Abuse Counseling: How Long is “Forbearing”?

October 4, 2019September 29, 2019 ~ Jeff Crippen ~ 6 Comments

Ephesians 4:2 ESV with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

As I read the stories told by Christians, most often women, who have been the victims of abuse, I am dismayed to hear over and over again how their pastors and churches told them that they must give their abuser opportunity to repent, to go to counseling, to try to reform himself, etc. Many victims are even condemned by their fellow Christians if they want to initiate divorce proceedings. They are told that they must be patient and forbearing, and verses such as that quoted above are recited to them.

In abuse cases this is nonsense, and it is dangerous. Furthermore, such counsel most often totally ignores the context of the victim’s relationship with the abuser. Simply put, typically the victim has been enduring the abuse for years – 20, 30 or more years! And now she is told that she must “try” being patient, such patience being a mark of real faith and pleasing to God. I really hope that our readers can quickly see that this is ignorant lunacy.

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The “Christian” Abuser: Couldn’t He be a “Carnal” Christian? (Part 4)

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 ~ Jeff Crippen ~ Leave a comment

The following is a summary of the conclusions of Sam Storms, who writes at Enjoying God Ministries. His take on 1 Cor 3:1-3 is a bit different than we have presented in parts 2 & 3 of this series of posts, but it is also excellent and he also rejects any notion that there exists a “carnal Christian” who is genuinely regenerate but who persists without repentance in a state of sin. I think that you will benefit from this article as well. Here is the link:

http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/article/the-carnal-christian-study-of-1-corinthians-31-3/

This is how Dr. Storms concludes his article:

“From what has been seen, we may now draw four conclusions.

First, there are two senses in which a Christian can be spoken of as “carnal”. (1) As new converts, all Christians are to varying degrees carnal. (2) Among long-time Christians, some may be. The former is expected. The latter is not. However, insofar as the word “carnal” has come to have such negative connotations, it would be wise for us to forego calling new Christians “carnal”, and do as Paul: refer to them as “babes” in Christ.

We are still left with the fact that Paul refers to the Corinthians, by way of rebuke, as carnal. The use to which Paul puts the word in v. 3 should not be rejected, for it is clearly biblical and appropriate as a descriptive term for those Christians who fall into a similar pattern of behavior. So I see no reason to be disturbed that someone would distinguish between “carnal” Christians and “spiritual” Christians, especially in view of the obvious distinction between “mature” and “immature” found elsewhere in the NT.

Second, I caution against referring to “carnal” and “spiritual” as rigid categories or classes of Christians. The idea of a distinctive class or category implies a strict line of demarcation between one group of believers and another. It suggests there are readily identifiable stages in the Christian life into which one may enter if certain things are done or out of which one may fall if other things are done. Sanctification, however, is far too fluid for such strict categorization. In other words, sanctification is a process which, because of its constantly dynamic and progressive nature, defies rigid classifications. There are “babes” in Christ, as Paul indicates, but no two Christians are ever at the same stage of spiritual infancy. There are “carnal” Christians, but again in varying degree. No two Christians manifest the same depth or degree of carnality. There are “spiritual” or “mature” believers, but all the marks or fruits of spirituality are not apparent in all Christians at the same time and to the same extent. No individual’s spiritual growth is wholly constant and undisturbed and you will rarely, if ever, find any two Christians at precisely the same stage of sanctification. There are countless hills and valleys, stumblings, falls, moments of victory and defeat in the process of our growth in grace.

Carnality, then, although ideally a condition to be found only in the newly saved, is such that may raise its ugly head at any and every stage of the Christian life. Thus, it may be more accurate to say that there are as many categories and classes of Christians as there are individual believers. The principle which bears repeating is this: carnality and spirituality, rather than being categories or classes into which one enters in the Christian life, are characteristics or moral tendencies which one manifests in varying degree throughout the course of the Christian life. The ideal as set forth in Scripture is, of course, a progression that is always upward – away from manifestations of carnality and toward manifestations of maturity.

Third, carnality in the Christian, whenever and in whatever way it manifests itself, is a temporary condition. There is no basis in Scripture for the teaching that genuinely born again and justified Christians can persist, without great discomfort, in their sin (a discomfort, I might add, due to the promptings of the Holy Spirit or the chastisement of the Father, such as lead to repentance). Samuel Bolton put it well:

“We still have the presence of sin, nay, the stirrings and workings of corruptions. These make us to have many a sad heart and wet eye. Yet Christ has thus far freed us from sin; it shall not have dominion. There may be the turbulence, but not the prevalence of sin. There may be the stirrings of corruption. It was said of Carthage that Rome was more troubled with it when half destroyed than when whole. So a godly man may be more troubled with sin when it is conquered than when it reigned. Sin will still work, but it is checked in its workings. They are rather workings for life than from life. They are not such uncontrolled workings as formerly. Sin is under command. Indeed, it may get advantage, and may have a tyranny in the soul, but it will never more be sovereign. I say, it may get into the throne of the heart and play the tyrant in this or that particular act of sin, but shall never more be as a king there. Its reign is over; you will never yield a voluntary obedience to sin. Sin is conquered, though it still has a being within you” (The True Bounds of Christian Freedom [Banner of Truth], p. 26).

Fourth, our consideration of this issue must never result in an unbiblical separation of sanctification from justification. Holiness and a progressively changed life are not optional. “By this we know that we have come to know him,” says John, “if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3). Mere profession of faith, unattended by good works, does not guarantee the reality of faith. We would do well to remember the rebuke of Jesus to those who professed their loyalty and cited their miraculous deeds: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Mt. 7:23).

Go to Part 3 of this series

Let Me Show You What a Den of Robbers (“church”) Really Looks Like – An inside view

May 24, 2019May 23, 2019 ~ Jeff Crippen ~ 6 Comments

Mat 21:12-13 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. (13) He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

I have often been accused of being “too negative,” or “too judgmental.” The religious leaders in the swamp want us all to believe that their churches are wonderful, loving, holy places that are doing great things for Jesus. Well, I have been a pastor now for 36 years and I have been the pastor of 4 churches in that time, the last 26 years here at Christ Reformation Church in Tillamook, Oregon. Our small remnant here is a unified band of real believers who love the Lord and one another.

But it wasn’t always like this.

I could tell you stories from the previous three churches to accomplish my “fly on the wall” viewing that I want to show you, but I will just stick with this church in Tillamook, as it was 26 years ago when I first came. Why am I doing this? Because I want to suggest to you that THIS picture I am going to show you is the typical, real condition of most local churches today, AND this is why the innocent victims of evil are so typically oppressed by their pastors and churches when they expose the evil and ask for help. Sexual abuse victims. Domestic violence victims. You see it in the news all the time.

So here we go. This is the “church” I came to, presenting itself as the most wonderful, Christian, family church in all the county. What a show they put on each Sunday. Let’s look behind the scenes:

Jack and Jill – Jack was head of the church board. Longtime resident. Active in the community. Taught the adult SS class. You wanted something – just ask Jack. In fact, you better ask Jack or else. Jack however, when he wasn’t obeyed, raged. Ultimately he raged by storming out of a board meeting when I confronted him with this dictatorial behavior at a recent congregational meeting. And finally he raged by storming down the church aisle in a worship service and raging at me on the pulpit for things such as “We built this building and HE (me) doesn’t give us any credit for it!” And Jill? Well, Jill was a rather nasty, mean person as well. Jack and Jill stormed off and went down the road to “bless” another church with their presence.

Jerry – Jerry was a deacon board member. Presented himself to everyone as a fine Christian man. But Jerry abused his wife. More than once she came to me in tears (this was long before I knew what I know now about abusers). Jerry exploded in anger in front of the whole church at a church function. He refused to apologize and ultimately left the church, coming up to me after a worship service and saying “we are leaving so your pure church won’t have to be corrupted by the likes of us anymore.”

Harry – Harry was also a deacon board member. A seminary graduate and professional counselor. Yep. You got it. A “Christian” counselor. Harry and his wife were at each other all the time. In fact, Harry left every week for several days so he could do his counseling in another town, and then their “marriage” worked better. I helped Harry bring his wife home from the hospital when she was dying of cancer, but Harry ended up hating me anyway. In front of several people one Sunday he said “you are not qualified to be a pastor.” He then left and never returned. Harry wanted everything to be about Harry and the pastor was to serve his whims.

Charles – Charles professed to be a humble Christian man, a member of the church for years. But Charles had engaged in a perverted sexual relationship with another man and had been caught in the act. Over time, Charles and “the church” thought it was wonderful that Charles and his wife were so gracious in that they worked to “lead this partner in fornication” to the Lord.

Leo – Leo had molested his step-daughter and been arrested and served some jail time. But Leo was “forgiven” by the church and he continued to live with his wife. In fact his wife had been counseled by the previous pastor to forgive him and remain married to him.

REMEMBER: These people were all members of the church when I came, the ones sitting in the pews, clapping away to the happy 7-11 worship songs each Lord’s Day.

Ned – Ned was a dairy farmer, known well in the community for having a terrible temper and a foul mouth. But Ned also was a full-privileged member of the church. His children once announced to the other children in their SS class that their mommy and daddy said we should all pray for the pastor (me) because “he is being used by Satan.”

Ray – Ray was another member of the deacon board. Ray was known throughout the community as a lazy, gossiper. I found out later that he would go tell the other evil people in the church all of the details of our discussions in board meetings. His co-workers all cheered when he retired so that they wouldn’t have to be plagued with his presence at work any longer.

Mitch – Mitch was another dairy farmer. He was extremely arrogant and demanding. He and his wife pretended to be genuine Christians and good friends, but as I preached through Romans their demeanor quickly changed. Mitch angrily shouted at me just before they left the church, “I don’t care what you say! My mother was a Christian! I know because I heard her pray one time!” I had never said anything about his mother. I never met her. Real reason? He hated the Word of God.

Gerry – Gerry was a real “go-getter” in the Christian realm. He had organized a local men’s outreach ministry and put together what you might call mini “crusades,” bringing in well-known speakers and so on. Gerry was right there for me when I came, offering his full support. But when Gerry realized that I was not going to make “his” ministry my main focus, he literally turned on me overnight. To this day I can see the hatred in his eyes if I run into him in the store.

Now I could go on and on and on and on. There were scores of others just like these kind that made up this “church” over two decades ago. What in the world had the “pastors” who preceded me been doing? I can tell you. They had been ear-tickling. They had been teaching false doctrine which said you can be a Christian and though it is good that you don’t walk in sin, well, we are all still sinners and you are still saved even if you do.” And this is the horrid evil mess that it created. Of course, those pastors eventually “moved on because the Lord had called them” to a new ministry. Right.

As I look back over all these years, I have the advantage of seeing these people not just for a few years, but for many. And I can tell you with absolute certainty – NONE of them are saved. None. Oh sure, most of them just went down the street to another “church” when they left and continue their “Christian” facade in a place where they can keep doing their evil and never be called on it. But for all their churchianity, they are children of the devil. I can only think of maybe 10 people out of that original 150 or so who, over the years, have shown themselves to be Christ’s true people.

I write this because I want you to know that the wickedness with which you as a survivor of sexual or domestic abuse, were treated in your church is explained by the truth that Darkness hates Light. People and churches such as this are counterfeit, and they are not just a few, they are everywhere today. Don’t believe or accept their shaming lies and accusations made against you. If anyone is truly born again, indwelt by the Spirit of the Lord, then they are certainly going to be hated by antichrist and his minions. If you track this theme through the Bible, you will find that this is how it has always been. The visible church is very largely counterfeit, and its trademark is the persecution of true believers.

And this is why I regularly tell our people in this little flock in Tillamook and those who have connected with us online, never, ever be discouraged that there are not many of us. Never, ever wish we had bigger buildings and hundreds of people in the pews. Glory in the fact that Christ has set us free.

1Jn 2:19-20 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (20) But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.