David Kowalski (original) (raw)

Research resources on religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues

Author: David Kowalski

David has worked as an English teacher (Abeka), high school administrator (ACE), in-school-suspension teacher (public school), Associate Pastor (two Assemblies of God churches), Senior Pastor (two Assemblies of God churches), and Bible College Professor (Global University).

Divine Healing According to the Bible and Experience

Even today, God can and does still heal. While we are not guaranteed healing in this life (though we are sometimes blessed with it), we are guaranteed healing throughout eternity.

Does Ephesians 4:11 Establish a Doctrine of “The Five-fold Ministry”?

The same reasoning that develops a five-fold ministry doctrine from Ephesians 4:11 could develop a seven-fold or eight-fold ministry doctrine from other scripture verses.

Do the Sacrifices in Ezekiel 40-48 Pose a Problem for Evangelicals?

Since Christ's sacrifice for believers is said to suffice for our cleansing for sin, making animal sacrifices unnecessary, some people see the description of millennial sacrifices in Ezekiel 40-48 as contradicting New Testament teaching about the finality and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Responding Properly To People Who Leave Our Church

People leaving the church we pastor (or in which we otherwise serve) to attend a different one is often a test of our personal maturity and the orthopraxy of our church's ministry.

Cults and abusive churches hurt people as they transition to a different church. Biblical churches do not.

When Church Leaders Should Be Gentle and When They Should Be Stern

Many people who have taken to themselves the role of shepherding God's sheep use the rod and staff to beat the sheep when they should be gentle, yet they stand by idly when wolves attack the sheep.

Pseudo-Spirituality

Christians who think of themselves as more spiritual than common believers are usually less spiritual in the things that really matter to God.

Divorce and Remarriage: A Worst-Case Scenario

Though it is an unscriptural act to divorce without cause and subsequently remarry, the act involved does not result in an ongoing, sinful state.

Is the Confusion of Languages at Babel a Myth?

God's confusion of mankind's previously unified language at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) is regularly criticized by skeptics. However, there is nothing in history or linguistics that genuinely contradicts the account.

A Testimony About Anti-Testimonies

"I used to be a deluded, ignorant, and hateful Christian like you until I learned to be better than you!" This is the essence of personal testimonies (variously called "deconversion stories," "ex-timonies," or "anti-testimonies") given by people who claim to have de-converted in some way from orthodox, Evangelical Christianity.

Why Whistleblowers are Often Ignored (Even in Christian Organizations)

It seems anytime revelations of sexual harassment or other misconduct in a corporate, government, educational, sports, entertainment, or religious organization surface, we learn that people who had tried earlier to expose the misconduct were ignored, their evidence was swept under the rug, and the whistleblowers were often punished in some manner.

This dynamic develops because the case is usually not handled by a truly neutral party and the group politics involved do not favor the whistleblower.