*** Samuel James, ERLC, watchdog blogs, abuse, and the church *** Merriam-Webster defines the following: Morality beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior the degree to which something is right and good : the moral goodness or badness of something Ethics rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good… Continue reading Questionning the Morality and Ethics of Samuel James and His Recent Article
Category: ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH
CBMW and Owen Strachan Tweets that the Church is Better at Handling Domestic Violence Than our Secular Culture
Owen Strachan and the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) thinks the church handles domestic violence against women better than secular culture. ***
Pastor Mike Sperou: Guilty on all 3 counts of sex abuse, sentenced to 20 years, while his devoted followers discount their own adult childrens’ testimonies of sex abuse
*** Update on an earlier story: Pastor Mike Sperou of North Clackamas Bible Community Church found guilty on all 3 counts of sex abuse of minor under 12 and is sentenced to 20 years. This is one of those cases that leaves you shaking your head, thinking that you couldn't make this stuff up… Continue reading Pastor Mike Sperou: Guilty on all 3 counts of sex abuse, sentenced to 20 years, while his devoted followers discount their own adult childrens’ testimonies of sex abuse
Encouraging Shift from Bethlehem Baptist Church Regarding Domestic Abuse and Care for Abused Women
*** Pastor Jason Meyer of Bethlehem Baptist Church Preaches on Domestic Abuse and Care for Abused Women, Marking a Change in Direction from John Piper's Teachings *** *** Yesterday, I received an e-mail from reader, Ben, about a sermon preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church last Sunday concerning domestic violence. This is significant coming from John Piper's former church and… Continue reading Encouraging Shift from Bethlehem Baptist Church Regarding Domestic Abuse and Care for Abused Women
Christian Women and the Curse and Their Curse-Ravaged Homes …. Oh My
*** Women, when you wake up in the morning, are you ready to take on your curse-ravaged homes? by Kathi *** To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."… Continue reading Christian Women and the Curse and Their Curse-Ravaged Homes …. Oh My
Pastor Preaches: “Brother, This is a Man’s World”
Pastor William Lytell: "But brother, this is a man's world." *** Long-time readers may remember that a kitty adopted us a few years ago. Marbles grew up and went on to have kitties of her own - four kittens. We kept the orange kitty and named him Pumpkin. He was pretty cute as a kitten. He… Continue reading Pastor Preaches: “Brother, This is a Man’s World”
Mark Dever’s New Book and Pastors Who Use Language to Control Their Members to Not Connect with Others Outside of Church-Approved Groups
Mark Dever, 9Marks, and other pastors using language to control and coerce members to not engage in outside activities without church endorsement Mark Dever's parachurch organization, 9Marks, is advertising a new book written by Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop. The book entitled, The Compelling Community: Where God's Power Makes a Church Attractive (9Marks), is due to be released… Continue reading Mark Dever’s New Book and Pastors Who Use Language to Control Their Members to Not Connect with Others Outside of Church-Approved Groups
Update on Lourdes Torres-Manteufel vs Doug Phillips Lawsuit
Update on Lourdes Torres-Manteufel vs Doug Phillips Vision Forum Lawsuit
Was Your Spiritual Abuser a Good Speaker?
Spiritual abusers can sometimes be excellent speakers. They can use that "gift" to abuse. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:13 I'm nearing the end of my first year of college and in the next couple of weeks will be really… Continue reading Was Your Spiritual Abuser a Good Speaker?
First Church Men’s Breakfast Group
*** Families of First Church's Men's Breakfast Group Mourn Their Loss *** *** Please pray for the families of First Church's Men's Breakfast Group as they grieve. The Men's Breakfast Group was comprised of faithful men who cherished God's word. More than just a once a month pancake gathering, the Men's Breakfast Group loved… Continue reading First Church Men’s Breakfast Group
Flashback: This Week At the Shepherds’ Conference with Pastor Chuck O’Neal Three Years Ago
*** Three years ago, I was sued by my ex-pastor, Chuck O'Neal, pastor of Beaverton Grace Bible Church, for speaking out on social media about the abuse we and other families incurred. *** The Shepherds' Conference is going on right now in Southern California, and as I see tweets using the hashtags #shepconf and #shepconf2015,… Continue reading Flashback: This Week At the Shepherds’ Conference with Pastor Chuck O’Neal Three Years Ago
Court Ruling on Calvary Chapel Pastor Bob Grenier’s Lawsuit against His Son and Former Member
*** Court Ruling on Calvary Chapel Pastor Bob Grenier against his step-son, Alex Grenier and Tim Taylor *** *** With Alex Grenier's permission, I am cross-posting the entire article he published yesterday. Since hearing this news, I have found myself in tears, angry, and shocked at this ruling and the implications. I can't believe Tim and Alex have had… Continue reading Court Ruling on Calvary Chapel Pastor Bob Grenier’s Lawsuit against His Son and Former Member
Introducing Kathi, Spiritual Abuse Survey, and Free Domestic Violence Book for Ministry Groups/Organizations
Participants Needed for Research Work on Spiritual Abuse I received an e-mail from Kathryn Keller Lamar with whom I have corresponded with and networked in spiritual abuse and survivor communities. She is finishing up her doctoral dissertation to complete her studies and I told her I'd be happy to pass along the information. Spiritual abuse… Continue reading Introducing Kathi, Spiritual Abuse Survey, and Free Domestic Violence Book for Ministry Groups/Organizations
Owen Strachan Speaks out against Fifty Shades of Grey and Says that Christianity Disciplines Abusive Men
*** Owen Strachan speaks against Fifty Shades of Grey and attempts to show how complementarians do not abuse their wives, and says that Christianity disciplines abusive men *** Owen Strachan, President and Editor-in-Chief of Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) released an article last night, How “50 Shades of Grey” Harms Women & Jesus Saves Them, after… Continue reading Owen Strachan Speaks out against Fifty Shades of Grey and Says that Christianity Disciplines Abusive Men
Does Christian Fundamentalism Cause Mental Health Issues?
Mental Health Issues and Christian Fundamentalism *** There's been some great discussion on fundamentalism in the previous post about "Bethany," who over time was able to see the relationship she was in as destructive and abandoned the relationship. I thought it might be good to give the topic a post of its own, so I… Continue reading Does Christian Fundamentalism Cause Mental Health Issues?
An Update on Bethany: Almost Trapped in the Christian Patriarchy Movement
*** Last year, I posted a personal story (A Young Woman’s Relationship with Her Boyfriend is Shattered by Christian Patriarchy) from "Bethany" who was struggling in a relationship with her boyfriend, whose family was involved in the Christian Patriarchy Movement influenced by the likes of Doug Phillips, Bill Gothard, etc. I received a follow-up e-mail from Bethany, almost… Continue reading An Update on Bethany: Almost Trapped in the Christian Patriarchy Movement
Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month and Survey for Spiritual Abuse Survivors
*** Well, it's nearing the last week of January and I almost missed pointing out that it's Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month. Way back when I started my original blog about my abusive church experience, one woman found my blog and left a comment. Her name was Barb Orlowski. It was the very next week that… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month and Survey for Spiritual Abuse Survivors
Pastor Mike Sperou Will Have His Day in Court: Seven Women Come forward with Sexual Abuse Allegations
*** Pastor Mike Sperou of North Clackamas Bible Community will get his day in court: indicted on three counts of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration of a child under the age of 12 *** *** Last week, a much-anticipated church sex abuse story came out in the media. I've posted a lot of stories here - quite… Continue reading Pastor Mike Sperou Will Have His Day in Court: Seven Women Come forward with Sexual Abuse Allegations
Phil Johnson Claims the Main Trouble in Churches are the Sheep, not Wolves
*** Phil Johnson of Grace Community Church claims that sheep, not wolves are the main trouble with churches *** *** Yesterday, Phil Johnson of Grace Community Church tweeted this: *** He is assuming the primary problem are the "sheepiness" of sheep??? That does not surprise me. Let me show you my personal experience with… Continue reading Phil Johnson Claims the Main Trouble in Churches are the Sheep, not Wolves
Marital Rape: Is it Even a Possibility in Christian Marriage?
*** Is there such a thing as "rape" in a Christian marriage? *** JA note: Thanks to Kathi for putting this post together this week as I'm finding my groove with a new term back at college. *** *** Robert posts on his blog, A Man, His Wife, and the Bible and is married to Amanda.… Continue reading Marital Rape: Is it Even a Possibility in Christian Marriage?
Spiritual Sounding Board 