Couple found guilty of murder for parenting by "To Train Up a Child"

[TadQueasy]

http://www.examiner.com/article/ano...f-murder-for-parenting-by-to-train-up-a-child

November 15, 2013
Two parents in Washington state have been found guilty of murder after following the abusive parenting techniques advocated in the parenting book "To Train Up a Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl.

Larry and Carri Williams received the maximum prison sentences allowable under the law after being found guilty of beating and starving their adopted daughter Hana to death. The methods they used to "discipline" their daughter were advocated in the controversial Christian book.

Some of the discipline techniques the Pearls teach include:

Using plastic tubing to beat children, since it hurts a lot but leaves fewer marks to alert authorities
Wearing the plastic tubing around the parent's neck as a constant reminder to obey
"Swatting" babies as young as six months old with instruments such as "a 12-inch willowy branch," thinner plastic tubing or a wooden spoon
"Blanket training" babies by hitting them with an instrument if they try to crawl off a blanket on the floor
Beating older children with rulers, paddles, belts and larger tree branches
"Training" children with pain before they even disobey, in order to teach total obedience
Giving cold water baths, putting children outside in cold weather and withholding meals as discipline
Hosing off children who have potty training accidents
Inflicting punishment until a child is "without breath to complain."
Michael Pearl tells one mother on his website, "I could break his anger in two days. He would be too scared to get angry. On the third day he would draw into a quiet shell and obey."

 

[InTheLight]

I disagree with every method of discipline listed. They probably took the "advice" in the book too far. I think the parents got what they deserved.

 

[annsni]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Pearl's teaching on women and children is so dangerous and we see the clear end result here. No, the Pearl's didn't say to bring it to this point and I believe (I have the book but don't have time to look right now) that they speak against abuse but what they teach IS abuse and therefore can be taken too far.

I have numerous issues with the book and you can search my posts and "Pearl" and find most of them but bottom line is this: They speak of a goal of having obedient children first and not godly children. That is completely against the Scriptural teaching on parenting and NOT my goal. I could have the most obedient children in the world but I would have failed in my parenting if they were not raised up in the Gospel. My children walking with the Lord is my #1 goal in my entire parenting career. Yes, I'd like them to be obedient too but because of the Spirit in them convicting them of sin and not my standing there with a switch.

 

[TadQueasy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Pearl's teaching on women and children is so dangerous and we see the clear end result here. No, the Pearl's didn't say to bring it to this point and I believe (I have the book but don't have time to look right now) that they speak against abuse but what they teach IS abuse and therefore can be taken too far.

I have numerous issues with the book and you can search my posts and "Pearl" and find most of them but bottom line is this: They speak of a goal of having obedient children first and not godly children. That is completely against the Scriptural teaching on parenting and NOT my goal. I could have the most obedient children in the world but I would have failed in my parenting if they were not raised up in the Gospel. My children walking with the Lord is my #1 goal in my entire parenting career. Yes, I'd like them to be obedient too but because of the Spirit in them convicting them of sin and not my standing there with a switch.

very well said. I have no idea why anyone would want to use their approaches. There are so many better books and better ways to train up children.

 

[HAMel]

InTheLight, I agree with you. They got what they deserved. Poor child.

They As So Little

Take time to laugh and sing,
And play and cuddle them a bit.
Tell them a story now and then,
And steal a little time to sit.

And listen to their childish talk,
Or take them for a little walk.
Take time to hear their prayers at night,
To really cherish and enjoy.

A little girl with flaxen curls,
And the small wonder of a boy.
They ask so little when they're small,
Just love and tenderness, that's all.
(anonymous)

 

[Reformed]

My heart aches reading about this.

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

Yes...

My heart aches reading about this.

:tear: Reformed...add me to your list....VERY SAD!...and totally unbiblical. The Bible does teach corporal punishment of children but never to the extreme of abuse. I don't know much about the Pearls but what I do know makes me suspect that they do go to extremes that depart from the teachings of the Bible. The Bible is a book of balance, wisdom and common sense except where it departs into the realm of the miraculous (which is God's ways, not ours). God NEVER teaches ABUSE.

People...follow and believe the Book...and where its "professed" followers add to or depart from IT...we must "depart" from them!

Bro.Greg:saint: