I would like to share with you a new spiritual abuse support group that my friend, Aaron Hann is starting.
ClergyAbuse
Hypocricy: Boasting of Rightness, Living Wrong
One of the most damaging things to an organization is a leader who is a hypocrite. The Oxford Dictionary defines hypocrisy as the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.
The Gold Standard: When Unacceptable is Better than Those Others
In the domestic violence world it is common to hear, "Well at least he doesn't hit her." We see the same dynamic in the organization when fellow leaders, boards, or even co-workers suggest that the boss isn't as bad as the last guy.
Ted’s Story: A Band of Brothers
Ted's story is hard to even start the telling. His story is a call to the church to be the church.
The Slide into Toxic Leadership 2: Amaziah, King of Judah
Leaders may begin well. The LORD has given them vision for the organization they have been tasked with leading. But, in time they begin to drink the koolaid of power and self-sufficiency.
Fret Not for Vindication: Be Still and Wait Patiently
The struggle for validation and vindication in the face of abusive leadership is echoed in Psalms, encouraging patience and trust in God's righteous judgment. The remedy lies in turning to God's Word—Jesus—for healing and endurance.
Job’s Counselors: The Misuse of Spiritual Influence
The book of Job highlights misguided counseling of abuse victims rooted in black-and-white beliefs, instead of comprehensive biblical theology. Remember,buse victims are never at fault for the abuse they experience.
Zechariah and Toxic Christian Leadership
Our distrust of God is what drives our trust in ourselves. We, in practice, believe that we can make better decisions, control situations better, and get the job done better than the LORD, even if we would never admit that. So too the Israelite leaders—priests and kings and counselors—thought they knew better than the LORD when Zechariah spoke around 500 B.C.
Abuse in the Bible: But Does it Even Use That Word?
The Bible may not include the term "abuse" in every translation, but it uses various words that convey the concept, emphasizing the seriousness and destructive nature of abuse.
Do Not Cover Their Guilt: Imprecatory Praying
Imprecatory Praying: It is a hard topic for Christians to wrap their heads around. When I normally speak of "imprecatory praying" I give qualifications. But Nehemiah, in a display of raw emotion, simply asks the Lord to destroy this enemy.