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?
Category: ABUSERS & THEIR TACTICS
John Piper’s Tweets: Picking Apart Piper’s Peculiar Prattle
We're taking a look at some of John Piper's most recent tweets. What do they mean? *** We're going to have a Piper Twitter fest today. I had originally planned to post only one tweet, but he's been active on both of his Twitter accounts lately: @desiring God and @JohnPiper. *** *** Ok, let's first… Continue reading John Piper’s Tweets: Picking Apart Piper’s Peculiar Prattle
When Spiritual Leaders Use Contempt to Control
*** Contempt and Control by Christian Leaders (Mark Driscoll, etc) *** *** My friend, Brad Sargent, has been working tirelessly on behalf of spiritual abuse survivors for decades, documenting people/cases, analyzing outcomes, watching behavioral patterns, etc. He spent over 300 hours documenting and compiling the BGBC Lawsuit Archive which chronicles my defamation lawsuit brought on… Continue reading When Spiritual Leaders Use Contempt to Control
Dissecting Gracealone1’s Comment
*** Sometimes we have commenters here who like to challenge us. Sometimes the language and tone used seem familiar to what we experienced in our abusive churches. Commenter "gracealone1" has been engaging SSB readers on the comments in this article, JD Hall of Pulpit and Pen Launches Voice in the Wilderness Radio, and one of his comments in… Continue reading Dissecting Gracealone1’s Comment
The Lingering Pain of Spiritual Abuse
The pain of her leaving caused me to go deep and question the character of God which was being tainted by a man and his crude ideas, perpetuating a church of hate and discord against anyone who didn’t agree with him and his pure doctrine ideologies.
Mark Driscoll’s New Website, New Image, and the Stuff He Forgot to Mention
Mark Driscoll's new website: what he's sharing about himself and what he leaves out of his story *** Surprise, surprise, surprise! About one week before all of the Mars Hill churches that Pastor Mark Driscoll founded some 18 years ago are about to close, Driscoll has published a brand new website. On the front page you can… Continue reading Mark Driscoll’s New Website, New Image, and the Stuff He Forgot to Mention
Bob Jones University Sex Abuse Investigation and A Breakdown of BJU President Pettit’s Leaked Chapel Message
*** Bob Jones University Sex Abuse Investigation and BJU President Steve Pettit's leaked chapel message *** Bob Jones University (BJU) has been in the news prominently after GRACE released their long-awaited report (trigger warnings if you read the report) on the sex abuse investigations at BJU. Many major news sites are covering the story, including, The New… Continue reading Bob Jones University Sex Abuse Investigation and A Breakdown of BJU President Pettit’s Leaked Chapel Message
Some Pastors Think They Get to Control the Details of Your Lives, Even the Colors of Clothes You Wear
*** Pastors who use their assumed position of authority to control personal lives. *** for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Hebrews 13:17 *** This is finals week at school, so in the interest of time, I'm going to resurrect an old post from March of… Continue reading Some Pastors Think They Get to Control the Details of Your Lives, Even the Colors of Clothes You Wear
Disagreeing with Someone’s Opinion Makes You Like Satan?
It really is okay for you to have a differing opinion with a Christian leader! *** There is so much tension in the media regarding the Ferguson fiasco. I wish everyone could just hold up a "free hugs" sign like this young 12-yr old in Portland and it would all get better: *** *** Sometimes pastors… Continue reading Disagreeing with Someone’s Opinion Makes You Like Satan?
VCY America Founder, Vic Eliason, Sends Letter Threatening Legal Action to His Daughter, Ingrid Schlueter
*** VCY America Founder sends letter threatening legal action to his daughter, Ingrid Schlueter, via attorney Patrick Russell *** There's a section in the bible on civil lawsuits in 1 Corinthians. I remember looking up this passage after I was sued by my former pastor and church. I wondered how he could call himself a pastor… Continue reading VCY America Founder, Vic Eliason, Sends Letter Threatening Legal Action to His Daughter, Ingrid Schlueter
Is anyone celebrating the demise of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill churches? Is it really over? Should current Mars Hill pastors be leading new churches?
*** Mars Hill Churches dissolving, becoming independent churches. Are people really celebrating? Should current Mars Hill pastors assume the role of pastors in the new independent churches? *** Yesterday, Mars Hill Pastor Dave Bruskas announced that the Mars Hill board decided that Marks Hill churches were dissolving: Today, I am excited to share… Continue reading Is anyone celebrating the demise of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill churches? Is it really over? Should current Mars Hill pastors be leading new churches?
Word of Faith: Finding the balance between truth and abuse
*** Word of Faith teachings: the balance between truth and abuse *** Julie Anne is out on the road for most of the day and she asked me to post a discussion piece about Word of Faith. -Kathi First, I would like to thank Loura Lawrence for sharing her story with us.… Continue reading Word of Faith: Finding the balance between truth and abuse
Some Christian Leaders are Hijacking the Ebola Crisis to Promote their Theology or Agenda
*** Christian Leaders Respond to the Ebola Crisis promoting their agendas or theologies. Others respond in humility with real help to those in need. *** *** But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 John 3:17 ***… Continue reading Some Christian Leaders are Hijacking the Ebola Crisis to Promote their Theology or Agenda
After Mark Driscoll’s Resignation, Can Mars Hill Be Saved?
*** Pastor Mark Driscoll recently resigned from the church he founded, Mars Hill. Can Mars Hill be saved? *** Mars Hill plans on moving forward as clearly identified in this statement put out by the Mars Hill Board of Overseers: Michael Van Skaik, Larry Osborne, Jon Phelps, and Matt Rogers: On Tuesday, October 14,… Continue reading After Mark Driscoll’s Resignation, Can Mars Hill Be Saved?
Personal Story: I am a Spiritual Abuse Survivor
*** A spiritual abuse survivor shares her personal story *** A long-time reader recovering from spiritual abuse recently shared her story with me and has given me permission to share it with you. She is choosing to remain anonymous. It is very well written. I'm going to issue a trigger warning for content related to:… Continue reading Personal Story: I am a Spiritual Abuse Survivor
Recent Twittering on Joining or Submitting to Churches
Agree? Disagree? Whatcha think?Late addition. I should have looked further
From Silence to Exposure: Why did Homeschool Leader Michael Farris Speak Out Now?
*** Michael Farris speaks out against teachings of two fallen Homeschool Movement leaders, Doug Phillips and Bill Gothard, but why now? *** ** Michael Farris, one of the pillars of the modern Homeschool Movement and founders of Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and founding president of Patrick Henry College, released an article addressing abuses within the… Continue reading From Silence to Exposure: Why did Homeschool Leader Michael Farris Speak Out Now?
Voddie Baucham Posts an Unverified Incest Story on Facebook and Implicates the Homosexual Agenda
*** Voddie Baucham leads his Facebook readers to an unproven incest story between grandmother and grandson and blames the Homosexual Agenda *** Watch your Christian leaders, folks. Sometimes their own agendas are so strong that they don't use their own critical thinking skills and lead their followers down a path of untruths and speculations. Voddie Baucham posted a story on… Continue reading Voddie Baucham Posts an Unverified Incest Story on Facebook and Implicates the Homosexual Agenda
Who is @Rhology? What are #pulpiteers? How Do They Function?
*** Alan Maricle aka @Rhology defends and imitates J.D. Hall's (aka @pulpitandpen) bad behavior on Twitter. *** Admin note: I'm going to take the easy route here and jump into a situation to discuss it without giving a lot of background. However, if you want to know the background of this story, please visit Wartburg Watch… Continue reading Who is @Rhology? What are #pulpiteers? How Do They Function?
Invitations and Altar Calls: Is it Manipulation or Evangelism?
*** What is going on when a pastor gives an altar call or invitation? Is this appropriate? Is it manipulation? When I was a kid, at church there was a weekly altar call with the hymn, "Just As I Am" playing and we knew that if God was working on someone's heart, they'd get out of… Continue reading Invitations and Altar Calls: Is it Manipulation or Evangelism?
Spiritual Sounding Board 