When Religion is as Destructive as Alcoholism or Drug Addiction

This is an article that reflects on an older post from Mike Anderson who led The Resurgence at Mars Hill in Seattle. What do you do when religion leads you to places that are dark and to behaviors just as destructive as alcoholism or drug addiction? This also reflects on what I have seen in my own life. 

Open Letter to Gary Nomura (Cru Employee on Using Crawford Loritts in Video)

An employee in Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) uses Crawford Loritts in a Cru video. This is a post informing Gary Nomura and Cru staff on the dark scandal of voyeurism, child pornography and spiritual abuse at Acts 29 Fellowship Memphis and Downtown Church in Memphis, Tennessee. The Loritts – both Bryan and Crawford were involved in the cover up of Rick Trotter’s voyeurism.  

Tyler Chernesky of Christ Community Church in Kansas City on Friendship and Proverbs. Seeing What was Taught in a Sermon Play Out in Kansas and Missouri

Tyler Chernesky at Christ Community Church in Kansas City gave an interesting talk about friendship and Proverbs at the Downtown location on October 7, 2018. This post looks at Christ Community Church and Tyler Chernesky as well as the man who is the driving force behind this EFCA church movement in the Kansas City metropolitan area – Tom Nelson. The amazing aspect of Tyler’s talk is seeing it play out in a challenging trip to Missouri amongst a couple of friends who I have known for years who validated what was taught. 

Recommended Read: Joe Carter from The Gospel Coalition on the Bethel Church Movement

Joe Carter from The Gospel Coalition has a good read that overviews Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church movement in Redding, California. This is a brief post recommending Joe Carter’s article. 

Redemption Hill’s Bill Riedel from Acts 29 on What He Learned About Politics in Planting a Church in Washington, D.C.

At The Gospel Coalition recently Bill Riedel from Acts 29/EFCA’s Redemption Hill in Washington, D.C., wrote an article about how to plant a church and having it be politically diverse. This article looks at what the Acts 29 pastor said and raises some questions. While I agree the church can address politics and should not be partisan, the warped view of injustice that this Acts 29 pastor has is an issue that needs to be addressed.  

Does Evangelical Culture Contribute to Pornography? Plus the Torment Accountability has Left in My Life

Does evangelical Christian culture drive people to embrace pornography? Plus looking at the harm that accountability relationships do to people. In my life accountability led to three painful situations. It destroyed one friendship from Campus Crusade in Wisconsin. Helping someone from Sovereign Grace’s Redeemer Arlington with accountability as an agnostic backfired as I faced a false accusation from someone who was frightened about adult pornography. And at Fairfax Community Church I learned how unhealthy churches can potentially use confessed material against people. And this happens while celebrity pastors like Mark Driscoll or C.J. Mahaney are not held accountable. Today’s post at The Wondering Eagle is about a warped aspect in evangelical culture. 

Is God the Author of Pain? Looking at Kirsten Ryken’s Disturbing Post at The Gospel Coalition

Kirsten Ryken wrote a disturbing post at The Gospel Coalition in which she thanked God for her pain. The post illustrates how Neo-Calvinism is really the Islamization of Christianity. In addition Kirsten’s post begs the question. Is God the author of pain?