Wrecked by religion in the church?
Have you seen anything prideful, controlling, cruel, in your church culture? Yes, and it’s wrecked you? No, not really? Either way, it matters what you do next.
Real royalty: Spectacle and grace in Esther
Esther’s story paints a picture of two types of reigning. One type turns on spectacle. The other flows from grace. “Which is real royalty?” Esther’s life asks.
Reign of terror: Narcissism in Esther
Two people in power. One, highly offended. The other, easily exploited. Both, given over to evil. As in Esther, that can erupt into a reign of terror.
Abusers like Ahab & Jezebel use one another
They’re eerily alike: Ahab and Jezebel, who ruled in Elijah’s day. Men and women church leaders, who use one another to abuse everyone else.
Obsession with power, in the church
You begin to see something distressing in the church. Can it, might it, be an obsession with power, eerily like the Baal worship of old? Whatever do you do?
Toxic church? Healing promise: Real belonging
Long ago and still today, God promises his traumatized, grieving, scattered people: I will be a sanctuary to you. I will protect you. I will gather you back.
Spiritual schizophrenia and the two-headed snake
"How long will you try to go both ways?" Elijah cried. When God's people opt into spiritual schizophrenia, they empower a two-headed snake.
Counting the cost, going with God
Counting the cost, going with God, may not look as we have thought. It may mean saying yes to the Lord Jesus and following him where our church culture forbids.
Sabotage, coerce, shame: Bullying in the church
It’s agonizing to be bullied – and it can happen to an adult, in the church. People eager to control, plot to sabotage, coerce, shame.
Bucking the system: Shunning, submission, Jesus
Jesus grew up in a religious system God had instigated, and people had hijacked to use for their own ends. Jesus’ life shows us when and how to buck the system.