A very popular blogger and writer wrote this about the Pearls years ago, I am not faithfully, unfailingly obedient. I fail...miserably. Often. You know it, Lord. The letters on the screen eddy in pools of tears, testifying. Then why did I ever think our children could be perfectly obedient? 100% of the time? I read and understood: "If he {disobeys}, spring into the room with your little switch and pop him on the bare legs one or two times. No anger on your part - no raised voices. Just make it more pleasant to stay in bed. Never allow him to get his way...Train them right and they will always obey." {NGJ, Vol. 1 pg 7} Always? Unwavering obedience? And if not, were more switches necessary? That seemed to be the Pearl premise.
I found where she quoted from and I am going to give you the context. Michael Pearl said he has seen hundreds of quotes given by him and the majority of them were completely taken out of context or plain wrong. In this illustration, he is painting a picture of a child who will not stay in his bed at bedtime. He is always getting up. One of our children did this very thing and this method worked beautifully for us. It took one long evening to accomplish this but he always stayed in bed after this and fell asleep. He knew he wasn't going to win this battle.
"By your consistency, you will eventually condition the child to always submit to authority. If there is even one area where a child is consistently rebellious, you have a child totally self-willed at heart. If he is allowed to choose the areas of obedience, he is, in fact, never submitted to any authority but his own."
"Rather than harder spankings, I would suggest that you determine to be absolutely consistent. Make sure that he is sleepy, and then put him to bed with a Bible story, a little hugging, and a prayer. Be sure he knows he is to stay in bed. Then do for him as you would want done for you - keep the house quiet so he can sleep. Meanwhile, be very attentive. If he gets up, when his feet hit the floor, spring into the room with your little switch and pop him on the bare let one or two times. No anger on your part - no raised voices. Just make it more pleasant to stay in bed. Never allow him to get his way. One week of consistency on your part will convince him that this business is under new management."
Colossians 3:20 states, Children, obey your parents in ALL things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. What the Pearls teach is exactly what the Bible teaches. God wants our obedience in all things and as we walk with Him we should be looking more like Him. Disobedience blasphemes the Word of God so we must take disobedience and rebellion very seriously in ourselves and in our children!
If you would like to hear the Pearls give a response to the criticisms they have endured, see them interacting in person as a family, talk about their child raising practices and how happy their grown children are, you can watch them HERE. It is absolutely worth your time!
