ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Calvinism, Doctrine as Idol, Going Back to Church Again, John Piper, Mental Health and the Church, Personal Stories, Spiritual Abuse

Caution: Children and Predestination

Predestination and Children My friend, Ryan Stollar, posted this on his Facebook wall, and I was struck at how damaging Predestination can be to children, especially vulnerable children. Shoot, I think it could scare adults, too! Special thanks to Ryan for writing about this and giving me permission to share it.  ~ja First off, what… Continue reading Caution: Children and Predestination

Christianity and Politics, Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Misuse of Scripture, SMH (Shake My Head), Todd Friel, Troubling Tweets

Todd Friel Claims There’s “Not a Word” in the Bible about Fighting Injustice for the Oppressed

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.    And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercy    and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8 Admin note: WordPress is the service I use for this blog. They have a new formatting feature I'm using on this post. Because the post is predominantly tweets, I have… Continue reading Todd Friel Claims There’s “Not a Word” in the Bible about Fighting Injustice for the Oppressed

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Christian Marriage, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Saeed Abedini, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse

Naghmeh Panahi, Ex-Wife of Former Iranian Prisoner, “Pastor” Saeed Abedini, Posts Public Statement on Facebook

It's been a while since I have posted about Saeed Abedini or his ex-wife, Naghmeh. Naghmeh Panahi posted a public note on Facebook yesterday. You may recall that after Saeed Abedini was released from prison in Iran, Naghmeh filed for separation because Saeed would not get help for his abusive behavior in the marriage. Saeed… Continue reading Naghmeh Panahi, Ex-Wife of Former Iranian Prisoner, “Pastor” Saeed Abedini, Posts Public Statement on Facebook

Christian Marriage, Complementarianism, Doctrine as Idol, Emotional Responses, Gender Roles, Lori Alexander, The Transformed Wife

Spiritual Abuse: Lori Alexander Says Working Women with Disabled Husbands Should Know Where They Belong

-by Kathi We haven't looked at Lori Alexander's "older woman" teachings for a while because not much has changed. Yesterday's doodle stood out to me, though, and offered another prime example of how Lori continues to pile on spiritual abuse. Text reads: Many women want to continually discredit God's clear commands to them. "My husband… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Lori Alexander Says Working Women with Disabled Husbands Should Know Where They Belong

Bill Gothard, Christianity and Politics, Disturbing Trends, Doug Phillips & Vision Forum, Full-Quiver, Homeschool Movement, Patriarchal-Complementarian Movement, Reconstructionist-Dominion Movement

Rep. Matt Shea: When Politics is Fueled by Religion that Harms

Rep. Matt Shea, Biblical Basis for War, Politics, Religion, Dominionism *** I intentionally do not delve into politics much on this blog because politics is divisive and conversation can deteriorate quickly. However, today I want to mention one candidate whose religion is interfering with his politics in a way that could harm. I found about… Continue reading Rep. Matt Shea: When Politics is Fueled by Religion that Harms

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Christian Industrial Complex, Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Emergent/Progressive Movement

Tony Jones Book Update, Christian Industrial Complex, and Domestic Violence

Tony Jones, Emergent, THE NEW CHRISTIANS: DISPATCHES FROM THE EMERGENT FRONTIER, Anniversary, Christian Industrial Complex ***   October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month in the US, and so this article is timely. The last time I wrote about popular emergent leader, Tony Jones, was in 2015 in this article, A Spider Web of Emergent Leader… Continue reading Tony Jones Book Update, Christian Industrial Complex, and Domestic Violence

Christian Marriage, Courtship, Homeschool Movement

Josh Harris Discontinues the Publication of ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’

Joshua Harris, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Courtship, Dating *** Josh Harris, former senior pastor at Covenant Life Church - the flagship church of then Sovereign Grace Ministries church - has posted a statement  at his website (statement follows). After considerable thought has decided to cease publishing his very influential book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye.  I… Continue reading Josh Harris Discontinues the Publication of ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Beaverton Grace Bible Church, BGBC Google Reviews, BGBC Lawsuit, Chuck O'Neal, JULIE ANNE'S CASE, Leaving the Church, Legalism, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies

Negative Google Reviews are Still Keeping People Away from My Spiritually Abusive Church 6 Years after Lawsuit

Chuck O'Neal, Beaverton Grace Bible Church, Spiritual Abuse, Negative Google Reviews, Defamation Lawsuit     The other day, I got a call from my good friend, Michelle, who used to attend the cult/church we attended. Her husband used to be on staff at the church (Beaverton Grace Bible Church) and was fired. That led to… Continue reading Negative Google Reviews are Still Keeping People Away from My Spiritually Abusive Church 6 Years after Lawsuit

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, No-Talk Rule, Spiritual Bullies

“Someone Offends Me Chart” is Too Black and White; Can Be Used to Control

  *** Have you seen this? It's been spreading around on Facebook. The first time I saw it, someone shared that their pastor had sent it to her. She was livid. He was trying to control her in a personal situation. She felt she was being squelched by this. Do you see how she could… Continue reading “Someone Offends Me Chart” is Too Black and White; Can Be Used to Control

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Christian Marriage, Complementarianism, Dale Partridge, Doctrine as Idol, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, Gender Roles, Marriage, Women and the Church

Husbands Who Don’t Spiritually Lead are a Problem

Dale Partridge, Complementarianism, Male Headship -by Kathi The above post by Dale Partridge was shared on the SSB Facebook page a few days ago. Text reads: Christian husbands, if another man is teaching your wife more about God than you are, you have a problem. It is not your pastor's job to be your wife's… Continue reading Husbands Who Don’t Spiritually Lead are a Problem

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Addressing Abuse, child abuse, Debi Pearl, Doctrine as Idol, Forgiveness, Lori Alexander, Michael Pearl, Spiritual Abuse, The Transformed Wife

Lori Alexander: Children Should Visit Their Incarcerated Molesting Fathers

Lori Alexander, Child Sex Abuse, Spiritual Abuse -by Kathi We've seen the type of advice Lori Alexander gives to wives experiencing domestic abuse. Just when you think she couldn't stoop lower, she addresses children visiting their incarcerated fathers who sexually abused them. It all starts when she defends Michael and Debi Pearl's teachings which leads… Continue reading Lori Alexander: Children Should Visit Their Incarcerated Molesting Fathers

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Classical Conversations, Dictators, It's All About the Image, Legalism, Misuse of Scripture, No-Talk Rule, Parenting, Personal Stories, Spiritual Bullies

Classical Conversations #7: Business or a Non-Profit; Cult or a Christian Homeschool Group?

*** NOTE: This is part of a series that began with these earlier posts: Classical Conversations #1: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Classical Conversations #2: What Led You to Join a Classical Conversations Homeschool Community? #ClassicalConvMadeKnown Classical Conversations #3: Leaders Delete Comments and Block Commenters Who Don’t Toe the Line Classical Conversations #4: A CC… Continue reading Classical Conversations #7: Business or a Non-Profit; Cult or a Christian Homeschool Group?

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Christian Marriage, Gender Roles, God's Design for the Family, Marriage, Misuse of Scripture, Spiritual Abuse, Women and the Church

Almost Heretical: Women in the Church and Gender Roles

Almost Heretical, Women in the Church, Gender Roles in the Church *** If you believe that God designed hierarchy between husband and wife, that husbands are "over" women, and only women submit to men, not the other way around. I encourage you to listen to this podcast series. The above used to be what I… Continue reading Almost Heretical: Women in the Church and Gender Roles

Desiring God, Doctrine as Idol, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, John Piper, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

John Piper – God Purposely Plans Our Pain

God uses sinners and Satan as part of his purpose to cause us pain?

God plans the hurt in our lives?

Thoughts?

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, ABUSE RECOVERY PROCESS-PROBLEMS, Bill Gothard, Calvinism, Christian Marriage, Domestic Violence, Homeschool Movement, Personal Stories

Woman Feels Spiritually Trapped after Having Grown up in a Conservative Reformed Christian Homeschool Family

I found Ann's comment (below) in moderation, but felt it deserved a wider audience than where it was intended to be posted. Ann's story most certainly is not unique. Her struggle goes along with the previous two posts on abuse in marriage, but is compounded with a childhood of teachings that have been harmful to… Continue reading Woman Feels Spiritually Trapped after Having Grown up in a Conservative Reformed Christian Homeschool Family

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Christian Marriage, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Churches, Personal Stories, Stories of Hope

An Abusive Marriage, Well-Meaning Christians, and God’s Word

*** I ran across a post on Facebook that a friend wrote. Flo Fromer-Wedding posted about the spiritual tug-of-war process she went through while she was in an abusive marriage.  Unfortunately, the church is often a volatile place for abused women to get help, especially when there is greater emphasis on the "covenant of marriage,"… Continue reading An Abusive Marriage, Well-Meaning Christians, and God’s Word

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Addressing Abuse, Biblical Counseling, Christian Marriage, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Churches, Heath Lambert

Biblical Counseling and Domestic Abuse

Biblical Counseling, Domestic Abuse, Victim Safety, Heath Lambert -by Kathi The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) will be holding their annual meeting this fall addressing Biblical counseling and abuse. Leading up to this event I thought it might be a good idea to look at how Biblical counseling addresses domestic abuse. Heath Lambert is… Continue reading Biblical Counseling and Domestic Abuse

Christian Marriage, Complementarianism, Doctrine as Idol, Egalitarianism, Extra-Biblical Nonsense, Feminist Agenda, Marriage, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Misuse of Scripture, Women and the Church

Feminism: Is it a rebellion against God?

*** I'm just going to plop this video link into this post and see what happens. It's only 2 minutes, 36 seconds. That's it. Below is my attempt at transcribing someone speaking off the cuff (a little challenging on the punctuation, just sayin').  ~ja       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-q9ClRc8lw   Are you a feminist? Are you… Continue reading Feminism: Is it a rebellion against God?

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Calvinism, Clergy Misconduct, Clergy Sex Abuse, Complementarianism, Debi Pearl, Doctrine as Idol, Failure to Report Crimes, It's All About the Image, John MacArthur, Legalism, Mandatory Reporting, Mark Driscoll, Michael Pearl, Parenting, Phil Johnson, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Sovereign Grace Ministries, Sovereign Grace Ministries Lawsuit, Tom Chantry

Tedd Tripp and Tom Chantry: Shepherding a Child’s Heart … or Not

Tedd Tripp, Tom Chantry, Failure to Report, Mandatory Reporter, Spanking, Shepherding a Child's Heart *** *** In the late 1990s, I attended a parenting seminar by Tedd Tripp. It may or may not be significant to note that the seminar was held at a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Shepherding a Child's Heart… Continue reading Tedd Tripp and Tom Chantry: Shepherding a Child’s Heart … or Not

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Biblical Manhood, Christian Marriage, Complementarianism, Desiring God, Domestic Violence, Gender Roles, John Piper, Marriage, Women and the Church

Are Complementarians Tough on Abuse?

Complementarianism, Desiring God, Domestic Abuse -by Kathi Desiring God featured a guest article by Rebecca McLaughlin titled, "Complementarians Should Be Toughest on Abuse." I appreciate Dr. McLaughlin's words and I think her intent is honorable. She addresses pastors and men to call out abuse, warns Christians to not be naive about abusers, and emphasizes that… Continue reading Are Complementarians Tough on Abuse?