on the rock.’ In other words, you build your house on the rock when you obey the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t teach, you build your house on the rock by establishing a relationship with Me, He said you build your house on the rock when you do what I said to do. And when you hear these sayings of Mine and don’t do them, you’re like a man who built his house on the sand.
Audio sermon on Acts 24
The Bible teaches that the spiritual heart gives birth to sin (Matthew 15:19, James 4:1-3). Michael Pearl teaches that sin is only of the physical body.
The body of flesh is the seat of sin. Not my soul, not an old nature - the body of flesh." "the body was the dominant part which made me sin. I've been cut out from it. The body you are sitting there in is dead. You say - 'but that's just spiritually true' - No, it's literally true.... It is not sinful 'I' doing this but 'I' controlled by sinful 'it'.... When God saves a soul he saves a body - he crucifies the body - takes the man out of the body and puts him in the spirit.
(His tapes on the book of Romans)
The Bible teaches that Christians will sin, and have sinned, and that to believe otherwise is self-deception (1 John 1:8-9). Michael Pearl teaches that Christians don't have to sin.
My series, Sin No More, does not teach that it is possible in this life to achieve a “state” whereby it is impossible to sin-as does the doctrine of sinless perfection. I teach that through our death with Christ and participation in his resurrection, it is possible in this life, moment by moment, temptation by temptation, to reckon one’s self dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God and, thereby, to fulfill Christ’s command to “sin no more”. There is no such condition as being unable to sin, but the Christian is able not to sin. Why does that bother some people? Shouldn’t we expect our ministers to obey God in all things, to walk in holiness both publicly and privately-all the time?
In this age of carelessness and antinomian Christianity, where preachers walk after the flesh, embezzle money, commit adultery or sodomy, and where worship leaders are found guilty of fornication, I am gratified to be accused of teaching a “heresy” that we should and can sin no more. …
If my material is read and understood, the only thing you could accuse me of is helping people to stop sinning. So what is the problem? The women whose husbands have ceased pornography or adultery are not complaining about their husbands listening to the series “Sin No More.” The men who have overcome their anger and lust through reckoning themselves to be dead to sin are not accusing me of heresy. The murderers and rapists in prison who have listened to my teaching and then been released back onto the streets to sin no more are not accusing me of heresy.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/bible-teaching/article-display/archive/2007/october/10/answering-the-critics/
* And Dobson, and Fugate, and Lessin, and Ezzo, and Christenson, and…
** Pearl would probably argue that God's limit on the number of stripes does not apply to his system, because he is not telling people to beat the child to punish the child, but to train the child before he knows good and evil.
*** There's a fanficcer, can't remember her name, who has written a number of LOTR stories wherein someone is spanked and thus freed of their guilt -- even though there is no restitution, no true repentance, and no reconciliation (the person [or people] wronged knows nothing of the spanking and had nothing to do with it). The focus is not on Biblical forgiveness or grace or love, but rather on absolving *the feelings of guilt* through spanking. That's all a spanking can do, in terms of guilt -- make the child feel like they've paid the price and it's all good now. The reality of their guilt before God, the reality of God's justice, is something else entirely.
Sheryl
David Polreis, two years old, beaten to death in 1996
Christopher Forder, 8 years old, beaten to death in 2002
Louie Guerrero, 11 years old, beaten into renal failure and hospitalization in 2002
Sean Paddock, 4 years old, beaten and then wrapped in a blanket;suffocated, 2006
Lydia Schatz, 7 years old, beaten to death in 2010
Zariah Schatz, 11 years old, beaten into renal failure and hospitalization in 2010
All these children were beaten by people who believe the "rod verses" in Proverbs command parents and authorities to "spank with the rod." Every Christian Parenting Guru I have read refers parents to Proverbs 23:13 ("Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.") in encouraging spanking, but of course the word used for "beat" in that passage is also translated "slay", "kill" and "slaughter". There's something goofy about taking a word that God uses to refer to killing everyone but those in the Ark (Genesis 8:21) and saying it means "a few gentle swats to the tush," as the average Christian Parenting Guru does.
Maybe Christian Parenting Gurus should stop taking the book of Proverbs quite so literally, or *at least* start taking the books of Law equally literally -- like, fer instance, when God limits beatings to forty stripes? (Deuteronomy 25:3) Of course, sticking with the Law books makes it tough to "win, even if it takes a repeated [spanking]" (James Dobson) or to accomplish the "unconditional surrender" Richard Fugate recommends, or to get the "total submission" Michael Pearl says is necessary. Fishing around in one of the books of Wisdom, the one which regularly and deliberately contradicts itself (Proverbs 26:4&5, for the most obvious example), and treating said Proverbs as Law, makes it a lot easier to find verses that support what you already believe.
The Bible may call on Christian leaders to be gentle (Galatians 6:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 3:2), and on Christians as a whole to be merciful and full of forgiveness, but for some reason all those ideas just go out the window when it comes to Christian Parenting Gurus. God may say children are holy just by the fact of having a Christian parent (1 Corinthians 7:14), but the Gurus warn that if you don't discipline them just right, they'll be lost. The guys who really kill me straight out say, on a regular basis, "punish your kids or God will punish them" -- as if a sinner like me is better equipped to rightly punish my kids than the perfect God is!
Yeah, that makes sense. Sure.
/sarcasm
The Bible tells me to discipline and teach my kids, true, but that's a whole 'nother thing from "get in between your kids and that scary God who'll really hurt them if you don't straighten them out first!" In my experience, following Deuteronomy 6:7 by reminding the kids of God's Word at the appropriate times, and then stepping aside, allows God to work on my child's heart direct. It is, after all, God who holds my child's heart in His hand (Proverbs 21:1), not me, and God who will enable my child to truly obey (Galatians 5:22 & 23, Ephesians 5:9).
IMHO, whether parents spank or not is their own business as a rule. But when someone teaches that God *orders* parents to strike their children, and that corporal punishment is *necessary* to bring children happiness and salvation, they have crossed a line that should not be crossed. And they can claim Biblical support until the cows come home, but that doesn't make it so.
See this news report:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/15/video-spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child/?hpt=ac_mid
(2 parts)
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/17/video-ungodly-discipline/
(there's a part 3)
Anderson Cooper: “What do you think influenced the Schatzes to beat, terrorize, and torment their children?”
District Attorney Ramsey: “The book by Mr. Pearl. There’s no doubt about that.”
[...]
Cooper: “Do you think that if the Schatzes did not read the Pearls’ book, there would be a good chance that Lydia would still be alive?”
Ramsey: “I would think that there would be.”
Two reasons Ramsey is particularly pointing at the Pearls:
1. The Pearls specifically recommend plumbing line for spanking and have for years, and that's what was used.
2. The Pearls, contrary to 90% of all spanking gurus, interpret "the back" being beaten in the various Proverbs verses as meaning this:
The Bible says, “the rod is for the back.” That would include anything that is not the front-the back from the shoulders down to the feet. When training, and not chastening or punishing, any convenient place on the body is effective. When you have told a child not to touch, and he reaches out, you can thump or swat his hand. If he is trying to climb down from his chair after being told not to, you can swat his legs. But when you are engaging the child in serious chastisement, the small of the back down to the thighs is the most effective. You can spank half as hard on the back with a light, stingy switch and be more effective than spanking harder on the bottom or thighs.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=84&cHash=0c46541c13&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=89&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12
Although it seems that the ancient Hebrews interpreted "back" here to mean the same thing we mean when referring "back" (the rear area of the body from shoulders down to hips), all Christian Parenting Gurus I've read, aside from the Pearls, interpret it to mean "buttocks" (or buttocks and lower back; buttocks and upper legs) -- even though there's a Hebrew word that means buttocks and God does not hesitate to use it when that's what He means (2 Samuel 10:4, Isaiah 20:4). The Schatzs clearly understood it to mean from the shoulders to the feet, meaning they were following Pearl's interpretation. They were not following the Bible (all 13 versions I checked said "back" in the Proverbs verses, and the dictionary definition on that is " The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips" or "The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis"), and they were not following another Christian Parenting Guru (who define the back in these passages as the buttocks area, generally making clear that this does NOT include the shoulders or feet). They were following Pearl, because he is the only source of that definition.
Sean Paddock's mother was also a Pearl follower; when he died, he and his surviving siblings were all bruised by the plumbing supply line. What's particularly infuriating about Sean's death is that he and his siblings had reported the mom for abuse during the adoption process -- the mom insisted he was bruised because he fell, and the social workers ended up taking her word for it. Michael Pearl does not advise directly lying to social workers, so far as I know, but he does advise deliberately hiding punishment sessions from them so not a big step.
http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org/SeanPaddock.html
Personally, I think all the Gurus are whacko, and profoundly unbiblical, but Pearl goes waaaaaaay out there. Allow me to demonstrate.
The Bible teaches that God limits beatings to forty stripes (Deuteronomy 25:3). Michael Pearl* teaches that "there is no number that can be given" because you must "continue until he [gives] over his will" -- until "total submission." **
How many licks?
There is no number that can be given. It would be better to administer more licks that are less forceful than to administer few licks that hurt severely. It is much more effective to administer chastisement or punishment in a slow thoughtful fashion. Our goal is to cause the child to voluntarily surrender his will. We want to impress upon him the severity of his disobedience. It takes time and thoughtfulness for the child to come to repentance. I have told a child I was going to give him 10 licks. I count out loud as I go. After about three licks, leaving him in his position, I would stop and remind him what this is all about. I would continue slowly, still counting, stop again and tell him that I know it hurts and I wish I didn’t have to do it but that it is for his own good. Then I would continue slowly. Pretending to forget the count, I would again stop at about eight and ask him the number. Have him subtract eight from ten, (a little homeschooling) and continue with the final two licks. Then I would have him stand in front of me and ask him why he got the spanking. If his answer showed that he was rebellious and defiant, he would get several more licks. Again he would be questioned as to his offense. If he showed total submission, we put it all behind us, but if he were still rebellious, we would continue until he gave over his will. …
If you ever have a child who stands his ground of defiance and you let him win, you have lost his heart forever-unless you are able to go back and win a confrontation and keep on winning. If you ever let his rebellion triumph just one time, it makes it much harder to conquer in the future. After he gains the upper hand, one victory on your part will not be sufficient. You will have to persevere in several contests of wills until he is convinced that he can never stand against your authority.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=84&cHash=0c46541c13&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=89&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12
The Bible teaches that God is merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31, 2 Chronicles 30:9, Psalms 116:5, Joel 2:13, etc), and that his followers should be, as well (Micah 6:8, Zechariah 10:6, Matthew 23:23, Luke 10:37, etc.). Michael Pearl teaches parents to show no mercy.
Consistency on your part will break that habit in just a few days. Never threaten, and never show mercy. One squeak of a scream gets a switching. (No Greater Joy, Vol 1, pg 26)
The Bible teaches that God loved us, and showed us that love, while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8, Acts 3:26, 1 John 4:19). Michael Pearl teaches that "When [your children] do something lovely, then you can love them."
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=20&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=98&tx_ttnews[backPid]=22&cHash=ac6e7bf821
The Bible teaches that doing good out of fear, or pride, or from any motive but love, benefits you nothing in a spiritual sense. (Obviously, there are other benefits.) You can even give all you have, up to and including your life, but if you don't do it out of love, doesn't help move you toward salvation. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) But Michael Pearl* teaches works righteousness and argues that teaching obedience improves your child's odds of salvation, even if it is obedience born of fear.
You, the parents, must equip your child to save himself from this “untoward generation” (Acts. 2:40). God already has a prototype of the finished child: It is that he might be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). You must work with God toward the day when your children will be conformed to “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). The promise of God is still operative: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). You can begin the child’s “sanctification” long before his salvation.
Chapter 2, Train Up a Child
The Bible teaches that it is grace that frees us, not the works of any man. (Ephesians 2:9) But Michael Pearl teaches that the rod will "absolve the child of guilt" and "cleanse his soul."***
The rod can bring repentance, but it goes much deeper than that. The rod in the hands of a righteous authority will supply the child’s soul with that moment of judgment that he feels he so deserves. Properly applied, with instruction, it will absolve the child of guilt, cleanse his soul, and give him a fresh start through a confidence that all indebtedness is paid.
To Train Up a Child, Chapter 6
The Bible teaches that punishment will have no real impact without a change of the heart, and will not cause that change, either. (Proverbs 27:22, Isaiah 9:13, Jeremiah 5:3) But Michael Pearl teaches that correct use of the rod will turn the child away from hell.
A child properly and timely spanked is healed in the soul and restored to wholeness of spirit. A child can be turned back from the road to hell through proper spankings.
To Train Up a Child chapter 6
The Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8); and that Christians are known by their love (John 13:35). We are drawn to God by his love. (Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 4:19) Both God's grace that saves us (Ephesians 2:8) and the great love within us (Galatians 5:22) are gifts of God. Obedience is the fruit of knowing Christ (Ephesians 5:9, Philippians 1:11, 1 John 2:3), something he does for us and in us. But Michael Pearl teaches that Christ wanted us to obey the law, NOT to have faith in Him.
One of the faults of modern preaching is to preach the person of Christ without preaching His message. To disassociate Christ from His message. To preach Christ simply as a personal relationship or as the satisfaction of a need, be it accurately defined, but fail to preach His message. Jesus didn’t present Himself as a person who needed to be accepted. He didn’t do that. He didn’t prove His deity so that men would accept Him based on His person. Jesus presented a message of righteousness, and challenged people to believe what He said, and do what He said….
…when you look at the parable, Jesus said, ‘the rock’ - He didn’t say ‘the rock is Me’ - He said ‘the rock is a man doing My sayings. When a man hears what I say, and does it, he’s like a man who builds his house on the rock.’ In other words, you build your house on the rock when you obey the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t teach, you build your house on the rock by establishing a relationship with Me, He said you build your house on the rock when you do what I said to do. And when you hear these sayings of Mine and don’t do them, you’re like a man who built his house on the sand.
Audio sermon on Acts 24
The Bible teaches that the spiritual heart gives birth to sin (Matthew 15:19, James 4:1-3). Michael Pearl teaches that sin is only of the physical body.
The body of flesh is the seat of sin. Not my soul, not an old nature - the body of flesh." "the body was the dominant part which made me sin. I've been cut out from it. The body you are sitting there in is dead. You say - 'but that's just spiritually true' - No, it's literally true.... It is not sinful 'I' doing this but 'I' controlled by sinful 'it'.... When God saves a soul he saves a body - he crucifies the body - takes the man out of the body and puts him in the spirit.
(His tapes on the book of Romans)
The Bible teaches that Christians will sin, and have sinned, and that to believe otherwise is self-deception (1 John 1:8-9). Michael Pearl teaches that Christians don't have to sin.
My series, Sin No More, does not teach that it is possible in this life to achieve a “state” whereby it is impossible to sin-as does the doctrine of sinless perfection. I teach that through our death with Christ and participation in his resurrection, it is possible in this life, moment by moment, temptation by temptation, to reckon one’s self dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God and, thereby, to fulfill Christ’s command to “sin no more”. There is no such condition as being unable to sin, but the Christian is able not to sin. Why does that bother some people? Shouldn’t we expect our ministers to obey God in all things, to walk in holiness both publicly and privately-all the time?
In this age of carelessness and antinomian Christianity, where preachers walk after the flesh, embezzle money, commit adultery or sodomy, and where worship leaders are found guilty of fornication, I am gratified to be accused of teaching a “heresy” that we should and can sin no more. …
If my material is read and understood, the only thing you could accuse me of is helping people to stop sinning. So what is the problem? The women whose husbands have ceased pornography or adultery are not complaining about their husbands listening to the series “Sin No More.” The men who have overcome their anger and lust through reckoning themselves to be dead to sin are not accusing me of heresy. The murderers and rapists in prison who have listened to my teaching and then been released back onto the streets to sin no more are not accusing me of heresy.
http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/bible-teaching/article-display/archive/2007/october/10/answering-the-critics/
* And Dobson, and Fugate, and Lessin, and Ezzo, and Christenson, and…
** Pearl would probably argue that God's limit on the number of stripes does not apply to his system, because he is not telling people to beat the child to punish the child, but to train the child before he knows good and evil.
*** There's a fanficcer, can't remember her name, who has written a number of LOTR stories wherein someone is spanked and thus freed of their guilt -- even though there is no restitution, no true repentance, and no reconciliation (the person [or people] wronged knows nothing of the spanking and had nothing to do with it). The focus is not on Biblical forgiveness or grace or love, but rather on absolving *the feelings of guilt* through spanking. That's all a spanking can do, in terms of guilt -- make the child feel like they've paid the price and it's all good now. The reality of their guilt before God, the reality of God's justice, is something else entirely.
Sheryl