Tag Archives: recovery from spiritual abuse

Jun 7 2021

Apostles and Apostolic Ministry – Paul’s Apostolic Ethos: 'Monday Morning Musings - June 7, 2021'

 

In many Charismatic leaning type of congregations the term apostle is used broadly and loosely. Too often it is used as a title implying significance, rank, positional authority, and governmental hierarchy–a hyper-spiritual veneer for naked ego and ambition. Paul’s cruciform “apostolic ethos” is plain and costly. It is also plain that many who profess to be apostles, do not possess it.

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

 

Photo by Braydon Anderson on Unsplash

May 24 2021

Ekklesia – Part Three – Essence or Container?: 'Monday Morning Musings - May 24, 2021'

The value of a matter is not defined by the container. It is defined by the essence of what is in the container. Poison in a Swarovski crystal punch bowl is still poison. Gold coins buried in a 2,000 year old clay pot are still gold coins. When it comes to discussions about ekklesia, the emphasis is often arguing about the container, rather than what is supposed to be “inside” the container. 

 

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

 

Photo by Melissa Walker on Unsplash

 

 

Feb 28 2021

Life in the New Covenant Video – Part 4 – Authority, Leadership and Professional Ministry: 'A New Covenant Perspective'

After months and months of delays and technical challenges, Loren Rosser and I are pleased to release this fourth installment of the video series.  
I join three friends of mine–Jose Bosque, Wayne Jacobsen and Bryon Wiebold–in dialogue on this issue from a New Covenant, grace-based, and love-based perspective.

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Jan 25 2021

Meekness – Jesus Style: 'Monday Morning Musings - January 25, 2021'

Biblical meekness, like humility, is also not a personality type. It has nothing to do with an external demeanor of diffidence. It does not involve being an emotional eunuch. It is about being fully alive, experiencing all range of emotion, but having those emotions under the rein of the governance of Christ. It does not mean I live as a doormat for others to abuse or degrade me.

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Copyright 2021. Dr. Stephen R. Crosby. www.stevecrosby.org. For video and audio resources, sign up as a student here. You will find a mix of both free resources and those with cost. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this blog article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you.

Dec 17 2020

The Simplicity That is in Christ: 'Jesus is Simple. The Bible is Not.'

Photo by James on Unsplash

Simplicity in Christ

Jesus is simple. The Bible isn’t. Jesus is deeply, profoundly, unknowably, unfathomably, costly, and painfully–simple.

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Jun 12 2019

Matthew 18: Misunderstanding and Misuse in Conflict Resolution

Misusing Matthew 18

The Misuse and Abuse of Matthew 18

The heavy-handed application of Matthew 18:15-20 leaves a trail of pain, broken relationships, and human carnage among God’s people. Controlling authoritarians use Matthew 18 to silence dissenting speech, prophetic criticism, and to label people as trouble makers–sources of contamination in the assembly that must be purged.

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Dec 11 2018

Life in the New Covenant: 'Two Years in the Making!'

Along with my video production partner, Loren Rosser, we are excited to announce this upcoming video series. It will be available–for free— on Youtube starting in early 2019. 

Over the past two years, men and women from diverse cultural and theological backgrounds and perspectives (who do not all agree with each other “doctrinally”) have come together in a display of unity, to talk about the importance of understanding, and living in, the privileges, blessings, AND responsibilities of the glorious new covenant. Each participant is uniquely graced and gifted by God in a facet of theology and practice and share his/her insights on this all important matter.

Topics in the series that will be touched upon include our understanding and expression in areas such as these:

  • social justice
  • politics
  • local church life
  • spiritual authority
  • praise and worship
  • evangelism
  • service to the community and city
  • unity and oneness in the Body of Christ
  • cross cultural ministry
  • marriage and relationships
  • “apostolic” missions
  • community life
  • inner healing and psychological well being
  • the love of God
  • justice and judgment
  • peace
  • the new creation
  • sonship – God as our loving Heavenly Father
  • business and the marketplace
  • biblical interpretation
  • the singularity, supremacy, and excellence of Christ
  • legalism
  • making disciples
  • the pastoral ministry
  • eschatology
  • biblical interpretation issues . . . 

and more.

The participants include: Michael Rose, John Armstrong, Brad Jersak, Jose Bosque, Lisa Koons, Bryon Wiebold, Mark Drake, Mary and Andrew Allen, Bindi and Aaron Tilbury, Paul Wedaa, David Fredrickson, Vince Coakley, Daryl McCray, Darrin Hufford, Wayne Jacobsen, Michael Hardin, Samuel Genus, Jon Zens, myself and others.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the release of the first session!

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Copyright 2018,  Dr. Stephen R. Crosby, www.stevecrosby.org. Would you like to partner with us in distributing our materials and perhaps generate some income for yourself?  Please go to www.stevecrosby.com for details of our Affiliate program. This ministry is sustained by the freewill offerings of those believe in the message of a radical grace in a new covenant understanding. If this article has been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution through our Paypal button to help? Stephanos Ministries is NOT a 501-c-3 corporation Click here to understand why. Thank you and God bless you

 

 

 

Jul 2 2017

The Hidden Idolatry in Charismatic Worship: 'Feeding the "Worship Experience" Beast'

Prophets of Baal

Prophets of Baal Worship Their God – J.J. Tissot

I have been a Charismatic believer for forty-two years. I was a weekly “worship leader” in Charismatic, “prophetic and apostolic” environments for thirty-five of those years. I get the picture as someone who has been on the inside for a very long time. I thoroughly understand the history, theology, values, beliefs, and practices behind Charismatic praise and worship expression. I also have had serious concerns and uneasiness about the theology and practice for a very long time. 

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Prayer and Intercession Part three
Oct 17 2016

Prayer and Intercession – Part Three – Pitfalls to Avoid: 'Thirteen Pitfalls to Avoid in Prayer and Intercession'

Prayer and intercession ministry can have some common pitfalls to avoid. I understand  that not everyone involved in prayer and  intercession has issues in the areas I am about to mention. However, many do. After having had exposure for over forty years to prayer and intercession movements across the world, I believe (and have seen) that those given to intercession can be uniquely vulnerable to the following harmful beliefs and practices:

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Jul 25 2016

Church Refugee Sanity Guide – Part 11 – Money: 'What About Our Giving and Finances?'

Money is one of the most controversial issues in the life of the church. Is there an alternative to the guilt, shame, coercion, and threat-of-being-cursed-based giving of an alleged Malachi tithe, or “I give when I feel the Lord tells me to” mantra? (Which typically translates into: rarely and not much, or when it is convenient, which it never is). Yes, there is. In this final installment of the Church Refugee Sanity Guide, we talk about giving as an integral part of the new covenant and of the life of Christ. It is not just our money. It is about our time and talents as well. Giving can be done cheerfully with grace, love, and liberty apart from any institutional construct.

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