Isn’t the church supposed to be a SAFE place where spiritual leaders help and equip the members for the work of service; building each other up in the body?
Maybe this was true at one point in time, but not anymore. Today, there are many, many churches where the “leaders” are using their so-called “spiritual authority” to control and dominate others; attempting to meet their own needs of importance, power, or for some sick spiritual gratification.
What is the result of this perverted mind-set?
– People bound in chains to a man-made system of authority;
– Families disfigured and shamed into behaviors that ensnares in begrudging service;
– AND WORST OF ALL, the marriage institution itself being redefined, resulting in marriage after marriage being destroyed by these “wicked shepherds.”
Elders are to serve, not rule.
“Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, says the Lord.”
“Woe unto the shepherds that feed themselves……The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought back that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and rigor have you ruled over them. And they were scattered…”
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.”
“But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brethren.”
“You know that the rulers of the nations exercise lordship over them, and the great ones exercise authority over them. But it will not be so among you!”
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
God’s Word provides us with all the purpose and direction that we could ever need. God also gives us something more to be able to live the Christian life, he also gives us the anointing of the Holy Spirit,. The bad churches deny both, the bad Anglican churches included. Bad pastors, bad elders also bad churches even professing Christina, evangelical churches such as the Christian Missionary Alliance, Dispensational Brethren ones, others too, use the “BAIT AND SWITCH” approach.. the next falsely deviate from the Bible’s teaching..
“SPIRITUAL ABUSE.” What is it?
Let’s nail it right down to its bare bones.
1) When the church “leadership” falsely assumes to themselves a position and power that never did belong to them in the first place; when they demand obedience based upon that falsehood; when they begin to foster loyalty to themselves and to their church using implied or overt scare tactics and threats:
This is spiritual abuse!
2) Instead of church “elders” being there for the true care and true concern of the church member, the church member is there for the care and well being of the “elder!” In other words, the “pastor/elder” will do whatever is necessary to USE YOU to make himself look good:
This is spiritual abuse!
3) Instead of “the elders” using their knowledge and “supposed authority” unto the work of ministering; unto the building up of the body of Christ, they use those qualities to insure their own power, control, and recognition:
This is spiritual abuse!
Isn’t it just like wolves? (Matt. 7:15-16; Acts 20:29; John 10:12; Ezek. 22:27) Remember that wolves do not hate sheep. They just need to consume them to satisfy their own hungers.
It is the unsatisfied hungers – egos – carnal cravings – the need for recognition – the need for control – that causes many “pastor/elders” to devour the simple-minded.
So, the people follow, the people trust, and the people think “everything is fine” and say “Peace, Peace, when there really is no peace.
THIS IS SPIRITUAL ABUSE!
“It has not been and is not now my choice. The divorce and alienation of my family has been forced upon me and upon my family by evil men who would have their way with a man, his wife, and his children and grandchildren in order to promote and protect their own preeminence in lieu of protecting and building up the holy institution of marriage and family life.” Divorce falsely supported by evangelicals, dispensationalist brethren included..
The kind of abuse that Jesus condemned over and over again in the strongest ways possible!
“Suppose you move to a different area, and are keeping your eyes open for a good group to belong to (a social club, a church, a synagogue, or service organization). You visit one such group where the people are very friendly, loving, and give you individual attention. The group has a variety of programs: a rehabilitation program for drug addicts, services and nursing homes for the elderly, help for the poor, and free clinics. The leader inspires the disillusioned, the disenchanted, and those who have been rejected elsewhere. He is well-known and respected in the area, and the mayor gave him a position as Director of the City Housing Authority. Would you join this group?
Suppose you spend four years in college and nearly two years in graduate school to prepare for a career in Christian music. Then the ministers of your home church tell you that you are not needed in their music program. Shortly afterward, you find a new group that welcomes you with open arms. They really care for people. The leader of this group has fascinating Bible studies. You and everyone else are able to sit and listen to him for several hours at a time. Would you stay in this group?
If you answered “yes” to the first situation, you joined the church led by Jim Jones who led over 900 of his followers into a mass suicide murder. If you liked the second group, you became a follower of David Koresh who led over 80 of his followers to die in a blaze of fire.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing is a short and simple description of a cult leader – as these men were.
Are there any warning signs that a group and its leader are dangerous? That’s largely what this book is about. ” To read more about this subject, click here to download Stephen Martin’s e-book.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
These facts, truths always still do remain.. there is a tendency in us all, in churches, on the net too, elsewhere to do our own thing in the flesh as opposed to being led by the Holy Spirit of God as we can often see..
(Gal 5:19 KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(1 John 3:8 KJV) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:
http://pbulow.tripod.com/church.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/path.htm
http://pbulow.tripod.com/deceived.htm
http://pbulow.tripod.com/anointed.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/essentials.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/struct.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/tradition.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/today.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/ministry.htm
http://pbulow.tripod.com/pastors.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/proph.html
http://pbulow.tripod.com/thewalk.htm
http://pbulow.tripod.com/
http://groups.msn.com/AFOLLOWEROFCHRIST
http://groups.msn.com/HolySpiritCome
1st Wittness 