Homemaker’s Corner Examines the Pearls

At first glance, Mary Stephens of the Homemaker’s Corner looks like a typical Pearl follower.  She is strictly King James Only and believes strongly in submissive wives who are keepers at home.  However, she uses God’s Word as her light and the Pearls’ persuasive prattle did not fare well under the searching light of Scripture. She has written an in depth examination of the Pearls. This is not limited to Michael and Debi, but also includes Rebekah and her husband as part of the Pearl Family.

This is quite an undertaking she has started.  She apparently has not had time to finish her study, having only answered 3 out of the 8 questions she presents.  However, she already has quite a lot up there and I find it quite interesting on a few levels.

For one thing, this is the first time that I have noticed someone who feels strongly that the King James Bible is the only real Bible speaking out against the Pearls. While Michael Pearl does, indeed, use KJV only; she determines that he does not always use it correctly.  She also brings up the very valid concern that Pearl appears to believe that the KJV more than the original Greek. (!)

She exposes the fact that the Pearls use very little scripture to back up their conclusions.  She actually counts the scriptures they use.  The has done a very thorough investigation here. Her conclusion is:

From reading their material it appears that the Pearls are basically offering their own homebrewed child psychology. A little psychology, a little Bible and a lot of the Pearls’ philosophy and ideas go into the mix.

Another good  observation is how Pearl seems to have undue influence over his followers and how dangerous that is.  Here is another quote from the link in the above paragraph:

Please notice how the Pearls’ speaking, leadership and words have become so important in these people’s home. This is pathetic. Where is God’s word? Why is it that she feels they would benefit so much more from having the Pearls right there to help them? They have the God of the universe, the Almighty, the Great I AM, the Creator of the human race and the Institutor of the family indwelling them if they are saved! And, if they possess the King James Bible, they have His very words and instructions for mankind in their own hands and language. Isn’t that enough?! Apparently the Pearls’ teachings have conveyed to them that God and His word are not enough! This is horrifying.

She also has posted a critique on Debi Pearl’s study of the book of Esther.

I have not found her saying anything anti-spanking so I’m going to assume that I have found another pro-spanker speaking out against the Pearls teachings and tag it according.  I also base this assumption on what she said about discipline in her ABC’s of Raising Children (under D for Discipline).

Edited to add: Mary has clarified her position on spanking in a comment to this post.

2 Comments

  1. Zooey on August 31, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    Thank you to Linda for publishing this link.
    And to Mary: God bless you for your good work! This has long been my prayer: that folks would stand up & point out the grave theological errors that are the underpinning of the Pearls’ teachings.

  2. Mary Stephens on August 16, 2010 at 5:46 pm

    As per your request in email, I am posting some of my comments here.
    ——————————————-

    I am aware that some of the links do not work yet in my Pearl article.
    It is a big project, and I don’t know when it will be finished.

    Also, as a side note, I am in favor of spanking when it is done with
    discretion and love. I will say frankly, though, that I believe that
    all kids don’t need to be spanked to the same degree, and some few
    perhaps not at all. My parents had three kids who profited from a
    well timed spanking upon occasion, but one – my sister – was so
    chastened by simply a harsh tone of voice or sever glance, that they
    were very careful about spanking her. She responded so quickly to
    just words and looks that she didn’t get many spankings at all. Also,
    my dad found that one of my brothers would rather have a spanking and
    get it over with. To him it was no big deal (obviously my dad was not
    a “beater”). My dad had to come up with correction methods that took
    time in order for that brother to learn to behave himself better and
    be more heedful. Writing essays and other such time consuming
    inconveniences made him stop and think better than any paddling would
    have. I feel that if any of us had been disciplined according to the
    Pearls’ methods we would have been ruined for life.

    You seem to be against spanking in general, although I haven’t read
    much at your website yet, but I hope you will understand my comments
    above. If you don’t believe in spanking I figure that is between you
    and the Lord. 🙂 One thing one of my brothers recently mentioned in
    the discussion about the Pearls that we’ve been having is how
    thankful he is that my dad would apologize to us when he realized he
    was wrong. My brother said that made a bigger impression on him than
    any spanking ever did. I am so thankful to our merciful Lord that He
    kept my parents from following the Pearls or anyone like them!

    God has given us enough revelation in His word to live all of life effectively without
    following man’s traditions. These two passages come to mind:

    1John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning
    them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him
    abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth
    you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

    2Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
    knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath
    given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
    through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
    4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
    partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

    Looking unto Jesus,
    Mary Stephens

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