Church Disrupted

Delve into the warning signs that often precede church scandals. The discussion covers how sin can quietly escalate within a congregation, highlighting the recent resignation of a pastor as a key case study. Issues such as governance gaps, financial opacity, and problematic messaging around giving are dissected. You'll also learn about the systemic risks tied to centralized leadership and how red flags in accountability can signal deeper problems. This thought-provoking analysis urges churches to embrace transparency to prevent future abuses.

The discussion centers on Mike Bickle's permanent disqualification from ministry due to serious misconduct. It explores the importance of accountability and the need for the church to prioritize protecting the community over leadership platforms. Insights include the role of trauma-informed care in church leadership and the necessity of genuine repentance. The conversation also challenges pastors to uphold biblical standards and provide transparent responses to misconduct, emphasizing that the healing of victims should take precedence.

When a member at James River Church raised questions and concerns about some troubling behaviors by the church’s pastor (John Lindell), the response wasn’t dialogue — it was a threat of arrest. In this episode, Jeff Cochran unpacks how celebrity pastors can misuse power to silence dissent, what this reveals about toxic church culture, and why accountability matters more than protecting reputations. If you’ve ever wondered how spiritual abuse gets covered up in megachurches, this cautionary tale will open your eyes.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!

In a revealing discussion, guests TJ Malden, a pastor advocating for transparency, David Rubel, co-founder of the Religious Trauma Network, and filmmaker Nathan Apfel expose the misuse of NDAs in churches. They share personal experiences and define what silencing NDAs are, emphasizing the need for accountability and ethical standards in church leadership. Their project aims to create a Public Disclosure Database to combat these practices, restoring trust and fostering healthier communities. The conversation highlights the power dynamics at play and the urgent need for transparency in spiritual settings.

The Church is in trouble when these things start running the show: selfishness, unholy ambition, and the desire to WIN at all costs for the sake of the Kingdom. And too often today, we see these things show up in spades in the evangelical industrial complex, which leads to spiritual abuse, deep pain, and rampant moral failures.In today’s episode of the podcast, I sit down again with Ruslan KD to talk about all things ambition, the good, bad, and the real ugly, as he releases a brand new book on this very topic. Get the Godly Ambition Book Here: https://www.amazon.com/Godly-Ambition-Unlocking-Potential-Treasure/dp/0593602463Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

The Bible is meant to bring life, but too often it’s been twisted into a weapon that causes harm. In this conversation with Marty Solomon of the BEMA Podcast, we wrestle with how Scripture is used and misused, what real discipleship looks like, and how we can read the Bible in a way that protects people instead of abusing them.See more of Marty's work here: ⁨https://www.martysolomon.com/Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

What happens when a pastor actually gets honest about church scandals and spiritual abuse? In this raw conversation with Pastor Derek Dunn, we talk openly about the failures of church leadership, the silence around abuse, and why pastors need to break the cycle of cover-ups. This isn’t a safe, polished PR interview — it’s real, unfiltered, and MUCH needed.🔗 Watch The Religion Business now (with 10% off): https://www.thereligionbusiness.com/purchase/JEFFC83 Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Lisa Bickle Stribling stood at Hope City KC and declared a “pardon from God” for her brother, disgraced pastor Mike Bickle. In this reaction, Jeff Cochran walks through her words line by line — exposing the manipulation, gaslighting, and false teaching hidden behind “Thus saith the Lord.” Let’s walk through the sermon, expose the manipulation, and center the conversation on truth, repentance, and real accountability.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

The Bible is meant to bring life, not be used as a weapon. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran breaks down how some pastors twist Scripture to protect themselves, silence questions, and control people — and why that’s the opposite of Jesus’ heart. This isn’t about attacking the church. It’s about exposing harmful teaching so we can return to the truth, freedom, and grace the Gospel offers.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!00:00 Intro - The Problem of Twisting Scripture06:45 Jeremy Johnson - Misusing Matthew 24:1049:07 Shane Pruitt - False Ecclesiology59:31 Craig Groeschel - Peddling an Empty Promise of Man1:13:36 The Importance of Checking Scripture for yourselfFair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).