The Church of God Spanking Tents

The following is a letter that was sent to Exit and Support in 2002 regarding the spanking tents at the Feast of Tabernacles. This has been a big topic of discussion on certain private Facebook pages recently.

The Spank Tent

Even today, as a grown woman, I feel like a lightning bolt will come through the ceiling and strike me for writing one of the "stories" from my WCG childhood. This story is special to me, probably because it is actually my earliest memory.

It was 1973 in Jekyll Island, Florida at "the feast" so I couldn't have been any older than 2 years old. By the way, I remember my mother holding my arm, so I doubt I had been walking long, at least not well! Apparently, I had been crying or misbehaving in the services (which were held in miserable heat under a big canopy tent) when I was taken outside for disciplinary proceedings by my mother. Bear in mind the fact that on 3 days out of the 7, we endured two services a day. Each service ran between 2 and a half to 3 hours or more in length. Unsuccessful in quieting me inside the service, she led me to another tent which she explained was the "spank tent" for unruly children. In fact, it was a tent solely designated for the spanking of children. I remember hearing what sounded like children being tortured; crying, screaming, pleading for mercy, smacking sounds, etc. I cannot explain how horrific a feeling that was; my own mother taking me to a "torture chamber" for children, condoned by "the church," put there by "the church." Hoping that my mother and "the church" would find it in their hearts to let me live so I would have another chance to redeem myself as something other than "spank tent" material, I quickly stopped crying (after quite some time in the tent) and was allowed another shot at permissible behavior inside the service. 

"Children are to be seen and not heard" was a common phrase spoken to me and many, many other children by parents and church leaders. I only remember dreading those services and wondering what if I would be killed someday for being too loud. Young children have bizarre thoughts like that. Of course, common folks (those outside the church) often praised us kids for our impeccable behavior! Sure we were good!! We didn't want to go to "the tent!" As a mother today of a 5-year-old son, it is not okay with me to spank him. I have such bad memories/feelings of the inappropriate discipline (from my own childhood) that I probably go too easy on my son. Either way, I'll take my chances. I would never want my son to feel like he was only worthy of love when he was being the perfect child. There were countless other children who endured this same "disciplinary attitude" and I hope they have realized that "the rod" is not as it had been misinterpreted by church leadership. If they had any idea the pain they've caused, surely they would be sorry! But maybe not. 

By India - Child survivor of WCG (first name used with permission)
March 12, 2002 

Read her other horror story about SEP here.

For further information on spanking check these out:

COG-related:

Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me by Samuel Martin

Samuel Martin Speaks Out About Punching Children Controversy

Samuel Martin's Former COG Babysitter Says: "...we were empowered to use the paddle if necessary because we were helping to instil character into little kids. Horse Feathers!!! We were bullies."

Spanking

David C Pack: Spank Your Children So They Fear You And God

Church of God Couple In Prison Over Beating Children With 2"x4"s, Metal Pipes, and Whips

Non-COG 

Why Jesus Wants You To Stop Spanking Your Kids

Adrian Peterson and the false gospel of spanking

A Little Perspective Is In Order Here...

Oh, oh...Look! THE Send it in Apostle, Joshua C Pack!  

And over there! That Prophet Gerald Flurry himself! 

Whoa!... and there... No Title Double Portioned ,You can't dream this stuff up but did, Bitter Bob!  

Can it be?   A Presiding Gerald too!  

Oh my gosh....

An "I lie not! You'll wish you'd listened" can't recall the name but very important somebody !

...and ....and....

Huh....?

Where'd they go?

Never mind.....

COG Pharisaical Zealot Says: I Have Been Warning The Big Three COG's And They Refuse To Imitate My Zeal

Where would the Church of God be today without all of its prophets, apostles and god haunted leaders?  Every day one of these guru's blasts out a warning that COG members, for some insane reason, refuse to follow.  COG members then get slathered with all kinds of labels declaring them Laodiceans, backsliding, lukewarm, or lacking in zeal.

Various COG leaders believe their message is the one and only true message and that everyone needs to heed their admonitions without question. James Malm, the resident Pharisaical Zealot of the Church of God is perturbed that after 10 years of graceless ranting, no one in the Big Three COG's will listen to him.

The warnings have been going out for nearly ten years now, yet the leadership of the big three and most other organizations will not turn to a zeal to live by every Word of God.  

They are convinced that they are right and reject anything which does not come from them as being unimportant or wrong (Hos 4:6, 6:5-6), not realizing how wrong they are (Rev 3:15-22). 

The one true Pharisee and prophet has envisioned an entire scenario that will happen in the next few months as sure proof he is correct.

In the coming months a great victory will be achieved over organized Islamic Extremists while a Grand Bargain for peace in the Middle East which is heavily in Israel’s favor is concluded.  

This in turn is planned to bring great prosperity to America through massive rebuilding conducted by major American Establishment companies throughout the Middle East.  The reconstruction is to be financed using donor money, most of it from international donors particularly the oil rich Arab Nations.  

The plan from the beginning of the Syrian conflict has been to inflict as much damage as possible to enable major American companies to engage in massive rebuilding financed by international donors, which would then, along with the regular economic activities;  drive the American economy to great heights of prosperity.  

The prophet is so sure about his prediction that he knows it to be "the truth" that all COG leaders and members should immediately be heeding.  But no, they refuse!

I tell you the truth, although I wish it were not so;  the big three groups of today’s spiritual Ekklesia as well as the vast majority of other groups in the COG constellation and most of the brethren, will look with their eyes at the apparent great prosperity and will be deceived into thinking that the coming of the LORD will take much longer and that they will have a period of prosperity to do a great Elijah work.  

Malm imagines himself as the guardian of the two witless COG witnesses.  His men/women will be rejected by all of the other COG false prophets. So far, like Bob Thiel's warnings, all of the COG's have overwhelmingly rejected the rants of these exclusive prophets, including Malm.

When God’s two prophets come in God’s power, they will be rejected by most of the brotherhood as false prophets trying to prevent their self imagined great Elijah work!  

Only a very few, perhaps a few hundred, will respond by turning to live by every Word of God and to follow the directions of God’s two servants.  Then great tribulation will burst upon those who have rejected the warnings and chosen their own imaginations.  

Prophet Malm does NOT lie!  It is all a test!  A test by God to see which 100 or so COG members will heed his call.

I lie not, a great test is upon us!  Almighty God wants to know who will be zealously faithful to HIM and who will follow idols of men contrary to the Word of God.  

Why is it that everything in Armstrongite theology has to be one continuous "test" after another?  No COG member has ever passed any of the tests and qualified for anything.  If they did, we would not have the endless stream of self-appointed upstarts we have today in the church.

I bare witness that most of the organizations and brethren are, in their own way, zealous for God, its just that most have been deceived into thinking that organizational loyalty is the same as loyalty to God.  Therefore they follow idols of men into sins like the modern Rabbinic Calendar and Sabbath pollution, and rejecting the increase of understanding that God has promised for our day (Dan 12).  

Relying on their false traditions instead of relying on the Word of God, they reject spiritual growth and growth in godly knowledge.  Therefore God is testing us and God will divide his faithful from the followers of men and false traditions.  

Those that heed Zealot Malm's clarion call will be allowed to enter Petra where they will be subjected to 3 1/2 half years of ENDLESS sermonizing on zeal and the law.  Jesus will be kept outside the gates of Petra in order to allow the law to reign supreme. While Jesus is outside the gates he will be preparing a huge army of angels to prepare for war on the United States, Canada, England and Australia.  Then, James Malm and his Wiccan sidekick Constance will present the 100 or so true believers to his Jesus and will mount up on steads of white to join in that mighty army of righteous vengeance.  When they ride into the United States with that great army they will catch the folks in UCG, RCG, PCG, COGWA, cCOG, and LCG by surprise.

The small number who pass the test will be spared God’s correction yet, they will continue to learn in a new environment.   

The vast majority of today’s organizations and brethren will fail the test and will be caught by surprise, not because they have not been warned, but because they have rejected the warnings.    

Those who do not respond to the warnings to turn to and to live by every Word of God, will be taken by surprise (1Thess 5:3).  Then they will fall into the furnace of affliction in the hope that they can still be turned to godliness. 

All COG's have failed the test!  Yeah, right...