I Am Pleading Guilty For The Lord

On February 27, 2010, In Religion, By Bruce

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Dr.(ten bucks says it ain’t earned or it came from a diploma mill) Jack Patterson runs the Reclamation Ranch Ministries in Empire, Alabama.

According to their website Reclamation Ranch Ministries is:

We are a Christian organization that specializes in a boarding school for girls ages 12-17 and young men and women ages 18-35. Our homes have 24 hour watch care and professional staff that have given their lives to help young people obtain a "second" chance at life. Our young people come from all walks of life, from pastor and missionary families to homes that are broken and filled with drugs and alcohol. No one is exempt from a broken heart and we teach our young people to use their hurts to heal someone else. Our staff give their lives to the young people in our programs to bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

What is Dr Jack’s ministry. According to his personal website:

Bro. Jack is the Founder of Reclamation Ranch Ministries and is an Evangelist traveling across America to help other churches desiring to working with the troubled youth of America.   We aid in counseling as well as teaching others how to work with people addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling and the lifestyles that come with such addiction.   We know the God of second chances and want to remind others that "whatever their past might have been, their future is spotless" by the Redeeming Blood of Calvary!

It seems Dr. Jack got himself into a good bit of trouble.

In a March 4, 2009 story the Birmingham News reported:

The director of a ministry that established a home for troubled boys in western Blount County has been charged with aggravated child abuse and will be arraigned on March 17.

Pastor Jack Patterson of Empire, the founder-director of Reclamation Ranch Ministries, was indicted in early February and posted $25,000 bond, according to the Blount County circuit clerk’s office.

Patterson has declined to discuss the case. The Reclamation Ranch Web site has a statement that says, "Any of you who know Bro. Jack know that there is no way for him to allow any type of harm against anyone."

Reclamation Ranch also is trying to raise $40,000 to cover attorney’s fees, according to its Web site. Patterson’s defense attorney is former Blount County Circuit Judge Bob Austin.

Also charged with aggravated child abuse is Michael Parkinson, whose listed address is Byron, N.Y. Parkinson was served with his indictment Feb. 13 and posted a $25,000 cash bond. He also has a March 17 arraignment.

Another person indicted in the case has not yet been served.

The case began in late November, when authorities received a complaint of "severe abuse, beating and torture" from a 17-year-old who was living at Reclamation Ranch’s Lighthouse Academy. The Reclamation Ranch Web site at the time described the academy as "a minimum one-year program that incorporates Bible teaching, character training and respect for family." The Lighthouse Academy is not currently listed on the site.

Eleven boys younger than 18, as well as some 18-year-olds living at the academy, were subsequently placed by the Department of Human Resources in other residential settings and later returned to their parents, relatives or other adults. Some of the boys came from California, Kentucky and an Amish community in Ohio. (the boys were later returned to the home)

Reclamation Ranch also operates a boarding home for troubled girls and young women in Walker County and a men’s ranch in Empire.

On Monday, March 1st Jack Patterson will be back in court.

According to his website:

I agreed to a very low plea bargain, of "verbal harassement" and a $500 fine.. This is a class "C" misameanor and involves no child endangerment or any nature of child abuse. While we really do not believe we should even agree to this we are more interested in getting on with the work the Lord has called us to do in working with those who are down and out and while there is still time to reach those who need to be reached for the Lord Jesus Christ. We will apprear before Judge Stephen King on March 1, 2010.  Please pray all goes well. (spelling errors are in the original)

jack_patterson I wish I had a dollar for every time I have read one of these types of statements from a Preacher.

Patterson plans to plead out on March 1st. He will plead guilty to verbal harassment and  pay a 500.00 fine. I have no idea  about the merits of the legal case against him.  I do know that time after time, preachers like Patterson seem to skirt criminal prosecution. Rarely do they have to answer for their crimes.

Patterson does not believe he did anything wrong. He agreed to the plea bargain so he could “get on with the work the Lord has called us to do in working with those who are down and out.”

After all they need to be reached “while there is still time.”

Patterson used to work for Lester Roloff. Firedog Lake has a feature article on Patterson. I hope you will take time to read it.

Postscript:

I was right about Patterson’s doctorate.

Firedog Lake states:

Dr. Jack Patterson is not a doctor. He received an honorary title from the Pacific Garden Mission Institute. (All I was able to find is Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago’s South Loop.) Patterson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education from Hyles Anderson College – an Evangelical Christian college that spurns regulation or accreditation – in Indiana. Essentially, a degree from Hyles isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

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Why Do So Many Christians Abuse Their Children?

On February 24, 2010, In Religion, By Bruce

spanking_kids Now there’s a title sure to get everyone’s attention!  :)

Why do so many Christians abuse their children?

The reason is primarily a theological one. (though they might not even realize it is)

Most Christian sects believe in some form of original sin. (depravity)

The theology goes something like this:

  • A person does not become a sinner they are a sinner, from birth until they die.
  • A person has a sin nature inherited from the daddy for the human race Adam.
  • A person has no choice in this matter. They are a sinner.

So from birth a child is a sinner. They have no choice in the matter. They are, what every human being is,a sinner.

The implications of this teaching is huge.

The Bible says:

  • A baby is born speaking lies The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psalm 58:3
  • A baby is conceived in iniquity and sin Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5
  • A baby is the enemy of God Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4
  • A baby is alienated from God The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psalm 58:3
  • A baby is born into the world under the wrath of God For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Romans 1:18
  • A baby is headed for hell the moment it draws its first breath

I am sure someone will object to some of the verses I just quoted. “Those verses apply to ADULT sinners.” 

spanking Really? Have you thought out the implications of your theology.? Is there any difference in God’s eyes between a baby sinner and an adult sinner? Does God have a sin chart where he keeps score and where he rates the various qualities of the sins committed?

I thought in the eyes of God that every sin is the same? Sure the consequences are different from sin to sin, but God sees every sin as an affront to his Holy nature. Every sin is an act of rebellion against God. In the eyes of God there is no difference between when a baby “lies” about being hungry, wet, etc just so he can get his mother’s attention and a serial killer who kills 5 people.  Sin is sin. Sinners sin.  That’s what sinners do.

Ugly isn’t it? When you shine the clear, bright, light of reason on the doctrine of original sin it reveals its ugliness for all to see.

Some sects realize there is a big problem with the whole notion of original sin so they invent doctrines to address it.

  • Catholics and Protestants baptize infants washing away their original sin. They are then safe until they reach a place of accountability for their sin.
  • Some Baptists and Evangelicals teach, that while a baby is indeed born a sinner, the baby is not accountable for its sin until it reaches an age of accountability. Some Churches say this is the age of 12.  Others say it is an indefinite age. Once a child can understand the difference between right and wrong and understand the penalty for sin they are then accountable for their sin.
  • Some Calvinists, especially of the Reformed type, baptize their babies as a sign of the covenant between the parents and God. The children are raised as if they are children of God until they prove they are not.

spanking_2 In Baptist and many Evangelical Churches an emphasis is placed on child evangelism. The theory is that if you don’t win them when they are young you risk losing them. Most children raised in Churches like this make professions of faith at a very young age. My wife was five and I was six when we made our FIRST (certainly not our last) profession of faith. It is not uncommon to hear testimonies about little Johnny who came to his mother asking her about being saved. And right there by the bed they knelt and Johnny prayed out loud and asked Jesus into his heart. (terminology not used one time in the Bible)

The programs of the Church reflect the importance of making sure children become Christians. Sunday School, Jr Church and youth group are all geared towards children becoming Christians, and most importantly, staying in the Church.

Why do children need to be saved? For the same reason adults do. They are sinners. They are in rebellion against God. They are the enemy of God. They deserve judgment and hell.

Are you sure you want to keep taking or sending your children to Church? 

One of the tools Christians are told that God gave to parents to use with their children is the rod of correction. Spanking, whipping, beating, and hitting a child is a used to teach a child that sin has consequences. In a very warped and perverse way children are told their mom and dad hit them because they love them.

After all the Bible clearly teaches that God whips his children because he loves them.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Hebrews 12:7-9

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Proverbs 3:11,12

This is illustrated in the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus bore the wrath of his father. Why? Because he was bearing our sin. Our sin deserved the wrath of God and Jesus took that wrath upon himself. In other words. God beat his son Jesus for what we did.

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Is it any wonder that the average Christian parent thinks it is quite normal, even quite spiritual, to spank. whip, beat, slap, hit, dare I say abuse their children?

The Bible teaches it is a parent’s duty to beat their children.

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. Proverbs 23:12-14

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

There are two major cultural influences that encourage the abuse of children.

First. While we are not a Christian nation we ARE a Christian nation. The teachings I have mentioned in this post are believed and practiced by a large portion of American families. Every day the newspaper has another story of a parent who abused their child. I wonder if the abuser is ever questioned about what religious training they received?

The Christian ethic runs deep in our culture. Being whipped for transgressions is seen as American as baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet. Paddling children for misbehaving is finally coming a thing of the past in American but most of us can remember  a day when someone getting paddled was a common, every day occurrence. (as I know FIRST hand) We call it corporeal punishment. It’s real name is child abuse.

Listen to older Americans as they complain about how unruly kids are today. How disrespectful they are. “Why when I was a kid my momma got a peach switch and beat me when I misbehaved.“ “When daddy got home we knew we were gonna get it with his belt. We learned to behave because Daddy beat us.”  “A little beating never hurt anybody.”

What’s the message that the Bible, God, the Church and older Americans are sending"?

That violence is a good and necessary tool to use when children disobey. (sin) I should note, in passing, that this thinking permeates our culture. Our government leaders do this every day when they say, in their justification of war, violence will bring peace. (whip the kid country that sinned against us, the parent country, until they stop sinning against us. Then we will peace, peace being what we want them to do)

spanking_4 All in all we are a violent people, and sadly Christianity has helped to make violence against children and other people acceptable and even desirable.

Second. Preacher’s have a huge influence over families. Their sermons on the family, parenting, marriage, and children have a deep and abiding influence over parents and children.

How often have children heard in Church:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20

Of course verse 21 is NOT heard as often:

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

In my next post I want to take a close look at how preachers influence parents and how this influence can have a devastating effect.

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Beating Your Children In The Name Of Jesus

On February 8, 2010, In Religion, By Bruce

child_training Child abuse,  is quite common in the Evangelical/Fundamentalist Church.  The Bible DOES teach it, after all.

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Proverbs 13:24)

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. (Proverbs 19:18)

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. (Proverbs 22:13,14)

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15)

If you don’t beat your children you are not a good parent.

A popular book among Evangelicals/Fundamentalists is Richard Fugate’s book What the Bible says about Child Training.

I wasn’t able to find a text copy of the book online. What follows is a few screen captures from a website devoted to Fugate’s teachings. I will leave it to you to decide if Fugate teaches child abuse in the name of Jesus.

fugate

 

fugate_2

 

fugate_3

 

fugate_4

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Former Congressman Condones Beating Kids With Electric Cord

On January 20, 2010, In Politics, Religion, By Bruce

The NY Times reports:

On Monday, former Representative Harold E. Ford Jr., who is considering a run for the United States Senate from New York, and his likely rival, Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, crossed paths at the Harlem headquarters of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network for an annual celebration in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr…

Mr. Ford spoke about his childhood in Memphis, describing a grandmother who used the extension cords from living room lamps to discipline him and his brother. “I am always amazed when I meet parents who say they can’t get their kids to go to church, ’cause I didn’t know kids had options like that.”

…Later, he returned to the subject: “We as a nation need to be disciplined. If there were ever a day in which an electric cord ought to be used on all of us to remind us of what’s good, what’s bad, what’s right and what’s wrong, it’s on the King holiday.”

Mr. Ford, a former congressman from Tennessee, spoke for 10 minutes with no notes. He quoted from the Bible, sometimes allowing the crowd to pick up where he left off…

Surely this guy is crazy right?

Surely, no one still advocates whipping kids with an electric cord?

Surely no one would use an act of violence as an illustration on the day where we honor the NON-VIOLENCE of Martin Luther King, Jr?

It was child abuse when Ford’s grandmother whipped him with an electric cord and it still is.

Peterr at firedoglake.com writes:

As a pastor, I’m usually one who likes it when someone says “you ought to go to church.” On the other hand, it sure makes my job as a preacher a helluva lot harder when the last message kids got before coming to church was, “You’re going to go to church and listen to Pastor talk about love and hope and joy and peace and compassion and bearing one another’s burdens and charity, or I’m going to whip your backside till it glows. And you smile when Pastor says ‘hello’ or I’ll whip your backside when we get home.”

To that I say Amen!

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