hamilton Archives - theWord Commentaries

Smith, Hamilton – Commentary on Selected Books of the Bible

Cult Exit: Problems, Detention, and How-Tos by Pastor David Cox. In this article, I explain how to identify a cult through the difficulty in leaving it.
Excerpt: One of the clearest elements identifying a cult is simply what happens when somebody wants "out." A biblical church will see a person leaving because the group doesn't meet their needs, doesn't serve them, or doesn't meet their biblical expectations as a tragedy and failure on the GROUP'S PART. Their attitude is first sadness in losing the person, but they want to correct what they have done wrong. (Note: This attitude will never appear without first accepting that they, the church, have somehow failed. Cults will rarely admit this of themselves, or never will they admit it. It takes a spiritually mature person to admit this.)

A biblical church will simply ask questions like Where? How? Why? Where did we go wrong? How can we keep this from happening again? Why did we lose this person? A biblical church is more concerned about their own error in dealing with this member that retention.
Read the Article: Cult Exit: Problems, Detention, and How-Tos.

Missionary on Furlough Spiritual Needs is an article by David Cox (veteran missionary) to help pastors and missionaries understand missionary needs.
Excerpt: When a pastor "takes in a missionary on deputation or furlough", he ministers to that missionary.... Pastors also need this encouragement as much as missionaries need it. When they get together to fellowship, they are able to encourage one another. But every pastor ministering to a returning missionary should encourage them along these lines of faithfulness and reward in eternity.
Topics: Introduction | Unfit Missionaries that should not be missionaries at all | Stop the Merry-go-round, I want to get off | Some Tips for Pastors Encouraging Missionaries | 1. Do not undermine their way of leading or doing the ministry | 2. The two essential elements are talk and prayer. | 3. Get more than just the pastor involved in praying for the missionary. | Remind your missionary by asking for an update if it has been a while. | Effectively disseminate prayer requests.
Read the Article: Missionary on Furlough Spiritual Needs.