Breaking the rod: How the 'Christian parenting empire' misuses scripture

A new book has debunked many evangelical Christian parenting methods, including corporal punishment, arguing that they are not as biblically grounded or effective as their proponents claim.

In The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families, authors Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis argued that the Christian Parenting Empire — a network of influential figures and ministries — has marketed rigid discipline strategies as divinely ordained, despite evidence of their harm.

Religious News Service noted in an article published Sunday that the book critiques the widespread endorsement of corporal punishment, highlighting its prevalence in evangelical circles.

"Spanking is just one feature of what Burt and Kramer McGinnis call the 'Christian Parenting Empire,' an interconnected movement of evangelical authors and ministry leaders who’ve marketed their rigid parenting methods as God-endorsed. Citing the Bible, these leaders teach that instant obedience, corporal punishment, conformity and hierarchical family structures will guarantee faithful children," the article reads.

In an interview with the outlet, Burt and Kramer McGinnis challenged the theological justification for such practices, questioning the conflation of penal substitutionary atonement with parenting methods.

They argued that this misapplication of theology leads to harmful discipline practices that overlook children's humanity and individuality.

The authors also discussed the impact of these parenting methods on families, noting that many parents, influenced by authoritative figures like James Dobson, have adopted practices that prioritize obedience over emotional connection.

This approach, they stated, has led to relational damage and spiritual harm for both parents and children.

"Claiming something as biblical is claiming that it’s timeless and applicable for everyone, for all time. The authors and speakers in this genre claim you can extrapolate these timeless rules that will get you the results you want. New converts or overwhelmed new parents became particularly vulnerable to this. It displaces parental intuition, parental experience and an opportunity for parents to turn to other sources," Burt said.

Burt and Kramer McGinnis also called for a reevaluation of what constitutes biblical parenting, advocating for approaches that emphasize mutual respect, emotional safety, and authenticity in family relationships.