How do False Teachers get a foot-hold and gain influence in the lives of others? Here are some ways. They will target people who are already passionate about faith. They particularly look for people who are either: Disillusioned because they feel that the church has failed them by not being loving. Alternatively, if someone feels… Continue reading Cult tactics
Tag: wolves
Wounded, well-meaning and wolves
I recently referred to an article by Jonathan Leeman which led to a conversation about Spiritual abuse. In this article, I want to engage a little bit further with Jonathan’s article. I want to highlight some areas where I think he’s unfairly criticised, some important points he has made which need hearing and also an… Continue reading Wounded, well-meaning and wolves
Weaponising spiritual abuse
I’m encouraged to see that The FIEC are keeping the focus on the problem of abuse with a series of podcasts involving John Stevens and Adrian Reynolds looking at spiritual abuse in particular. The term “spiritual abuse” has been at times controversial with people debating its definition and even its existence. I saw one definition… Continue reading Weaponising spiritual abuse
Do you take the role of pastor/elder seriously enough?
What exactly does it mean to be a pastor or an elder in a church? First of all, you will notice that I am in effect using the words “pastor” and “elder” interchangeably because we are essentially talking about the same thing. An elder is someone who carries leadership authority within a family/clan/tribe linked to… Continue reading Do you take the role of pastor/elder seriously enough?
Elders are to guard and protect the church
In Acts 20:17, Paul sends for the elders (note plural) of the church in Ephesus to come and meet him at Miletus as he travels back to Jerusalem. There he gives them instructions about how to continue serving the church when people like Paul are no longer around to visit and write letters. He tells… Continue reading Elders are to guard and protect the church
Fed to the wolves?
I’m sure that I’m not the only one who finds these words particularly challenging: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”[1] Would Jesus do something so reckless as to send his disciples out without defence to certain danger? Is that the act of the good shepherd? I’ve seen it… Continue reading Fed to the wolves?
Don’t Be Afraid (Matthew 10:16-42)
There are fewer and fewer people alive who can remember the horrors of the Second World War, what it was like to live through the Blitz, how to survive on rations etc. We do sadly have men and women who have served in recent wars, many have suffered terrible injuries as well as PTSD. This… Continue reading Don’t Be Afraid (Matthew 10:16-42)
Inviting the wolves round for tea
The first Steve Chalke controversy seems such a long time ago now (there have been so many since). Chalke now complains that Evangelicals kicked him out of their alliance because he welcomed LGBTQ people into his church. That is a bit of a misrepresentation of the situation. The issue was never about welcoming LGBTQ people… Continue reading Inviting the wolves round for tea
Isolated (Proverbs 18)
“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”[1] These are probably not helpful words for a Government attempting to encouraging COVID-19 patients to self-isolate. Yet, our experience of having to socially isolate over these past 7 months have been a crash course in the cost of such isolation. When we… Continue reading Isolated (Proverbs 18)
The Road home (2 Peter 3:14-18)
Throughout Coronavirus, we’ve taken time each day to pray and look at a Psalm together. I’ve been excited not just to see what each individual Psalm is saying but also to get a sense of the themes coming through. The big theme, particularly in the last part of Psalms is on the journey home for… Continue reading The Road home (2 Peter 3:14-18)
Faithroots 