The following verses from Paul's letter to the Galatians outline a flow of events that has continued to replay itself in every era of church history, and it continues to thrive today. This sequence inevitably introduces evil (through evil persons)...
Continue ReadingHow to Watch for the Rise of Evil in Your ChurchAuthor: Jeff Crippen
I am the pastor of Christ Reformation Church in Tillamook, Oregon, arriving here in 1993. I have been a pastor since 1983 and was a police officer for 12 years before that. My wife and I have been married since 1971. Verla is a medical assistant at a local clinic and in our spare time we like to hunt, fish, and ride our motorcycle.
Why Does the Lord Describe the Motives and Methods of the Wicked for Us?
We have been learning about this category of person called the reprobate. The kind of false teacher described by Peter (2 Peter 2-3), Jude, Hebrews 6, and many other Scriptures. Peter says of such people: These are waterless springs and mists...
Continue ReadingWhy Does the Lord Describe the Motives and Methods of the Wicked for Us?When Churches Exceed Their Authority, Evil Comes into the Church
This is a guest post kindly submitted at my request by James and Linda Sander. They are the authors of Rethinking Biblical Divorce: Let Scripture be Your Guide, which I highly recommend. Let me introduce their article with a few words: Without...
Continue ReadingWhen Churches Exceed Their Authority, Evil Comes into the ChurchEvil Always Has an Element of Betrayal – And this is Very Telling
Matthew 26:47-49 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. (48) Now the betrayer had given them...
Continue ReadingEvil Always Has an Element of Betrayal – And this is Very TellingA Common Door Through Which Evil Enters the Church
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'(Matthew 15:8-9) It is, therefore, of the greatest importance for every believer, and particularly...
Continue ReadingA Common Door Through Which Evil Enters the ChurchBear One Another’s Burdens? Then Why are the Oppressed Being Told to go it Alone?
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. When it comes to evil attacking Christ's people (always of course in the form of agents of evil who most often disguise themselves as fellow sheep), Christ...
Continue ReadingBear One Another’s Burdens? Then Why are the Oppressed Being Told to go it Alone?A Typical Distortion of Scripture Used by False Shepherds to Protect the Wicked
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor...
Continue ReadingA Typical Distortion of Scripture Used by False Shepherds to Protect the WickedBlind Guides End up in the Pit Too
Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:14) I have written many times about how pastors, counselors, authors, and other church leaders lead people like victims...
Continue ReadingBlind Guides End up in the Pit TooIf We are to Walk in the Light, We Must See the Darkness
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie...
Continue ReadingIf We are to Walk in the Light, We Must See the DarknessWhat Would John Piper, Jim Elliff, and Other “No Divorce for Any Reason” Dictators Say Now?
By now most everyone has heard the details of the shooting murders of at least 26 men, women and children in a church in Texas yesterday. The murderer (too nice of a word for him) was a convicted domestic violence...
Continue ReadingWhat Would John Piper, Jim Elliff, and Other “No Divorce for Any Reason” Dictators Say Now?