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Spiritual Abuse in the Pulpit and the Pew

by Dale O. Wolery Pastors should be the last people to perpetrate abuse. The idea is disconcerting and repulsive, but God’s people sometimes do God’s work in destructive ways. Surely not every clergyperson is an abuser, and yet many thoughtful observers believe that spiritual abuse, intentional or not, has become the norm for modern pastors. Any ministerial behavior, mine or someone else’s, … [Read more...] about Spiritual Abuse in the Pulpit and the Pew

When Religion Goes Bad: Part 2 — Religious Addiction

by Dale S. Ryan and Jeff VanVonderen In the first part of this series we introduced the idea that religion can “go bad.” This might not be a difficult or threatening topic for some people. If our experiences with religion have been neutral or positive, we may even find it difficult to imagine that religion can ever go bad. Many of us, however, have been exposed to environments where “religion … [Read more...] about When Religion Goes Bad: Part 2 — Religious Addiction

Acknowledging our Need of God’s Provision as Prayer

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Give us this day our daily bread. Luke 11:3 Prayer is acknowledging our need of God’s help. We tend to dislike our needs. We tend to want to meet our needs by ourselves. We may even feel ashamed of our needs. As a result, we are often afraid to rely on anyone else to help us, even God. But as we move away from self-reliance and begin to rely more and more on God, we begin to see how great our … [Read more...] about Acknowledging our Need of God’s Provision as Prayer

Going to the Doctor as Prayer

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While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and “sinners”? On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I … [Read more...] about Going to the Doctor as Prayer

Having a Broken and Contrite Heart as Prayer

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You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it, you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 Prayer is being broken-hearted and contrite before God. The more we become aware of our shortcomings and character flaws, the more our hearts open in empathy and sorrow for those we … [Read more...] about Having a Broken and Contrite Heart as Prayer

Waking Up: A Moment of Clarity

by Dale Ryan With a brief prayer of gratitude for Bill (which is not his real name,) who chose a doorknob as his Higher Power and got a thirty-day chip at the first AA meeting I attended in the winter of 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1983, I was in seminary studying to become a pastor. Ministry was a second career for me. Prior to going to seminary, I had earned my PhD in biochemistry … [Read more...] about Waking Up: A Moment of Clarity

Spiritual Dis-ease

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“I knew there was something about you that I liked.” This sentence saved Sister Molly Monahan from an overwhelming shame attack early in her recovery from alcohol addiction. Sister Monahan, fresh out of rehab, was serving as a consultant and visiting a college campus in Virginia. One evening she slipped away from her duties to attend an AA meeting and discovered to her utter dismay that a law … [Read more...] about Spiritual Dis-ease

Heroes of Faith

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Once I grew up and took responsibility for studying the scriptures for myself, I discovered a wide world of opportunity to learn from a variety of scholars and theologians.  This reading and studying has been a regular practice for me since Pete and I joined the church as young newlyweds. Here is one thing I know.  I know this without a doubt.  God uses messy people. Here are a few … [Read more...] about Heroes of Faith

Releasing our Burdens as Prayer

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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 Prayer begins, not with our call to God, but with God’s call to us. “Come to me,” Jesus calls. “Come.” All our praying is in some way a response to God’s … [Read more...] about Releasing our Burdens as Prayer