What did Jesus mean by 'The kingdom of God.'

Whatever did Jesus mean by The Kingdom of God?

How we might say the same thing in contemporary

Can we translate that into modern and post-modern talk?

What are we praying for when we pray 'Thy Kingdom come?'

Let us have a go at these questions:

 We talk about a material world and a spiritual world.  In our present world-view these are two separate realms.

In the evangelical world view we live in the material world and when we die kind of escape to heaven.

Jesus had a different world view in which the spiritual world intersects with the material world.  In his world the spiritual world can easily manifest and dominate.  I believe those times were manifestations of what Jesus saw as true all the time.

Those are times when He could have said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Dead church as an Empty Bird Nest

On Empty Bird Nests: Christ followers, whether attending a church or not, still think in false categories about whether they 'go to church' or are 'under a covering.' This will confuse your head, heart and spirit.

Do not be complicit with darkness and evil. Do not support these deceptive lies. Only grant the title of 'church' to gatherings of Christians in authentic community - a community that has become and landing place and nest for the Gentle Dove. Anything less that that is an empty bird nest.

To enter the New Landscape you need new eyes. You need revelation. You need to let go of the old wineskins. Discard the old to embrace the new.  Discard death and void to find life and new landscape.

Deluded, confused, distracted and confouded

The power, persistence and intensity of the Prayers of St. Patrick remind us that Patrick came to Ireland when it was ruled by the Celtic peoples when Ireland was full pagan and under the domination of the Druidic priesthood.

Patrick and his communities came under full spiritual attack from the spiritual leaders of the Celtic peoples who were not about to surrender Ireland or give up their longstanding cultural position of power without a fight.  There was warfare.  Clearly every form of curse, witchcraft, spells and works of iniquity were hurled against Patrick and his fledgling communities.

That he not only survived this onslaught but that his initial community grew to be two and then three until Ireland was eventually converted attests boldly to the victory of Christ over witchcraft.  We need this testimony today when we are ignorant both of the evil powers of witches and wizards and of how to mobilize the strength spoke of in this prayer.

We have lost the knowledge of the reality behind this prayer.  Things have been forgotten that should not have been forgotten.  We live deluded, confused, distracted and confouded - as aliens to the things of God and prayer.

In all other times of history men have used spiritual powers to gain victory in war and for other purposes.  The war continues, the battles is engaged.  Many Christians of the scientific culture of today are in a delusion of denial of the reality of this battle.  Christians who come under attack from curses are slow to acknowledge it, get confused opinions from their spiritual leaders and are not equipped or protected against the attacks.

We need to remember those things that have been forgotten and learn to enter into the victory stance of St. Patrick.

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

___________________________________

Knowing him - the narrow way that leads to life.

A pastor trained at Westminster Theological Seminary  felt called by God to “contend for the gospel,” which is sort of code for pursuing debate with fellow pastors, elders, and congregants to make sure the appropriate level of precise theological orthodoxy was being maintained.

His professor, Peter Enns, questioned whether  contending and debating without ceasing was the best way to spend one’s life in service to God’s people.  Enns believed that to live in a near constant state of theological vigilance, ready to strike down a brother or sister for (perceived) theological failings seemed not only a colossal waste of the one life God has given us, but at odds with what the Bible makes a big deal of.

I agree with Enns that something is wrong.  In fact, I believe that much is wrong.  That it is seriously wrong.  That we not only miss love but do not get to 'know' Jesus.

The 'church' when its focus is getting the 'right' theology is wrong --- because God wants a personal face to face relationship with his people.  

Jesus is God's ultimatum to 'head-knowledge-religion' that God is fed up with  'head-knowledge-religion.' IN the now we can only know him personally and not through moral behaviour, doctrinal purity, religious observance and the 'law.'  Such without the Spirit, without grace, without love all leads to death.  

Sometimes we can see and feel the death in our 'church' experience.  One observer: " the pulpit ministry was heavy-handed, the “counseling” was a spiritual version of corporate micromanaging, and the church discipline was all-too frequent. In retrospect, it was like the Bible was used as a spiritual “anvil” that people were laid upon in order to beat them into conformity to it versus trusting the Spirit to do it in his time."

Only intimate knowing of Jesus leads to life.  

Jesus is God's "No!" to the old way.  Enough is enough.  The door to God through right knowledge, right behavior, religious performance, attending the right church,  is now closed.
We must know him as well as his disciples knew him.  That is the narrow way that leads to life.  The secret to that knowing is not shared from 'church' pulpits.

Servant Leadership

Jesus can trust the true 'servant leader' with an annointing that is withheld from those whose focus is "me' and "how do I look?" There is a process of death to self - especially Self Image - that has been understood of Graham Cooke and John Sandford.




John Sandford, in chapter 17 of Restoring the Christian Family, does a fine Bible study on King Nebuchadnezzar from Deuteronomy 5:7-10. Instead of the golden image that the king wanted everyone to bow to, Sandford puts our Self Image. We are the one's who get angry when people do not give proper respect to whatever work or characteristic of ourselves that has become our self image.



Graham Cooke takes 'up and coming' young leaders out of the limelight for a year. Why? Cooke has the incredible wisdom to know that being out of the limelight will be a chance for the "Self Image" to die. After a year he hopes to have a leader who is annointed because his attitude is that of the Servant Leader.



Now observe this, God will do the same thing and boy is it painful. God will demote a man and bring him down to his knees. There are times of crushing pain when everything goes wrong and we feel misunderstood and deserted that God is using to break our Self Image.



If we recognize our Self Image, perhaps because we feel so crushed, and repent of our Self Image, perhaps God will repent and restore us. Hopefully, then, we will be ready to be His Servant and our focus is on making others do well and look good.
 
IF you do not understand why everything is going wrong in your life ask yourself if you get upset if something about you or your life is not recognized appropriately.  Did you take offense at someone's negative comment about something that you are proud about?  You may find a Self Image that God is dealing with.  God is waiting for it to die.  If you want to move on then you confess it and put it to death and choose the attitude of humility.  You may find yoursefl restored and annointed to serve others.
 
May God bless you as a Servant Leader.
George

Theology - The Queen of Sciences

There is growing up a generation that was not taught the Bible stories, taken to church or much experience of Christian prayerful living.  Small wonder that these one see little need for 'religion.'
They claim, "One does not need a god to be moral.'  Meaning they do not believe in God and do not think it relevant to themselves as moral people.  They can make 'good' choices without the guidance, background and education of Bible training, exposure to Christianity, or understanding of the ethical attitudes of Jesus.
My father was the son of a missionary and deeply scarred by the experience.  However, growing up in China of the early 1900's, he also learned about the ethics of people without the Christian ethic.  You could not trust the Chinese in their business dealings.  You always had to be on guard against trickery - the stone in the pile of wood when you got paid by the weight of the wood.
Dad's conclusion was that you cannot have a highly developed society without built in ethical training developing ethical character in which one could trust.  He observed that much trust was involved in western business and financial transactions.  He discerned that things would not be the same if we lost the religious training and ethical training that was the foundation of character in the West.
That is why mom and dad took us all to church.  They believed that this grounding is important.  They were right.  It is important to be exposed to the religion and ethic that is the backbone of the West.
In my generation television came in and replaced religion as the major influence on morals and ethics.  The driving force behind television was not developing character but training people to consume goods.  This is a battle that religion, to a large extent, lost and commercial interest won.
Now we can see that dad was right.  We will see what it is like to live and work with people without an ethical backbone - people you cannot trust.
 
Now to the question as to why Theology can be considered the Queen of the Sciences, I will quote:

"we strongly believe that no education is a useful education without the study of theology. One's theology (understanding of God and his eternal law) determines how facts, events, and philosophies are judged.  It is necessary to have a good (correct) theology in order to make good moral judgments, rightly discerning between right and wrong. 
     A popular phrase we often hear is "you can't legislate morality."  However, every law in every land legislates somebody's morality.  We see the strife in medical arenas concerning abortion, cloning, grafting, etc.  Difficult choices have to be made about what is right and wrong.  Many of us are under the counsel of psychologists, psychiatrists, ministers, and others.  Depending on the counselor's view of man, God, and true mental health, is the success of the treatment.  In the arena of the structure of authority we have to know what man's inherent rights are and where those rights come from before we can determine if a government is righteous. 
     One's theology affects his every action and belief.  It is the framework upon which hangs all we learn from history and the framework upon which the future is built.  The "Queen of Sciences" should order and illuminate all the other disciplines, providing one with a genuine liberal education.  The Tanglewood School Curriculum, recognizing the importance of the study of theology, provides a place for planning and record keeping in the teacher's Corebook. We encourage each parent to study and to aspire to a correct theology and to instill in the child an understanding and love for this sacred discipline.
     After all, as was once said, "The only rightful purpose of education is to know the truth and to live by it."

This is from http://www.tanglewoodeducation.com/queen.htm

Matthew 18:18 - what means 'bind' and loose?

This e-mail arrived with a question about binding and loosing in Matthew 18:18.  Here is the letter.


Hi,

I just read you information on cursing from the Internet – via Google.

Most of it I agree with and see the wisdom of not continuing a practice of prayer that I really thought was correct. So now, what about Matthew 18:18, which says “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven;”  what are we to “Bind” and what are we to “Loose?”  What does that in your opinion refer to?

Thank you for your input.

God lover

"Study to show thyself approved..." 2Tim 2:15

I explain this on the Listening-prayer web site in the section called Demonic, negative and unhealthy Spiritual Warfare under the title Spiritual Warfare: Binding and Loosing.


In the Jewish New Testament (David Stern, 1989), the translator explains the meaning of "bind" and "loose" to the Jew.  This would mean that the leadership had the  authority to set up a new religious community and establish the rules of this community.  The new community formed around Jesus was not to be bound by Jewish law.  They could, in effect, establish new rules for the new community.  God's authority would be behind them in this.  And so it was as we see in the Book of Acts.

In North America it has fed in to the power drive and wrongly interpreted as 'I can take authority in Jesus name over Satan and territorial spirits.  That, in fact, is very dangerous advice as it puts us in a position of rebellion against authority.  It encourages acting in pride and arrogance.

It accomplishes the opposite of what is intended.  One loses protection.  One's position in the battle is exposed.  The enemy penetrates and attacks supply lines.  This is experienced as money always disappearing, losing jobs, just about to get a job and it goes to someone else.

Read more of my articles on listening-prayer.com and this should all be explained.

George


My articles on the internet about cursing include the following:

1. Types of curses by George Hartwell on HealMyLife.com
2. deliverance from curses by George Hartwell Christian counsellor
3. Jesus in between prayer to break a curses, breaking and removing a curse, 
4. introduction to how to break a curses on Listening-Prayer.com
5. How to break a curse with Jesus in Between - a Christian perspective on breaking curses and spells
6. Breaking a Shame Curse by George Hartwell Christian counselor how to break a Shame curse
7. How to Deal with Oppression from Spells, Curses and Voodoo on Listening-prayer.com
8. What is a curse, a spell, Christian understanding of curses, spells, voodoo
9. 
   

Am I in a cult? How to discern a cult.

Calling a church a cult is pretty extreme so I need to suggest some criteria for such a label.

One definition of a cult-like church is that there is spiritual abuse.  Spiritual abuse also needs to be defined because that is a strong term.  Spiritual Abuse is when the agenda of the church or the pastor overrides the needs, gifts and calling of the person.

Unfortunately that is a very abstract and general definition.  Unfortunately most institutions calling themselves 'Churches' will tend to fit into that definition to some extent.  Unfortunately, most churches exist to some extent, for their own sake or to benefit the pastor more than they exist to nurture, encourage and equip the Christian to live out their life in their home, community or workplace in victory.

Let be more specific in guidelines or markers.  An unhealthy church does not leave you feeling encouraged and built up but you leave the Sunday worship service feeling burdened or guilty.

Jesus said "come unto me you that are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest."  If the service ministers that Jesus then you will find relief from guilt and pressure to perform 'religious' duties and encouraged and empowered to live your life with Christ in you and the Kingdom of God invading your places of home, work and study.  This will happen without striving.

Freedom is present where Christ is present for he came to set us free.  What that looks like in the local congregation is that everyone is expressing themselves in their own unique way.  People dress different.  You can look around and see many different ages, colors, genders, dress, financial levels.  The people are not all dressed the same.

In some churches there is a drift toward a 'deliverance' ministry or to 'spiritual warfare.'  It is a danger sign if the focus of prayer, preaching and song is on attacking evil, binding demons and naming different powers of darkness.  Flee such a place because they are attracting demons by giving them so much attention.

Are people in leadership so 'super spiritual' that they do not manage their everyday affairs well.  It is unhealthy to be so focused on 'saving the world' that you neglect your family.  It is unhealthy to be so focused on 'spiritual things' that you neglect your earthly responsibilities.  You need to feed your rabbits, take the dog for a walk and have food in the refrigerator for the household.  Practical stuff, believe it or not, is spiritual stuff.

A healthy church will have healthy small groups.  People will be able to study the bible and not always the sermon notes from the pastor's sermon.  There should be some personal sharing and getting to know one another.  If you can sense a healthy refreshing sense of freedom and encouragement.

As a church becomes more controlling it comes closer to being an unhealthy church or a cult.

1. The teaching suggests that other groups are wrong and you would lose out by leaving this church.
2. More extreme, the teaching suggests you are lost from salvation if you leave this church.
3. The pastors speaks and teaches that bad things happen to those who leave the church.
4. The pastor or others pray negative prayer (curses) against those who leave their church.

I have talked about 'exit control' in another blog.  These are some guides as to whether you are in a healthy or unhealthy church or a cult.  Learn to discern and to trust your gut feeling.

Survival Handbook for the Church

We know that we are in a war, it is how we engage in spiritual warfare that will mean blessing or cursing for the Body of Christ.
I thank John Paul for his book: Needless Casualties of War. I call it a survival handbook for Christians because those that do not read and following Jackson's warning are being decimated.
Personally, I lost my marriage, my home, my children, my job and ran home to my mother with my tail between my legs. I was whipped and all the time I was boldly binding the principalities over my city and workplace.
After I attended a PCM with Leanne Payne and heard and heeded her warning, I began to see my life turn around.
Friends who I knew were "binding" dark powers were also suffering in theirs lives: children in rebellion, ill health, loss of marriage relationships and, for each of us, financial difficulties.
The teachings that John Paul Jackson addresses - Peter Wagner and others - might as well be demonically inspired because they will drag the church into defeat faster than anything else I know.
Before Jackson's book, I already had the warnings of a few isolated teachers as to stopping the focus on demons, spiritual mapping, binding territorial spirits.
There was a warning in Let Us Praise page 71. There was a warning in the teaching of John Dawson about an incident in New Zealand which backfired on a native Christian leader in the midst of a large praise and teaching gathering. There was a story in a vision of Rick Joyner where he is up on the mountain and given the cloak of humility and, in contrast, some leave the mountain to attack and are devastated.
This stuff is life or death, health or sickness, victory or defeat for any that have got involved in 'binding' Satan or Princes of the air.
And, of course, Leanne Payne, she has been on this and written about it in two books: See Restoring the Christian Soul: Overcoming Barriers to Completion in Christ through Healing Prayer on wrong ways of doing spiritual battle, especially chapter 14 and and Listening Prayer: Learning to Hear God's Voice and Keep a Prayer Journal, chapter 4 on Intercession, and chapters 14 and 15 on the related problem of neo-gnostic ways of prayer.
Big mistake. Big strategic error. Do not continue with this stuff. Read John Paul and the others and heed.
I have several articles on Listening-prayer.com about this:

• Biblical spiritual warfare and false spiritual warfare
• Spiritual Warfare Principles - Biblical Do's and Don'ts of Spiritual Warfare
• Why I do NOT suggest binding demons, evil spirits, territorial spirits or Satan, ever!
• Everyday life and Spiritual Warfare
• Spiritual Warfare and 3 Accountability Questions 
• 24 hour Prayer Shield - a daily prayer cycle

"I can ask anything" faith

A discouraged woman writes that God has not answered her prayers and she is very discouraged and has lost her faith.  She has "I can ask anything" faith.  She knows the letter of the teaching but does not have the wisdom of experience and full understanding.

What does "I can ask anything" faith looks like?  This is her understanding of prayer: "The Bible also tells me that I may ask anything and have whatsoever I desire so that my joy may be full."  She says: "I know that again I can ask of anything and as long as i believe that it shall be done for me."


This Discouraged One has not read my understanding of prayer.  I suggest that she read Prayer guidelines on my web site www.HealMyLife and that she investigate www.Listening-prayer.com as well.


There she will discover my understanding of prayer is not "I know that again I can ask of anything and as long as i believe that it shall be done for me."

Jesus who moved with much authority and great faith never imposed his will on the Father but said "I do nothing but what I see the Father doing."  This humble constraint puts us back in our place.  We seek first God's will and God's kingdom not that what we want.  Jesus said God would take care of that stuff.  Our needs would be met.

This is a clue to a whole new attitude toward prayer.  We do not 'write out own ticket with God.'  We cannot have anything we ask for if we have faith because heart faith is a gift of God that comes when we are in alignment with God.  We get in alignment with God by listening to Him.  God sets the agenda not us.

I tell her: "You need to be taught to surrender to God, to let go of your agenda, to submit to God's will, to offer this situation to God, to praise God in the midst for how he is going to use this to transform you into the image of Christ.

Let you heart be broken through submission to God not frustrated by trying to pressure God.  A broken and contrite heart He will not despise.  This means our heart yearns for what God years for not our will.  Godly brokenness creates godly beauty.  Seek what is beautiful to God.  Be His bride (first)."

She has lost her faith.  I tell her that her "loss of faith" may be good:  "Your understanding of what "faith" is to accomplish is not really that of the servant of God.  It needs, therefore, to be broken so that God's truth can be discovered.  You had God in a small box under your control.  God as your puppet did not behave.  You lost faith in your puppet God.  Good.  God is no one's puppet.

Be open to something new.  Find it through worship.  Worship means surrendering everything you hold on to to God.  Let there be no agenda of yours between you and God.  Ask God to show you anything you are trying to impose on your relationship with God.  Surrender it until you start to feel peace and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Let go of your agenda (and your idols) let God (true God) invade your life.

You will find true love, true peace and true joy."

Control Exit with Threats - Demons #7b

(This continues my discussion of Chapter 7 of Demons in the Sanctuary by Mariam Bellamy, Trafford Publishing, 2008)

Exit Control through Threats and Fear

Some pastors suggest people leaving their flock are in danger. They teach that harm may befall those “out from under his covering.”

To imply that some harm may happen if you leave is to play on people’s doubts and fears. It would then take a lot of self confidence to exit.

One’s pastor is respected, his word heeded. When your beloved pastor creates doubt and fear – in fact suggesting that God will punish you if you leave – of course you will hesitate about leaving.

___________________________________________________

A selfish pastor may use manipulation, control and intimidation to stop people from leaving his church. The selfish pastor is out for gain and will miss the financial and volunteer time of those that leave.

A true shepherd pastor who has a heart for his people is hurt when people leave. The reason is that they care about their people and will miss them. They will not use Control and Manipulation to hold on to people because that is not compatible with love.

___________________________________________________

Rick Godwin “Exposing Witchcraft in the Church” (Charisma House, 1997) argues that the use of manipulation, control and intimidation is witchcraft. I do know that people who turn to witchcraft often do so to gain control.

Those in witchcraft use dark forces to gain power. The use of dark ungodly forces to gain power over others is a form of control and is rebellion against God.

_________________________________________________

It is painful to admit that any pastor could stoop to informal witchcraft to control people and block the exits from the church. Pastor Rutherford uses informal witchcraft when he makes a connection between a boy who turns to murder and his parents opposing Rutherford six years ago: “His father rose up against me, you know. He was one of those who tried to get rid of me six years ago.”

I call it ‘informal witchcraft’ because there is the implication that those who confront or question their pastor could receive such an extreme ugly consequences such as a son who murders an elderly loving Christian couple.

Mira sensed his belief that those who oppose him will suffer untold agonies and perhaps even death as a result of their obedience. She understood that he was sending her a message.

Pastors who resent those who oppose them may speak curses against those that stand up to them, question them or leave the assembly. I have written about this on www.listening-prayer.com in writing about how to break a curse.

Pastors sometimes join in 'prayer' against those that oppose them and generate a Christian curse. Dennis Cramer writes of this in "Breaking Christian Curses: Finding Freedom from Destructive Prayers."

The most horrible and deeply evil practice is for Christian Pastors to stoop to the actual use of witchcraft to attack those who might interfere with their empire and ambitions. I am talking about personally using voodoo dolls and generating spells against other Christians. An alternative to this is contacting a group of witches and giving them names to pray against. I believe that there are pastors who have reached this level of deprived spirituality.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,
See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Spiritual Covering Broken - #7 Demons in the Sanctuary

Demons in the Sanctuary - #7 - Spiritual Covering Broken

We could call this chapter ‘oppression in the sanctuary.’ Just reading the chapter is difficult for me because I start to feel oppressed. The central character Mira is tormented by a dream. Then there is a description of a young man who has appeared in previous chapters. Previous he was described as drifting away from God, dabbled in satanic ceremonies and saying “I think it’s time for me to try Satan.” In this chapter he murders and elderly couple with senseless violence.

The shock of this must be set in context. What happened? Is this related to the church? The leadership struggles? The pastor? What is the meaning of this horrible act?

The man was the young drummer from the worship team so he was involved in the church and some might say ‘under’ pastor Rutherford’s covering. At this point we are not so sure that being under pastor Rutherford’s covering is a good thing.

Many Christians say that it is essential to be 'under a covering.' They assume that it is better to be 'under a covering’ than not being ‘under a covering;’ that being ‘under a covering’ is a good thing.

This story forces us to dig deeper and understand more about a spiritual covering.

_____________________________________________

Jesus - Our Ultimate and Primary Spiritual Covering

Our first covering is provided by God. It is a blood covering because we are talking about life or death matters. Disobeying God in the Garden of Eden lead to death and an uncovering. God made clothes from animal skins to cover them (death of the animal to provide the covering.) That prefigures the death of the Lamb of God who takes away our sins and this blood covenant is our ultimate and essential covering.

A Good Secondary Spiritual Covering

Our pastor (or other spiritual head) is secondary to Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. A secondary 'head' is only effective as a covering if their spiritual life opens heaven over them and others around them. If they are filled with light then that light will help protect others under them. If they have a humble prayer life and a broken and contrite heart before God, then they can help provide protection for others ‘under’ them.

A Poor Secondary Spiritual Covering

Those we submit to (this can even be mutual submission rather than one ‘head’) are not effective covering if their spiritual life is all pretense, if the moral life is shattered and if they have opened their life to satanic powers in those or other ways. Instead of heavenly angels and the Holy Spirit, this ‘covering’ may open them to powers of darkness. That rips the covering off and exposes the flock to oppression.

_____________________________________________

The Horror of an ‘Open Heaven’ to Darkness

Pastor Rutherford breaks the news to Mira about the horrible double murder by the young drummer. But something is wrong! Wrong attitude! “He seems unconcerned.”

On the other hand, Mira’s heart is pierced to know that the young man attended the Good Shepherd church and “yet had completely lost his way.” She is deeply concerned.

Our Lord Jesus Christ - the good shepherd - is concerned about every lost one, every one that loses their way, every one who drifts away from the church. Mira has the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Pastor Rutherford recounts other murders that happened on his watch, while he was the pastor (shepherd) of the flock of the Good Shepherd Church. He should be alarmed at the fact that this is not an isolated event. But our author does not portray him as concerned but as mumbling as he munched on a sandwich. Here is the real horror in this chapter.

_____________________________________________

I am alert for any patterns of evil or harm in a person’s life. Alerted to such a pattern I immediately start sniffing around to discern where the ‘covering’ is broken, where the spiritual attack comes from. My job as a shepherd (counsellor) is to protect my clients and move them into safety and protection.

Any pastor in Pentecost with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and years of experience should also be immediately alert and humble when seeing problems in the covering they provide. They sense danger to the flock and they take action to deal with it. (I always remember that this story is based on the ministry of an experienced Pentecostal minister - Rev. Ralph Rutledge - in an independent charismatic church.)

Why does Pastor Rutherford not get it! Why is he nonchalant about three murders in his church? Why does death not evoke horror in him?

Where is his spiritual maturity as a pastor and a man of God who has been filled with the Spirit? Where is the fruit that goes with the talk?

_____________________________________________

In conclusion be aware that a ‘covering’ can be good or bad. If the man is in darkness the ‘covering’ – spiritual atmosphere – will be dark as well. If the man is in sin then the covering is broken in the area of his weakness and others may be vulnerable in this sin area as well. If the man is demonized then there will be a demonized church. That is not a good covering at all!

A good shepherd will be alerted by problems and act to discover the spiritual problem and to deal with it. Among other things that means dealing with unconfessed sin issues.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Pastor in Rebellion against God's Anointed

By the end of Chapter Six, Mira starts to realize that her pastor is a “force to be reckoned with.” This realization is based on the rapid way in which Pastor R. worked to break down Board unity, undermine their decisions and win the support of some against others. Clearly he intends to conquer and he intends to rule.

Since the Board is elected to serve as a governing body to which the pastor reports, undermining the Board is rebellion against legitimate authority. The pastor is in rebellion. That rebellion may be one of the ways that dark powers have gained access to this congregation. Rebellion is a sin that the Bible compares to witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:23)

Witchcraft is playing with ungodly forces and listening to and obeying voices other than God. Saul is rebuked for not listening to the voice of the LORD (Samuel 15:9). God told Samuel: “I deeply regret that I have set up Saul as King, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”

God committed Himself to Saul but Saul did not commit himself to listen to God and obey the commands of the (Prophet) Samuel. Saul broke the covenant relationship that he had with God and God withdrew His anointing from Saul and looked for another to anoint as king…Samuel says: “for you have rejected the Word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:26.)

Every Christian baptized into Christ and into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit and who has received the Holy Spirit is “the anointed” of God. Hear this Body of Christ – YOU ARE GOD’S ANNOINTED! The anointed is anyone of God's children filled with the Spirit of God.

Pastor Rutherford does not show ‘the anointing’ else we would see more fruit of the Spirit in his life. We would not see a man so thoroughly focused on self-image – 'it is all about me'. We would see care and kindness for employees and his flock not just using people for what they can give financially or in volunteer service to ‘the church.’ This is not life, love and the Spirit of God.

If it is not life then there is death. That is the choice in the Bible to choose life or death. Moses makes this choice plain to his listeners in Deuteronomy 30:14-20. See, I have set before you life and good, death and evil, says Moses (verse 15). Failure to obey God’s plain law is to “worship other gods and serve them.” Serving other gods means dark demonic forces.

Pastor who is overly controlling or in rebellion against the governing Boards of the local congregation he serves is in a from of witchcraft, is rejecting God and may be serving ‘other gods.’ Think of yourself as being in mutual submission relationships with others in the Body of Christ. No matter what the position in the church, the attitude of God’s servant should allow for mutual submission. Christ calls none of us to “Lord it over others.”

Do not be manipulated into thinking Christ wants one man to rule the local church and that one man is ‘God’s anointed’ and, therefore, no one should ever question his decisions. It is not true that anyone who appropriately asks for accountability is ‘touching God’s anointed.’ Do not let one who is to serve the local body deflect healthy accountability and attack those whose position required them to raised legitimate questions. That is a misuse of something David often said: “touch not God’s anointed.”

You, my love, are God’s anointed if you are one of his little ones committed to Christ and filled with His Spirit (and living in the Spirit.)

No pastor should be ‘a force to be reckoned with’ in the way Pastor Rutherford is in “Demons in the Sanctuary.” Each of 'God's anointed' should acknowledge the special anointing on others in the Body of Christ and not insist that they alone are 'God's anointed.'

God is not committed to a pastor in rebellion just as he withdrew His commitment to Saul as King when he was in rebellion. God moved on. David became His new anointed one.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

The Blessing of Unity

Unity of a team helps bring success. United teams win. Divided teams lose.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” starts Psalm 133. The psalm ends with; “For there Yahweh commanded the blessing – life forevermore.”

The day of Pentecost in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles is the day that the Holy Spirit is poured out on the apostles and the faithful disciples. Jesus had told them to wait for the promise of the Father – the Holy Spirit - to empower them before they move out into their mission.

When the Spirit comes it comes upon a very different group. The contention, the bickering for position is gone. The struggle for position and status has died away. There was none of the usual completion or rivalry. No one grasped power. No one pushed their own selfish agenda. They were, scripture says, “all with one accord in one place.”

Scott Peck has experienced larger groups coming in to unity - what he calls community. The results are remarkable. To some it feels like the Holy Spirit has entered the room.

Peck has written in depth of the journey into unity in two books: The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1987).and In Search of Stones: A Pilgrimage of Faith, Reason, and Discovery (New York: Hyperion, 1995). He describes the process of moving toward community and claims that community comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit and it comes when the group empties itself of grasping for power, selfishness and manipulation. (Stones, page 251.)

Miriam describes unity in Chapter Five of Demons in the Sanctuary. There is a half hour of prayer at the Board meeting after the pastor left the meeting. The fruit of this unity is seen, for example, in the lessening of Sylvester’s gruffness and his confession of inadequacy to stand on the Board. It is also seen in a change of attitude in Mira toward Sylvester. She “sees him in a different light now with this new vulnerability showing.”

Of course the angels present are strengthened by this unity: “The warrior angels drew themselves to their full height. They appeared to pulsate with light. Imps and evil spirits withdrew howling and shrieking in impotent fury.” (Page 59)

This unity of the church board brought them the blessing of Yahweh. It brought them into a less selfish and more loving perspective on one another – God’s perspective. It encouraged them, allowed the Spirit to move and strengthened the angelic forces with them.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Attitude of a Good Pastor

A good pastor is a mature Christian who shows the fruit of a godly life. This includes good works and a kind loving attitude. We don't expect emotional immaturity, sinful behaviour or selfish attitudes from a man of God.

For four chapters in his letter to the Galatian church, Paul argues for Christian freedom from the law. Having established our freedom Paul immediately says: “Do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.”

Rather, says Paul, use your freedom to serve one another in love; thats how freedom grows. Love others as you love yourself. That is an act of true freedom.

Live freely, says Paul, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit not compelled by selfishness. The root of sinful self-interest is at odds with (contrary to) freedom in God’s Spirit.

So a godly pastor alive in God’s Spirit will display love rather then self-interest. He will be concerned about others not just about himself. He will want others to shine and not hog the limelight.

What is hard to understand is how any ‘Spirit-filled’ Pentecostal minister could display so little kindness and concern for others and so much self-interest. Paul says that life in the Spirit frees us from the compulsions of selfishness.

The pastor portrayed by Miriam Bellamy in Demons in the Sanctuary shows little of real kindness and a real streak of selfishness. Dan spotted the way he could not keep his hands out of the kitchen project and lied to cover up any wrongdoing. He apparently does not make use of the full talents of (share the limelight with) the associate pastor who is a capable worship leader and teacher.

Pastor R. was impatient with and hard on the volunteer on the sound system. He made his Board Treasurer feel very small and incompetent when he angrily resisted her questions about unauthorized expenditures. She was confused about how he alternated between coldness and outright flattery.

At Board meetings his attitude conveys that he considers it a waste of his valuable time. He seems to have everyone on the Board intimidated. They don’t meet his gaze. But the Board is disappointed with the way he treats the cleaning lady. Others in the story seem to understand and have compassion for the people Pastor R. treats with disdain.

How can this be? Pastor R. is in an independent charismatic church and yet he does not live in the Spirit that Paul described in Galatians 5:13 – 26.

And if he is not of the Holy Spirit then of what spirit is he? Does this have anything to do with why the book is called Demons in the Sanctuary?

I have not commented on that aspect of the story where the author portrays demons infiltrating the church and holding off God’s angels. Does the infiltration of demons have anything to do the Pastor Rutherford not being of and in the Spirit Paul describes in Galatians? This may become clearer as we read further. I am at Chapter 7 now. I will read on.

Who is Pastor R.?  The portrait in the book should match Ralph Rutledge (Queensway Cathedral up to 1989) if the book is "just the way it happened" when Rutledge was at Good Samaritan Church.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor, 6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing

Why do pastors fail in handling of church finances? Why risk a church scandal over financial wrongdoing.?

Christianity.ca reports: “There were only two stories (in Canada) about church scandals in 2009, and both dealt with financial wrongdoing.”

God requires faithfulness above all else. God says to us: “I will increase your responsibilities when you are faithful in little things.”

Let us remember that as our responsibilities increase, God will grant us grace and wisdom.

Grace is strength and courage given in compassion to those who desire to please God but have not the strength to do so. God smiles upon and gives grace to those in need and who know it; to those who are weak and ask for help.

God’s help (grace) may come as He sends His Word to our heart, His Word comes with faith, as faith increases we are bold to do what seemed impossible before. We need to be humble, that is in a receptive and listening state toward God.

Brother Lawrence is an example of this. In “The Practice of the Presence of God” it says: “Whenever he considered doing some good deed, he always consulted God about it, saying, “Lord, I will never be able to do that if You don’t help me.” Immediately he would be given more than enough strength.

If God requires faithfulness and supplies the grace to follow His commands then there is no excuse for not following good business practices with church finances. Pastors only need to be faithful in the small things to avoid church scandal around financial wrongdoing

In Demons in the Sanctuary there are many reports indicating that Pastor Rutherford bent the financial rules and was not diligent in avoiding the appearance of conflict of interest and nepotism. As I read the book it looks more and more that these moves are not just sloppiness; they are self-serving. Also, they are not just slip ups; they are his standard practice.

What God would see is a heart problem. Something is deeply wrong in the motivations of this pastor. Those who are willful and rebellious need God's forgiveness.

In chapter one, Dan talks angrily about the pastor’s “little private deals.” In chapter two there is “the check you may not like” that the Board Secretary-Treasurer is handed by the bookkeeper. In chapter three Mira tries to confront him about this invoice and some others and he responds with impatience rather than concern.

In chapter four he appears to lie to the Board meeting to cover up an inappropriate invoice. This seems to confirm Dan’s rant about lying and getting his way with ‘private deals.’

Mira (Board Treasurer) has been told by the bookkeeper that Pastor R. asked to see the tithing records so that he would know which people to target. Rutherford ‘targeted’ (that is pressured) wealthier congregants to give largely. Most pastors and most churches keep financial records out of the pastor’s hands to avoid bias or prejudice.

I don’t know if this is acceptable under Ministerial Codes of Ethics but Pastor Rutherford was in the practice of accepting large gifts to him personally from his people. This is not acceptable for politicians or Psychologists. Is it okay for pastors?

(As I remember it, I believe Pastor Ralph Rutledge accepted a gift of a car when he was at Queensway Cathedral with the PAOC.  I still do not know if this is ethical for pastors.)

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Nicolaitanism - triumph over the lay people

Jesus Hated the Nicolaitan Model of Church but why?

Twice the risen Christ who appears to John speaks of his hate of the Nicolaitans; Revelation of Jesus Christ 2:6, 2:15. Jesus hates the Nicolaitans. Let us look at the Greek to get the meaning.

It is not a huge leap into interpretation when the literal Greek in the word ‘Nicolaitan’  “triumph over the lay people.” Alternate readings might be “victory over the laity” or “conquer the people.”

I expects it refers to man's tendency to consolidate leadership in one man.  In modern churches we call that person the 'Head Pastor.'

The Romans were effective in using a hierarchical structure to pacify a city or people.  Then the Roman Emperor Constantine created the Roman Catholic Church to unify his empire as the official religion.

At this point the Roman hierarchical model was enforced upon the church.  The Emperor ruthlessly enforcing the rule that over every city there was one person in charge.  Power ruled and something died.  This is no longer the church that Jesus would build.  It is something else of a very different character.

Now do you Know Why Jesus Hated the Nicolaitan Church?

When one man rule is present you can always frame a sentence like this: “That is Rafe’s church;” naming the head pastor.  It is no longer a community of those who love Jesus.  Jesus said “I will build my church.”  This creature is something else.

In fact, the true Body of Christ is oppressed under the rule of a man (the pastor.)  True community does not form.  the Holy Spirit stays away.

As we read chapter 4 of Demons in the Sanctuary we see an example of this kind of church structure with one man clearly in charge. Pastor R. clearly not only preaches he leads the worship service. Pastor R. personally calls people to ensure attendance. Pastor R. exhorts on tithing to ensure finances. Pastor R. gives a ‘pre-rehearsed’ prophecy that places him back in the spot-light. There is no doubt; this is Pastor Rutherford’s church.  It is all run by him and for him.

The problem with this is that it does not please Christ and does not build up and free the Body of Christ to operate in fullness. It defeats the sense of unity that allowed the Holy Spirit to descend at Pentecost in the first place (Acts 2:2).

It defeats the sense of a collegial team of peers that was present in the early church as Paul called for unity of the body in places like: Ephesians 4:3, Philippians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 12.

In Demons in the Sanctuary Mira – Board treasurer – in not looking forward to confronting Pastor Rutherford regarding some bills. She has started to feel resentment at his misspending. She asks questions hesitatingly. He is short, then annoyed, cold and displeased and impatient.

He leaves this confrontation affronted at, what he considered, her “lack of support.” The author explains that he felt entitled to unquestioning loyalty from everyone around him.

He does not expect a problem because “There was no one capable of threatening his authority here.” He had memories of ‘board members in the past who ha given him some trouble’ but “He had ultimately triumphed over them.”

Pastor R. is in a position to triumph over the lay people in part because he is in a Nicolaitan church structure – an unbiblical hierarchical model imposed on the church by the Romans.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Narcissistic Personality Pastor

We use the term narcissistic for persons who are so focused on themselves that they do not really ‘see’ others. They enter social situations expecting to be special and to be the center of attention. The position of preaching head pastor certainly can allow the fulfillment of these needs in a grand way.

How would you know the difference between a narcissistic self-focused preacher and one who is genuinely dedicated to being the servant of the Bride of Christ?

Servant Leadership - an Alternative to the Narcissistic Personality Pastor

Jesus said the good shepherd ‘lays down his life for the sheep.’ He cares for the sheep and is not a hireling. (John 10:15)

Jesus began the Last Supper by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13). He again called them to fulfill a servant role.

After the resurrection Jesus said to Peter (John 21): “Feed my sheep.” Even after his resurrection, Christ calls Peter to a servant role.

Chapter 3 of Demons in the Sanctuary describes the pastor of The Good Shepherd Church in terms that suggest a manipulative person, preoccupied with appearances and needing to be the center of attention.

Chapter 3 begins with Pastor Rutherford admiring himself in the mirror. “He liked what he saw.” Good one! In the Greek myth of narcissus reflection and love of one’s image, so this is a very appropriate way to portray narcissism.

In preparation for the service our pastor insists that his mikes be set louder, “heard over the choir and other instruments. I am leading after all!” This may be another of several hints that Rutherford is a self-focused pastor. “It is all about me, after all.”  (The author of the book, Demons in the Sanctuary, has revealed to me that the subject of her portrayal of Rutherford is the former Golden-Boy of the PAOC - Rev. Ralph Rutledge who she observed in his final years in the pastorate to Good Samaritan Church.)

Eldridge on a man's need for his father's affirmation

John Eldridge, of “Wild at Heart” and “The Way of the Wild at Heart,” says that the first stage in the journey toward manhood involves know that you are your father’s beloved son; that you are a beloved son.

Eldridge says that if we miss our father’s affirmation and if we are not root and grounded in the knowledge that we are our father’s son, then we will always be seeking the attention, recognition and affirmation that will tell us that we are a beloved son.

The way we manifest our need for attention is to become the center of attention. We want center stage. We demand recognition for whatever we do. It seems as if life and death hinges on us getting recognition, being affirmed and never criticized.

Big wounds in our need for our father’s affirmation can leave us looking self-centered and narcissistic like Pastor Rutherford in this chapter 3 of Demons in the Sanctuary. Pastor is stuck in a “it is all about me” emotional stage.  

 He is trying to get what father never gave. He is pulling affirmation and recognition from others in a self-focused way. We would say to him: “Get over yourself.” He has a father wound. He is stuck.

Eldridge would speculate that Rutherford is trying to get the affirmation that his father never gave. His desperate need for affirmation and recognition from others could have the force of an addiction.

Getting to know his self-focused ways we are tempted to say: “Get over yourself.” God in His compassion might see the father wound and that Rafe needs to be affirmed as a beloved son by his Heavenly Father.

Rutherford/Rutledge is Narcissistic Personality Pastor

Though clothed in all the sounds and sights of Pentecostal religion this pastor (Rutherford/Rutledge) exposes the darkness of his soul by his lack of love for others. “This man’s religion is vain,” wrote James, if he does not show concern for the needy and pity for the widow (James 1:27) and if he does not express his faith by kindness and good deeds.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft

I am reading Demons in the Sanctuary a book by Marium Bellamy and I intend to blog on the contents here. The following discussion is triggered by Chapter One of Bellamy's book.  From all reports, this book is an accurate report of the final years of Ralph Rutledge at the Good Samaritan Church and Bellamy could refer to her own notes and minutes of board meetings while she served as secretary of the board.

Dan and Mira are husband and wife. Mira loves her pastor and is struggling with understanding all the problems that her pastor causes the church board. She is on the board.

Dan is a good contractor and handy man and has helped supervise projects around the church. Dan experienced problems with his pastor when he supervised the kitchen renovations.

The kitchen renovation was a major headache for Dan because pastor constantly was changing and adding things. Pastor nullified decisions made by the kitchen committee and did not follow guidelines and he got away with it.

Dan got to know his pastor from working with him. Dan wasn't a deeply “spiritual” man but he could read a man. When he observed his pastor being untruthful and dishonest he lost respect for him as a man and as a pastor.

Dan knew what his wife and the Board were going through in tiling project because he had sized up the pastor up close and personal in the kitchen renovation project. He has seen how pastor would change things to have his own way. He would make his little private deals on the side. If confronted he will skate around it. If anything went wrong he would blame problems on someone else.

Dan kept telling Mira that "He is a liar."  In Dan we see a man providing spiritual covering by sizing up the situation and speaking the truth clearly. There is no pretense in Dan and he can’t stand it in his pastor. Dan doesn't make excuses, he takes responsibility as a man for his work. He looses respect for a man who makes excuses, skips about with fancy words and blames others for his doing. When he sees a liar and calls a liar, a liar.

Dan confronts his wife when she makes excuses for her pastor. Intuitively he knows that real men don’t make excuses and woman shouldn't make excuses for them! Iron sharpens iron and to grow into men, boys need to be confronted with real feedback. “Don’t make excuses for him! He knows exactly what the truth is.”

Dan had confronted pastor to his face and he spoke just as clearly and directly to Mira. Pastor “will make his private little deals on the side and none of you will even attempt to stop him!” Dan is being tough, clear and confrontive. That is okay.  Real okay.  It builds backbone, courage, and masculine strength when we confront one another with truth.

I see Jesus in that. Jesus often led matters into open confrontation. He spoke very clear and did not mince words. Jesus was, in that sense, tough.

If instead of clean open confrontation we are too soft; if we waver and waffle on the truth; if we jump in to excuse behaviour, then we will not raise Christian men to maturity.

Good clean discipline clears the mind. Good clean confrontation builds men with backbone. Loving accountability raises tough loving men - good shepherds.

As John Eldridge points out in "The Way of the Wild at Heart"(page 15) - actual shepherds are rugged.

So do not make excuses or you will keep men in an immature boy stage and not have mature men. And appreciate that real men will sound tough and at times a little rough. Men need to have a tough side so do not coddle!

Dan is a good model of men calling it like it is and not trying to please. He calls a spade a spade.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked