* * * Questioning authority or raising concerns can be the litmus test to see if your pastor is spiritually abusive or not. * * * * * * Oh boy, is this a biggie. I was really moved when this topic come… Continue reading When Sharing Concerns or Asking Pastors Questions Leads to Spiritual Abuse
Category: Shunning
Strange Fire Conference: John MacArthur, “Reformed Theology is not a Haven for False Teachers”
* * * I apologize in advance for the length of this post. Please read the Facebook status slowly and let it sink in, would you? * * * H/T to Meaghan Varela, my dear friend (aka the other Woman of Mass Destruction) and former defendant in… Continue reading Strange Fire Conference: John MacArthur, “Reformed Theology is not a Haven for False Teachers”
Harvest Bible Chapel Files Complaint Against Blogger Paul Dohse, Resulting in Loss of YouTube Privileges
* * * In a concerted attempt to control others, someone from Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC) filed official complaint with YouTube against blogger Paul Dohse's YouTube account, resulting in blogger's loss of YouTube privileges. * * * * * * I received an… Continue reading Harvest Bible Chapel Files Complaint Against Blogger Paul Dohse, Resulting in Loss of YouTube Privileges
Harvest Bible Chapel: #Spiritual Abuse 101 Tweets from Elder’s Letter
*** Last week I posted a letter from Dave Corning who was a long-time elder at Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC), under Pastor James MacDonald. I mentioned that Corning's letter would be my go-to letter for describing spiritual abuse because it described some of the most common tactics spiritual abusers use. Friday, I tore the letter apart… Continue reading Harvest Bible Chapel: #Spiritual Abuse 101 Tweets from Elder’s Letter
Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
* * * The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6 I have never, ever connected so deeply with someone else's spiritual experience as I have recently with reader, Oasis. The tears . . . . oh, the tears. This deep, gut-wrenching, sobbing pain is… Continue reading Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
BeenThereDoneThat and Flying Free: Spiritual Abuse, A Personal Story
* * * This story is a special one to me. Regular reader, "BeenThereDoneThat" (BTDT) has been commenting on this blog since the first weeks here. During that time, I have watched her in her commenting as she has been recovering through a very difficult spiritually abusive church experience. I had… Continue reading BeenThereDoneThat and Flying Free: Spiritual Abuse, A Personal Story
9Marks, Spiritual Abuse, and How Church Members Can Fall Through the Cracks
* * * Yesterday, I shared the a comment that I had posted on SharperIron.org forum. From my limited times there, I gather there are quite a few pastors. We were discussing 9Marks practices. Chip asked me to elaborate after reading my comment: I’ve read some of the 9Marks writings and some… Continue reading 9Marks, Spiritual Abuse, and How Church Members Can Fall Through the Cracks
Beaverton Grace Bible Church and Pastor Chuck O’Neal – A Year after They Lost the Defamation Lawsuit
* * * But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blpasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a… Continue reading Beaverton Grace Bible Church and Pastor Chuck O’Neal – A Year after They Lost the Defamation Lawsuit
Should We Speak out about Our Spiritually Abusive Church?
* * * This comment came in on an earlier thread and there are so many answers. Because I spoke out against my former church, one of the most common questions in e-mails I get is: "should I speak out about our abuse to current members?" Here it is again:… Continue reading Should We Speak out about Our Spiritually Abusive Church?
Adult Children Shunned by Homeschool Parents: Selah’s Story
* * * We recently discussed the challenges that some former homeschool students face when they leave their home. This story is quite different from the last story, but it, too, deals with painful and strained relationships with fundamental Christian parents who were influenced by the subculture of the Homeschool Movement.… Continue reading Adult Children Shunned by Homeschool Parents: Selah’s Story
Good Friday and Dangerous Traditions of Men
* * * My 22-yr old son and I went to a Good Friday service in which the choir performed, John Stainer's oratorio, "The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer." The congregants were invited to join in some songs, while other songs were sung by the choir only. In addition,… Continue reading Good Friday and Dangerous Traditions of Men
Family Members from Westboro Baptist Escape to New Freedom
* * * Yesterday morning I tweeted about the following story and I've had a number of readers send it to me as well. It's a story of amazing courage and also sadness. Imagine escaping the only life you have ever known - and this means leaving… Continue reading Family Members from Westboro Baptist Escape to New Freedom
Music and Madness
'Tis the season and my kids and I have been playing a lot of this: and singing in Christmas programs. There are two final music events this week. Music is so wonderfully healing and was certainly a nice distraction from some heavier subjects. But hey, did you happen to read about Westboro Baptist Church's website getting hacked… Continue reading Music and Madness
Hannah’s Personal Story in Her Own Words
Readers: I've had this post in my "draft posts" for quite some time, but the time to post it is now and I will explain more about that very soon. You'll see why it is important to hear from her own words. I shared my perspective of Hannah's story in the most popular blog post,… Continue reading Hannah’s Personal Story in Her Own Words
Outside Family Members: Why Are They Shunned?
After this busy weekend with the court case (no ruling yet), spending wonderful time with my friends and a little birthday celebration, I woke up in a funk. Two e-mails were pressing on my mind and then I realized, no, there were actually three e-mails that arrived over the weekend that described the destruction… Continue reading Outside Family Members: Why Are They Shunned?
False Teachers Who Mark and Avoid Church Members
I received an e-mail from a missionary today who was involved in a church whose pastor used similar tactics with church members as my former pastor. He sent me a link to look at and I realized I could easily replace his pastor's name with my former pastor's name; he said the same thing… Continue reading False Teachers Who Mark and Avoid Church Members
Creepy Pastors and Churches Using Creepy Stalking Control Tactics
* * * There have been a few stories of spiritual abuse in the news lately. A kind reader sent me this article from The Christian Post: Spiritual Abuse: Shepherds – or Fleecers – of God's Flock? This article starts by discussing the abuse of gaining members' funds through… Continue reading Creepy Pastors and Churches Using Creepy Stalking Control Tactics
And the Winner Is?
One of my "informants" passed along this information. Even while reviews are slowly being removed, it appears that BGBC just might be the most "Google-reviewed" church in the States, currently at 933 reviews. If someone finds out otherwise, please let me know.And next behind is Westboro Baptist with 713 reviews:Edited to add: I keep… Continue reading And the Winner Is?
Additional Former Church Member Has Been Sued!
* * * I'll get to the subject of the former church member sued in just a moment, but want to make sure this point is told: I believe that suing former church members is just an extension of the spiritual abuse. How can that be? Let me explain.This is old… Continue reading Additional Former Church Member Has Been Sued!
Walk the Talk!
Countdown: 3 days until court hearing. Drawn by Resident Artist, Age 9 This is a fairly new blog, but there are a lot of new readers recently and I would like to welcome you! Never in my life would I have imagined this. But as my new pastor told me: it is what it is… Continue reading Walk the Talk!
Spiritual Sounding Board 