“If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.” -Exodus 22:7, NIV But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I … Continue reading “Repentance And Restitution”
Category: Reconciliation
Good Friday, Proof That Sin Is Serious Stuff!
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” -Matthew 27:22, NIV Sin is serious stuff! It is not the sort of thing that God sweeps under the rug. God does not turn a blind-eye to sin. His character requires justice is done. The debt must … Continue reading “Good Friday, Proof That Sin Is Serious Stuff!”
Misreading “The Unmerciful Servant Parable”
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants….” -Matthew 18:23, NIV This is the opening verse to a famous parable Jesus told to illustrate our need to forgive others. It is often labeled something like “The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant” or something like that. Here … Continue reading “Misreading “The Unmerciful Servant Parable””
A Picture Of Repentance From Jonah
7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop … Continue reading “A Picture Of Repentance From Jonah”
Obviously taken him or her back?!
“‘Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts….’” -Hosea 2:2, KJV Obviously, take him back?! Much “Christian” teaching places such an emphasis on keeping marriages “intact” that they insist … Continue reading “Obviously taken him or her back?!”
The Insane Church-y Pressure To Appear “Forgiving”
They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. -Jeremiah 6:14, NIV The pressure from Christians to appear forgiving towards adulterous spouses or exes is incredible. This pressure was enshrined in my ecclesiastical trial to retain my minister’s license. They probed around … Continue reading “The Insane Church-y Pressure To Appear “Forgiving””
Book Review: THE SUBTLE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen
–A Book Review– The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church by (Pastor) David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen Much of my work on this blog is dealing with spiritual abuse surrounding infidelity discovery and its aftermath including divorce. The literature for Christian faithful spouses on … Continue reading “Book Review: THE SUBTLE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen”
God Does Not Pursue Forever Either!
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels….’” – Matthew 25:41, NKJV Somehow evangelical theology has become so twisted as to promote a distorted picture of God. This picture states that God is always in pursuit … Continue reading “God Does Not Pursue Forever Either!”
Here is to the Courageously Divorced!!!
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. -Mathew 1:19, NIV Sometimes divorce is the best of the bad options left. Today, I want to celebrate the courageous ones. The divorced who chose ridicule from pastors, … Continue reading “Here is to the Courageously Divorced!!!”
Narrative From Pastors Needs Changing
“‘If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to me?’ says the Lord.” -Jeremiah 3:1, NLT “If another believer sins, rebuke … Continue reading “Narrative From Pastors Needs Changing”