Homosexuality in the Church!

I had to go through many frustrating pages on YouTube to find a real teaching on what is considered the actual position the church should take on homosexuality. I found several that did, but unfortunately those were from whom I considered false teachers themselves- according to scripture.

Sigh 😦 Such is the state the church is in today, rampantly apostate and fallen away for the most part. Finally, I came to the following link. The funky speaker doesn’t claim to be a teacher or pastor. I started to click off, but then began to listen to what he was saying, and let me tell you, he says it pretty straight! Hang on to your hats and listen! It is the truth.

Homosexuality has overran the church, by “The Junk Yard Dog”

Well, that pretty much tells it like it is. If you think that was a tad too, well, lets say, “graphic”? Please consider what the Apostle Paul said in Romans Ch 1:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Spiritual Abusive Woman Hating Preacher Edwin Young Derailed!

You Tube Video of So-called “pastor” Edwin Young brow-beating and berating a woman from his bully pulpit.  No wonder people are leaving the churches in droves these days. This man exhibits none of the fruits of the Spirit, nor does he bear any resemblance to the Lord Jesus Christ, or his gentle nature and characteristics. He does however more closely resemble the ravening wolves that the Apostle Paul tearfully described that would enter in amongst the Lord’s flock after Paul’s death.

A very godly man, a pastor himself, once told me, “When a wolf preacher gets control of a church, it will always come down to two things in the end, sex and money”. Meaning that when that man feels confident and arrogant enough, he will begin sexually abusing women, girls, or sometimes young boys. I believe it because that very issue has become epidemic in churches all over America in this hour.

This needs to be exposed and stopped by Christians who will stand up and demand accountability in their leaders. The Bible says that judgment must begin first in the household of God.  I personally feel it’s God Himself that’s drawing the line on these wolves. In recent days we’ve seen one preacher after another being arrested or kicked out of churches for sexual misconduct among members, including minor children.

One of the things that greatly disturbed me in listening to these videos is the cheering on of the men in the congregation as this fake pastor trash talked the women. And the women, apparently not wanting to labeled “one of those lesbian spirits” would clap and shout too. These people have been brainwashed and groomed to accept mistreatment as well as a false doctrine of legalism and hate.

“Come out from among them, and be not partakers of their sins, or their plagues”

 

 

 

http://www.spiritualabuse.org/experiences/lawsuits/edwin_audio.html

“This is an attempt to give the reader a feel for the preaching style and manner of Edwin Young, ex-pastor of the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church in Junction City, Kansas. It is to allow you to hear for yourselves, and not just take our word for some of the things he said and did. Edwin Young resigned amidst scandal and accusations of alleged immorality with a number of younger (of age) women, as well as financial accusations, in early August 2012. (To read about that, click here. To read a compilation of the rules at the church, click here.)

An untold number of people from this church have been hurt in one way or another over the years. People would believe whatever Edwin Young told them about a person or situation. They would stand and cheer him on when he would come down hard on homosexuality or fornication, or when he would tear into a member from the pulpit…and sometimes even a visitor. A number of people who left the church under his pastorate were pegged by him as homosexuals or fornicators, among other things. Members believed what he told them. Those who remained were subject to a number of rules and standards. Members were encouraged to report those they saw breaking any rules and the pastor would follow-up by confronting the offending party, whether the accusations were confirmed or not. This was considered ‘testing the person’s spirit,’ or ‘breaking them.’

Also included are two videos of Jordan Young preaching (son of Edwin Young, who was arrested on alleged sexually related charges with minor boys between 2008 and August 1, 2012) and one of Nathan Dudley, the new pastor of Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church.

Berating Members During Service

According to numerous reports from people, Edwin Young would periodically berate people from the pulpit during his sermons, as well as privately. Below is an example of this, shown in three videos. Part one shows the context of when it happened and as such, includes part of his sermon before he tears into a female member of the church. Part two is the majority of his rant and part three is the very end where he finally returns to his message. You need to at least watch parts one and two in order to see how he would be. If the audio bothers you too much, turn it off and just watch. We have included the complete transcript of the part where he rants in the videos. It may also be read here.”

 

http://www.spiritualabuse.org/issues/documents/faithtabrules.html

 

http://www.wibw.com/home/crime/headlines/Officials-Shed-Light-On-Victims-In-Junction-City-Church-Sex-Scandal-168214136.html
 

 

Tom White of VOM Death Cause Report Released

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Autopsy-Okla-ministry-leader-died-from-overdose/hpI_NR1buEuHo6uz31wi2g.cspx?rss=2448

  It’s now official! Finally after nearly 4 1/2 months Tom White’s autopsy report has been released to the public.

http://examiner-enterprise.com/sections/news/local-news/former-ministry-director%E2%80%99s-cause-death-released.html

Medical Examiner’s Office spokesperson Eddie Johnson said a report on White’s cause of death shows the cause was acute combined drugs, alcohol and diphenhydramine toxicity.

“And the manner of death is considered suicide. And there was no autopsy,” Johnson said.”

Bartlesville Police Dept. Capt. Jay Hastings said, at the time of White’s death,

“We investigate crimes to determine whether or not they happened and whether charges need to be filed. In this case, the person that was listed as a suspect is deceased. There’s not ever going to be charges filed,” he said.

Hastings said reports in that investigation will not be made public.

It seems strange to me that since White’s death appeared to obviously  be a suicide, and that there was no autopsy conducted on his body, that it would take this length of time to release the cause of death…unless there had been pressure brought to bear for the results not to be released until a considerable length of time had elapsed. This can only be left to speculation since the VOM ministry leadership has been very reluctant to release further information.

However, the local scuttlebutt around Bartlesville, Oklahoma where White lived and VOM has it’s US headquarters seems to indicate that the molestation victim was Tom White’s own grand daughter. Again, this is speculation. No one but the parties involved know the truth of what happened for a certainty. But it does appear, as was originally made public, even by VOM, the investigation of molestation by White was enough to drive him to commit suicide. One has to be terribly grieved by this tragedy for all concerned.

http://www.topix.net/forum/city/bartlesville-ok/TG7MJFON8J5NM4O8V

Should Churches and Online Ministries Issue Disclosure Statements?

Has something similar to this gone on in a church in your city or town? Probably, but since the advent of the Internet, Christians all over America, or for that matter, the world, have been able to connect the dots. Again, I thank God for various blogs that have exposed the previously “best kept secret” of the church….that of spiritual and sexual abuse.  I know of one serious instance of sexual molestation of a very young teen boy by the “youth minister” in a church where I live, and in fact, that I used to be a member of. What did the church do? Nothing…. except cover it up. The boy was so traumatized by the molestation, he didn’t “tell” for a long time.

Although a crime/crimes had been committed the church covered it up and allowed the so-called youth minister to continue “ministering” to teen age children, oftentimes picking them up at home and taking them places without parental or church supervision.

Scripture says to remove a hypocrite from the church. The law says to report such crimes. This church played God and took the law in their own hands and did neither, “not wanting to ruin the reputation of the man, or the church”. The single parent was discouraged by church leadership of reporting the crime to the police saying it was a “spiritual issue”.

Although this should have been reported to the police, it wasn’t. So, what did they do for the child?…and make no mistake, a 13 yr old boy IS a child and at a very vulnerable stage of development in his life. No one from the church went to minister to, pray for, or counsel the boy. He was left to struggle with the aftermath of this abuse by himself. I found out about this after the fact, but I knew the boy personally, and know that he desperately needed counseling. He still has trust and other issues to this day because of this molestation.

Also, I am almost positive that another boy of the same age was molested by this same man several years later. I observed this myself when I went back several years later, that this boy was having serious emotional and spiritual issues….. that he acted very strange, as did the youth minister, but again, nothing was done. I asked the boy’s mother if she had questioned her son and asked her if she had asked her son if he had been sexually molested by this man, and she said yes, but that he denied it. However, denial by a victim is not all that unusual in some cases.

So, what happened to the molester? He died suddenly and prematurely. God has a way of taking care of situations where someone has harmed one of his little ones. As for the church…it is not doing well or prospering, not surprisingly, but continues to pretend “to do the work of the Lord” and inviting the unsuspecting into its fellowship.

About another church in the same general area…this is a bit of pretty accurate hearsay, but the church grapevine indicated a 9 month pentecostal “revival” conducted by a traveling evangelist abruptly ended due to a “sexual incident” with a 15 yr old girl. This was after he had been conducting “deliverance and casting out sessions” in the back room of the church. One young woman I knew to be a fine Christian suffered a nervous breakdown, and landed up in the psyche ward of a local hospital after a suicide attempt, and has now quit her job due to being unable to work, and is on medication. And apparently, the traveling evangelist traveled on to molest some girl, and/or, spiritually harm someone else in another church down the line.

I am a Christian but I can tell you that I am disgusted by the way many churches cover up incidents of spiritual and sexual abuse by church members or church leadership, and I will not be party to such spiritual or legal crimes by participating in such churches, or ministries, I don’t care whether they operate behind the closed doors of a church building or from behind their laptops on the Internet. And neither should anyone else. No church  is above the law, and no church is above the law of God making themselves a law unto themselves. And neither is any so-called “online ministry”.

Although it’s illegal to issue a disclosure statement hiding facts about known issues in a real estate contract,  churches have continued to cover up and abuse with impunity. The same can be said about many online ministries which operate in an entirely different realm than local church communities, and have become virtually untouchable, with very little or no accountability to anyone.

As for churches in general…

Meanwhile, people from these two churches I mentioned continue inviting people to “go to churrrrch” with them. I personally think they should hand out disclosure statements, ( similar to those that must be issued  when one puts a house on the market for sale, listing all the potential problems and issues not apparent upon surface examination)…  stating they allow molestation in their churches and commit spiritual abuse in general. When churches invite the unsaved or morally unregenerate into their churches, they’ve already gone against scripture. The Lord’s church is supposed to be the Body of Christ, not a haven for perverts and wicked people. If they want to do an outreach, then keep it separate from the church assembly and keep a close watch on the kids. The next child to be molested could be yours.

As for so-called “online ministries and fellowships”…...

What do you actually know about these people? Have you looked them in the eye, face to face? Would you enter into a serious business deal with someone you’ve never personally met, no matter how good the deal looked on the surface? And yet, they are asking money from you, by virtue of their PayPal or donation page? 

I’ll say it again, as I have on other posts, preaching or teaching is a calling, not a business.

As for me………

I’ve experienced spiritual abuse and witnessed it damaging other people. I’m not out there with a “ministry”, teaching doctrine. I am what I am, not a perfect vessel, but willing to be made into what God desires me to be.  I use this blog to warn people about things I consider to be very important. But one thing I do not do, and that’s put up a Pal Pal acct, or donation page asking money from people for what I do here that I have freely received from the LORD.

I’m just saying…the choices are up to each person, and not me, God, or anyone else is going to force anyone to do anything against their own will.

Spiritually Abused in Church? What is Your Story?

Many people wouldn’t be reading here if they hadn’t been abused in some fashion.  Those who’ve never been abused, or abusers themselves- wouldn’t know what it felt like, unless they, at some point, felt the sting of it themselves.

It’s my personal belief that all abuse hurts a person spiritually. It’s not likely there will be physical abuse in a church setting, but there, abuse will occur at the very heart of our soul, sometimes driving us into self-condemnation, guilt over false accusations, shaking our spiritual beliefs, and foundation of our faith to the very core.

Our reaction to this may come first as shock, followed by anger and indignation. And soon after, if we are lucky enough to remove ourselves from the abusive situation, we may lapse into a feeling of rejection as we become isolated from former brethren.

My own personal journey through the pain of spiritual abuse was absolute bewilderment and a mind numbing core of hurt that pierced the deepest places in my heart. Even with Christ there to carry me though this, it was without doubt, one of the worse experiences of my life. How could I ever trust “church people” again, now that I knew the truth? Might they not all be like that? I isolated myself from churches, not wanting to take another chance at exposing my deepest feelings to those who were going to reject, falsely judge and hurt me.

My experience with spiritual abuse wasn’t an isolated incident that merely “hurt my feelings”. Instead, without  going into details, it was a long, complex series of abuses that continued over a period of time, that finally culminated with a yet another betrayal, this time even more serious than the others. With this came the  realization that I had to get out. The abuse was affecting me spiritually and emotionally, and there was no other choice but to leave. I couldn’t change anything by staying.

I went through this alone. There was no one to talk to about what happened. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone, betrayed, falsely accused,  and rejected in my entire  life. It’s very hard to describe the feelings I had. I’m not sure there are even adequate words. Maybe something close would be like when someone closest to you died, and there is at first shock and then the grieving process sets in after that, but even that doesn’t quite fit, because when I left the church where I was abused, the only one who I felt had died, was me.  The ones who abused and condemned me wrongly, basically for their own false perceptions, went on, justifying themselves together, and continued on apparently oblivious to the havoc created in my life. (Only later, have I found there are many others who were going through, or had gone through a similar circumstance, but at the time, there wasn’t the ground swell rising up of voices on the Internet to expose this “best kept secret” going on in churches all across America). I felt like I was the only one.

So~

Next came the feelings of bitterness and resentment at those responsible for abusing me. This was a small church, so my betrayers had once been my closest friends. Well, at least some of them. The pastor was an enigma…at times he seemed compassionate and real, but most of the time he had a bully pulpit, and made a practice of calling out those who had committed what he felt were infractions in such a way that everyone knew who he was pointing his finger at. He had his little group of favorites, especially those who curried his favor and fawned over him. That wasn’t my style though and maybe he sensed that.

I knew in my heart what they did was wrong, and I also knew my resentment was wrong. I knew I needed to forgive, that I must forgive, but I didn’t know how I was going to be able to do that, the pain I felt went so deep.

Jesus said, unless we forgive others, our father can’t forgive us. That’s a big order sometimes. But unforgiveness is destructive, both on the offenders but also on the one that needs to extend forgiveness. I think this issue of unforgiveness is truly very misunderstood, but I think our own spiritual growth will be stunted if we fail to forgive and, instead,  allow a root of bitterness to grow in our hearts and become twisted and ugly.

Think about that. If we allow our hearts to become cold and bitter, then Satan has won the round and we will end up more like those who abused us…hypocrites. I don’t want to be like that and neither do you. We need to keep short accounts with God so our prayers can get answered and so that we can move forward in our walk in the
Spirit, leaving ugly emotions behind us. That is the victory over spiritual abuse.

It can be done, but only through much prayer and communion with Jesus in worship, asking for help and laying all burdens at the foot of the cross, for truly, we can do nothing without him.

Jesus bless all of you going through these struggles and I thank God who will give us the victory as we turn fully to him.

Since that time, many years ago, I have studied the phenomena of spiritual abuse in churches, in depth, inside and out, and from every angle. I know what makes it tick, and the games people play in church, all the way from the pulpit, to those in other “leadership” aspects of the church, all the way to those who sit in the pews. There is a pattern to these things, even from church to church, from one denomination to another, in one way or another. I have arrived at this from not any disconnected “psychological analysis”, but from personal experience with scripture and an intimate relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who by His mercy and grace brought me out of it.

If you have been spiritually abused in a church, by the pastor, or another church member, or even the group. You may tell your personal story here, anonymously. Just post it under the comment section here and I will create a post from that, leaving out the parts you choose, (names, places, etc). Your privacy will be vigorously protected. E-mail addresses, personal names will never be released to others, nor will any other privately communicated information. If you would like to talk to me personally, send an e-mail to SpiritualAbuseSanctuary@hotmail.com. I will be glad to talk to you. Skype chats can also sometimes be arranged. I am not a psychologist,  nor do I give medical advice, but I will be happy to listen to hurting people who have been through spiritually abusive situations in church, or in the home.

~God bless you,

Scarlett

Hephzibah House of Horrors

 

I believe the testimonies of these girls. Their stories deserve to be told, over and over if need be, until the perpetrators of such abuses get the message that their abuses against these girls will be shouted from the housetops, with them exposed and hopefully punished, and/or jailed, and then hopefully these types of  crimes will cease to exist.  I have a real problem with pastors, individuals, churches…..anyone…. who abuse other people in the name of God, and I will tell about it whenever I can. That’s what I love about the Internet…finally, these best kept secrets….. crimes done “in the name of God” are being exposed, and victims are coming forward to tell their stories and put the spotlight on the abusers.

Soon, I hope to do a post on similar abuses within so-called ministries for boys and men. 

The following is a HUGE list of survivor statements and testimonies of the girls who’ve been in Hephzibah House, and I seriously doubt if this even begins to skim the surface:

http://www.survivorstatements.webs.com/

 

 

Domestic Violence in Christian Marriages~an Alliance Made in Hell

I decided to post this video on domestic violence after reading from the following blog. To be sure, spiritual abuse occurs in Christian marriages as well as it does in secular marriages. However, as opposed to domestic violence in secular marriages… without having any statistics on hand, I think I would be fairly safe in stating that usually the spiritual and/or physical abuse within Christian marriages is centered around the misapplication of the scriptural passages concerning the “wife submitting to her husband”.

Some fascinating reading here on this blog!

http://submissiontyranny.blogspot.com/search/label/controlling%20behavior%20in%20men

Below, an anonymous commenter sends in a scathing accusation to the blogger:

 

“You take away and add to scripture, you are aligned with satan and must seek forgivenness, for women are to be submissive to man and man treat women like Christ treats the church, this is why your evil feminist perspective is part of the destruction of the family and you are in great delusion or are a planted wolf, i shake the dust from my feet and rebuke you. May Jesus forgive you.”

These sorts of comments are very frustrating to bloggers because, for one thing, the blogger is not going to be able to reason with an unreasonable person. In this case, the Christian blogger must simply do the wise thing and resort to scripture.

You Christian men who are obeying Jesus, and loving your wife as Christ loved the church, this post is not about you. May Jesus bless you richly, and as the scripture says, your prayers will not be hindered because of disobedience as will those who are mistreating and possibly battering their wives.

Opinions anyone?

 

Spiritual Abuse and it’s Effects-When the Church Becomes Your Worst Nightmare

I give God all the glory and thank Him for opening up the floodgates and exposing the “churches best kept secret”, that of spiritual abuse. It’s out of the closet now and the spiritually abused are coming from everywhere telling their stories. Talking it out, even on the Internet- is very cathartic and liberating. When I was victimized and abused by my own church, I thought I was the only one in the whole world this had happened to, and I felt so alone and betrayed. I would encourage everyone who has suffered spiritual abuse to talk about it, to a caring friend, on an Internet forum or blog, in a support group..just talk about it. Then the healing can come as Jesus pours in the oil and the wine. Trust Him to do it, and be patient with yourself. It still takes time.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/tsgibson/book2web.htm

2001 04 28.1

For thus says the Lord. Hear and know that the power of God is available to everyone: everyone who believes and everyone who serves. To serve simply means to bow down, repent and believe in the Lord, and to go out giving the good news to whoever will receive it. Those that do so are truly serving Me.

But so many, says the Lord, hide in the church. They go to work, mention nothing of the gospel, come home, sit down, eat their meals, live their life, go to bed, have witnessed to no one. Many of My people are like this. But I did not call them to be so.

I called them to stand up, to be a witness both in word and in deed wherever they go; and to lead those to the Lord who will listen to the Word. That Word is found throughout My Bible, and it is My Bible. Read it. Study it. Know it.

Be forewarned. Many false teachings have gone forth. But as you study the Word you will find out which is false and which is true. For My Word is truth. And what lines up with it, is truth. What does not line up with it, must be false.

Stand for the Word of God, go forth into the world and be a light unto them that need the gospel. So says the Lord.

 

VOM and the Tom White Suicide-Sexual Molestation Scandal-the Silence is Deafening

Pope Benedict still pushing “unity” of all religions…(ecumenism) Apparently VOM is sympathetic to Catholicism from all indications!

Friends, I have to agree with Lighthouse Trails Research take on this. There is still a hushed atmosphere in the VOM camp about this mess, in what seems to be an obvious attempt to sort of sweep this scandal under the carpet and hope the whole sordid event will blow over. What really upsets me is the unwillingness of the Christian admirers and supporters of VOM to believe that Tom White was capable of either committing suicide…or, sexually victimizing this young, innocent girl.

Also, as Lighthouse Trails reports below, the way VOM couched their PR statements with carefully constructed words to soften the truth is very disturbing and disappointing.  I would have expected more from them.

It’s far past time for the church to clean up their act and stop being in denial about the fact that all too often, the church has been as guilty as sin of the cover up and collusion in sexual and spiritual abuses in the church.

Scarlett~
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletters/2012/newsletters20120508.htm#22
 
“As many of you know, Voice of the Martyrs long-time Executive Director, Tom White is suspected of committing suicide last month. On Wednesday, April 25th, 2012, Voice of the Martyrs president, Jim Dau, issued a statement titled: “Heartfelt Letter from VOM’s President on Tom White.” The letter expressed deep sorrow for the untimely suicide death of Tom White. The letter did mention that White took his life after allegations came forth that White “had inappropriate contact with a young girl.” While the letter said that White loved his wife and children and that personnel at VOM were heartbroken, virtually nothing was noted in the letter to express the deep sorrow that should be felt for the alleged 10- year-old victim. When a child is molested, it is a scar he or she will live with the rest of his or her life.

While we can understand that VOM staff and leaders are most likely in a state of shock and despair over Tom White’s apparent suicide and the circumstances surrounding his death, they need to understand that they are being watched right now by millions around the world to see how they will handle this tragic situation. God forbid that they would try to white wash and minimize what Tom White allegedly did. When you have organizations such as the American Psychological Association stating that sexual contact with children is OK as long as the child is consenting, and when you have a fallen society, such as America, that says homosexuality is normal and abortion is acceptable, and when you have a society that is filled with pornography from grocery stores to the Internet, Christian believers cannot fall into such a demoralizing evil trap that by its very nature denies God.

Even referring to White’s alleged child abuse as “inappropriate contact with” somehow minimizes such a crime. Using the word “with” can give the impression that there is some sort of mutual agreement. Rather than stating “inappropriate contact with,” it would be better to state “immoral contact against” the girl. We don’t mean to sound picky, but VOM should choose their words very carefully right now, for the sake of their ministry, for the sake of child abuse victims everywhere, and yes, for the sake of the Gospel.

We are not trying to say that the work Tom White participated in for many years at VOM to help persecuted people should be negated. But please, VOM, do not try to make this less than it is. Take this opportunity to humbly apologize to the body of Christ, to the little girl and her family, and to God.

Perhaps, Jim Dau left out feelings of remorse for the little girl in order to protect VOM financially or legally. But if VOM thinks they will help their organization maintain its integrity and financial strength by writing letters like the one Jim Dau wrote, they are terribly mistaken. Humility, repentance, restitution (to the girl and other possible victims), biblical integrity, honesty – these are the qualities that their donors and supporters will be looking for.

Voice of the Martyrs has, as have most mainstream Christian organizations, been promoting contemplative spirituality and showing signs of being sympathetic toward Catholicism. Wouldn’t this tragedy be a perfect time to get right with God, and in so doing, point the world to the One Who came to save whosoever shall believe on Him?”

Spiritual Abuse-What are the Signs You may be in an Abusive Church?

Who gave these churches the right to change the way God set up the church?  Back then, as a newbie, I tried to make excuses, such as, “Well, they’re doing some things right”…and, “these are different times we’re living in now, and after all it looks like they do love the LORD”.

When I first came out of the spiritually abusive church, I felt I must surely be the only one in the world that had ever experienced such abuse and betrayal in the “house of God”.  Some day soon, I hope to get around to posting about what happened there in the “full, unedited version”. But not just yet, …at this time I just feel led to tell a few incidents that happened during that time period, as a new believer, I realize I was being groomed to be conformed…not into the image of the Beloved, Jesus Christ, but being groomed to be conformed into a counterfeit, an apostate, a Pharisee.

There’s a lot to tell from the very beginning that should have been warning signals. Yes, I do believe very early on the Holy Spirit was showing me in the Word,…….that the church I was involved in at that time, was controlling, biblically “off”, legalistic,  and trying to get me to conform to their system, their “ways” of doing church, and it was a controlling man made system full of man made doctrines and traditions of men that really had little to do with the pure worship of God.

I had gone into this church as a new spirit-filled believer, wanting to serve Jesus with all my heart and ability. I was studying the Word of God, and was like a sponge to learn more.  I started wondering why this church didn’t bear any resemblance to the early church in the bible in the book of Acts. 

As you can see, those are the excuses a novice might come up with who has little or no experience in how things work in the apostate, organized church system. Jesus doesn’t change by the whims and times of man, He, is the same, yesterday, today and forever. That’s one of the awesome things to admire, thank and love Jesus for, He’s not capricious.

Anyway, after the initial love bombing was over at this small church I had joined, the grooming and subtle controlling began. You know it’s amazing….no matter how small the church, there seems to be a set of unspoken “rules” that as if by magic, become operable. You can count on it……

With me, I was in this to be real, to love and serve the LORD, but I had a lot to learn about the way the “church did church” and expected its members to “do church”.  Meanwhile, I was getting little memo’s in my study time in the bible from the Holy Spirit, concerning these issues in the church. For example, this one…

 

 

12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”Galatians 6

 

 

Now, see, it’s pretty plain- in the context of what the Spirit was showing me, that even modern-day churches don’t demand their congregants to get physically circumcised, but they do try to bring them  back under the law, and into the bondage and conformity to legalism. They want you to conform to their pattern, so “they can GLORY IN YOUR FLESH”. So, that in your outward appearance, you’ll look and act JUST LIKE THEM! The problem here is that it’s all superficial, like Jesus accused the Pharisees, of looking like whitened sepulchres, only inside they were full of dead mens bones.

Something else the Holy Spirit was showing me in the Word of God about that time was this, that went along the same lines and was confirming the other scripture………..

 

 

14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old covenant; which veil is done away in Christ.

15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their hearts.

16Nevertheless when one shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2nd Corinthians 3.

 

 

Legalism! Being practiced in the household of God! And the LORD was trying to show me in His Word that this was not His way…that I was free in Him and  showing me not to allow myself to be brought under the bondage of their system. You see, if “your veil is taken away”, you be able to see clearly, and have the “eyes to see, and ears to hear” that Jesus has provided for those who love and obey Him and His Word.

You would be surprised how many churches are doing this in one form or another, and believe me, they will not take kindly to a new member who comes in expecting to remain uncontaminated by their system and doctrines.

If you’ve come to this page, I’m assuming that you may be in a church situation that doesn’t seem right, and in fact may be an abusive church. You see, what I’ve described IS spiritual abuse, but inevitably, if a new member doesn’t conform, it’s not going to be a matter of if, but when, the spiritual abuse becomes very up front and personal, and directed toward you. That’s when decisions have to be made…and you either succumb to the manipulation and fear, or…you leave.

I pray for each and every person who comes here with such a burden on your heart, that you will be set free and healed from all legalistic, man-made bondages. Jesus loves you and wants you to be FREE to love and serve Him in the Spirit, free of the shackles of Nicolaitanism.

As I said before, when I came out of the apostate church I felt so alone, and like there was no one in the world to talk to that understood. Just know that here, you will find brothers and sisters that care, and you CAN talk to and share your experiences, and you will not be ostracized, or condemned. Talking, sharing, and praying together about the  spiritual abuse we’ve suffered is very cathartic and healing, and this is basically what this blog is all about. 

May Jesus bless you~

Scarlett