Abuse Of Trust: The Hidden Conflict of Power within the Church

By James Rondinone

This book will help you understand the “WHY” behind what is taught in regard to verses that are used by some churches to exploit their members. By gaining insight into this area you will be more likely to recognize this abuse of power and be able to respond to it with the appropriate scriptural perspective.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Feb 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781498449281

James Rondinone

My name is James Rondinone. I am a husband, father, and spiritual leader. I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life. I attended bible collegehaving completed a two-year Christian Leadership Course of Study and graduating as Valedictorian (Magna Cum Laude). Studying and teaching the word of God has been a passion of mine for over 20 years. Recently, I have decided to start to publish many of the teachings that have been a part of a weekly series in the spiritual category of my local newspaper. I also have a new website for my published books. My desire is for those readers to discover their own spiritual journey and develop a new way of thinking. This new way of thinking is contained in God's Word, and it is applied in all of my writings.

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Scriptures Serving As The Foundational Basis For The Mandated Leadership Model, Part I

Scriptures Serving As The Foundational Basis For The Mandated Leadership Model, Part II

A Non-Dispensationalist Interprets New Testament Verses From An

Old Testament Perspective

Foundational Scriptures For The Tested Leadership Model

Using The Tested Leadership Model To Formulate A Doctrinal View

Additional Topics From The Tested Leadership Model, Part I

Additional Topics From The Tested Leadership Model, Part II

Stories Of Abuse By Those In Church Leadership Positions

A Contrasting Summary Of

The Characteristics Or

Perspectives Of The Mandatory

And Tested Leadership Models

No Regrets

Endnotes

Introduction

Scriptures Serving As The Foundational Basis For The Mandated Leadership Model, Part I

Scriptures Serving As The Foundational Basis For The Mandated Leadership Model, Part II

A Non-Dispensationalist Interprets New Testament Verses From An

Old Testament Perspective

Foundational Scriptures For The Tested Leadership Model

Using The Tested Leadership Model To Formulate A Doctrinal View

Additional Topics From The Tested Leadership Model, Part I

Additional Topics From The Tested Leadership Model, Part II

Stories Of Abuse By Those In Church Leadership Positions

A Contrasting Summary Of

The Characteristics Or

Perspectives Of The Mandatory

And Tested Leadership Models

No Regrets

Endnotes

Contents

Copyright © 2015 by JAMES RONDINONE

Abuse Of Trust

The Hidden Conflict Of Power Within The Church

by JAMES RONDINONE

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 9781498449281

All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the author. The views expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are taken from The King James Version Electronic Database. Copyright © 1988-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

www.xulonpress.com

Introduction

Writing about the topic of Abuse Of Trust , I thought about how some readers might find it boring, perhaps thinking that a topic such as Being More Than a Conqueror or I Can Do All Things through Christ would be more appealing. However, I believe that you will find this study very in teresting.

Many churchgoers who attend a gathering of the saints, wherever it may be, use it as a time to socialize, hear the message, and then go home. For others, it is just one of many engagements they have chosen to participate in along with group prayer, visitation, taking classes, etc. Usually, getting involved on a consistent basis in such church activities is encouraged, and sometimes mandated.

But, there is a big difference between encouragement versus mandate in terms of involvement, and the leadership model that is embraced by the theology of the believer’s church undoubtedly determines these differences in approach. Why is this important? It is because the leadership model will indicate the relationship between those in authority and those who are not.

The reason one should be aware of the leadership model you are participating in is that it has everything to do with your walk with God, the goal or objective of which should be to become conformed to the image of God’s Son.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:29

Such conformity relates to a process known as sanctification, whereby the saint is transformed to resemble the Lord Jesus. How does this take place? The leadership model will determine the manner in which it happens, and we will examine two leadership models in this study. The first I will call the mandated leadership model, in which those in the hierarchy make all decisions that, according to them, are for the benefit of the attendees. It is expected that teachings from the pulpit be received as truth, and responded to as such. There is little or no dialogue between the hierarchy and the attendees in regards to church theology, church decisions, church behavior, church participation, etc. This model is especially desirable for those attendees who need others to make decisions for them concerning their spiritual walk. Everything about what a believer needs to do in order to please the hierarchy, and subsequently please God, and receive favor for entrance into heaven upon physical death is clearly delineated by those in leadership.

I will call the second leadership model the tested leadership model, in which input is encouraged from the attendees relating to church theology, church functions, church participation, etc. All of the assembly is expected to examine whatever is taught from the pulpit.

I would like to first provide sections of scripture that serve as the foundational basis for each model, and you might ask, For what purposes? I believe that each member of an assembly should be able to distinguish between these two leadership models for themselves, and scripture should assist them in determining which one would be more beneficial in their progression toward the goal of their walk with God, i.e. to be conformed to the image of His Son. Sections of scripture will initially unveil characteristics or perspectives of the mandated leadership model. Then we will look at these same characteristics or perspectives from the tested leadership model in order to see if this model would generate the same characteristics or perspectives. And finally, near the end of the study we will attempt to address the question, Are those who are in the leadership positions in the church above reproach in their teachings and conduct? Enjoy.

CHAPTER 1

Scriptures Serving As The Foundational Basis For The Mandated Leadership Model, Part I

To review, in the mandated leadership model all decisions are made by those in the hierarchy that believe they are for the benefit of the attendees, who are expected to receive and respond to whatever is taught from the pulpit as truth. There is little or no dialogue between the hierarchy and the attendees in regard to church theology, church decisions, church behavior, church participation, etc. This model is especially desirable for those attendees who need others to make decisions for them concerning their spiritual walk. Everything about what a believer needs to do in order to please the hierarchy, and subsequently please God and receive favor for entrance into heaven upon physical death is clearly delineated by those in leadership. So let’s begin by looking at various scripture sections, which will generate some of the characteristics of the mandated leaders hip model.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush:

Suggested Reading: Exodus 1:1:15-16; Exodus 3:1-

4:12

The background to this story is taken from Exodus 1:1,15-16. Jacob’s son, Joseph, was food commissioner of Egypt. During a period of famine, Joseph’s family was allowed to come to Egypt and dwell in the land of Goshen. While there, the Israelites increased in population. Later, a new king of Egypt, Seti 1, tried to reduce their number (population) by using them as public slaves who were employed in the construction of various buildings. This did not produce the desired effect so another method was tried. Hebrew midwives were told to kill any Hebrew sons who were in their care; but this edict was not rigidly enforced, so Pharaoh decided to make a new edict, which stated that the civil authorities were to cast any Hebrew male child that they found into the Nile River. During this time, Moses was born. His mother, aware of this edict, placed him in the Nile River in a floating device, knowing that it was in the vicinity where Pharaoh’s daughter would come and wash herself. Pharaoh’s daughter did discover the child, hired a midwife to care for him, and when the time was right brought him to the royal palace as the adopted son of the princess.

Some believe that Moses’ first 20 years of life was enveloped with education, and his subsequent 20 years were spent in military service. At age 40, he witnessed the oppression and bondage of his people and on one occasion, observed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Moses avenged the man by killing the Egyptian. Subsequently, Ramses II, the new Pharaoh was made aware of this crime and sought to slay Moses, but Moses