By John Immel (Click here for MP3 audio)

The original publication of Moral Seduction was my first effort to show how the seeds of tyranny are sown with precise ideas beyond the narrow confines of church and Christianity. 

My first months of blogging stardom were spent highlighting tyranny’s philosophical elements as displayed in the Charismatic Reformed denomination called Sovereign Grace Ministries.My familiarity with their doctrine and practices made it an effective stepping off point.Plus, other voices needed to rise up to join the existing blog commentary concerning their blight on the vineyard.I was happy to take up in 2007 where I left off in 1998 before the blogging world took notice. 

People tend to think that this blog revolves around the very narrow criticism of Sovereign Grace Ministries.This is understandable but not true.No matter how much I enjoy poking those specific intellectual and spiritual thugs in the eye, they are hardly the bulk of my concern.… Read the rest

All tyranny requires these elements to be successful.

• • Universal Guilt
  • Incompetent masses
  • Dictated Good
  • Abolition of Ambition
  • Collective Conformity

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I use Alexander Strauch–the quotes from his book–because he condenses many of the historic arguments with the embedded presumptions and filters that so many in the Church Government tub advocate. Never forget, the FORM of Government is irrelevant if the ideas driving the form are designed to oppress. I could dig around in other contemporary Church Government writing and find much of the same. Strauch just happens to have a comprehensive presentation.

Alexander Strauch wrote this in 1991 in a book called Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership.

Furthermore, “first among equals” provides desperately needed protection from the all-too-common pitfalls of egoism, greed, personality imbalance and unholy ambition to which highly gifted teachers may succumb. An exceptionally gifted leader or teacher can lead and teach with all his zeal and might, as the Scripture commands a leader and teacher to do (Romans 12:7,8), and yet be held accountable to fellow leaders and teachers.

… Read the rest