I finally got around to watching Steven Anderson’s long winded sermon “Honor Your Mother and Father”¹ defending his physical discipline (and abuse) of his children. For further context and information about Steven and Zsuzsanna Anderson’s abuse of their children I recommend my previous post or Hemant Mehta’s excellent substack post.² Or just check out dead domain’s interview with Miriam.³ CW for descriptions of child abuse if you do follow any of those links.

What stood out to me during the sermon (other than his literal justification for scourging his children⁴) was Steven Anderson’s constant focus on complete submission to authority. In Anderson’s eyes God demands that children must submit to authority no matter the circumstances or conditions that they live in. His exact words within this sermon were “You are required to honor your father and mother. That is a command of God. Nowhere in this entire book⁵ are you going to find some kind of exception to that.” Within his sermon he makes it clear that what your parents do to you as a child does not matter. Respect, honor, and obedience are still all owed to the child’s parents.

This isn’t a new concept. I know I’ve read other authors claiming the exact same thing. Gary Ezzo stated that adult children must offer respect and honor to their parents regardless of whether or not they had suffered abuse within the home.⁶ Within the same book⁷ Ezzo also asks that children never slander their parents (regardless of what they’ve experienced as children).

What Anderson and many other Christian fundamentalism parenting experts love to focus on is god’s wrath towards disobedient children. Anderson quotes Exodus and Deuteronomy as a threat towards disobedient and disrespectful children. Exodus 21:15 “And he that smiteth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.” Exodus 21:17 “And he that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” Anderson also quotes Deuteronomy 21:18-21⁸ saying that a stubborn and rebellious son should be put to death by the elders of their city.⁹

Anderson states that children who curse and hate their parents will die young after having been cursed by god.

“And we know that the eye that mocks his father, that makes fun of his father, despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pluck it out and the young eagle shall eat it. This is referring to the fact that you are going to die in an accident, you’re going to die young. You’re going to die in an open field where you are going to be eaten by wild animals.” Steven Anderson on Proverbs 30:17

”’For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.’ It looks like Jesus Christ is putting his stamp of approval on Exodus chapter twenty one.”¹⁰ Steven Anderson on Matthew 15:4

While my parents never threatened me with death if I did not obey, they would also recite these types of passages to remind me of how serious of an offense disobedience was. I can remember it coming up several times in casual conversation. Implying that we as children had a good life now that we don’t casually stone disobedient children but don’t forget how serious this type of sin is.¹¹

Steven Anderson continues to focus on the authority a parent holds over their child. Comparing a child’s submission to their parents to how a servant must submit to their master.¹² He also states if a child despises their parents then they also despise god and god’s authority over them.¹³ Steven elaborates further on this same topic quoting 1 Peter 2:13 “Submit yourself for the Lord’s sake to every human authority.” The passage further includes a section encouraging servants to be loyal and obedient to their harsh masters.¹⁴ Anderson uses this passage to indicate that Christians are to submit to authority, even if that authority figure is not a wise or kind leader. Stating that they are to suffer through the discipline and harshness enacted on them by their god ordained authority figure.

“The bible tells you, hey you got to honor your mother and father, but then they say oh no no no but if your parents ‘abuse’¹⁵ you now you don’t have to. Where in the bible does it say that? Where in the bible does it talk about parental abuse? Where in the bible does it talk about child abuse?….It’s called disciplining your kids. It’s not child abuse….This crap ‘everybody is abused now, everybody is an abuse victim, everyone is traumatized right?’ is not in the bible.” 46:40 “Honor Your Mother and Father” preached by Steven Anderson¹⁶

Let’s just take a break here. Steven Anderson has laid out his view of parental authority. God sets up authority in a child’s life – the parent. A child cannot speak out against their parent or disobey their parent. God himself will punish them (or even strike them dead) if the child goes too far in their rebellion.¹⁷ God does not care if a child has a kind or a gentle parent. He only cares that the child obeys and submits to their authority figure.¹⁸

I’d also like to add in at this point that the IFB denomination as a whole tends to focus on drastic and dramatic stories of death and destruction occurring if you step outside of what god wants for your life.^19 20 I can recall reading how famous IFB leaders like John R. Rice²¹ have preached sermon illustrations invoking death or destruction on those that do not follow god’s will. Rice preached about a son that killed his mother because he was never disciplined or spanked.²² Jack Hyles has a similar story about a man that murdered his wife because he stopped being active in an IFB church. Phil Kidd²³ would describe children leaving their faith and descending into Satanism and horrifically sacrificing their family members. J Frank Norris describes how god struck down a wayward man²⁴ in a car accident and how a preacher traveling by the scene scooped up parts of this man’s brain into a jar.²⁵ Milder versions of this would include pastors praying for wayward children to be “broken” by god through any means and be brought back to faith in god.²⁶

Steven Anderson and many other preachers are capitalizing on this history and ingrained fear. Many fundamentalist children literally believe that god will strike them dead if they disobey or dishonor their parents. My partner strongly held this type of fear as she exited her Christian faith practices. Believing that our miscarriage was one of the ways god was trying to punish us to get us to return to our faith. It is a very literal “fear of god” and his wrath that is felt. In that moment you firmly believe that god’s judgment is upon you whenever something goes awry in your life.

Fundamentalism relies on using an authoritarian god to function as the foundation of society, faith, and family. This is a god that is all powerful and must be obeyed and followed or you will face eternal damnation. And fundamentalist preachers are more than happy to apply that authoritarian structure to the family. One of the most common examples of this is the “umbrella” of authority.

The only difference that Anderson is arguing is that your pastor should be placed as an extra umbrella of authority over the husband. Under each level of umbrella you must fully submit to the authority of those above you. Please note how children are the lowest in this structure. Their god, pastor, father, and mother all hold full authority over them. And Anderson seems to make the argument that those under authority whether that be a congregation, a wife, or children all must be in complete submission to their leaders regardless of whether or not their leaders are good people.²⁷ The church must sit in silence under their pastor, even if he lashes out verbally at them. The wife must be in subjection to her husband as he is her head, even if he hits her with an open hand. And children must obey and reverence their parents, even if their parents are physically abusing them. As Anderson says in his own words, “I want you to shut up and honor the authority in your life.”²⁸

Conclusion

My overall point for this post is that a person’s beliefs shape their actions. If your beliefs are teaching you to submit to authority and ignore their abuse, it’s time to examine your existing beliefs before they lead to harm towards others. Because some leaders, like Steven Anderson, are more than happy to use these beliefs to excuse abuse of women and children within their faith communities (and homes).

I’m fully aware I didn’t focus on the abuse within the Anderson household with this post. I do want to add that I fully condemn the abuse advocated for in his sermon, but I think the theology Anderson uses to try to excuse his behavior is important to focus on as well. The theology and beliefs within the IFB and New IFB have shaped the lives of Anderson and many others in this subculture. I know it’s a very small subculture within fundamentalism, but it’s one that’s personally influenced me and my partner. And I think it’s important to look back and see how people like John R. Rice and Hyles helped to shape that small world. Authority and submission to authority were extremely important in the IFB. And rules, even arbitrary ones, were to be followed to the “T.” If you are curious, see my posts about Pensacola Christian College for more on how that looks on a day-to-day basis.

1. https://www.youtube.com/live/jUeE4iJbYP0?si=fraacVdanFsbsyOg (Dead domain’s stream of this sermon) ↩︎
2. https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/christian-hate-preacher-steven-andersons?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web ↩︎
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpeu6F2Cxzw ↩︎
4. He used the term “scourge” multiple times to describe disciple of his children within this sermon. He also mocked the fact that he was being accused of using an electrical cord to beat his children. ↩︎
5. The bible ↩︎
6. https://freedomfromfundamentalism.com/2022/01/08/growing-kids-gods-way-part-6/ “In contrast, there are those who have suffered under the hand of abuse. The pain of the past, the lack of trust, or the current lack of any meaningful relationship reduced the act of honoring to a duty not a devotion.” Gary Ezzo ↩︎
7. Growing Kids God’s Way ↩︎
8. Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them,¹⁹ then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city and unto the gate of his place. ²⁰ And they shall say unto the elders of his city, ‘This, our son, is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ ²¹ And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, so that he die. So shalt thou put evil away from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. ↩︎
9. (Please note that this chapter also sets up rape and forced marriage of any woman taken in battle / war. So, I don’t think this is the chapter you want to use to enforce your morality upon the world.) ↩︎
10. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jKcVjsjHuBwskp8L/ ↩︎
11. Other biblical morality tales involving death as a punishment were used in the same way. If you partake in communion with sin in your life then you could die (1 Corinthians 11). If you lie about your donations or service to god then you could also be struck dead (Acts 5). Even mocking pastor or authority figure could be seen a sin worthy of death (2 Kings 2:23-25) ↩︎
12. He quotes part of Malachi 1:6 for this point “ ‘A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?’ says the Lord Almighty.” ↩︎
13. https://swaj.substack.com/p/obedient-children?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web Read “Obedient Children” by Brad Onishi for more on this topic. The author discusses how a person’s view of god shapes their view of authority and parental authority. ↩︎
14. Passages like this (1 Peter 2:18) were used to manipulate and encourage slaves to remain loyal for religious reasons during the antebellum period. 1 Peter 2:18 “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.” ↩︎
15. (Steven mimes physical air quotes in his sermon when he says this word) ↩︎
16. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jKcVjsjHuBwskp8L/ ↩︎
17. Anderson himself prays that god will bring destruction on those that are helping his children to dishonor him. ↩︎
18. “God is on the side of authority.” Anderson states. 1:29:35 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jKcVjsjHuBwskp8L/ ↩︎
19. https://brucegerencser.net/2022/04/man-endued-power-god-wifes-funeral/ An example of Jack Hyles using this type of scare tactic. A man and his wife drift away from god, and god uses his wife’s suicide to bring the man back to the IFB and to Hyles’ college. ↩︎
20. https://brucegerencser.net/2021/03/preachers-put-fear-god-church-attendees/ (Post is from an ex IFB pastor about how fear is often used as a manipulative sermon tool within the IFB. The third and fourth paragraph of the post focus on preachers using stories of death and destruction that occur to those that stray from god.) ↩︎
21. https://bibleportal.com/sermon/John-R-Rice/how-to-come-to-jesus-a-short-simple-sermon-on-salvation (In this sermon he describes how god used a child’s death to bring the child’s parents to salvation). “Maybe you are like the man who called me at Shamrock, Texas, to come and preach the funeral service of his newborn baby boy….As we stood by the grave together I told this troubled father that I felt sure God was speaking to his heart and calling him to trust the Saviour so he could meet the dear little one in Heaven. ’That is just what my wife said this morning!’ he said, with a startled face.” John R. Rice ↩︎
22. Subheading is “The Boy Who Killed His Mother Was Never Spanked” as part of John R. Rice’s Sermon “Home Sweet Home.” Rice describes a wayward boy who never learned to respect authority (and didn’t face discipline) that killed his mother because she slapped him across the face. ↩︎
23. https://youtu.be/PUtSjmPqa-I (Just for context as to what type of person Phil Kidd is) ↩︎
24. This man dares to question his pastor and left god behind. ↩︎
25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUq6jOix2Do (A podcast episode about the sermon and Jack Hyles) ↩︎
26. This I can attest to hearing in person. Pastors calling for god to stricken a child with anything that will bring them back to god. That could be illness or injury. Or even death of a spouse or child. ↩︎
27. Anderson discusses a wife’s submission within this sermon. And states that a wife still must submit to her husband even if her husband is not showing her love. ↩︎
28. Anderson’s own words. He tells his congregation to “shut up” if they want to talk to him about abuse by their parents or husband going on in their home. ↩︎