* * * As a follow-up to the article, What is Real Christian Love? Is This it?, I found an enlightening conversation between Tony Miano and Ken of Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) and two other individuals. Tony Miano was recently in Portland at a conference put on by CARM and after the conference,… Continue reading Is it Love or Not? Street Evangelists Defend Their Method
Category: ABUSIVE FAITH & PRACTICE
Purity Gone Too Far?
* * * Turn your fans on, folks, Song of Solomon is hot with passionate love and it isn't of the Puritan kind: With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! (JA still vividly… Continue reading Purity Gone Too Far?
What is Real Christian Love? Is This it?
* * * There was such great discussion in the last article, My Twitter Conversation with a Pastor about Doctrine and Truth. Thanks to all who participated. The comments continue to come in. In the comments of that post, I mentioned how those who evangelize (ie, door-to-door or street evangelism) sometimes say the… Continue reading What is Real Christian Love? Is This it?
We Need Safe Places, Or, Overturning Tables
* * * Many of you know of my partnership with Homeschoolers Anonymous. In this blog, survivors have told their sometimes sad and disturbing stories of what it was like growing up as a homeschooled student. Here is how I connected with them. There is a subculture within the bigger umbrella… Continue reading We Need Safe Places, Or, Overturning Tables
Black and White Teachings from the Pulpit: Helpful or Not?
* * * "Mental illness" is a poor term, sounding like "It's just your mind." But a broken brain is as physical as a broken bone. Rick Warren tweeted 4/13/13 a week after his son committed suicide. I still have a couple of more thoughts regarding the Nally suicide case… Continue reading Black and White Teachings from the Pulpit: Helpful or Not?
How do Churches Handle Difficult Mental Health Cases, Biblical Counseling, and the Law?
* * * A friend sent me a tragic story this morning. It is an older story from 1979 involving John MacArthur's church, Grace Community Church, and a young man, Kenneth Nally, who at the age of 24 shot himself and died. He suffered from depression and sought counsel… Continue reading How do Churches Handle Difficult Mental Health Cases, Biblical Counseling, and the Law?
Biblical Counseling and Mental Health Crises: Does it Always Work?
* * * I have been seeing a lot of response online regarding the death of Matthew Warren last week. As you are probably aware, Matthew, age 27, was the youngest son of Pastor Rick Warren, and last Friday after many years of depression and despair, he ended his own life.… Continue reading Biblical Counseling and Mental Health Crises: Does it Always Work?
Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: When Did “Roles” Become a Primary Doctrinal Issue?
* * * One of the more troubling trends I see in Christiandom is making what I understand to be secondary issues as primary doctrinal issues. Sometimes church leaders will say certain issues are "gospel" issues, that the whole gospel message depends on adhering to whatever bandwagon said church leader is… Continue reading Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: When Did “Roles” Become a Primary Doctrinal Issue?
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
Partnering with Unbelievers = Unequally Yoked?
* * * While the comments on the recent Homeschooler's Anonymous article have pretty much subsided, e-mails have not stopped. For those who didn't follow the previous thread which now has over 400 comments, a commenter, "R.D.," whom we later found out was a retired pastor, challenged me on whether I, as a… Continue reading Partnering with Unbelievers = Unequally Yoked?
Pastor Rod Parsley Rides Zip-line During Church Circus, oops, Service
* * * * * * Clown, oops, Pastor Rod Parsley is pastor of World Harvest Church which serves more than 12,000 each week. * * * * * * Is it me, or does the church kind of… Continue reading Pastor Rod Parsley Rides Zip-line During Church Circus, oops, Service
Homeschoolers Anonymous and Training up Children the Homeschool Movement Way
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 You see that verse? Probably every homeschool parent heard that verse too many times to count throughout their homeschooling years. It was engrained in us. We did not want our children to… Continue reading Homeschoolers Anonymous and Training up Children the Homeschool Movement Way
Muslim Brotherhood and Christian Patriarchy: They Look the Same to Me
* * * Woman was merely man's helpmate, a function which pertains to her alone. She is not the image of God but as far as man is concerned, he is by himself the image of God. -- Saint Augustine * * * * *… Continue reading Muslim Brotherhood and Christian Patriarchy: They Look the Same to Me
The Culture of Abuse in Churches Similar to Sovereign Grace Ministries
* * * * * * * * * * He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does… Continue reading The Culture of Abuse in Churches Similar to Sovereign Grace Ministries
Singles in the Church: Treated with Respect and Dignity?
* * * * * I'm joining Dee and Deb at The Wartburg Watch as they discuss the topic of singles in the church. I've learned a lot in this year of blogging and covered at least four stories… Continue reading Singles in the Church: Treated with Respect and Dignity?
My Response to Kevin Swanson’s Non-Response about Embedded Dead Babies and Damage Control
I asked a favor of one of my sleuth readers and while searching he came across some interesting information. Coming from a place where there was a no-talk rule and where things were not fully disclosed, I have a different policy here. This is a place where I fully disclose, especially when there are unsuspecting loyal… Continue reading My Response to Kevin Swanson’s Non-Response about Embedded Dead Babies and Damage Control
Kevin Swanson Spews Nonsense from His Mouth to Further His Birth Control Agenda
* * * Kevin Swanson spews rhetoric: Dead embedded fetuses in wombs for women on birth control pills! I get slightly annoyed, no, actually royally peeved when people use their position of leadership and influence to push their agenda. I've been on the inside of the homeschool movement and seen how this works. The Christian… Continue reading Kevin Swanson Spews Nonsense from His Mouth to Further His Birth Control Agenda
Follow-Up on Christian Modesty Police from IsThisModest.com Blog
* * * “And though it be their sin and vanity that is the cause [of lust], it is nevertheless your sin to be the unnecessary occasion…You must not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust…You must walk among sinful persons as you would… Continue reading Follow-Up on Christian Modesty Police from IsThisModest.com Blog
36-yr old Male Blogger Scours the Net Using Pics of Young Ladies so He Can be Christian Modesty Police
Did you know there is a Christian dress code? Evidently there is. Modesty is a hot topic in the homeschool movement and in conservative Christian churches. Some people have been taught or have assumed the responsibility of telling others, specifically women, how they should be dressing. In fact, this is a hot topic… Continue reading 36-yr old Male Blogger Scours the Net Using Pics of Young Ladies so He Can be Christian Modesty Police
Spiritual Abuse: Pastor Uses Shame and Humiliation to Elicit Tithes
Tithing has not been a topic that I've discussed and to be honest, I really haven't researched it much in the past, but here are some links I found very quickly (and I don't know anything about them): The Truth about Tithing Tithing: The Great False Doctrine The Tithing Debate It is a topic… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Pastor Uses Shame and Humiliation to Elicit Tithes
Spiritual Sounding Board 