Church Discipline (Part 7)

I have come across a book on the web entitled "Manual of Church Discipline" by a Reverend Eleazer Savage.  I'm not sure how the book will turn out, but I found some interesting observations just in the first chapter.  (If you would like to read the book it can be found here.) Corrective Church Discipline is "the …

Dissenter

Dissent: 1. Difference of opinion or feeling; disagreement. 2. The refusal to conform to the authority or doctrine of an established church; nonconformity. 3. Law A justice's refusal to concur with the opinion of a majority, as on a higher court. Also called dissenting opinion. I am a dissenter. I have come to grips with …

Calvary Chapel Revisted

I have been in communication with a few guys from Calvary churches, and they claim that the Christianity Today article was out of line.  They were pretty defensive, but the more I interacted with them, the more I realized that most were good guys seeking the truth. So to clarify, I am not attacking Calvary …

Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith

I read an article the other day on Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith in Christianity Today entitled Day of Reckoning. To say that I was concerned after reading the article would be an understatement. The article was alarming in many ways. But first and foremost was Smith's misinterpretation of scripture and misunderstanding of power and …

Authority Abused: Recovery

The following is taken from an article entitled: "Spiritual Abuse" by David Henke found here. RECOVERY FROM SPIRITUAL ABUSE Healthy recovery from spiritual abuse must begin with understanding what has happened and how. A victim usually thinks he is the only one experiencing these problems. Just being able to give a name to the problem …

Authority Abused: Effects

The following is taken from an article entitled: "Spiritual Abuse" by David Henke found here. EFFECTS OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE Spiritual abuse has a devastating effect on people. A very high level of trust is often placed in spiritual leaders. It is, and ought to be, expected that the trust will be honored and guarded. When …

Authority Abused: Response

The following is taken from an article entitled: "Spiritual Abuse" by David Henke found here. BIBLICAL RESPONSE Examples of spiritual abuse are found throughout the Bible. God describes (and condemns) the "shepherds of Israel" who feed themselves rather than the flock, who do not heal those who are hurting, or seek to bring back those …

Authority Abused: Recognized

The following is taken from an article entitled: "Spiritual Abuse" by David Henke found here. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSED AUTHORITY #1) Authoritarian The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or leader, is the over-emphasis on authority. Because a group claims to have been established by God Himself the leaders in this system …

Authority Abused

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest …