Articles

Featured here are some interesting and thought provoking articles on church authoritarianism and spiritual authority. Please note that the inclusion of an article on this website does not necessarily imply agreement or endorsement.

Legalism, Spiritual Abuse and Authoritarianism:

• Abusive Churches by Pat Zukeran
• Abusive Churches: Leaving Them Behind by Pat Zukeran
• Abuse of Authority in the Church by Jason Young
• Authoritarianism in The Church by Steve Martin
• The Bible and Spiritual Abuse by Ron Henzel
• The Error of an Authoritarian Leadership Style by Flavil R. Yeakly, Jr.
• How Can I Discern Whether I'm in a Healthy or Abusive Fellowship?
• Is Your Church Free from Cultic Tendencies?
• Legalism by Ray C. Stedman
• Power and Dependency in the Church Today
• Uncovering Churches That Abuse People by Henry G. Sheppard
• What Do Churches and Cults Have in Common? by Clete Hux
• What Language Does Your Church Speak? by Bill Newcomer
• When Has Authority Gone Too Far? by Jon Zens

Biblical Leadership/Priesthood of All Believers:

• Authority and Ministry in the Local Church by Rudy Ray
• Biblical Church Membership: A Look at the Modern Practice of Church Membership by Jamon S.R. Sorrells
• Biblical Leadership and the New Covenant Priesthood by William J. Knaub
• The Body Is Not One Part But Many by Jon Zens
• Christian Truth Wars by Van Robison
• Church Leaders & The Use of Honorific Titles by Darryl M. Erkel
• Church Leadership: Contrasts Between China and the West by Dr. David Wong
• The "Clergy/Laity" Distinction: A Help or Hindrance to the Body of Christ? by Jon Zens
• Dysfunctional Churches by Ronald Enroth
• Every Believer is a Minister by Geoff Volker
• The Genetically Engineered Church by Van Robison
• "I Have Left You An Example": Authority in Servanthood by Jon Zens
• Is Attending Church a Spectator Event? by Darryl M. Erkel
• Jesus Versus "The Eldership" by Dr. Norman Park
• The Leader as Servant by John White
• A Letter to a Church Leader by Jon Zens
• No Substitutes by Van Robison
• NT Church Leadership by Steve Atkerson
• A Pastor's Authority by Ray C. Stedman
• The Pastor by Jon Zens
• The Priesthood of All Believers by Alexander Hay
• Principles of Healthy Church Growth by Phil Van Auken
• Should One Man Be The Dominant, Focal-Point Of A Church Service? by Darryl M. Erkel
• Should Pastors Be Salaried? by Darryl M. Erkel
• The Tragedy of Today's Church Leadership by J. James Albert
• Training Church Leaders, NT Style by Eric Svendsen
• The "True" Cost of Leadership by Ron and Karen Schwartz
• Unity, Ecclesiastical Freedom and Church Membership by Alan Allison
• We Already Have a Shepherd: Leadership in the Relational Church by Wayne Jacobsen
• Where Does God Exalt The Office Of 'Preacher'? by Jon Zens

Dialogue, Conflict Resolution, Church Discipline:

• Disagreeing Without Dividing by Ted Griffin
• Sticking It Out With Fellow Disciples by Jon Zens
• Trauma In The School Of Discipleship by Rob Zins
• A Triad of Trouble: Topics for Testing the Truth by Paul Sue

Leaving a Church:

• Should You Leave Your Church? by James McBride
• Ten Myths About Church Leavers by Alan Jaimieson
• They Told Me That If I Left... by Ron Henzel
• When Should a Christian Leave a Church? (Part 1) by John G. Reisinger
• When Should a Christian Leave a Church? (Part 2) by John G. Reisinger
• When Should a Christian Leave a Church? (Part 3) by John G. Reisinger

Book Reviews:

• The Blinding and Binding Teachings of Bill Gothard by Paul Sue
• How Deep Is The Rabbit Hole? by Paul Sue
• Jesus Has Left The Building by Paul Sue
• Transforming Grace: Living Confidently In God's Unfailing Love by Bill Newcomer
• What Makes American Christianity Tick? by Paul Sue
• Wisdom Hunter: A Brief Review by Paul Sue

Weblog articles:

Van Robison is a regular contributer to Battered Sheep Ministry's weblog. Van's lifetime church experiences have led him to reevaluate the concept of "Christianity", concluding that what is termed "Christianity" is in reality man-made churchianity. A major component in his church life had to do with twelve years as a member/employee of the original Worldwide Church of God/Ambassador College (Herbert W. Armstrong) organization, headquartered in Pasadena, California, ending in 1974.

Please note that the inclusion of an article on our weblog does not necessarily imply agreement or endorsement.

• Analysis of a Church Help Wanted Ad by Peter Alton
• Are Churches The Home Of Wolves? by Van Robison
• "Authority"--The Most Widely Abused Form Of Fear by Van Robison
• The Bible--Source Of Abuse? by Van Robison
• Broken Cisterns by Van Robison
• Call Now For Prayer by Van Robison
• Called to Exploit or to Follow? by Fred G. London
• Candyman Preachers by Van Robison
• Catch Phrases by Van Robison
• Christian Schools And Homeschooling by Van Robison
• Church As Seen From A Distance by Van Robison
• Church In The Garden of Eden by Van Robison
• Church Is A Mirror Reflection Of How Men Perceive God by Van Robison
• Churchianity--An Insult To Christ by Van Robison
• Churchianity--Rest In Peace! by Van Robison
• Commitment, Submission and Authority by Bill Newcomer
• Cofessions of a Former Churchgoer by Van Robison
• Darkness Disguised as Light by Van Robison
• The Day Television Preachers Face Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• Declaration Of Independence From Churchianity by Van Robison
• Did Jesus Give "Authority" To Pastors? by Van Robison
• Disappointment With Preachers by Van Robison
• The "Divine Right" Of Pastors by Van Robison
• Do Youth Pastors Have Authority Over Teens? by Van Robison
• Does Churchianity Spit Upon Jesus Christ? by Van Robison
• Does God Smile Upon Preachers? by Van Robison
• The Early Church by Darrel Meeks
• Eight Signs of Immature, Carnal Christians by Greg Gibson
• Emphasizing Paul Over Christ by Van Robison
• Escape From Churchianity by Chip Brogden
• Every Church Thinks They Have Truth by Van Robison
• False Christian Assumptions by Van Robison
• Find Your Church In The Teachings Of Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• Finding the "Perfect Church" Was Never The Issue by The Billy Goat
• Fishers Of Men Or Fishers Of Money? by Van Robison
• The Foundation Of Life Is Not Your Local Church by Van Robison
• God's Scattered Sheep by Maggie Brannon
• Hostage To Pastors by Van Robison
• Jesus Christ Did Not Say... by Van Robison
• Jesus Christ Is Not For Sale by Van Robison
• Jesus Christ Never Spiritually Abuses by Van Robison
• Journey's End by Van Robison
• I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb by Van Robison
• Ice Cream Churches and Velcro Christians by Van Robison
• Is That Really Necessary? by Fred G. London
• The Ignatius Syndrome by Fred G. London
• The Illusion Of Jesus Christ As Represented By Institutional Churches by Van Robison
• Leaders And Their Delusions by Van Robison
• Leaders As Stumbling Blocks? by Fred G. London
• A Letter To Jesus by Van Robison
• License to Preach by Van Robison
• Living In Fear by Van Robison
• Manipulated Christians by Van Robison
• Master Charge and Visa Preachers by Van Robison
• Merchandising Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• Miracle and Healing Ministries by Van Robison
• Mob Rule Mentality and the Church by Fred G. London
• Modern Church Practices Not Found in the Teachings of Jesus Christ in the Four Gospels by Van Robison
• Money Rules The World--Even The Churches by Van Robison
• More Things Jesus Christ Did Not Say... by Van Robison
• The Myth of Doing Church by Van Robison
• New Testament Pattern Of Christianity? by Van Robison
• News From Heaven--Interview With Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• No More Tears by Van Robison
• Nuts and Bolts of Spiritual Abuse by Van Robison
• The Organized Church Conspiracy by Van Robison
• Partner With Jesus Christ--Without Money by Van Robison
• The Pastor Chasers by Van Robison
• Pastors Frequently Twist Scriptures by Van Robison
• "Pastors Resign All Over The Nation" by Van Robison
• The 'Pastorization' Of Christians by Van Robison
• Pastors, Prophets, Priests and Scribes in the Old Testament by Van Robison
• Perpetual Money Machines--Churchianity by Van Robison
• Pied Pipers in the Pulpit by Van Robison
• The Power Of Words by Van Robison
• Professional Pickpockets In The Pulpits by Van Robison
• Prophetic or Pathetic Ministry? by Fred G. London
• Prophets and Pastors of Profit-$$$ by Van Robison
• The Purpose Driven Unchurched by Van Robison
• Put Not Your Trust In Men by Van Robison
• Questions Jesus Christ Never Asked by Van Robison
• Religious Hucksters by Van Robison
• The Rock House of Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• Rubber Band Scriptures by Van Robison
• Saltless Preachers--Candles Without Light by Van Robison
• Shadows by Van Robison
• "Shepherd" In The New Testament by Van Robison
• Simplicity In Christ--Lost In Churchianity by Van Robison
• Spiritual Pirates Who Plunder Christians by Van Robison
• Spiritual Seduction And Spiritual Whores by Van Robison
• Spiritual Tug-Of-War by Van Robison
• Spiritual Whistleblowers by Van Robison
• Sunday: Holyday or Man-Made Tradition? by Van Robison
• Tenacious Resistance To Truth By Church Leaders by Van Robison
• Tithing: The Great False Doctrine by Van Robison
• The Tithing Swindle by Van Robison
• Truth Is Sometimes--Shocking! by Van Robison
• The University of Professor Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• Wal-Mart Churchianity--We Preach For Money by Van Robison
• The War Pastors by Van Robison
• When The Sheep Go Marching In by Van Robison
• Whose Clone Are You? by Van Robison
• Whose Ministry Is It? by Fred G. London
• Why Church Leaders Fear Independent House Groups by Van Robison
• Why Jesus Chose Fishermen by Van Robison
• Why I Don't Watch Christian TV by Fred G. London
• Widespread Fraud In The Name Of Jesus Christ by Van Robison
• Wolves in Sheep's Clothing by Fred G. London
• Worldwide Church Of God--Modern Day Cult by Van Robison

PDF articles by Richard Hudson:

• THINK! (PDF)
• Uncovering Abusive Church Leadership (PDF)
• Is Your House of Prayer Ruled by a "Brood of Vipers?" (PDF)
• How a Religious CULTure is Created (PDF)
• Home Wreckers for God! (PDF)
• Legalists and Authoritarian Zealots (PDF)
• Diversity: A Sign of Genuine Unity (PDF) author unknown

Mr. Hudson has generously provided the above PDF articles for free use and distribution. If you are trapped in a church with an abusive leadership system or know someone who is, we hope the above material will be useful to you. Mr. Hudson can be reached via e-mail (rehudson1@hotmail.com) or by phone (817-428-2214). He will be more than happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding any of his articles or stories that appear in this website.

Note: To read the above PDF articles, you need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader:

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Around the Web...

• Gene Edwards: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly by Steve Atkerson, Beresford Job, Dan Walker, and Jon Zens
• The Church's Walking Wounded by Tim Stafford
• Dealing with Psychological Abuse: A Heart-Centered Approach by Corey Don
• Leadership Authority in the Church by Paul Benware
• Recovering from Church Abuse by Len Hjalmarson

Disclaimer: The inclusion of an article on this website does not necessarily imply agreement or endorsement.