Author: Lois | Page 59 | Spiritual Abuse Blogs

Informational post on speaking in tongues #1

This is just a little ‘did you know’ informational post on the subject of speaking in tongues, shared as some food for thought.

With the emphasis and push for speaking in tongues in Pentecostal churches, my personal experience is that rarely was it pointed out, if ever, something which Paul told those who spoke in tongues to do. Do you know what it is?

I Corinthians 14:13 shows that Paul instructed those who speak in tongues to pray that they would also be able to interpret those tongues.

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

Surprised? When was the last time you heard a Pentecostal preacher teach that if you speak in tongues you should pray to be able to interpret? It is interesting how little this is taught and emphasized. Paul wanted the entire group of believers to be edified when they gathered together.

Have you followed Paul’s admonition?

Boundaries Book Giveaway!

Today we hit 100 blogs and are celebrating!

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our third one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive one or more books on Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend. We have given away many copies of the main Boundaries book through the years as people from an unhealthy church have needed to learn about them. Unhealthy churches usually do not have good boundaries or will stomp all over yours.

Up for grabs are several used copies of this book and two others.

~~One is a hardback without its dust jacket and it has some underlining and highlighting, though still very readable.~~ TAKEN
There are two copies each of Boundaries plus the additional workbook. Both workbooks are paperback, with the others being hardbacks. ONE TAKEN
One is a hardback of Boundaries With Teens.
~~One is a set of books, both Boundaries in Marriage book and workbook. The workbook has some writing at the beginning. Both are paperback.~~ TAKEN
One is a hardback of Boundaries With Kids.

The first people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive their choice of book(s) at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, there may be someone ahead of you who comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you. (Do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)

Be sure to mention in your comment which book(s) you would like and you may refer to them by number. The workbooks will not be separated from their accompanying books.

Transforming Grace Giveaway!

THESE ARE NOW TAKEN. Watch for future giveaway posts!

We have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry and this will be our second one via this new blog area. This is your chance to receive a copy of Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. This is one of the first books I read after leaving my unhealthy church and I recommend it to anyone coming out of a performance based legalistic church.

Up for grabs are two used copies of this book. One is a hardback without its dust jacket and it has some underlining and highlighting, though still very readable, and the other is a paperback and appears to be without any markings. The first two people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive a copy at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, there may be someone ahead of you who comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you. (Do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)

As of this writing, we still have one copy left from our first giveaway. You must comment on that post if you are interested in that one.

Exposing Spiritual Abuse Giveaway!

THESE ARE NOW TAKEN. Watch for future giveaway posts!

While we have given away books for years as part of the spiritualabuse.org ministry, this will be our first one via this new blog area. I will not be sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter or Google, though others might. This way, people who come directly to the blog area will have first chance to receive a copy of Exposing Spiritual Abuse by Mike Fehlauer. This is a book we do not usually have to give away as used copies are harder to find at a reasonable price.

Up for grabs are two used copies of this book. One has a fair amount of pencil markings, though still very readable, and the other appears to be without any. The first two people with a USA mailing address who respond will receive a copy at no charge to them. To respond, just leave a comment for this post. Please understand that comments require approval unless you have previously commented. So while it may look like you are first or second, there may be someone ahead of you whose comment is pending. Be sure to use your actual email address when setting up to comment as I will be contacting you. (Do not put the email or address in your actual comment.)

Spies

Spies. On our support group board, we have sometimes heard from members who were concerned there may be someone from their church or former church there (like the pastor or someone appointed by him) who will spy on them and report what they post. The chances of that happening are often slim, however the fear is quite real for some.

Considering what happens in unhealthy churches, this fear is understandable. How many appoint themselves as ‘police’ in these places, running to the pastor or his wife/family with any hint of perceived wrong-doing? (Though rarer, sometimes the pastor himself appoints people to do this.)

My own former pastor would at times take the word of a ‘reporter’ and take action against the ‘transgressor’ without ever speaking to them first or looking into the veracity of the matter. The reports even sometimes became sermon material for him. I saw people lose positions, be sternly reprimanded, threatened with losing their salvation, and even asked to leave as the result of these ‘spies.’

Any church leadership that needs or encourages tattling is unhealthy. It is a form of control. It is a sign of an insecure and controlling pastor. A healthy pastor would stop the talebearer and let them know that they were to no longer make any ‘reports.’

If you are afraid of your pastor or if ‘spying’ goes on in your church, then chances are likely that you are in an unhealthy group. It would be good to educate yourself on signs of spiritual abuse.