* Â Â * Â Â * In an effort to "raise up a child in the way they should go," some Christian homeschool parents are essentially kidnapping their daughters, only teaching "homemaking" skills, even denying and preventing them from getting a college education. * Â Â * Â Â * There are too many… Continue reading Homeschooled Adult Daughters Held Captive at Home, Prevented from Getting College Education
Category: ABUSIVE FAITH & PRACTICE
Wife Undermines Her Husband’s Authority in Front of Children, He Disciplines Her
* Â Â * Â Â * The Christian community has done a very poor job of treating women with respect. Â Some husbands have resorted to treating their wives as objects and even practice "domestic discipline" or wife spanking. Â This is wrong. * Â Â * Â Â * Men treating women/wives as objects they… Continue reading Wife Undermines Her Husband’s Authority in Front of Children, He Disciplines Her
God’s Design for the Family: Has the Godly-Designed Family Image Become an Idol?
* Â Â * Â Â * While it's clear that a healthy marriage and family is important, have churches and Christian organizations put too much emphasis on God's design for the family and made this image an idol? * Â Â * Â Â * Focus on the Family raises money for new project… Continue reading God’s Design for the Family: Has the Godly-Designed Family Image Become an Idol?
Christianity and Emotions: When One Person’s Emotions Trump Another’s
* Â Â * Â Â * Is there a biblical precedent for how we handle our feelings? Â Must we put aside negative feelings when others want to only focus on positive feelings? * Â Â * Â Â * "I learned to my astonishment that God, whose 'impassibility' I thought meant that he… Continue reading Christianity and Emotions: When One Person’s Emotions Trump Another’s
What’s the Real Message?
* Â Â * Â Â * This picture was posted on my friend's Facebook wall and showed up in my news feed. Â Her comment is at the top of the photo. Â She lives in Massachusetts and these were scattered along the shoreline. Â What kind of message is being sent about Christianity by this? Update:… Continue reading What’s the Real Message?
Finding Refuge from Religion: Forever
* Â Â * Â Â * Many people who have been hurt by religion want to escape from it. Â We'll take a look at an organization that is offering a refuge from religion, Recovering from Religion. Â Â Is this the answer? * Â Â * Â Â * * Â Â * Â … Continue reading Finding Refuge from Religion: Forever
How to Respond to a Someone in a Crisis: A Dad who Understands the Gift of Listening
* Â Â * Â Â * If you ever wanted to see love, empathy, compassion during a crisis, excellent listening skills, support, encouragement wrapped up in one package without ever having to take a class or read a book, I think I found it right here in this short video. Â This video encapsulates what… Continue reading How to Respond to a Someone in a Crisis: A Dad who Understands the Gift of Listening
Can our Faith and Love Co-Exist with Extremism?
* Â Â * Â Â * Having been spoon-fed by my former pastor a form of extremism, or rigid, legalistic, black/white rules and practices, I have pressed myself to re-evaluate those rules and ideas and measure them with scripture using my own eyes and discernment. Â What freedom! The following article is by Brenda, a… Continue reading Can our Faith and Love Co-Exist with Extremism?
Learn and Discern: Harvest Bible Chapel – Church Discipline and Excommunication
* * * If you've been following the Elephant Room 2 spectacle with Pastor James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel, you know there has been some shakeup within the elder ranks. More drama recently unfolded. Below, you will find the link to the video of MacDonald and four of the elders… Continue reading Learn and Discern: Harvest Bible Chapel – Church Discipline and Excommunication
What Does Non-Institutionalized Church Look Like?
*   *   *  We've spent the last several days discussing a variety of issues stemmed from Brenda's very important topic of institutional churches failing to meet the real needs of their people who are suffering abuse.  Quite a bit of the conversation shifted to the subject that church as an institution… Continue reading What Does Non-Institutionalized Church Look Like?
Financial Ramifications of Abuse: What’s a Church to Do?
* Â Â * Â Â * Survivors of abuse have to climb many mountains. Â The first mountain is acknowledging the fact that they are being abused. Â Then they have to decide what to do. Â They are left emotionally reeling and yet, have to survive, take care of their children, put food on the table,… Continue reading Financial Ramifications of Abuse: What’s a Church to Do?
Biblical Counseling: Is it Always Safe? – And Pastoral Response to Abuse Survivor
*   *   * “Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn,     for they will be comforted. Matt. 5:3-4 Today I stumbled across a disturbing article at One Lost Child blog.  Blogger Cathy raises concerns regarding the care  women will receive at… Continue reading Biblical Counseling: Is it Always Safe? – And Pastoral Response to Abuse Survivor
Moved by Compassion: The Story of Cherith
* Â Â * Â Â * The following is a guest post by my long-time friend, Maryl Smith. Â In Maryl's work, she has the opportunity to get acquainted with people in a more personal setting. Â She is very sensitive and a big support to people who have endured all kinds of abuse, including spiritual… Continue reading Moved by Compassion: The Story of Cherith
Tony Miano: Tweeting from the Heart
* Â Â * Â Â * I'm in the middle of working on an article about street evangelist Tony Miano and the recent evangelism conference sponsored by my former pastor, but just ran across this tweet and decided to post it for a quickie Sunday evening post. Tony, Tony, Tony!! Â SMH! * Â … Continue reading Tony Miano: Tweeting from the Heart
Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
* Â Â * Â Â * The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Â Psalm 103:6 I have never, ever connected so deeply with someone else's spiritual experience as I have recently with reader, Oasis. Â The tears . . . . oh, the tears. Â This deep, gut-wrenching, sobbing pain is… Continue reading Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
It’s Calvinism Free-For-All: Off the Top of Your Head, Part 1
* Â Â * Â Â * ADMIN NOTE: Â The comments are closed on this thread and a new one has opened here: It's Calvinism Free-For-All: Â Off the Top of Your Head, Part 2Â The other record-breaking thread is getting really long with comments and so I thought it might be good to let Brian's… Continue reading It’s Calvinism Free-For-All: Off the Top of Your Head, Part 1
BeenThereDoneThat and Flying Free: Spiritual Abuse, A Personal Story
* Â Â * Â Â * This story is a special one to me. Â Regular reader, "BeenThereDoneThat" (BTDT) has been commenting on this blog since the first weeks here. Â 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
Protests at Abortion Clinics: Does it work? Is there another alternative?
*   *   * Earlier, I shared with you the goings on of Chuck O'Neal, and his church Beaverton Grace Bible Church (BGBC) regarding his method of "evangelizing" at the abortion clinic, Lovejoy Surgicenter in Portland, Oregon (The Legal Rights of Christians vs Mercy and Love of Christ). I had a bit of… Continue reading Protests at Abortion Clinics: Does it work? Is there another alternative?
The Legal Rights of Christians vs Mercy and Love of Christ
* Â Â * Â Â * Personal disclaimer: Â I was alerted to two local news articles this morning and struggled with whether or not I should share them with you because of the personal connections as you will soon see. Â After conferring with others and checking my heart, I am going to share them.… Continue reading The Legal Rights of Christians vs Mercy and Love of Christ
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
Spiritual Sounding Board 