Spiritual Sounding Board - This is our place to gather and share in an open format. Feel free to join in the discussion. Last Sunday, I posted this article, The Difficult Sundays after Spiritual Abuse, and invited discussion on the topic of what it is like on Sundays after having experienced spiritual abuse. Because of the big response,… Continue reading SSB Sunday Gathering – June 28, 2014
Category: ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH
A Glimpse into the Heart of Spiritual Abuse
What can #TakeDownThatPost teach us about the nature of spiritual abuse? Thoughts from Boz Tchividjian and Patricia Evans. by Cindy Kunsman I don't know what the publishers of the Leadership Journal at Christianity Today hoped to accomplish when they published the article that initiated the #TakeDownThisPost campaign. In the wake of the problems,… Continue reading A Glimpse into the Heart of Spiritual Abuse
The Difficult Sundays after Spiritual Abuse
*** What does church look like for you after spiritual abuse? Do you still go? What do you do on Sundays? Sometimes I don't feel like going to church at all, but end up going because of my kids or commitments I've made. But if I were without children/commitments, I wonder where I would… Continue reading The Difficult Sundays after Spiritual Abuse
Learn to Discern: Let’s Explore “A Time of Transition,” the Newly Released Statement from IBLP Regarding Bill Gothard
*** The Board at Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) has released a statement following an "investigation" of allegations against Bill Gothard. *** We can learn a lot by observing how leaders of Christian groups respond to sexual abuse allegations. Let's go through the statement together with a discerning eye and discuss any issues that you see… Continue reading Learn to Discern: Let’s Explore “A Time of Transition,” the Newly Released Statement from IBLP Regarding Bill Gothard
Desiring God and Daddies Dating…Their Daughters’ Boyfriends? Is John Piper Promoting Patriarchy?
Are Desiring God & John Piper shifting to "Biblical Patriarchy" over complementarianism, following Gregg Harris', Bill Gothard's, Scott Brown's, Doug Phillips' and Doug Wilson's courtship model? by Cindy Kunsman The champions of patriarchy worked hard last week, busy on the front lines by saving the world through their insight and wisdom. On June 11,… Continue reading Desiring God and Daddies Dating…Their Daughters’ Boyfriends? Is John Piper Promoting Patriarchy?
Sexual Abuse Advocates Are Making a Real Difference and Giving Victims a Voice through Social Media
*** Taking a closer look at two recent cases: The Christian Post and Leadership Journal (published by Christianity Today) made bad judgment calls in their articles, but later retracted and made amends because of powerful voices defending victims. *** by Julie Anne Sometimes it seems like we are not getting anywhere when it comes to defending… Continue reading Sexual Abuse Advocates Are Making a Real Difference and Giving Victims a Voice through Social Media
Standing Together for Victims of Abuse in the SBC and SGM
*** Standing together for victims of abuse in the SBC and SGM Clergy abuse victims to leaflet outside the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Baltimore Statement from Pam Palmer of the SGM Civil Lawsuit On Monday, June 9, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals heard our Appeal. We are hopeful but must now await the… Continue reading Standing Together for Victims of Abuse in the SBC and SGM
To Train up a Child: Who Decides if it is Biblical or Not? When is it Abuse?
*** Johann and Kimery Jorg Abuse Case: HSLDA has given us homeschool liberties, but at what cost? A closer look at homeschool freedoms and parenting and safety of children *** Homeschoolers have fought for years to have the freedom to legally homeschool their children. Homeschool Legal Defense Association has worked to ensure that parents in… Continue reading To Train up a Child: Who Decides if it is Biblical or Not? When is it Abuse?
Sovereign Grace Ministries Sex Abuse Lawsuit and Tullian Tchividjian
Update on the Sovereign Grace Ministries sex abuse court case and Tullian Tchividjian's clarification of his related statements concerning his “breakup” with The Gospel Coalition. After recently posting this article in which I expressed concern that Tullian Tchividjian failed to make any mention of the SGM sex abuse survivors in his apology, An Open Letter… Continue reading Sovereign Grace Ministries Sex Abuse Lawsuit and Tullian Tchividjian
An Open Letter to Tullian Tchividjian, Including a Personal Note from a Sex Abuse Survivor
*** An Open Letter to Tullian Tchividjian, Including a Personal Note from a Sex Abuse Survivor *** Pastor Tchividjian, As a blogger who deals with abuse in church and connects with survivors of spiritual and sexual abuse, I wanted to share with you some of the feedback I have received regarding your recent Christian Post article, Tullian Tchividjian… Continue reading An Open Letter to Tullian Tchividjian, Including a Personal Note from a Sex Abuse Survivor
Loss of Perspective: The Cost of Enduring Abuse
Do individuals suffer harm when they remain in verbally or emotionally abusive relationships? Cindy Kunsman illustrates the effects through an account of spiritual abuse. By Cindy Kunsman, UnderMuchGrace.com After reading Julie Anne's post questioning whether divorce from an abusive spouse is actually a “sin,” I found myself thinking of the loss of perspective and… Continue reading Loss of Perspective: The Cost of Enduring Abuse
The Children of Divorce and Abuse in Marriage
Divorce: Do children bear the sins of their parents' divorce? Is it better to remain married even with abuse? What is the church teaching us about divorce and abuse by their silence on the subject? Russell Moore is President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. "In this role, he leads the organization in all its… Continue reading The Children of Divorce and Abuse in Marriage
Which “Attorney David Gibbs” Leads the Lawsuit of Lourdes Torres-Manteufel vs Douglas Phillips – the Father, or the Son?
* * * * * * * There are two Christian lawyers named David C. Gibbs - Jr. is the father and III is the son. This post seeks to halt the ongoing confusion about which Gibbs serves as lead attorney for Lourdes Torres-Manteufel in her civil suit against Doug Phillips and Vision Forum.… Continue reading Which “Attorney David Gibbs” Leads the Lawsuit of Lourdes Torres-Manteufel vs Douglas Phillips – the Father, or the Son?
Why The Gospel Coalition – or at least Al Mohler and Company – Must Apologize
** Taylor Joy Responds to the recent developments at The Gospel Coalition involving Joe Carter, Tullian Tchividjian, C.J. Mahaney ** Many people are responding to the recent developments with Tullian Tchividjian being booted from The Gospel Coalition (TGC), ridiculous comments and vitriol by Joe Carter, public spokesman of The Gospel Coalition, TGC's support of and… Continue reading Why The Gospel Coalition – or at least Al Mohler and Company – Must Apologize
The Gospel Coalition Shake-Up – Tullian Tchividjian and Too Much Grace for The Gospel Coalition?
*** Tullian Tchividjian is booted from The Gospel Coalition (TGC) website while C.J. Mahaney and Josh Harris quietly leave TGC council amidst ongoing sex abuse lawsuits in which a former Sovereign Grace Ministries volunteer is found guilty of sex abuse charges. *** Confirmation bias regarding one's friends can become a powerful weapon against the… Continue reading The Gospel Coalition Shake-Up – Tullian Tchividjian and Too Much Grace for The Gospel Coalition?
BREAKING NEWS: Verdict in Nathaniel Morales Sex Abuse Case – Guilty on All Five Counts
*** Nathaniel Morales found guilty on all counts of sex abuse. Pastor said under oath he failed to report sex abuse to authorities. Not looking good for Sovereign Grace Ministries and C.J. Mahaney. ** Brent Detwiler just reported this on his Facebook page. He was there. Will try to update later. … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: Verdict in Nathaniel Morales Sex Abuse Case – Guilty on All Five Counts
Six Homeschool Brothers Arrested for Alleged Sex Abuse against Younger Sister
*** Six brothers from a large homeschool family were arrested for allegedly sexually violating their younger sister for 10 years. Parents, John and Nita Jackson, were also charged for failing to report. Two of the brothers were members of Scott Brown's (NCFIC) Hope Bible Church. *** Six North Carolina brothers were arrested last week… Continue reading Six Homeschool Brothers Arrested for Alleged Sex Abuse against Younger Sister
Lourdes, Lifeboats, and Bounded Choice: Part III (Raised in a Totalist Institution)
*** Using Katie Botkin's lifeboat analogy, Cindy Kunsman explores the “Second Generation Adult” and Lourdes Torres-Mantefeuel's alleged sex abuse by Vision Forum's Doug Phillips *** Part III in a Series Link to Part I Link to Part II By Cindy Kunsman, UnderMuchGrace.com On the same day that Lourdes Torres-Manteufel's petition was filed, the first cousin… Continue reading Lourdes, Lifeboats, and Bounded Choice: Part III (Raised in a Totalist Institution)
Did Stacy McDonald and Kelly Crawford Pass the Duck Test on Patriarchy?
*** Patriarchy or not Patriarchy - Stacy McDonald and Kelly Crawford respond to my recent article and reveal their true colors. Does it walk like a duck? Quack like a Duck? *** Suppose you see a bird walking around in a farm yard. This bird has no label that says 'duck'. But the bird… Continue reading Did Stacy McDonald and Kelly Crawford Pass the Duck Test on Patriarchy?
Anyone with a Burning Desire to Go to PyroCon?
Thoughts about the Reformed Baptist bloggers known as the Pyromaniacs, a Pyro-Conference, and opining about the pain. At least third-degree burns don't hurt. A post by Cindy Kunsman Long, long ago in internet time in a cyber place far, far away, a fellow started a blog. His name was Phil Johnson. I first… Continue reading Anyone with a Burning Desire to Go to PyroCon?