Freedom From Spiritual Abuse & Controlling Leaders Part 1
The Bible has a lot to say about honoring leaders and people in authority. In fact, Romans 13:1 (NIV) says that God establishes all authority.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
God is also a God of freedom.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NKJV)
So, what is the deal that some authority is controlling or worse? Was that God’s will? Absolutely not! God will is for none to perish:
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us – not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
But people do because they don’t “come to repentance”. Repentance is the word “metanoia” – to change your mind. This means you change your mind to line up with Christ’s mind and He is not confused!!! But when people who have free will do not, in their brokenness, change their minds about themselves, about God, about others…, then perishing can happen despite God’s will. So authorities whose mandate from God was designed to be good can turn controlling or abusive, when there is brokenness and sin. Yuck – fallen world!
BUUUTTTT – then there’s Christ. Thank You Jesus! There is freedom available!!!
Here are some red flags for abusive leadership – spiritual or otherwise:
- Leaders are so preoccupied with their own needs being met that the needs of the people are being ignored
- Leaders are the only ones who really hear God – special insight from God for you and your family that you cannot get/are not getting yourself
- There is no accountability financially. They may say that congregants are not mature enough to be able to handle financial or other disclosure
- People that are supposedly served are labeled as rebellious if they question decisions or what God told the leader and how he/she interpreted it
- There is an atmosphere of secrecy – a controlling church leader will discourage you from speaking with anyone else about your concerns.
Sometimes leaders are simply insecure and because of that they tend to be controlling. Here are some tips for healing from spiritual abuse and to get free, if you think this may be your situation.
- Make sure you draw upon the grace of God to forgive – releasing all your hurt and emotions to God. There’s enough sin potentially going on without adding yours to the list
- Pray for any leader and the people they are influencing that are caught up in this
- Don’t assume there is no health body for you: God has a healthy body for you to be a part of.
- Seek counsel from a mature, objective leader in another church or another mature Christian. It is possible that what you have perceived as a controlling attitude may be genuine concern – so pray for discernment.
Because this is an involved topic, I will be doing a Part 2 teaching.
Also, for those of you who can get yourselves to the Colorado Springs, CO area on May 12, 2018, I will be doing a Ministry Burnout & Spiritual Abuse Workshop with a bonus Prophetic Journey with Jesus at Pulse Church. You can click here for more information. I also will be recording the whole workshop, which will be available for purchase here.
Stay ‘Tooned’ for more in Part 2.
