"No ONE should tell EVERYONE anything. That's the role of your leaders. We are entrusted, and we're going to give an account."
Category: Spiritual Abuse
Christ Saved the World through Redemption, Not Condemnation
What's interesting is if you address these people and question the way they are attack you and your beliefs, they quip they are telling you this in love and they are being Biblical. It never feels like love. It's rude. It seems like a clanging cymbal to me. Love is patient and kind, right?
Book Review Series – “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace – Chapter Six – Perfect in Image, Lacking in Glory
Because only men can bring glory to God, the husband will always be the head of the wife.
Response to Pulpit and Pen and the Death of Rachel Held Evans
My heart remains heavy for those wounded by leaders whose arrogance use the Bible as a weapon to harm instead of to heal. I've been on the receiving end of that arrogance and it is not pleasant.
Spiritual Abuse: Is This Worth Dividing the Church Over?
Spiritual Abuse, Jonathan Hollingsworth This is the sixth and final blog post referencing an article by Jonathan Hollingsworth, What Not to Say to Someone Who’s Been Hurt by the Church. The article resonated with a lot of people, so I thought it might be a good idea to discuss these unhelpful statements one by one here,… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Is This Worth Dividing the Church Over?
When Desiring God Misses an Opportunity to Address Child Abuse
Why would a caring mother tell a wounded child that they are no better than the one who caused the harm? This tells the child that they played a role in the harm done to them. It also implies that the harm done to the child is insignificant due to the equal status as a sinner.
Good Friday, Notre Dame, and Resurrection
The spiritual abuse I experienced will only be a blip in my life's story, and it doesn't define who I am, just as Notre Dame's 2019 fire does not define it. Abuse is part of my story and has shaped me, and has produced life-changing fruit.
Open Letter from Two Abuse Survivors to the Board of Directors, Christianity Today International
This open letter is to CT's Board of Directors because we believe the public situation of reportedly questionable ethics and abusive behaviors by CT representatives Mark Galli and Ed Stetzer has escalated to where it can only be resolved at the board level.
Spiritual Abuse: How Unsanctioned Friendships Can Enable People to Leave High-Controlling Churches
"They taught me that sometimes the exit door of an abusive church is held open by the gracious hands of friends who have nothing to do with church, or even with Christianity, but who simply would never turn their back on a friend."
Book Review Series – “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace – Chapter Five: Wives, if You Experience Abuse, Acknowledge Your Sin
"A wife who is a victim of abuse should not be forced to think about how her "sinful actions" contributed to abuse. This constant reminder of sin can keep a victim trapped in an abusive marriage longer than she should be."
Estranged Adult Child of Disgraced Former Pastor R.C. Sproul, Jr., Urges People to NOT Purchase Father’s New Book; Foreword by Tullian Tchividjian
“Myself and RC Jr’s other adult children are estranged from him. We do not support this book or his return to public ministry.”
Pastor James MacDonald: Video and Transcript of MacDonald Bullying a Harvest Christian Academy High School Student in Front of His Peers
"I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized."
Book Review Series – “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace – Chapter 4: Doing Your Minimal Duty to God
"You may be thinking, "I'm willing to work at having a close relationship with my husband, but he is not." If he is unwilling to communicate or is cruel and yet you respond in a godly manner, you will be suffering for righteousness sake and God will meet your needs." ~Martha Peace
John MacArthur’s The Master’s University and Seminary: Still on Academic Probation, and Reported Layoffs
"The fact that an outside governmental agency objectively documented and determined that MacArthur’s leadership does not even meet the moral and ethical standards of the world, deems him unqualified to remain at the helm."
Harvest Bible Chapel’s Pastor James MacDonald is OUT; the Painful Personal Stories Left in the Wake
Well, he finally did enough damage that even his elders cannot cover this up. James MacDonald was caught saying despicable and cruel things on a recording which was aired by Chicago-area radio personality and former Harvest Bible Chapel congregant, "Mancow" Muller. on WLS/AM 890. And he was fired!
Book Review Series – “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace – Chapter 2: Carefully Placing Wives in a Box
Book Review Series, The Excellent Wife, Martha Peace, Complementarianism -by Kathi This is a book review series of The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. If you are just joining us, you may click on previous chapter reviews if you’d like to catch up. Chapter One **** Chapter Two - A Wife's Understanding of God: God's Protective Authority Peace… Continue reading Book Review Series – “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace – Chapter 2: Carefully Placing Wives in a Box
Lori Alexander Shares Thoughts on Verbal Abuse
"Verbal abuse needs to be taken as seriously as physical abuse. Just because you can't see the effects of verbal abuse doesn't mean that it's not as damaging."
In Which Ken Gaslights and Lori Thinks Women can Avoid Marrying Abusers
"Lori could stand to learn about abusers before placing the onus of marrying one on a woman."
Spiritual Abuse: What Are Nonbelievers Going to Think?
Spiritual Abuse, ReputationJonathan Hollingsworth This is the fourth blog post referring to an article by Jonathan Hollingsworth, What Not to Say to Someone Who’s Been Hurt by the Church. The article resonated with a lot of people, so I thought it might be a good idea to discuss these unhelpful statements one by one here, and give… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: What Are Nonbelievers Going to Think?
Caution: Children and Predestination
Predestination and Children My friend, Ryan Stollar, posted this on his Facebook wall, and I was struck at how damaging Predestination can be to children, especially vulnerable children. Shoot, I think it could scare adults, too! Special thanks to Ryan for writing about this and giving me permission to share it. ~ja First off, what… Continue reading Caution: Children and Predestination
Spiritual Sounding Board 