Ex-wife of convicted pedophile writes open letter to Editors of Christianity Today after they published and then removed an article written by a former youth pastor and convicted pedophile. Sometimes when people go through a horrific experience, they become an expert in their "field" from what they learn and are able to benefit so many… Continue reading Open Letter to Editors of Christianity Today from Ex-Wife of Pedophile: “Predators in Our Midst”
Category: ABUSERS & THEIR TACTICS
Can High-Controlling Pastors Lead Their Members into Depression and Even Suicide?
Commenters share about high-controlling pastors who leave a path of mental health destruction, even suicide, because they cannot get appropriate help. A while back, I found a comment at SGMSurvivor.com blog that cut like a knife. Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) is in the news a good bit because of the sex abuse lawsuits, but the subject… Continue reading Can High-Controlling Pastors Lead Their Members into Depression and Even Suicide?
Pat Robertson: Getting a Tattoo is Heathen Practice, Even If Your Tattoo Depicts Jesus Christ
Pat Robertson has flapped his tongue with nonsense again, this time about tattoos. A false teacher gives extra-biblical teachings. Do not dismiss these as simply foolish words, they are wrong and can be harmful to blind followers. I get really annoyed when people in a position of Christian leadership or expertise utter nonsense from their mouths, throw… Continue reading Pat Robertson: Getting a Tattoo is Heathen Practice, Even If Your Tattoo Depicts Jesus Christ
The Family-Integrated Church Movement is Getting Some Much-Needed Heat from Critics
*** The Family-Integrated Church movement is getting some heat by critic, Pastor Shawn Mathis. Pastor Kevin Swanson is forced to make a choice: OPC or National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC) *** by Julie Anne The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches NCFIC began as an off-shoot from the Doug Phillips' now defunct "ministry," Vision Forum (I cannot… Continue reading The Family-Integrated Church Movement is Getting Some Much-Needed Heat from Critics
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
Elephants and SGA’s Everywhere! Coming to Terms with Homeschooling’s Pitfalls
The need of parents to both deal with the pitfalls and understand their Second Generation Adults of homeschooling (those who suffered in a high demand Christian homeschooling culture). A post by Cindy Kunsman of UnderMuchGrace.com In the Spiritual Sounding Board series about the Second Generation Adult who grows up in high demand religion… Continue reading Elephants and SGA’s Everywhere! Coming to Terms with Homeschooling’s Pitfalls
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
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
Spiritual Recovery and Leaving a High-Controlling Church: Free to Plant, Free to Bloom, Free to Be
*** What does freedom feel like for those who have left a high-controlling or spiritually abusive church? *** ** About a month ago, I was sent beautiful pictures by SSB's friend, BeenThereDoneThat (BTDT). At first I was drawn to them because cobalt blue is my favorite color. Cobalt blue exudes a soothing peace and tranquility for… Continue reading Spiritual Recovery and Leaving a High-Controlling Church: Free to Plant, Free to Bloom, Free to Be
The Gospel Coalition’s Joe Carter, Publicly Attacks Sarah Palin for her Use of the Word, “Baptism”
*** Joe Carter of The Gospel Coalition publicly attacks Sarah Palin for her use of the word "baptism" in the context of a NRA political rally. *** *** "Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists." ~Sarah Palin ** Joe Carter, an editor at The Gospel Coalition seems… Continue reading The Gospel Coalition’s Joe Carter, Publicly Attacks Sarah Palin for her Use of the Word, “Baptism”
Doug Phillips’ Vision Forum Revisionist (Art) History
*** Did Vision Forum revise ("photochopped," as opposed to Photoshopped) art history to promote their Patriarchal agenda? *** Note from Julie Anne: Cindy Kunsman and I were corresponding by e-mail about her upcoming series which will be hosted here at SSB and she sent me a link to an old post as a side comment. Check out… Continue reading Doug Phillips’ Vision Forum Revisionist (Art) History
Patriarchy: Doug Phillips, Bill Gothard, Doug Wilson and Damage Control
** Media and blogosphere are abuzz with sex abuse stories coming from Patriarchy proponents, Bill Gothard and Doug Phillips. Gothard releases a statement, other Christian leaders defend Patriarchy. ** I tell you what, my head is spinning this week with so many items of news regarding scandals by Christian leaders, especially within Christian Patriarchy. But… Continue reading Patriarchy: Doug Phillips, Bill Gothard, Doug Wilson and Damage Control
Pastoral Confidentiality: Does it Still Apply after Church Member Resigns?
*** What is the responsibility of pastors for those they deem have "gone astray?" Do pastoral confidentiality rules apply even when someone resigns their church membership? *** *** The other day, I read an article, Stabbed in the Back by a Cult Leader and it left me feeling sad and angry. "Sheldon" is a… Continue reading Pastoral Confidentiality: Does it Still Apply after Church Member Resigns?
Tony Miano: A Case Study in Spiritual Abuse and Bully Behavior
*** Digging a little deeper, analyzing the public words and behavior of Tony Miano. Does his behavior reflect a spiritual abuser and bully? Is this a man who should be in public ministry open air preaching and evangelizing? *** A reader sent me a link to Tony Miano's Facebook page cover photo (larger photo). Miano describes it:… Continue reading Tony Miano: A Case Study in Spiritual Abuse and Bully Behavior
Tony Miano’s Ministry of Honor, Genuine Love, and Righteousness by Truthful Speech? Or Not?
*** Does Tony Miano's ministry show kindness, genuine love, truthful speech and honor, or is he heralding slander instead of God's Holy Word? *** We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots,… Continue reading Tony Miano’s Ministry of Honor, Genuine Love, and Righteousness by Truthful Speech? Or Not?
Learn to Discern: Can Women Read Scripture Aloud to Men?
*** Open Air Preacher Street Evangelist Tony Miano Gives Rules and Guidelines for Women Open Air Preaching and Reading Scripture to Men *** We've discussed open air preacher, Tony Miano before. He used to work at Living Waters with Ray Comfort. In the video below, he claims that he taught approximately 200 women how to… Continue reading Learn to Discern: Can Women Read Scripture Aloud to Men?
Attempting to Set the Doug Phillips Record Straight: Part 1 – The Puzzle of Control
* * * Attempting to Set the Doug Phillips Record Straight: The Puzzle, Types of Control by Church Leaders, Vision Forum, Boerne Christian Assembly, and a Characterization of Phillips * * * BEFORE WE BEGIN: In this series of articles on Doug Phillips and Vision Forum, I will… Continue reading Attempting to Set the Doug Phillips Record Straight: Part 1 – The Puzzle of Control
Spiritual Abuse: Interview with Doug Bursch
*** *** Yesterday I did an interview with Doug Bursch from Seattle's KGNW radio station. Doug describes himself in his bio as "a speaker, writer, pastor, teacher and evangelist." We spoke about spiritual abuse, healthy and unhealthy churches. I've done quite a few interviews since the lawsuit, but this one is my new favorite. If… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Interview with Doug Bursch
Godly sex is not for enjoyment, but for having children! Orgasms are demonic? What’s next in Christiandom?
*** Christiandom seems to be making a mess out of something beautiful God intended for married couples to enjoy. Sex is only for procreation? Orgasms are demonic? *** There's a whole book in the Bible that seems to describe a mutually pleasurable experience of sex between husband and wife: ** As the apple tree among… Continue reading Godly sex is not for enjoyment, but for having children! Orgasms are demonic? What’s next in Christiandom?
How do you warn someone about a dangerous spiritual group? What if that person is your spouse?
*** How do you warn someone about a dangerous or spiritually abusive leader or group? What if that someone is your spouse? *** Commenter, TIA, responded to my comment with a couple of key questions that were left unanswered. I think would be helpful to discuss these important questions, especially in light of the second… Continue reading How do you warn someone about a dangerous spiritual group? What if that person is your spouse?
Spiritual Sounding Board 