10 characteristics of healthy leaders
Healthy Christian Leaderships
Vs.
Abusive Leadership
January 12, 2009 | Editor’s note: This article previously appeared on the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence website and is adapted from the “Need To Know” audio series produced by the College of Pastoral Leaders at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
We often assume leadership to be a positive trait, but in fact, it can be good or bad, constructive or destructive. Or, as I believe, healthy or unhealthy.
How do we distinguish healthy from unhealthy leadership?
I believe there are 10 characteristics of healthy leaders:
1. They lead from spiritual and emotional health.
Healthy leaders are spiritually and emotionally whole, rooted and grounded in relationship with God. They lead from a wholeness that is expressed in Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
They are both reverent toward God and respectful of others. This means they are willing to listen, are open to criticism and desire more to help people succeed than to punish them when they fail.
2. They are dedicated to the health of others.
Saints of old were pictured with halos above their heads because they exuded a palpable sense of spiritual and emotional health. Such healthiness is contagious; leaders spread health among the people and the organizations they serve.
But just as a physician sometimes prescribe uncomfortable treatments to help a patient, so, too, must leaders act for the organization’s long-term well-being, even if it means incurring others’ disfavour.
3. They represent the character and mission of their organization, but are also capable of objectivity.
An organization’s leaders reflect its values, hopes, and beliefs, but also the ambivalence, conflicts, limitations and struggles within its soul.
Leaders are both priests and prophets. They not only value tradition, but also imagine a larger future. The healthy leader gathers the hopes and dreams of a people and articulates them as a viable and achievable plan.
4. They understand the organization as a social system.
Rabbi Edwin Friedman, a key figure in the application of family systems theory to congregational leadership, compared the relationship between an organization and its leader to that of a client and therapist. Both clients and organizations say to their therapist/leader, “We want you to help us get healthier, to grow and move forward, and we will resist you at every stage.”
Leaders must understand the therapeutic nature of leadership and their role in relation to the group. The leader must be able, graciously and tenaciously, to engage resistance and even sabotage, listening and responding to concerns, but clearly defining the organization’s direction. Healthy leadership does not allow the organization’s sickest and weakest members to hold it hostage.
5. They provide a calming presence and emotionally well-differentiated leadership.
Many people today use anxiety in order to motivate and manipulate others to do what they want. Anxiety may get people to fall into line from fear, but it shuts down people’s ability to think constructively and creatively. When it comes to the qualities necessary for healthy leadership, courage is a much better foundation to build on than anxiety.
Courage en-courages. Courage begets courage. The courage of leaders makes it possible for others in an organization to take risks, try new things and think in new ways.
6. They plan.
Good leaders ask, “What are we trying to accomplish? Does that fit our mission? What are the necessary steps to move this organization from here to our goal? Who is responsible for what? How will we know we have accomplished what we set out to do? What are the hallmarks of success, and how will we know where we have failed?”
But planning is about more than simply the blueprint that is created. In fact, good planning is a continuous process, rolling on and on, adjusting to new realities, and changing course when necessary.
7. They embrace the wisdom of deliberation.
Our society loves the myth of the lone leader who has all the answers. But we are coming to appreciate the wisdom of what author James Surowiecki has called “the wisdom of crowds.” Under the right circumstances, with sufficient diversity and independence of thought, groups consistently make better decisions than the most knowledgeable members of the group.
Healthy leaders support and strengthen the processes of deliberative decision-making. Unhealthy leaders undercut these processes by keeping secrets and behind-the-scenes manipulation of decision-making, whether through deals or threats.
8. They are never too old to learn.
In a study of professional wildfire fighters, Karl Weick, a professor of organizational behaviour and psychology at the University of Michigan, found that most casualties occur among firefighters with only a year or two experience and those who had been fighting fires for more than 15 years. The novices, obviously, had not learned enough, but the death of veterans was more surprising. They tend to die in fires because they think they’ve seen it all, they think that fire has nothing new to teach them.
This is a crucial insight for leaders. It’s important to remember that we’re never too old -- or too experienced -- to learn. The fires of organizational leadership always have new things to teach us.
9. They know what to pay attention to.
Good leaders develop an intuition of knowing what to pay attention to, and what to leave to others. Scott Cormode, a principal at the Max De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary, has observed that both beginning drivers and fledgling leaders make mistakes because they are paying attention to too many things.
10. They enlist followers in change.
There is a significant difference between purposeful, strategic change and mere movement. Healthy leaders use their influence and power to make sure their organization makes necessary and effective changes.
According to Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard, noted researchers and writers on leadership, leaders should help the members of their organization know and understand the particular situation that is calling for change. Such knowledge can lead to a change in attitude among the group. The members of the organization will see that their own individual behaviour needs to change to reflect their new understanding, and this will lead to changes in the group’s behaviour.
The leader, however, must be open and willing to allow the process to belong to the organization, which means the end result may not be precisely what he or she imagined.
A Closing Reflection
Leadership is a remarkable calling, a demanding but rewarding vocation. As Frederick Buechner, a Presbyterian minister and novelist, has written, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
May your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet in those places where you lead.
What is Christian leadership?
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Question: "What is Christian leadership?"
Answer: What is Christian leadership? What should a Christian leader be like? There is no finer example for Christian leadership than our Lord Jesus Christ. He declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). It is within this verse that we see the perfect description of a Christian leader. He is one who acts as a shepherd to those “sheep” in his care.
When Jesus referred to us as “sheep,” He was not speaking in affectionate terms. In truth, sheep rank among the dumbest animals in creation. A stray sheep, still within earshot of the herd, becomes disoriented, confused, frightened, and incapable of finding its way back to the flock. Unable to ward off hungry predators, the stray is perhaps the most helpless of all creatures. Entire herds of sheep are known to have drowned during times of flash flooding even in sight of easily accessible higher ground. Like it or not, when Jesus called us His sheep, He was saying that without a shepherd, we are helpless.
The shepherd is one who has several roles in regard to his sheep. He leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects and protects. The shepherd of the Lord’s flock leads by modeling godliness and righteousness in his own life and encouraging others to follow his example. Of course, our ultimate example—and the One we should follow—is Christ Himself. The Apostle Paul understood this: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). The Christian leader is one who follows Christ and inspires others to follow Him as well.
The Christian leader is also a feeder and a nourisher of the sheep, and the ultimate “sheep food” is the Word of God. Just as the shepherd leads his flock to the most lush pasture so they will grow and flourish, so the Christian leader nourishes his flock with the only food which will produce strong, vibrant Christians. The Bible—not psychology or the world’s wisdom—is the only diet that can produce healthy Christians. “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
The Christian leader also comforts the sheep, binding up their wounds and applying the balm of compassion and love. As the great Shepherd of Israel, the Lord Himself promised to “bind up the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:16). As Christians in the world today, we suffer many injuries to our spirits, and we need compassionate leaders who will bear our burdens with us, sympathize with our circumstances, exhibit patience toward us, encourage us in the Word, and bring our concerns before the Father’s throne.
Just as the shepherd used his crook to pull a wandering sheep back into the fold, so the Christian leader corrects and disciplines those in his care when they go astray. Without rancour or an overbearing spirit, but with a “spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:2), those in leadership must correct according to scriptural principles. Correction or discipline is never a pleasant experience for either party, but the Christian leader who fails in this area is not exhibiting love for those in his care. “The LORD disciplines those he loves” (Proverbs 3:12), and the Christian leader must follow His example.
The final role of the Christian leader is that of protector. The shepherd who was lax in this area soon found that he regularly lost sheep to the predators who prowled around—and sometimes among—his flock. The predators today are those who try to lure the sheep away with false doctrine, dismissing the Bible as quaint and old fashioned, insufficient, unclear, or unknowable. These lies are spread by those against whom Jesus warned us: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Our leaders must protect us from the false teachings of those who would lead us astray from the truth of the Scripture and the fact that Christ alone is the way of salvation: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
A final word on Christian leaders comes from the article “Wanted: A Few Good Shepherds (Must Know How to Wash Feet)” by John MacArthur:
“Under the plan God has ordained for the church, leadership is a position of humble, loving service. Church leadership is ministry, not management. Those whom God designates as leaders are called not to be governing monarchs, but humble slaves; not slick celebrities, but labouring servants. Those who would lead God's people must above all exemplify sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness. Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stooped to wash His disciples' feet, a task that was customarily done by the lowest of slaves (John 13). If the Lord of the universe would do that, no church leader has a right to think of himself as a bigwig.”
Christian Leadership:
Following Man or Following Christ
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
1 Cor 11:1 KJV
Introduction
What do the Scriptures say about the relationship between Christian “leaders” and Christian “followers” in the body of Christ? There are many groups of Christians that suggest that “followers” must follow “leaders” without question. The leaders that advocate this position often use Bible verses like the one above (usually in the King James Version). “Follow me,” they say, “because I follow Christ. If you want to follow Him, you will follow me too. It’s not enough to say, ‘I follow Jesus’. Are you following your leader, too?”
In this article, we will study this scripture carefully to determine:
1. What does this say?
2. What does it mean?
3. What am I supposed to do about it?
Alternate Translations
First, let’s look at some alternate readings. I won’t go into a comparison of translations here, but it is important to realize that the “Authorized Version” was written 400 years ago. Because English is a “living” language (meaning that people use it in everyday life), words change meanings, phrases take on different connotations, and people understand language differently than they did even ten years ago. Just watch a typical parent trying to talk to their typical teenager!
The New King James Version phrases it, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” The New International reads, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” It’s interesting that the NKJV drops the word, “follower”. To “imitate” someone has a different connotation than to “follow” someone. Imitation is primarily related to copying someone’s actions. Similarly, the NIV’s “follow my example” takes the focus off of following “me”, and onto following “my actions”.
Sometimes we hear leaders emphasizing following them. They often stress obedience to their commands, and advocate imitation of their actions, but time and again the focus comes back to following the people themselves. Why? “Because I follow Christ.” Well, let me suggest an alternate reading.
Studying the Greek
Strong’s Greek/Hebrew Dictionary (a standard reference work) defines the Greek word kathos as “just as” or “inasmuch as”. “Inasmuch” is a word we don’t use frequently today, but there are two distinct meanings. Webster’s New World Dictionary (footnote) demonstrates these two meanings. The first is the one some leaders use “seeing that; since; because”. Thus the verse might read, “Follow me since I follow Christ”, or “Follow me because I follow Christ.” This is not a bad way to read it, but there is a subtle danger.
Sometimes we make the assumption that a leader is following Christ, without questioning or testing that leader. “Of course, they’re following Christ! They’re the pastor/elder/worship leader/Sunday School teacher/prophet/apostle etc.” But none of us is immune to error. The Apostle Peter was seduced into “the circumcision group”, a faction of Jewish Christians that felt that the Gentile Christians had to obey the Jewish law before they were worthy to follow Jesus. Paul repented in his later letters for his rejection of John Mark. Isaiah said, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…” (Isaiah 53:6, NIV). Who of us is infallible? Who of us is unable to be mistaken and, when we are in a position of leadership, then mislead our brothers and sisters? Who among us can trust ourselves to the unquestioning obedience of our fellow believers?
A Call to Humility
I suggest that, because we are all prone to error, that we read the verse we’re discussing the other way: to the extent that. The verse might then read, “Follow me to the extent that I follow Christ”. As much as I follow the Messiah, you should follow me. But in those ways that I am still “working out my salvation in fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), do not follow me. At the very least, lovingly share with me what the Holy Spirit, who lives in every regenerated believer, is telling you. Maybe I am in error. Maybe I need loving correction, even though I am your “leader”.
When a Christian leader will not accept a questioning of his teaching, behaviour, or motivation, that leader is in danger of closing his mind and heart to God’s correction. When this happens, the leader is in great danger of falling into sin, particularly the sin of “spiritual abuse”. The first step in the cure is humility. If I am willing to admit, “I could be mistaken”, “I may not have heard from God correctly”, “I need help”, then I am in a much better position to receive God’s correction. However, the farther I go in asserting my “authority” and suppressing criticism, the farther I will move from an attitude of humility before God. The opposite of humility is pride, and “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” (James 4:6 NIV).
What Do I Do?
This question is much too complicated for a small paper like this, but here are some starting points.
1. Pray that God will open your eyes to his truth.
2. Study Scripture for examples of godly leadership (try Matthew 20: 20-28 and 23: 8-12 to start)
3. Start studying the difference between healthy and unhealthy leadership. Try Johnson and VanVonderen, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, Bethany House Publishers, 1991.
4. Talk to mature, wise believers (that are not in your immediate situation) for their perspective.
Finally, listen to the command of the Apostle Paul, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Good leadership will be able to handle questioning, testing, and proving. Godly systems and leadership can pass the test of Scripture, and should therefore welcome such testing. If we are in fact “Bible Based” and “Spirit Filled”, then we have nothing to fear from questions and tests.
If you are somehow afraid to question your leadership, may I encourage you to pray and ask God why you are afraid of your leaders. If they are humble, godly Christian leaders, standing firm on Scripture as their base for truth, listening to the Holy Spirit for his guidance, and genuinely interested in your spiritual health, then why would you be afraid of their response to your questioning?
Sometimes people are afraid to question because they have seen people rejected as a result. People may have been disciplined or even asked to leave the fellowship because of “divisiveness” or “rebellion”. Let me be very clear. Questioning your brother or sister regarding the Truth that you find in Scripture is never wrong. We must all “spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). If we will discuss with one another what God is teaching us, we may be able to better discern the Truth. Excommunication is clearly not designed for questioning, but for chronic, unrepentant, habitual sin. Rejecting those who question is a sign of serious problems in the leadership.
The Holy Spirit resides in all who have surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He will guide you to Jesus and to Scripture. There you will be able to determine Jesus’ plans for you. His plans are not that you live in fear and subjugation to man, but that you live confidently free to be his very own chosen son or daughter, obeying him instantly and unquestioningly. He alone is perfect and worthy of our immediate obedience. 2000 Jason Friesen
Christian Leadership Vs. Worldly Leadership
There is a great deal of unhealthy teaching and practice in the Body of Christ today regarding spiritual authority and submission. This relates directly to a misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian Leader. In this article, the author will show that there must be a difference between the leadership methods used by the world and those of the Church.
God’s Ideas of Leadership are Not the Same as Man’s
Let’s look at the Scripture in the sidebar. It’s a familiar story, but many of us miss the teaching opportunity that Jesus used. The disciples of Jesus were maneuvering for “position” in the Kingdom of God. They assumed the Kingdom to be similar to human kingdoms, with powerful men exercising authority over the citizens and slaves. Jesus told them, in effect, that they completely misunderstood the way things worked in God’s Kingdom.
Naturally, the other disciples were annoyed that the “Sons of Thunder” were trying to gain more power than the other disciples. Calling them together, Jesus tells them that there is a difference between the way the world works and the way the Kingdom works. The world’s leaders “exercise authority” (KJV “dominion”) over them. Look at Vine’s definition of katakurieuo, the Greek word for the phrase. This phrase is used in three situations, all bad. It is the nature of the unregenerate world, not the Kingdom of God. Jesus said “not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave”. The Apostle Peter also warned Christian Leaders against this sort of behaviour.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers– not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Pet 5:2-4 NIV, emphasis added).
In his first letter, Peter uses the same word, katakurieuo, to describe how Christian Leaders should not behave towards those “under their care”. In his second letter, he appears to address those who failed to follow his advice. He begins chapter two warning against “false prophets”, and speaks very forcefully about their sin. Then in verse 17 he says,
“These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity– for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.” (2 Peter 2:17-20 NIV).
These “false prophets” (verse 1) were Christian Leaders whose lives were characterized by secrecy (v.1), greed (v.3), slander of celestial beings (v.10), “reveling in their pleasures” (v.13), adulterous seducers (v.14). They appealed “to the lustful desires of sinful human nature” (v. 18) “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves… for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (vv. 18-19). They had fallen into sin, and their sin was “covered up” by their abuse of power. Peter was very clear as to their spiritual condition in the next verses.
20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” (1 Peter 2:20-22 NIV)
They directly disobeyed Peter’s exhortation to be “eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you” (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV). And Peter says that it would have been “better for them not to have known the way of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:21 NIV).
In the Matthew passage (Matt 20:20-28 NIV), Jesus distinguished this tendency to domination from the requirements of leadership in the Kingdom.
Jesus contrasted Gentile (read as: “the world’s”) leaders exercising authority over their “subordinates” with the way of the Kingdom: service. The service of leadership in the Kingdom was not a superior “position”, but an attitude of that of a slave. The leaders of the church ought to have the attitude that said, “I am your slave, brother”, to the congregation. In Peter’s letters, he first instructs the leaders to serve the congregation as willing slaves (verses 2-4). It is only after that that he similarly instructs the others to be submissive.
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up” (1 Pet 5:5-6 NIV).
This author wishes in no way to diminish the responsibility of believers to be submissive. There is no room for arrogance or complete self-autonomy in the Body. But the Scriptures clearly teach that there is a difference between the ways the world behaves and the way in which the Church should behave. In the Church, leadership is humble. Leadership means servitude. Note that verses five and six come after verses two through four which exhort the leaders of the church to be humble shepherds.
The Servant Leader
So if “exercising authority” as a leader is wrong, what is the “right” way to lead? First, we must look at Jesus’ example. Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us a vital clue to Jesus’ example of leadership.
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place” (Phillippians 2:6-9 NIV).
Jesus led by humbling himself. He had every right to command, to coerce, to dominate, and to take authority over the entire world. He was God. But his “success” came from humility. Revell’s Bible Dictionary offers this warning under the heading, “Authority”:
“Since even Jesus was careful never to claim a coercive authority over people who are free moral agents, then mere humans in positions of spiritual leadership must be even more careful not to claim such an authority… it is not now and never has been right for those in spiritual leadership to attempt to compel a response which, to be meaningful, must be a free choice” (Revell 115).
A leader must not coerce obedience. He must lead by the example of his excellence in conduct and devotion before God. He must not be concerned with his own power, wealth, position, ability to command respect, or the number of people on whatever lists he might have. His only concern is to serve his brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus’ instructions to his disciples were very clear:
“You are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12 NIV).
Jesus directed his followers to avoid those titles of respect that might cause them to “think of themselves more highly than they ought” (see Romans 12:3 NIV) because they were to operate under a completely different paradigm than the world. Jesus said, “you have only one Master and you are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8). Where does the hierarchal model fit in Christian Leadership? Jesus seems to say it doesn’t.
Lawrence O. Richards writes in “The Teacher’s Commentary”:
“While the secular ruler is above those he leads, Jesus said, ‘Not so with you’ (v. 26). Instead of relational distance, there is relational closeness. The Christian leader must seek to be one with those he or she is called to serve.
“Instead of ‘exercising authority’ as a ruler who demands and enforces conformity, the Christian leader is to abandon coercion. Jesus said firmly and plainly, ‘Not so with you’. Force, manipulation, demand – all are ruled out in the way by which the servant leader exercises Christian authority. Outward force can produce conformity, but it can never product that inner commitment which moves people to choose to follow Jesus.
“How, then, does the servant lead? By serving! The secular ruler speaks the commands, but the spiritual leader demonstrates by his example the kingdom way of life into which he is called to lead others. No wonder Peter picked up this same theme… (1 Pet. 5:2-3 NIV) By serving, the Christian leader demonstrates the greatness of the love of God, and gently motivates others to follow him.” (Richards, 576, emphasis added)
So What?
If you are constantly reminded that you, as a Regenerate Believer, are “under” a Christian Leader, that you must obey them no matter what, that they are the source of “correct” interpretation of Scripture, or that your feelings, opinions, and questions don’t count, then you are submitting to an ungodly authority. That doesn’t mean the leaders are bad, just deceived. They are using the world’s system to administer the church, even if it is promoted as “Christian” or “Bible-based” or “Spirit-filled”. They are, unfortunately, operating under the prideful and unscriptural idea that they are on a “higher level” than you, closer to God, and better able to hear Him than you are.
My advice is first to pray. God will speak to you through prayer, the Bible, circumstances and other believers.
Second, study Scripture to understand how the Church is to behave. Look at Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount), Matthew 20-23, and the books of 1 Peter and 2 Peter, looking for words like “leader”, “minister”, etc. Use a concordance to help you study Christian Leadership from a Biblical perspective.
Third, consult with a variety of other believers, both “fulltime” and lay believers. The Holy Spirit resides in all believers, and he may very well speak to you through them. Ask Him to clarify to you what the truth is. Secrecy is a characteristic of an ungodly authority.
Fourth (and with caution), you can use the Internet to read other people’s opinions. You must use discretion, the Bible, and the leading of the Holy Spirit to discern truth from lies, but there is a lot of truth available. Try the following addresses to start:
and . These are resources to help people determine if the congregations that they are in are unhealthy. That doesn’t mean that the people are bad or even that you should leave, but it may trigger something in your spirit if you’ve thought, “something’s just not right here”, but were afraid to even think about it.
As you pray and research, the Lord may move you to action. This action may involve speaking to your leaders, other believers within your congregation, or other believers that you trust outside your congregation. If your leader is a humble servant of God (or desires to be), then you may be able to humbly point out some Scripture to him, and he will appreciate the correction. If he is more interested in his own power, then you will probably meet with extreme resistance.
If he is completely closed to what God is showing you, he may brand you as “rebellious” or “unsubmissive” or even worse. Make sure that your heart is humble before God. Ask Him to examine you. Don’t assume that you have the absolute truth. But understand that the Scripture has to take precedence over his ideas or teaching. Many leaders are themselves in rebellion to God because they are attempting to take a position that actually belongs to God. If this is the case, pray, asking God to show you what to do next. He will guide you.
2000 Jason Friesen
WHAT IS "HYPER-AUTHORITARIANISM?"
Identifying Abusive Leadership
by Steven Lambert, ThD
Hyper-authoritarianism or hyper-authority is predomination or psychological control imposed by spiritual leaders upon their followers or congregants with respect to not only their involvements within the church or ministry, but also regarding the personal and private matters of their lives. Ministries and church-groups practicing this illegitimate domination employ various means and degrees of psychological indoctrination and coercion to compel congregants to subject and conform their personal activities, behaviour, and affairs of their lives with the leadership-prescribed standards, rules, expectations, and corporate goals of the church or ministry. The purported pretext for the imposition of this Scripturally-prohibited religious governance is an adulterated concept of ecclesiastical authority. Promulgators and practitioners adamantly claim that the mechanisms of manipulation they employ are a perfectly Scriptural system of "discipleship" in fulfillment of the role and responsibility of spiritual leaders to "make disciples."
However, the fact of the matter is this kind of "discipleship" exceeds by far the bounds and intents of legitimate, that is, Scriptural and Godly, authority. This kind of so-called "shepherding" is not that which is inspired by the Good Shepherd, but by His arch-rival, for it is nothing other than witchcraft and unauthorized meddling into the personal lives of God's Flock. It is blatant misuse and abuse of authority, and is Scripturally-prohibited usurpation of believers' God-given prerogative of personal autonomy. God Himself declares:
For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. (2 Tim. 3:6-9, NASB).
Indeed, the full context of this passage indicates what ilk of individual it is who engages in this kind of ungodly, self-aggrandizing governance over others, how others should treat them, as well as their ultimate fate:
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be. (2 Tim. 3:1-9, NASB).
Such dominating autocrats indoctrinate adherents with fallacious, psychologically enslaving teachings, predicated on subtle twisting and outright perversion of Scripture, requiring them to strictly adhere to rules and demands set by the leadership if they are to have the approval of and be in the good graces of the leadership, as well as the collective group. Ultimately, submissive members are compelled, cajoled, and/or coerced to commit everything possible of themselves and their resources unto the support of the group's leaders, mission, calling, and purposes.
The following are some of the characteristics commonly present in and control mechanisms practiced by hyper-authoritarian groups. They are all subtle mechanisms of manipulation used to subjugate and psychologically beat the sheep into complete submission and subservience to the leadership as slaves to build their private kingdoms and achieve their selfish ambitions.
1. Apotheosis (improper exaltation) of the leadership. Leaders are ascribed God-like homage and sovereignty, not only over the operations of the church or ministry organization, but also over the personal lives and private affairs of their followers. They relegate to themselves "absolute authority" by which they require explicit and complete submission to themselves and their down-line of leadership appointees.
2. Open reproof and rebuke. Members are subjected to private and public disparagement, reproof, and rebuke by leadership for what they deem to be insubordination and/or disobedience to their counsel, teaching, instruction, or desires.
3. Open disapproval. Members are subjected to disapprobation, disapproval, shunning, and rejection by leadership and/or the collective group-society for some aspect of conduct they deem improper or unacceptable.
4. Open denunciation and curses. Members are subjected to denunciation and disparagement as well as voodoo-like witchcraft "prayers" (curses) upon departure of the group.
5. Open threat of excommunication. Members are subjected to excommunication from group for unbiblical reasons.
6. Threats of judgment from God and church discipline for insubordination. Members are indoctrinated with unscriptural fear of judgment from God and so-called "church discipline" for insubordination to leadership.
7. Indoctrination with fear of failure and judgment. Members are indoctrinated with unscriptural fear of failure independent of the group in order to foster undue dependency on the group and its leaders.
8. Indoctrination with fear of spiritual apostasy. Members are indoctrinated with an unscriptural fear of ingenuine or lost salvation and inferior spirituality.
9. Guilt-projection. Members are subjected to unscriptural guilt projection regarding their sinfulness, weaknesses, faults, and failures in order to reinforce insecurity, diffidence, and self-doubt, so as to make them feel dependent on the group and leaders for direction, guidance, and decision-making.
10. Exclusivity and isolation. Members are indoctrinated with teaching about the necessity of them "separating" or isolating themselves from all outside relationships and influences under the supposed pretext of insulating them from philosophical contradictions and criticisms of the particular improper practices and unscriptural beliefs of the group. Leaders also forbid their members from having any kind of exposure to any ministry or ministers outside of the internal hierarchy of their organization and those they have approved, and members must obtain the prior approval of the leadership for any form of exposure to outside ministry.
11. Internalization. Excessive and virtually comprehensive internal involvement and group-dedication is required of each member to in effect keep them indentured to the mission and development of the organization.
12. Improper Dependence on Leadership. Fostering or requiring of excessive and inappropriate dependence on the corporate group and leadership for guidance and decision-making regarding their ministry as well as personal affairs. Leadership approval, often referred to as a "witness" by the leadership, is required on virtually every decision regarding the personal affairs, sometimes including mundane matters, of members and their entire family. Congregants are taught that their leaders have been placed in a position as a watchman or a guardian over them by the Lord, as the "bishop (overseer) of their souls," which they interpret to mean that the members need to obtain permission or approval from their "personal pastor" or leader for life matters. The commonly purported reason for this necessity is in order that the member can ensure that they are "in the will of God." Though most of them would vigorously deny and refute the charge, the leadership in such ministries have, in effect, imposed themselves as the members' spiritual mediators. Despite public allusions to the principles of domestic authority explicitly expressed in God's Word, in practicality and privately, the husband's headship over his wife and family is often undermined and even usurped in authoritarian groups by their "shepherd" or "personal pastor" and the requirement for members to obtain their approval or "witness" for ministry and personal matters. In the culture of these groups, the boundaries and sacrosanctity of the family delineated in Scripture are obscured, and members are taught that the church-group is the members' "true family," and that because the pastor(s) or leader(s) are the spiritual head(s) of the "spiritual family," they are therefore the ultimate authority over the individual members as well their family.
13. Esotericism. Deliberate and crafty concealment or obfuscation of the true nature, agenda, beliefs, teachings, and practices of the group to the general public, prospective members, and new proselytes, who are fed such information piecemeal only as they progress through incremental stages of "enlightenment" or "spiritual maturity" (i.e., indoctrination) so that they can properly understand the teachings and culture of the church-group (i.e., cult).
14. Love-bombing. Surreal, unnatural, idyllic, Pollyanna, excessive, ushy-gushy, showy, humanistic, carnal, and very conditional "love" and artificial "acceptance" used to anesthetise members against the potent predomination being imposed upon them. Members are incessantly told how much the leaders love them and how dedicated they are to looking out for the members' personal and spiritual welfare. Not ironically, this is a characteristic common to all bona fide cults, whether they be "Christian" cults or otherwise.
15. Economic exploitation and enslavement. Unbiblical, erroneous, excessive demands and requirements imposed upon members for financial contributions under the guise of "financial accountability" or "good stewardship." Many groups require their members to sign a "covenantal agreement" committing themselves to an iron-clad, exacting requirement of submission of tithes and offerings to the organization in order to retain their membership and to be "considered for leadership positions" in the church.
Multitudes of sincere and trusting believers are caught in the virtually invisible web of religious captivation in Charismatic and other Neo-Pentecostal churches, and don't know it. They are unaware victims of spiritual abuse and exploitation under the heavy-hand of hyper-authoritarianism. The leadership of the church-group of which they are a part is dominating, controlling, and manipulating their followers, and exploiting them for their own personal gain and private kingdom-building. And, it is transpiring not merely in radical, fringe religious sects and cults, as some would suppose, but rather in otherwise bona fide church-groups espousing orthodox Christian beliefs, whose memberships are comprised of a cross section of average Americans, individuals and families, of every race, education level, station, and walk of life.
How unfortunate and troubling it is that this terrible blight on the church has been able to prevail and prosper for so long. May God send forth a move of His Spirit to judge and put and end to it soon!
The Signs of Spiritual Abuse
by Steven Lambert, ThD
[Editor's note: This article is adapted from the book, CHARISMATIC CAPTIVATION, by Steven Lambert.
Are you one of the many loyal and sincere church members who faithfully and cheerfully attend, support and participate in a local church, but have a nagging, persistent inward "thought" that "something is just not right here?"
Each time it rises within you, you peer around the room at the faces of fellow-worshipers caught up in seemingly heart-felt worship, you tune your ear to the soothing, melodious music crescendoing upward, and listen intently to the inspiring exhortations flowing from the lips of the various leaders on the platform...then...once again...you begin to chastise yourself...and "take authority" over those terrible carnal, negative thoughts, and command them to leave your mind. Now! there! no more of that! Right? Right!
That is, until the next time...and it happens all over again! You are enthralled in blissful worship and praise, focusing entirely on the Lord and His Magnificence. You begin to feel that familiar, but awesome sensation of His Presence filling the room and settling gently upon you. And then...BOOM!...there it is AGAIN!!—that still, small inner voice, telling you He is pleased by your expression of love, adoration, and praise; it is a sweet savor which He has received from your heart to His. But, still, He wants you to be aware there is something wrong here...with the leadership...their teaching, their "leadership" attitudes and methods, their motives and ambitions, their personal life-styles, their earnestness regarding ministering on His behalf to the needs of the hurting, needy multitudes for whom He died.
Is it possible this really IS the Lord speaking to you? Is that possible? And then you go through the drill once again, looking, listening, analyzing. "But," you reply inwardly to the voice, "look at all these people here, the volunteer workers, the ministers, the musicians and choir! they can't all be wrong! and there wouldn't be this many people here if it wasn't of God! Look at this wonderful building, its furnishings and decor, the instruments, all the regalia, all the money it cost? God has to be endorsing this, otherwise the money for all this would not have come in! Listen to the inspiring music and messages by the leaders!
And look at all the people who've been blessed! This CAN'T possibly not be of God! God! what's wrong with me? why do I think such horrible thoughts?" you cry silently within.
Then, you begin realizing; somehow, somewhere along the line you began losing your joy, your zeal for the Lord. It used to be you could hardly wait for the services and to be involved; now it is drudgery to go at all. You used to have such a light and blissful feeling as you worshiped the Lord in the services; now you just go through the motions, feeling heavy, staring placidly toward the platform, sometimes wishing you were somewhere else. You used to be able to "look past" the leaders, and focus only on the Lord; now, all you see during the service is people, people behind the pulpit, people on the platform, and people in the pews. You used to feel God's love and pleasure with you; now it seems all you feel is unworthiness, guilt, and that nothing you do is ever enough or pleasing to Him.
"What on earth has happened to me? What's wrong with me?" you ask yourself. "Is it just me?" Then, you begin to look around the room and study other long-time members. You compare how they are now to how they were when they first came. Is their life, as it should be, appreciably better, or have they and their family experienced an inordinate share of tragedies, seemingly inexplicable difficulties, and reversals? By and by, you begin to realize that many of the other members have lost their "first love" too, their zeal, their enthusiasm, their joy in serving the Lord, and that, though Christians, like everyone else, certainly experience adversity, many of these members' lives have been on a gradual, downward spiral, instead of advancement and blessing.
Does this scenario sound familiar to you? If so, don't think you're alone—it's repeated several times every week by multitudes of sincere, faithful, and trusting believers. They've had this inward intuition for quite some time that something was just not right at their church or in their group, but just couldn't put their finger on precisely what it was. The teaching "sounded" right, all the right things were being said, good things were happening, many members were being "used" in various "ministries" of the church. Still, this nagging sense something is awry persists.
Often, these are the symptoms of a church or group labouring under the heavy-hand of hyper-authoritarianism. That is to say, the leadership is dominating, controlling, and manipulating their followers, and exploiting them for their own personal gain and private kingdom-building. Wholesale abuse and misuse of authority is an integral part of the very foundation, fabric, and functions of such groups.
Exploitative abuse of authority occurring in groups where these hyper-authoritarian systems of governance are instituted come in various shapes and shades, ranging from members having to receive the approval (usually referred to as "witness") of their spiritual leaders to date and/or marry, to virtual sole dependence upon the supposed superior spirituality of group-gurus regarding every detail of their personal financial matters and requiring their leaders' approval for virtually every significant expenditure. Commonly, in these groups there is constant allusion to the members as "dumb sheep" who must be "led" by the shepherds, ad nauseam. The definition of the term "led" in these groups is that the "dumb sheep" cannot trust their own judgment or ability to receive direction from the Lord for the important decisions of their lives, but must rely instead upon the transcendent wisdom and spiritual acumen of their "personal pastors."
The proper role of human under-shepherds is to lead people to the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and teach them how to be His disciples, in submission to Him and His authority. Hyper-authoritarian leaders, instead, lead people to themselves, and indoctrinate them to be their followers, in total submission to them and their authority. In essence, these dominating shepherds teach they are the church-members' de facto lord, master, and saviour, rather than Christ. They indoctrinate members to believe the spiritual leaders of the church themselves are the members' "spiritual covering" (a totally false and patently unbiblical concept), and any member who ever leaves the church will be "out from under" their "covering," be without any covering or what they call, "uncovered," and will experience terrible curses and other horrible consequences as a result. From the pulpit often come "horror stories" about what happened to such-and-so person or family, who were so spiritually bereft or rebellious as to leave the group without the blessings and approval of their "spiritual authority."
In these groups, the "authority" of the "shepherds" is absolute, sacrosanct, and inviolable, that is, without reprisal. Any semblance of anything other than total and unquestioning obedience to the desires and counsel of the church's leadership chain is considered rebellion and insubordination, and simply is not tolerated. Members live under the constant threat of being branded with the Scarlet Letter "R" for "rebel," openly denounced and shamed from the (bully-)pulpit, and consequently shunned by the "covenant-community" for failure to comply with the unwritten, unspoken rules and expectations established by the leadership. An oppressive performance-based approval and promotion system keeps members in constant internal turmoil and fear as they jump through all the hoops the spiritual taskmasters put before them, in an attempt to seek their leaders' approval and favour. Moreover, members are indoctrinated and compelled to accept the leadership-set agenda of the group, regarding which they have next to no real say, as their personal burden and responsibility, and thus to commit their time, talent, And most importantly, their tithe, to its successful completion. Sadly, most never see past the spiritual smoke and mirrors to realize that the so-called "church" to which they have sworn allegiance and promised their wholehearted and unflagging support, is nothing more than the personal "business" of its leaders, and not only are they free labour, but they actually pay out of their own resources for the privilege of being a participant, i.e., member.
The following are some of the common signs and symptoms, or common characteristics, of authoritarian abuse manifest in hyper-authoritarian groups, churches, networks, and ministries, especially those identifying themselves as Charismatic or Pentecostal. It simply is not feasible to elaborate extensively on each of them in an article such as this. However, I have addressed most of them in various books, booklets, and articles I have written on the topic. Bear in mind that the list is by no means exhaustive, and that these are somewhat general, rather than, exact descriptions. Many variations on these basic themes exist in authoritarian groups. Bottom-line is: any ministry in which more than one or two of these signs of abuse are manifest should alert you to the undeniable fact that it is a hyper-authoritarian organization, regardless of how large, popular, or well-known it and its leader are. And, if after reading this list, you cannot recognize and admit to yourself that your beloved church or ministry is practising, unbiblical and ungodly doctrines and practices, then you are definitely brainwashed and under the spell of "deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" and these demonic lies are "seared in your own conscience as with a branding iron" (1 Tim. 4:1,2). And, that means you need deliverance to be set free from Satan's bondage and deception. It also means you are deceived about who you are serving.
You are not serving the true Jesus, who is the One who died to set the captives free, but rather you are serving false gods — idols — which is idolatry, which means you are an "idolater," and idolaters do not inherit eternal life or have an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God (Gal. 5:20,21; Eph. 5:5)! The only way for you to escape HELL and eternal punishment and enter into Heaven and the Kingdom is to REPENT! Then RUN from your captors and RUSH into the arms of the True Jesus, who died to set the captives FREE! "He whom the Son sets FREE is FREE INDEED!
1. Apotheosis of the leadership — exalting them to God-like status in and over the group;
2. Multi-level authority/government hierarchy;
3. Absolute authority of the leadership;
4. No real accountability of the leadership to the corporate body;
5. Hand-picked sub-leaders, based on their demonstration of submissiveness to the ultimate leader rather than on the basis of their leadership skills, spirituality, and anointing and appointment by God;
6. Pervasive abuse and misuse of authority in personal dealings with members;
7. Paranoia and insecurity by the leaders;
8. Abuse, misuse, and inordinate incidence of "church discipline;"
9. Personal materialism, covetousness, and self-aggrandizement by the leaders;
10. Members and/or sub-leaders must make a "spiritual covenant," sometimes a signed covenant agreement, pledging their total commitment and financial support to the leadership and church/ministry;
11. Partitioning of the group into smaller groups that are led by internally "raised up" lay-leaders who have not been anointed or appointed by God for leadership within the church;
12. Financial exploitation and enslavement of the members;
13. Inordinate attention to maintaining the public "image" of the ministry;
14. Doctrinal demeanment and devaluation — the requisite of espousing and teaching "sound doctrine" is demeaned and devalued;
15. Theological incompetency by the leadership, especially with respect to the rules of hermeneutics and Bible exegesis employed in the formulation of doctrine, giving license to twisting and adulteration of Scripture in order to provide proof-texts for unorthodox and invented doctrines;
16. Spiritualism, mysticism, and unproven doctrines;
17. Abuse and misuse of prophetic giftings as a means to dominate and intimidate;
18. Devaluation, disallowance, disregard, and displacement of the true Fivefold Ministry within the church;
19. De facto legalism, or works mentality, and its resulting loss of the "joy of salvation," though "freedom" is forever preached from the pulpit and the church is constantly touted as being a "safe church" by the leadership;
20. Esotericism — hidden agendas and requirements revealed to members only as they successfully advance through various stages of "spiritual enlightenment," i.e., unorthodox, unproven indigenous doctrines;
21. Isolationism — corporate and individual, especially with respect to exposure to outside ministry sources;
22. Performance-based approval and promotion system of members predicated on "proven" "loyalty" (i.e., submission) to the leadership;
23. Devaluation, suppression, and non-recognition of members' bona fide God-given talents, abilities, gifts, callings, and anointing, as a means of subjugation;
24. Requiring members to perform menial tasks, such as cleaning toilets, setting up chairs, and acting as the leader's personal valet or slave, as a supposed means to humble them and teach them to "obey their leaders;"
25. Constant indoctrination with a "group" or "family" mentality that impels members to exalt the corporate "life" and goals of the church-group over their personal goals, callings, and objectives;
26. Members are psychologically traumatized and indoctrinated with numerous improper fears and phobias aimed at keeping them reeling in diffidence and an over-dependence or co-dependence on their leaders and the corporate group;
27. Corporately, there eventually develops an inordinately high incidence of financial, marital, moral, psychological, mental, emotional, and medical problems, including sudden deaths and contraction of "incurable" and "unknown" diseases;
28. Lack of true personal spiritual growth and development, especially in terms of genuine faith and experiencing the abounding grace, forgiveness, goodness, blessings, kindness, and agape-love of God;
29. Members are required to obtain the approval or "witness" of their leader(s) for decisions regarding personal matters;
30. Frequent preaching from the pulpit regarding not getting out from under the "spiritual covering" of the leadership;
31. Members departing without the prior permission and blessing of the leadership leave the group under a cloud of manufactured suspicion, shame, and slander;
32. Horror stories frequently told by leaders about individuals or families who left the group without the prior permission and blessing of the leadership, and the terrible consequences and curses they suffered as a result;
33. Departing members often suffer from various psychological problems and display the classic symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
So...what to do? Well, here's a few questions for you to ponder:
• Do you know what the signs of hyper-authoritarianism, control, and domination in a group or church and how to recognize them?
• Do you know if the signs are simple, overt, and obvious, or are they sophisticated and complex, covert, and hidden?
• Could you be objective enough about your church or group and leaders to correctly analyze if authoritarian abuse is taking place at your church?
• Do you know how to explain what the signs are to prospective or suspected victims in order to convince them they are under it?
• Do you know how to throw out a lifeline to rescue them?
• Do you know what steps are necessary for victims to recover from the psychologically traumatizing and spiritually damaging effects of years of subjection to spiritual abuse?
• Do you know why hyper-authoritarian doctrines and practices are unscriptural and Biblically-prohibited, and could you cite some of the Scripture passages in which God condemns them?
• Do you know from a biblical standpoint if God requires you to always "obey your leaders," even when they set requirements that contravene Scripture or your conscience, or when they behave as unscrupulous and undisciplined tyrants rather than model the characteristics of servanthood that Jesus modeled and instructs His under-shepherds to likewise model?
These are just a few of the questions needing answers concerning this prevalent problem of authoritarian abuse plaguing the church today. Being able to readily identify the signs and symptoms of authoritarian abuse and psychological enslavement that is rampant among church groups today is absolutely essential for every believer in their quest to know and be personally related to the Great Shepherd, who is the Prince of Peace and the true "Guardian of our souls."
Abusive Churches
Pat Zukeran
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Patrick Zukeran is a research associate, and a national and international speaker for Probe Ministries. He graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, and holds a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He served in the pastorate for ten years before joining the staff of Probe Ministries. He is the author of the book Unless I See... Reasons to Consider the Christian Faith.
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We are all familiar with traditional cults such as the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses. There are, however, other groups with cultic characteristics that do not fit the same profile as the traditional cults. Sometimes called "abusive churches" or even "Bible-based cults," they appear outwardly orthodox in their doctrinal beliefs. What distinguishes these groups or churches from genuine orthodox Christianity is their abusive, cultic-like methodology and philosophy of ministry.
In his book Churches That Abuse, Dr. Ronald Enroth carefully examines several of these churches throughout the United States. He reveals the cultic methods these groups use and points out several distinguishing marks of abusive churches. At this point I will briefly introduce each of these characteristics and some of my own. Later, I'll discuss all these characteristics in detail.
First, abusive churches have a control-oriented style of leadership. Second, the leaders of such churches often use manipulation to gain complete submission from their members. Third, there is a rigid, legalistic lifestyle involving numerous requirements and minute details for daily life. Fourth, these churches tend to change their names often, especially once they are exposed by the media. Fifth, denouncing other churches is common because they see themselves as superior to all other churches. Sixth, these churches have a persecution complex and view themselves as being persecuted by the world, the media, and other Christian churches. Seventh, abusive churches specifically target young adults between eighteen and twenty-five years of age. The eighth and final mark of abusive churches is the great difficulty members have in getting out of or leaving these churches, a process often marked by social, psychological, or emotional pain.
Those involved in a church that seems to reflect these characteristics would be wise to evaluate the situation thoroughly and leave the church if it is appropriate. Staying may increase the risks of damaging your family relationships and multiplies the likelihood of losing your perspective.
Members of such churches often develop a distorted view of reality, distrust everyone, and suffer from stress, fear, and depression. Some former members even continue to experience these things after escaping from an abusing church. There are also several documented cases in which associating with an abusive church has led to the deaths of individuals or their relatives.
Some of these groups have networks of many sister churches. In some cases these groups have split off from more mainstream denominations. Occasionally the new groups have even been denounced by the founding denomination. Such groups often disguise themselves by frequently changing the name of their organization, especially following adverse publicity. This practice makes the true nature of these organizations more difficult to determine for the unsuspecting individual. Some abusive churches have college ministries all across the country. On some university campuses such student movements are among the largest groups on their respective campuses.
It is important that Christians today know the Bible and know how to recognize such churches so as not to fall into their traps. In order to help people become more aware of churches which may be abusing their members, I now want to go through in more detail the eight characteristics I mentioned earlier.
Control-Oriented Leadership
A central feature of an abusive church is control-oriented leadership. The leader in an abusive church is dogmatic, self- confident, arrogant, and the spiritual focal point in the lives of his followers. The leader assumes he is more spiritually in tune with God than anyone else. He claims insight into Scripture that no one else has. Or, he may state that he receives personal revelations from God. Because of such claims, the leader's position and beliefs cannot be questioned; his statements are final. To members of this type of church or group, questioning the leader is the equivalent of questioning God. Although the leader may not come out and state this fact, this attitude is clearly seen by the treatment of those who dare to question or challenge the leader. The leader of the movement often makes personal decisions for his followers. Individual thinking is prohibited; thus the followers become dependent on the leader.
In the hierarchy of such a church, the leader is, or tends to be, accountable to no one. Even if there is an elder board, it is usually made up of men who are loyal to, and will never disagree with, the leader. This style of leadership is not one endorsed in the Bible. According to Scripture all believers have equal access to God and are equal before Him because we are made in His image and we are all under the authority of the Word of God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 believers are directed to measure all teachings against the Word of God. Acts 17:11 states that even the apostle Paul was under the authority of the Bible, and the Bereans were commended because they tested Paul's teachings with the Scriptures. Leaders and laity alike are to live according to Scripture.
Manipulation of Members
Abusive churches are characterized by the manipulation of their members. Manipulation is the use of external forces to get others to do what someone else wants them to do. Here manipulation is used to get people to submit to the leadership of the church. The tactics of manipulation include the use of guilt, peer pressure, intimidation, and threats of divine judgment from God for disobedience. Often harsh discipline is carried out publicly to promote ridicule and humiliation.
Another tactic is the "shepherding" philosophy. As practiced in many abusive churches this philosophy requires every member to be personally accountable to another more experienced person. To this person, one must reveal all personal thoughts, feelings, and discuss future decisions. This personal information, is not used to help the member, but to control the member.
Another means of control is isolation. Abusive churches may cut off contact between a new member and his family, friends, and anyone else not associated with the church.
How different this style of leadership is from the leadership of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who lovingly, gently, humbly, and sacrificially leads His sheep.
Rigid, Legalistic Lifestyle
The third characteristic of abusive churches is the rigid, legalistic lifestyle of their members. This rigidity is a natural result of the leadership style. Abusive churches require unwavering devotion to the church from their followers. Allegiance to the church has priority over allegiance to God, family, or anything else.
Often members are required or pressured to attend Bible studies five, six, or seven days a week. There is a requirement to do evangelism; a certain quota of contacts must be met, and some churches even require members to fill out time cards recording how many hours they spent in evangelism, etc. Daily schedules are made for the person; thus he is endlessly doing the church's ministry. Former members of one church told me they were working for their church from 5:00 am to 12:00 midnight five days a week.
Members of such churches frequently drop out of school, quit working, or even neglect their families to do the work required by the church. There are also guidelines for dress, dating, finances, and so on. Such details are held to be of major importance in these churches.
In churches like these, people begin to lose their personal identity and start acting like programmed robots. Many times, the pressure and demands of the church will cause a member to have a nervous breakdown or fall into severe depression. As I reflect on these characteristics I think of Jesus' words concerning the Pharisees who "tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger" (Matt. 23: 4). What a contrast from the leadership style of Jesus who said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. . . .For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
Frequent Changing of Group/Church Name
A fourth characteristic of abusive churches is a pattern of constantly changing the name of the church or campus ministry. Often a name change is a response to unfavourable publicity by the media. Some abusive churches have changed their name several times in the course of a few years.
If you are in such a church, one that has changed its name several times because of bad publicity, or if you feel unceasing pressure to live up to its demands, it is probably time to carefully evaluate the ministry of the church and your participation in it.
Denouncing All Other Churches
Let us now take a look at the fifth characteristic: abusive churches usually denounce all other Christian churches. They see themselves as spiritually elite. They feel that they alone have the truth and all other churches are corrupt. Therefore, they do not associate with other Christian churches. They often refer to themselves as some special group such as, "God's Green Berets," "The faithful remnant," or "God's end-time army." There is a sense of pride in abusive churches because members feel they have a special relationship with God and His movement in the world. In his book Churches That Abuse, Dr. Ron Enroth quotes a former member of one such group who states, "Although we didn't come right out and say it, in our innermost hearts we really felt that there was no place in the world like our assembly. We thought the rest of Christianity was out to lunch." However the Bible makes it clear, that there are no spiritually elite groups or churches. Ephesians 4:3þ6 states, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope, when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and Father of all."
The Christian church universal is united by the same God, the same Holy Spirit, and the fundamental beliefs of the Bible which include such things as the Trinity, authority of the Bible, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the deity of Christ, justification by faith alone, and so on. In these central truths we stand united. A church which believes itself to be elite and does not associate with other Christian churches is not motivated by the spirit of God but by divisive pride.
Persecution Complex
The sixth characteristic follows naturally. Because abusive churches see themselves as elite, they expect persecution in the world and even feed on it. Criticism and exposure by the media are seen as proof that they are the true church being persecuted by Satan. However, the persecution received by abusive churches is different from the persecution received by Jesus and the Apostles.
Jesus and the Apostles were persecuted for preaching the truth. Abusive churches bring on much of their negative press because of their own actions. Yet, any criticism received, no matter what the source--whether Christian or secular--is always viewed as an attack from Satan, even if the criticisms are based on the Bible. This makes it difficult to witness to a person in such a church for he will see your attempt to share the gospel with him as persecution. Often in cases like these, when I am accused of persecuting, I simply reply, "I am here talking to you with the Word of God which you say you believe. How can this be persecution?"
This approach often helps in continuing the dialogue with a member of an abusive church who has been brainwashed to believe that all opposition is persecution.
Targeting Young Adults
The seventh characteristic of abusive churches is that they tend to target young adults ages 18-25 who are in the middle class, well educated, idealistic, and often immature Christians. Young adults are the perfect age group to focus on because they are often looking for a cause to give their lives to, and they need love, affirmation, and acceptance. Often these churches will provide this, and the leaders frequently take the role of surrogate parents.
Painful Exit Process
The eighth characteristic is a painful and difficult exit process. Members in many such churches are afraid to leave because of intimidation, pressure, and threats of divine judgment. Sometimes members who exit are harassed and pursued by church leaders. The majority of the time, former members are publicly ridiculed and humiliated before the church, and members are told not to associate in any way with any former members. This practice is called shunning.
Many who leave abusive churches because of the intimidation and brainwashing, actually feel they have left God Himself. None of their former associates will fellowship with them, and they feel isolated, abused, and fearful of the world. One former member of a particular campus ministry said, "If you leave without the leadership's approval, condemnation and guilt are heaped upon you. My pastor told me he thought it was satanic for me to leave and wondered if I could continue my salvation experience."
Let me conclude this discussion by sharing some practical ways of reaching those who are involved in abusive churches. First, we must begin with prayer. Witnessing to those brainwashed in abusive churches is often intimidating and difficult. Often leaders will not allow an individual member to meet with an outsider unless accompanied by an older, more experienced person who is trained in debating and/or intimidation. Therefore, we must pray (1) for a chance to speak with the individual and (2) that he would be open to what we have to share.
Second, lovingly confront the person and surface some biblical issues. Often, abusive churches have a bizarre teaching or a theological error that can be pointed out. In his book Churches That Abuse, Dr. Ron Enroth documents several examples of this. For instance, the leader of one church had strange teachings based on his claims of extra-biblical revelations from God.(3) These included dietary laws, sexual behaviour, home decorations, and others. The leader of another group called doctors "medical deities." He also claimed medicines had demonic names and if taken, opened a person up to demonic influence.(4) Pointing out errors, inconsistencies, and bizarre beliefs may open the individual's mind and prompt him to begin asking questions.
Third, share articles you may find in the newspaper or in magazines on the particular church under discussion. The book that I have often quoted from, Churches That Abuse, is an excellent resource. The key is to get the individual to start asking questions and research answers for himself. Tell him to test everything with the Scriptures and not to be afraid to ask questions. If the leader is afraid or hesitant to answer a member's honest questions, the maturity of that leadership may be suspect.
Jesus, however, said that truth is a means of freedom, not bondage. He said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
20 Simple Marks of Healthy Christian Leadership
1. Spirit Filled and Christ-like 2. Honest/sincere 3. Balanced/moderate 4. Objective and impartial 5. Optimistic/positive 6. Gentle and sensitive 7. Tactful 8. Humble and meek 9. Peacemaker and bridge builder 10. Understanding and accommodating 11. Forgiving 12. Respectful 13. Ever Learning/growing 14. Delegator and team player 15. Thinks outside the group box 16. Caring, kind and gracious 17. Inclusive and inspirational 18. Organized and flexible 19.Tolerant and open minded 20. Humanly accountable
A True Christian Leader knows how to be wrong when they are right
True Christian leadership realizes that 50% of its leadership ability is subject to human error. A true Christian leader will accept responsibility for problems, contentions, falling outs and failures. A spiritual leader knows how to be wrong even when he is in the right, in order to bring peace and reconciliation to a situation. Our Lord Jesus set the example by accepting blame on our behalf when he was completely innocent. A spiritual Christian leader or pastor will do the same on behalf of his congregation and community.
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