North Carolina pastor Sean Harris is being featured on many gay rights blogs this week due to his lesson on parenting to his congregation, including his advice that parents should punch and slap the gay out of children.
I doubt I could do the Pastor justice in his approach to child-rearing so here are his own words:
“So your little son starts to act a little girlish when he is four years old and instead of squashing that like a cockroach and saying, “Man up, son, get that dress off you and get outside and dig a ditch, because that is what boys do,” you get out the camera and you start taking pictures of Johnny acting like a female and then you upload it to YouTube and everybody laughs about it and the next thing you know, this dude, this kid is acting out childhood fantasies that should have been squashed.
Can I make it any clearer? Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give him a good punch. Ok? You are not going to act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you are going to be a male. And when your daughter starts acting to Butch you reign her in. And you say, “Oh, no, sweetheart. You can play sports. Play them to the glory of God. But sometimes you are going to act like a girl and walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl and that means you are going to be beautiful. You are going to be attractive. You are going to dress yourself up.”
You say, “Can I take charge like that as a parent?”
Yeah, you can. You are authorized. I just gave you a special dispensation this morning to do that.”
Harris is the senior pastor at the Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina. According to his bio, Harris is a former paratrooper who promises “bold” but not “rash” preaching to his parishioners:
“‘Rash preaching,’ said Rowland Hill, ‘disgusts; timid preaching leaves poor souls fast asleep; bold preaching is the only preaching that is owned of God.’ ” If Pastor’s preaching can be categorized with any one word, “bold” would be that word. And his boldness comes not from his self-confidence. It comes rather from his belief that consistent, expository preaching of the whole of Scripture will be used by the Spirit to draw people to the Son. And when people are drawn to the Son, they are saved, sanctified, and they become disciples and teachers themselves. Pastor takes you through the chapters of God’s Word. You will learn the passage’s historical intent, literal interpretation, and twenty-first century application. He strives to teach God’s Word accurately and clearly, and he strives to preach God’s Word boldly.
The audiotape shows parents cheering and laughing at the sermon. The tape was originally posted here.
Of course, nothing brings clarity to gender confusion like a good beating in Harris’ view.
Elaine, that does not “border” on hate speech. It crosses the line and disappears into the distance in a cloud of vile bile. If he said that out loud in a public forum, I really don’t even want to consider what he thinks to himself or says privately.
Oy! What are they doing or thinking? They, pastors who are prejudicing against the gays or lesbians or whatever you call them. They should respect them and love them no matter what they are. They need to move on and get a life to get a better job than doing this to preaching us or them, sheeessh!
Steven,
“Casting the actions he encourages as “child abuse” is fairly strong rhetoric.”
*****
I’d say that Harris’s “rhetoric” borders on hate speech.
Steven, advocating “beating the gay out” or breaking a “limp wrist” does not qualify as spanking even under the most generous definition of the term.
The fail is strong on that strawman.
The DJ in Cleveland referred to up thread literally told the father, who was worried about his teenage daughter’s sexuality because he saw her kissing a girl, to get one of his friends and have him “screw her straight” … in other words, rape a teenage girl.
Dominic Dieter is the rape enthusiast DJ on WMMS-FM/100.7, Clear Channel. He’s apologized and been off air since the complaint was made.
Interestingly enough, it was a repeat show … the actual comment was made months ago and replayed last week. This time a complaint was made … loudly.
Dominic Dieter and Clear Channel may be apologizing now but anyone who believes they’re sincere is nuts.
Casting the actions he encourages as “child abuse” is fairly strong rhetoric. Either spanking is child abuse or it isn’t.
Or does whether it qualifies as “child abuse” somehow turn on the action of the child that is being punished?
@Steve ‘either spanking is child abuse or it isn’t’
There are some who claim that spanking is never necessary.
But, isn’t the level of force relevant the question of abuse?
@Steve ‘turn on the action of the child’
Isn’t the activity being corrected and how it fits into a host of other relations an important factor in determining a proper response by parents, teachers and others responsible for discipline?
AP just reported that the Reverend corrected himself and clarified he was joking when he advised hitting children.
Anyone thing he might work on his delivery at bit? But I was laughing, sort of.
Do you think he reads this blog?
Do you think there is any chance he will counsel against ridicule and public humiliation or is that the Christian way?
Elaine, I don’t know how much longer they qualify for the “lite” part of Taliban. Some were arrested yesterday while trying to buy ingredients for an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).
Is this what Jesus would do?
(jus’ askin’)
Mespo and Gene and Mike S. said it best. This excuse for a man of God is nothing but a child abuser wrapped up in minister’s vestments.
Swarthmore Mom, you are correct that the religious right is rallying around Romney and I think it will be an additional reason why he will lose in November.
anon nurse, thanks for the bio. I thank him for his military service, but he needs to love children of all types, not beat them.
Need a little help here. Does anyone else recall seeing a recent news report referring to a study suggesting that strong homophobia may indicate repressed inclination.
Can’t seem to locate it now, but I am sure I saw it recently.
Not sure whether the report is solid or pop-junk science.
I would also criticize the Reverend’s technique. The proper approach is to place both palms on the subjects forehead and calmly but firmly recite: “Out, out gay devil, Out out.” No reports on whether this is any more effective, but it is much less physically painful.
BIO — “Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA”
Nuff said.
Uh, a little geography lesson — Fayettevile is in NORTH Carolina as you identify several times in the post — except for the first sentence, which has already been picked up as such by Religious News Service and others. South Carolina has enough problems with quirky news without adding this guy to the mix.
Mike S.,
“The insularity and ignorance of Fudamentalists, frightened by life today, is trying to return us to the oppressive times past.”
I call folks like Harris “Taliban-lite.”
Gene,
As much as I try to refrain from using obscenity on comments, you took the words right out of my mouth. This man is an asshole. Anyone who thinks corporal punishment is effective for child rearing is an asshole, much less for sexual preference. I also believe there is truth in Arthur’s comment:
“This guy sounds like he is gay. The most virulent anti-gays are trying to keep that part of them from coming out in public.”
The insularity and ignorance of Fudamentalists, frightened by life today, is trying to return us to the oppressive times past.
These preachers scored a huge victory yesterday and now are more committed to Romney.
How come the wife in the photo looks just like him. Is this that second cousin once removed aint incest thing we see so much of down there?
We need 101 Dalmations to poop in his yard.
Randy Newman: Went in dumb, come out dumb too, hustlin round Atlanta in their alligator shows, we’re Rednecks, Redneck, we dont know are arse from a hole in the ground….
It’s strange to see a bio include so many details of a military background. One paragraph on his education and religious background; two longer paragraphs on his military background. Maybe it was his way to “man up”?
How about we educate the stupid out of our children so they don’t think beating someone – let alone children – for their sexual orientation is appropriate, civilized or Christ-like? On the other hand, I’d like to forgive this guy for being an ignorant violent asshole, but Jesus told me I shouldn’t let it slide when people endorse ridiculous things in His name. Apparently it was just this kind of stunning hypocrisy that caused Him to throw the money changers out of the temple. You know Jesus. He loves Him some love, but ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity not so much. He was, after all, a teacher after that carpenter gig didn’t pan out for Him. I guess Reverend Slap ‘Em here was asleep the day “God is love” was being taught.