Tag: interpreting scripture

The Power of Love – Really?

On By Jeff CrippenIn false teaching10 Comments

Most of you have been told by professing Christians, pastors, Christian counselors, Christian authors and so on that God requires you to love your abuser, to stay in relationship with him, and that by the power of your loving, by you continuing to endure the abuse, you will win your abuser over. He will break, repent, and be a changed man.

The link below is a prime example of how this false gospel is not only being taught in churches and by supposedly Christian organizations, but by individuals such as this fellow who are making the rounds on the speaking circuit, in demand, warmly and tearfully received by the throngs who conclude that what this man claims happened to him will surely happen to everyone to has enough faith to “unleash the power of love.” Is this the gospel? Where is Christ in this?

I don’t think I need to point out to you how dangerous (and false) this kind of teaching is. As you listen, imagine (most of you don’t have to imagine) how this will be received by a victim of abuse, or by a victim of rape or some other heinous crime, and think about the damage that it does to these oppressed people.

One more note. Also think about how the typical professing Christian is going to respond to this message. The tears. The hallelujahs. The offerings.

And tell me what you think – what are your overall impressions of this man’s presentation. The music. The narrative. And the elephant in the room question we aren’t supposed to ask – how much of this is even true?

NOTE: If the link does not work for you, you can search for the video under “Dan Baumann – His Torturer Finally Broke” and you should be able to find it.

https://vimeo.com/165655318

Does 1 Corinthians 3 Teach that an Abuser is a Christian?

On By Jeff CrippenIn Biblical Teaching10 Comments

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 ESV  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—  (13)  each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  (14)  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  (15)  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

You may have heard of what is often called the “carnal Christian” teaching. Essentially it maintains that the Bible acknowledges that a genuine Christian may/can continue to walk in sin. To live in sin without repentance. Carnal – led by and characterized by the flesh.

This notion has often been used to excuse the sin of wicked people who parade as Christians, maintaining that we must not doubt that they are really saved. After all, does not the Apostle Paul say that “if wnyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire”?

You can see how this all would play into the schemes and to the benefit of the abuser who continues to abuse but insists that he is a Christian, and expects everyone else to believe his claim. And, it seems, most other Christians and pastors and churches buy into the thing! You may have heard it put into statements like this that parade as pious, holy thinking:

“Now, you know, the Bible tells us that we can judge a person’s actions, but not their heart.”

Continue reading “Does 1 Corinthians 3 Teach that an Abuser is a Christian?” →

Is Social Justice only for the liberals?

On By Jeff CrippenIn Biblical Teaching6 Comments

I am a conservative, Bible-believing Christian, and I intend to remain one.  I have had to make many changes in my thinking in the last few years, especially as I have learned about abuse, but those changes are in me, not in the Word of God.  God’s Word is truth.  It stands forever.  Every jot, every tittle, shall be fulfilled.  Trust God’s Word and it will never fail you.  Our problem is that we so often get our word, or man’s word, jumbled up with God’s Word and then we are in trouble.

In past years, when I heard or read about the topic of domestic violence, I skimmed over it.  I was largely ignorant of it’s real nature and of it’s prominence, and how erroneous teaching in my own arm of Christianity was contributing to it.  So I blew it off as far as my ministry went.  But there was another reason for my blindness to it, and I think that this reason is something that Christians like myself need to name, claim, and own up to.

Continue reading “Is Social Justice only for the liberals?” →