tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775523880312885819.post5847837667191981040..comments2022-03-25T07:30:46.527-07:00Comments on Provender: Newspaper in California covers spiritual abuseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775523880312885819.post-7468868138129310122009-12-14T12:54:26.096-08:002009-12-14T12:54:26.096-08:00I agree about keeping things a secret. I think fro...I agree about keeping things a secret. I think from another prominent news story lately we can clearly see that deception, hiding things, and concealment doesn't work. As Christians we should be living lives where we have nothing to hide. We shouldn't have to worry about our actions, words, finances, emails, etc. being found out. If we are, or if others are asking us to keep things a secret we need to ask some hard questions about the situation. Scripture says the truth will set us free, and my own personal experience is testimony to that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775523880312885819.post-7453295357454800652009-12-13T21:35:02.443-08:002009-12-13T21:35:02.443-08:00I noticed that the Bee story was able to do a stor...I noticed that the Bee story was able to do a story on abuse without naming names. This is effective. They don't incur the cost of a libel suit (even one that they might win still costs). But they bring the issue out. Someone posting anonymously tried to provide the name of one of the pastors and churches, but since I have no way of verifying this info, I'm going to pass. Sorry.Provenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17092211918774805740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775523880312885819.post-62792668116562219932009-12-13T21:28:01.900-08:002009-12-13T21:28:01.900-08:00I agree with you, restoringtheheart. I hope that a...I agree with you, restoringtheheart. I hope that a little light shining in these dark corners will scatter the creepy crawlies eventually. As for the argument that everything we say and do presents Christ to the world, that's true. Unfortunately, this is one argument abusers use too often to keep their manipulation and abuse secret: they appeal to the victim's desire not to make Christ look bad to keep things hush, hush. Jesus said He was the way the TRUTH and the life. Any time you tell the truth, I think it's going to have a good result and he will sweep up any crumbs about His reputation. Pretty sure anyway. Thanks for the great insights.Provenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17092211918774805740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775523880312885819.post-77620889478184592592009-12-13T18:39:49.542-08:002009-12-13T18:39:49.542-08:00awesome news-thanks for sharing--i might link this...awesome news-thanks for sharing--i might link this on my blog eventually--been trying to get my local papers, and bigger cities around me to write something and no one wants too--maybe this will help.<br />wenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775523880312885819.post-47855502969516268942009-12-13T14:47:13.276-08:002009-12-13T14:47:13.276-08:00I do commend the Sacramento Bee for voicing anythi...I do commend the Sacramento Bee for voicing anything about this issue, for bringing some attention to it, and for giving some of those who have been hurt a voice. <br /><br />As a Christian I do have a concern though about stories like this. Everything we say and do presents Christ to the world. As many who commented on the story expressed what came across through this story was brokenness, tragedy, hurt, abuse, and lack of hope. I don't know that the author is a believer so I don't hold an expectation that she would present Christ's good news. <br /><br />One of the tragedies of spiritual abuse is the lack of resolution. Those hurt by the church and by leaders are not finding healing with their abusers, and many of those abusing stay in their churches, are not held accountable, suffer no consequences, and the victims have no power or voice. At one time this was true of child abuse victims too. That has now changed and abusers are held accountable. I am not saying we should move to a point of criminal persecution for every spiritual abuse case, but I do hope that awareness, definition of incorrect actions, and some voice/empowerment for victims is put into place so that these abusive and hurtful behaviors will cease. I also hope that more and more testimonies of hope, resolution, healing, encouragement, and Christ's incredible good news in the face of these tragedies will begin to be spoken.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com