Thursday, June 30, 2011
Binding up the Wounds
My observations regarding those who realize that they have been feeding on false doctrine have left me sad at times. I recently had an experience with an ex-word of faith preacher who realized that he had been chewed up and spit out by the typical prosperity pimps who were playing him and teaching him how to con others. He presents himself with much anger and doubt as to Who Jesus Christ is! It is a serious crisis of faith that we encounter when we realize that we have been decieved, lied to, and manipultated into believing something that is untrue! One feels like a fool and can really go into a tailspin and as a result reject Christ and anything or anyone who represents Him. That is the fruit of these spiritually deceptive church systems that function only to elevate their agenda using Christ's name as a smokescreen! They leave behind broken lives, broken hearts, and broken families. I can only imagine the pain God feels when He observes that the watchman left their post to pursue their own interest, while still playing the role of a watchman. I have been speaking to many who have been caught in the web of deception and many of us are beginning to talk to each other. We have all heard many of the same admonitions, who are we to judge the man of God, and God alone will correct them. There is so much misplaced loyalty going on that I am amazed that God doesn't strike us down right there, with all of the pastor worship and groupie activity going on. I believe that people lose themselves in these toxic and abusive church family systems. What is worse is many broken people are finding themselves in ministries to heal....a last ditch effort to be free only to find themselves being used up and pushed out when the important questions are asked!! So what happens to those people? Where do they go? The world systems failed to meet their needs and now the church system is adding insult to injury. You listen to some of these angry and narcissistic preachers wailing their threats from the pulpit regarding the tithe. You watch them flanked by bodyguards who are ready to put you in a choke hold if you try to talk to the pastor! I do not remember any account of where Jesus had body guards. It seems to me that He walked closely with those that He ministered to. I am hopeful that that we can recover and we can allow the mind of Christ to truly be formed in us. I believe that the knots can be untied and I believe it is time for a real revival. A revival of the heart...where we are honest about the problem and extend a hand one to another to heal the wounds that bind us. Just some thoughts for today. Much love anne
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Recognizing the role of Toxic Shame in abusive ministries
Toxic shame is different from healthy shame. Toxic shame tells us that we are a mistake and that no amount of problem solving can deliver us from our condition. In abusive ministries we now understand that a single 'charasmatic' leader holds all of the power over the direction of that ministry. That individual is the 'mouth piece' of God and is to be obeyed no matter how wrong their behavior or doctrine may be!! Abusive ministries are closed systems that have a single leader surrounded by hand picked yes men/women who do his dirty work and ensure that others are towing the line and following all of the rigid rules that the system (not God) expects. However they do it in the name of God and are experts at using scripture to make the people of God feel guilty if they do not obey them!!! This is nothing new and has been going on for as long as there has been religion. It is this dynamic that is permeating the church and creating new and even more abusive leaders. They require the people of God who have been purchased by the blood of Jesus to bend their knee to their insatiable need for power and money. These leaders become so used to being treated like rock stars that they begin to believe that they stand between you and God . They threaten that you are committing 'spiritual suicide' if you choose to leave their ministries. They use every toxic shame inducing method to obtain complete obedience and control over you and your understanding of who you are in Christ.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
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