Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook by David Henke

Author:David Henke
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781737522713
Publisher: Watchman Fellowship, Inc.
Published: 2021-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

QUESTIONS

1.Have you found your “community”? Describe it.

2.Are you willing to find another church community? If not, why not?

3.How are you dealing with triggers?

EVALUATING BELIEFS

“Involuntary ignorance is not charged against you as a fault; but your fault is this—you neglect to inquire into the things you are ignorant of.”

Augustine

The stewardship of your soul in theology is called the priesthood of the believer. Because of Christ’s payment for our sins, we have the right to go directly before the throne of grace, the very presence of God, to talk with Him. One of the hallmarks of an abusive group is that they take away your right to hear directly from God, or to interpret scripture for yourself.

Between you and God is your Advocate, Jesus Christ, who intercedes with the Father on your behalf. Also, the Holy Spirit speaks to you what the Father wants you to hear. In high control systems, the group or its leaders hijack this personal communication with God, and they inform you that when you hear from God it will be through them.

Two-way accountability is quickly discarded in abusive groups in favor of the leader or group being accountable only to God (certainly not to you). If you raise questions they might say, “Touch not the Lord’s anointed.” You may be told you are out from under your “spiritual covering” or “umbrella of protection” and that you must submit to your “God ordained authority.” That authority, they will tell you, will answer to God for himself but you answer to him. This is an unbiblical teaching. It was introduced into Western Christianity through the teachings of Watchman Nee and his book Spiritual Authority. Wherever it is taught you will find wounded Christians.

The biblical teaching on two-way accountability is illustrated by Paul’s praise of the Bereans who “searched the scriptures daily” to see if what they were being told was true. We are to “put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not” (Revelation 2:2) The admonition in Jude 3 and 4 to “contend earnestly for the faith” is addressed to Christians, who are to examine certain men who have sneaked into the church to teach false doctrines.

Genuine two-way accountability has checks and balances built into the church governmental system. There should be bylaws, financial openness, consultation with, (or voting by) the congregation about church decisions, and a system for bringing a charge against a brother according to Matthew 18. In abusive groups, the last step of Matthew 18 (bringing the brother charged with the offense before the whole congregation) is not allowed. If the offender is a leader there must be a method available to the congregation to fulfill the biblical mandate. When you are searching for a new church home be sure to look for the bylaws. Ask long time members or leaders about problems and how they are handled. A spiritually healthy group is open to questions and keeps an “open book” with respect to its operations.

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