Mike Sperou, Sex Abuse, Jennifer, North Clackamas Bible Community I saw this poem show up through my Facebook news feed. This is from Jennifer and you can read more about her here. Folks, this is the aftermath of sex abuse, of what it's like when your parents abandon you because they are brainwashed and defend their… Continue reading Friday Poem Therapy from a Survivor Sexually Abused by Her Pastor
Category: Spiritual Abuse
Doug Wilson Series: Introduction, Christ Church Celebrates 40 years and Background
Doug Wilson, Christ Church, CREC, Greyfriars Hall, Association of Classical & Christian Schools, Canon Press, New Saint Andrews, Steven Sitler, Jamin Wight ** To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it. ~G.K. Chesterton Last night, I returned home after a 1-1/2 day trip… Continue reading Doug Wilson Series: Introduction, Christ Church Celebrates 40 years and Background
A Note to Doug Wilson and Friends and Foes of Doug Wilson
** I have two things to share, first the following invitation. Some may have seen this on Twitter or Facebook, but I want to make it more public here so more eyes can see and have an opportunity to meet: ** ** Okay, now the second issue. For the last two weeks I have shared publicly… Continue reading A Note to Doug Wilson and Friends and Foes of Doug Wilson
Is Paul Tripp Violating Counseling Code of Ethics by Releasing Statement about Tullian Tchividjian?
Paul Tripp, Tullian Tchividjian, Code of Ethics Violations, Divorce, Christian Counseling ** Paul Tripp Releases Statement about Tullian Tchividjian and Divorce ** Recently, I posted about Tullian Tchividjian, former senior pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (CRPC) who recently filed for divorce from his wife, Kimberly, of 21 years: Tullian Tchividjian Files for Dissolution of Marriage and Timeline.… Continue reading Is Paul Tripp Violating Counseling Code of Ethics by Releasing Statement about Tullian Tchividjian?
Tullian Tchividjian Stripped of Pastor Credentials; Continues Speaking Behind the Pulpits of Twitter and Facebook
Tullian Tchividjian is deposed from ministry by Presbytery; Tchividjian continues his social media platforms ** In June, Pastor Tullian Tchividjian resigned as lead pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida. Here is part of the original statement Tchividjian released to the Washington Post from June: I resigned from my position at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church… Continue reading Tullian Tchividjian Stripped of Pastor Credentials; Continues Speaking Behind the Pulpits of Twitter and Facebook
Christian Blogger Claims that Husbands Don’t Like to Use Words to Resolve Marital Conflict, Physical Force Works Better
Christian Patriarchy: men who resort to physical force (wife spanking, restricting movement, etc), to gain control of their wives *** *** Always Learning is a blog by Lori Alexander. Her husband, Ken, oversees it and comments as well. Lori claims to: "love teaching women to be sober, to love their husbands and children, to be… Continue reading Christian Blogger Claims that Husbands Don’t Like to Use Words to Resolve Marital Conflict, Physical Force Works Better
Piper’s New Glasses and Seeing Clearly after Wearing Distorted Lenses of Spiritual Abuse
*** Seeing Clearly Again after Spiritual Abuse *** Have you seen this video which has been spreading around? It is the cutest thing ever and shows a precious baby, Piper, who does not want her mama to put on her new glasses. But after she gets her new glasses on, Piper's face lights up as she hears… Continue reading Piper’s New Glasses and Seeing Clearly after Wearing Distorted Lenses of Spiritual Abuse
Pastor David McGee Publicly Names and Excommunicates Four Church Members via His Facebook Page
*** Pastor David McGee of The Bridge Church publicly excommunicated or disfellowshipped four members via his Facebook page. *** *** On Thursday, Pastor David McGee of The Bridge Fellowship in Kernersville, North Carolina, posted a comment on his Facebook account publicly naming and "disfollowshipping" four church members. I repeat - this was done PUBLICLY on… Continue reading Pastor David McGee Publicly Names and Excommunicates Four Church Members via His Facebook Page
Do you feel guilty because of pressure and high expectations from church leaders? You are not alone!
*** High-pressure church leaders, mandatory church attendance and guilt *** "Longtime Lurker" broke her silence a while back and shared her personal high-controlling church experience. I copied her comment for this post because I think her experience is representative of what others have gone through, and I can relate with a lot of what she… Continue reading Do you feel guilty because of pressure and high expectations from church leaders? You are not alone!
Church Leaders Who Revictimize Abuse Victims and Theology That Harms Both Victims and Perpetrators
*** Church leaders revictimize abuse victims when they fail to respond appropriately to abuse. Theology can be used to minimize the sin of perpetrators and sometimes blames abuse victims. *** *** I've been following the story of Pastor Steve Wingfield at First Christian Church of Florissant and was notified that the largest paper in St.… Continue reading Church Leaders Who Revictimize Abuse Victims and Theology That Harms Both Victims and Perpetrators
My Personal Mental Health Story: When Christians Say Potentially Harmful Words to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis
*** Mental Health, prayer, Bible, professional counseling, harmful advice *** A friend found this quote and was very disturbed by it. When I saw it, I was equally disturbed...no, make that horrified, because it brought me back to a very difficult time in my life when it was said to me by well-meaning Christians: *** ***… Continue reading My Personal Mental Health Story: When Christians Say Potentially Harmful Words to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis
Victim of Bill Gothard’s Teachings Speaks out about Josh Duggar Scandal, Mike Huckabee: Bill Gothard’s Dangerous Agenda and Influence in Political Arena and Society at Large
*** Bill Gothard, Mike Huckabee, Sex Abuse Coverup, Political and Social Influence, and an Agenda *** *** Some may remember Dash's (pseudonym) personal story I posted a while back. Dash was raised with parents who adhered to Bill Gothard's teachings and suffered severe emotional, physical, and spiritual abuse. I covered his story in two articles: Man… Continue reading Victim of Bill Gothard’s Teachings Speaks out about Josh Duggar Scandal, Mike Huckabee: Bill Gothard’s Dangerous Agenda and Influence in Political Arena and Society at Large
Ex-Wife of Pedophile Speaks out about The Village Church and Josh Duggar Sex Scandals
*** Ex-Wife of a pedophile shares from her heart about mishandling of sex abuse cases at The Village Church and Josh Duggar *** My friend, Brenda, is the ex-wife of a pedophile. With the recent events of Karen Hinkley, who is now in church discipline at The Village Church because she annulled her marriage without… Continue reading Ex-Wife of Pedophile Speaks out about The Village Church and Josh Duggar Sex Scandals
Spiritual Abuse: What Motivates Abusers? Fear?
*** What motivates those who spiritually abuse? Is it fear? I recently read this quote by John Steinbeck and was thinking about it in the context of spiritual abuse and those who use their position of authority to control and abuse church members. *** *** What do you think? Is it fear that is motivating spiritual tyrants… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: What Motivates Abusers? Fear?
Pastor Mark Driscoll Preaches at Pastor Dan Kellogg’s Gold Creek Community Church
Mark Driscoll preaches while former Mars Hill Members protest outside of Pastor Dan Kellogg's Gold Creek Community Church *** Pastor Dan Kellogg of Gold Creek Community Church invited Pastor Mark Driscoll, former pastor of Mars Hill churches, to preach at his Seattle-area church yesterday. There was also a protest outside during the service by about… Continue reading Pastor Mark Driscoll Preaches at Pastor Dan Kellogg’s Gold Creek Community Church
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
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?
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
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