Proclaiming Liberty to Victims of Destructive Cults and Abusive Churches

The Devastating Effects of Spiritual Abuse

…And The Potential Eternal Consequences for The Abused and Their Abusers

Spiritual abuse in the Church is an evil from the hierarchy of clergy and church officials to the unfortunate mistreated laity below. It is an evil in God’s name, derived from what seems to be His authority on earth and used to bring havoc in the lives of innocent followers. Spiritual abuse is perpetrated by wolves in sheep’s clothing feasting on the flock, causing spiritual death and destruction as they attack from within. The wounds from such attacks can be long lasting, perhaps even everlasting for the victims in their recovery. As Satan entered into Judas Iscariot and helped drive him into executing his act of betrayal, so too have spiritually abusive leaders been driven by dark motives to mistreat and misuse the brethren for their own selfish and sinful purposes — not at all in accordance with the instructions delivered to us by the Master, Y’shua the Messiah, and His Apostles.

For I (Paul) have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock , among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:27-32, NKJV)

Sadly, the danger not only comes from the Church hierarchy above, but from within the flock itself, from false brethren: persons who may be counted as fellow believers but who are not servants of our Master Jesus Christ (Y’shua HaMashiach, in Hebrew), but of the Adversary. The Apostle Paul reports in Gal. 2:4 and 2Cor. 11:26 that among the many travails he faced, some were the result of “false brethren,” people pretending to be fellow believers but had their own wayward intentions. From what I’ve observed, they gossip, slander, accuse, malign, besmirch their fellow believers out of a heart of hatred, not from a Holy Spirit-inspired love for others of faith as they should have. And thus, like Judas, they do the bidding of their dark master, Satan the Devil.

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ….But these men blaspheme the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have poured themselves into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever….These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of their own benefit….But you, beloved, must remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (from Jude 1, ESV)

If these individuals were truly fellow believers guided by the Holy Spirit, one might expect that they would be pricked to the heart of their hateful words and actions. If so, one would think they would be quick to repent of their fallen condition and sincerely apologize for what they’ve said and done. Sadly, though, I’ve rarely seen that happen. Typically, from my experiences, these people tend to become defensive as they allow the leaven within them to continue its growth. Eventually, I would expect their bad attitude sadly will eventually lead them away from the household of faith. When such people seem bent on creating strife and divisions, they are at war with the Holy Spirit, whose nature is to engender a spirit of unity among brethren. Scripture warns us to avoid these persons:

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. Rom. 16:17-19 (ESV)

To my dismay, I’ve seen where spiritually abusive churches and cultish groups will seize upon such passages to engage in ostracizing and shunning individuals whom they are unable to control and manipulate for their own self-serving purposes. On the other hand, there are weak-willed churches given over to politically correct agendas and other self-serving motives that simply look the other way when interpersonal abuse among members occurs. Too often, they are more concerned about maintaining the flow of income and placating certain members’ feelings at the expense of others than addressing these issues.

Christianity in present-day America and likely throughout many developed Western nations, would be thriving spiritually if so much of the organizational politics and business-first outlooks could be set aside. Eventually, it comes down to a separation of the sheep from the goats, Mat. 25:32, with the former — those with spiritual integrity — leaving to find new pastures to feed their faith. Or, if discouragement sets in, as in the Ezk. 34 scenario of the false shepherds, the Master’s flock may become scattered. leaving them alone and vulnerable to the ravenous beasts of the field.

Being in an abusive church environment can be a tremendously lonely and detrimental experience. For me personally, it has also given me some of the saddest moments of my life, so much so that more than once in my own exasperation with other brethren I have almost considered walking away from the Faith altogether. This has been the legacy of the spiritual abuse and mistreatment in my life, perpetrated by false brethren who pretended to be fellow believers. As agents of the Devil, they attempted to take what was very precious to me and tried to destroy it. But, thankfully, they failed.

While almost none of these persons has ever apologized to me, I pray that the Holy Spirit would move upon them to repent of their evil ways and undo the damage they have done while they still have time to do so. As hard as it is, I have sought to forgive them for their hateful misdeeds toward me.

I’m reminded of the advice Job received from his wife after Satan attacked him with one devastating calamity after another — and his saintly response:

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips. Job 2:9-10 (AMP)

But not all of us, if any mere mortal at all, has the patience of Job, or anything close to what he was able to endure.

To be continued…

Wounded by Spiritual Abuse

Treated as an Unloved and Unwanted Fellow Believer in the Household of Faith

The irony of my situation was extraordinary. Like a trail of blood, a trail of red drippings followed me from the door as I entered into the worship center for its weekly Shabbat service. Carrying a crockpot in my left arm with my potluck lunch selection, spiced apple rings bathed in a rich red syrup, I somehow managed to tilt the item as I pulled hard to open the door with my right hand. The red syrup spilled on to my shirt and then dripped on to the floor as I made my way to the kitchen. Leaving a trail of crimson behind me, I probably looked like I had a serious injury. An usher stopped me and pointed out the telltale trail behind me before grabbing a mop to wipe up the mess. As I set the crockpot down in the kitchen, I touched the wet spot on my shirt, covering my left hand in red. As I tried to wipe it off with my other hand, I ended up having both hands stained and covered with what appeared to be fresh blood.

Immediately, I sensed the irony of the moment. I had entered a congregation that had caused me to appear wounded, not just to my hands, but to my side as well. I thought of the passage in Zec. 13:6, "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (KJV)

Not one to believe in sheer coincidences and ironical happenstances, I learned through life that such situations were not to be quickly dismissed. Rather, they were to be reflected upon with all due diligence, giving them the attention one would give to a direct message from heaven above, as if the Almighty Himself were whispering words into my ear: ‘Pay attention, these things are happening for a purpose and should not be ignored.’

This site tells the story of the spiritual wounds I have received from those who should be my dearest friends: my fellow believers in the Faith. Sadly, the story has been going on through most of my life to the point where I'm now rather apprehensive about where I go and with whom I worship. I wish it weren't so. As the Messiah acknowledged that He had no place to lay His head, Much to my dismay, I feel like organized religion has destroyed so much in my life: my career, my marriage, most of my past friendships, some of my family relations, and sadly, many of my hopes and aspirations. I look back over the years and wonder how these things happened.

Well, yes, I admit some setbacks can be attributed to bad decisions on my part. One learns over time from his mistakes. Sadly, making mistakes can be the best teacher one has. This can be especially true when one does not have a mentor, sage advisor, or even just a wise confidant to direct him in life's important decisions.

Yet, there were times, too many of them for one lifetime, in which the hateful actions of others could not be predicted. The resulting damage at times has been devastating. So bad, there were times I was so full of despair, admittedly, I nearly lost my faith. If not for my Biblically-based upbringing and having attended Christian schools throughout most of my youth, I might have gone the wayward way. Thankfully, the Almighty gave me the encouragement I needed to keep me from going off the deep end.

One may be tempted to think that perhaps I suffer from severe depression. While there have been times I've definitely felt depressed from the calamities that have overtaken me, I'm not one who struggles with clinical depression. But I will confess suffering often from sadness and disappointment, especially when I expected better treatment from my brothers and sisters in the Faith. It's terrible to feel unloved and unwanted by your brethren. As the prophet Isaiah wrote of the Messiah,

He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care. Isa. 53:3 (NLT)

Sometimes I have felt this way too, especially in my dealings with other believers.

Jeremiah had his lamentations over what had become of his people, and I have my own. At times, I've felt like organized religion was my enemy. Admittedly, after all that has happened, I tend to be quicker to distrust religious organizations I encounter that have no oversight over those in authority and no accountability for finances. And with the numerous scandals in recent years among Christian ministries, especially involving megachurches, it seems to me that there is good reason to be extra wary nowadays of any hint of anything inappropriate going on.

So, when I show up as a newcomer to a ministry, should I be automatically stereotyped as a lone wolf or a maverick looking to stir up dissension? Hardly. I'm just holding others to the standard to which the Bible holds them:

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1Co. 14:40 (NKJV).

So, why is it at first sight of me does the shepherd of the congregation feel a need to be apprehensive about my arrival? Looking back, I can only imagine their suspicious thoughts against me as I introduce myself and make my first impressions upon them. I suppose being up in age, currently single, often traveling alone, schooled in Biblical matters, generally inquisitive, typically curious, usually gregarious, and probably noticeably out of place. The Scriptures warn of ravenous wolves. A good shepherd will keep on guard against them.

Nevertheless, I was greatly offended that someone apparently jumped to erroneous conclusions without any evidence. And when I tried to correct the matter, no effort was made to respond. Rather, I found a certain smug self-righteous attitude at work. It's bad enough to be falsely accused but then, worse, not even given a chance to defend myself. What a sham! And these people claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit? No wonder there is so much strife and division within the body of believers.

I pray that these misguided leaders repent from whence they have fallen and undo the damage they have wrought.

In addition to spiritual leaders teaching destructive heresies, there are also self-appointed shepherds who are acting more out of their own selfish interests than having a genuine love for looking after the Master's flock. These are the hirelings who essentially care more for themselves than for the sheep. The Scriptures speak of them in Ezekiel 34 and the judgment that is to come upon them for not doing what they were expected to do:

I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.  Ezk. 34:16 (NKJV)

While there will be shepherds who claim to be working in the Master's interests, their falsehood will be exposed for what it is: self-aggrandizement. They're really in it to indulge themselves at the expense of the ministry.  They seemingly may have done some great things, but the Almighty knows their hearts' intents and they will be judged accordingly: 

“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.” Mat. 7:15-20 (NKJV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!'” Mat. 7:21-23 (CSB)

So, while the true shepherds need to protect against wolves, namely false prophets (per Mat. 7:15), from entering the flock, at the same time the flock needs to guard itself against the false teachers (per Acts 20:29) pretending to be fellow believers but inwardly intend to create a following for themselves. 

Before being quick to invest unquestioning trust in a new pastor or spiritual leader, the flock needs to establish leadership accountability.  Likewise, before turning over their tithes and offerings to these shepherds' ministries, they need to require the protocols for financial accountability.  Or, in other words, they need to be able to follow the money to know for certain that Biblical stewardship is being practiced and that their financial contributions are not being wasted on vanity and luxury. 

Sadly, too often this is not happening.  Far too many times, we see stories in the news media of ministers who have lost their way by exchanging the teaching of Bible truth for their own misguided pursuits.  

“Vanity of vanities” – these pursuits typically follow in the folly of King Solomon, who surrendered the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the endowment from Above of wisdom surpassing all others for the love of many women and an unbridled pursuit of power and wealth.  Of course, history warns about the corrupting effects of power and the Bible exhorts against the love of money being the root of all kinds of evil, 1Ti. 6:10. 

It would seem at some point that Solomon thought he knew better than his own Creator, the source of his wisdom.  In so doing, he fell into the same prideful thinking that led to Lucifer's downfall.  Interestingly, one of the speakers I heard at an annual Bible prophecy conference demonstrated how Solomon set the template for the Antichrist, sharing numerous similarities.  It even seemed to me that Solomon had apostatized from the Truth so badly during his reign that he had committed the unpardonable sin.  But after I reread the book of Ecclesiastes, which apparently was penned in his old age at the twilight of his life, it seemed to me as if Solomon was giving a deathbed confession of his many sins and mistakes.  In the end, he contritely realizes that life's purpose comes down to faithful obedience to God's Word:

When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecc. 12:13-14 (AMP)

Having been at one time under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Solomon certainly should have known better.  There is no excuse for his downfall from the Way. When one considers what Solomon was required to perform according to the law of Israel, the Torah, he appears to have willfully disregarded these specific commands recorded in Deu. 17:14-20 in order to pursue his own agenda.

Much the same can be said for contemporary ministers of the Bible who have lost their first love: their former love for the Messiah, the living Word.  While they keep up the pretense of being a minister of Scriptural Truth, they seem inwardly more interested in their own personal pleasures and pursuits.  And when their sin is exposed, the Faith suffers for it.  Therefore, it is imperative that accountability be established to help prevent the Truth of the Bible from being scandalized.

In the process, the Truth is discredited as nonbelievers look upon belief in the Bible as foolishness. Meanwhile, believers lose faith, feeling betrayed by their spiritual leaders. Sadly it's just as I heard one minister say: “Christians: they're the reason there aren't more Christians.” So true. Too often we fail miserably by our actions at witnessing our faith. How many of us will the Master be able to truly say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

While we all have our sins and shortcomings, there is a higher standard for those in leadership positions. In the case of Solomon, there is no record of anyone confronting him, as did the prophet Nathan to his father, King David. Even though the Almighty Himself appeared twice to Solomon, he incredibly still went the way of egregious waywardness. Solomon's life serves as an excellent example of the susceptibility of corruption by even the wisest man on earth. Therefore, with human nature being what it is, Bible believers not holding their spiritual leaders accountable essentially enables excesses will occur. And with the Devil doing his thing, it almost ensures they will have their share of temptations.

At the end of the age, the time period in which we now seem to live, the Scriptures tell us that we should be especially concerned with false prophets and teachers. With them will come the spread of destructive, or “damnable” (KJV), heresies:

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2Pe. 2:1-3 (NKJV)

When spiritual leaders teach their followers that it is acceptable to mistreat fellow believers or not to show brotherly love and kindness, then they are engaging in a dangerous heresy that contradicts one of the primary themes of the Bible: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” So important is this command that its central importance was magnified by the Messiah Himself:

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him,“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Mat. 22:35-40 (NKJV)

We are commanded to love our neighbor, not to do otherwise. Nevertheless, it seems too often organized religion goes in the other direction, with its adherents making excuses to justify being cold-hearted, uncaring, unloving, and even hateful toward one another. Such an outlook is condemned in the Scriptures, plain and simple.

The book of 1 John has much to say on the subject, correlating our obedience to the Almighty as His servants in keeping the commandments with our love for Him and also our love for others, which He also requires of us. As the Messiah stated, the crux of the Law and the Prophets, essentially the main corpus of the Hebrew Scriptures, is to love God (Deu. 6:4-5) and to love one's neighbor (Lev. 19:17-18) – as reflected in the two tablets of the Ten Commandments.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1Jn. 2:3-5 (NKJV)

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1Jn. 2:9-11 (NKJV)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1Jn. 4:8-9 (NKJV)

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1Jn. 4:12-13 (NKJV)

If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1Jn. 4:20-21 (NKJV)

Love for others is best reflected in actions, not just thoughts and words. Just as faith is complemented by works in James 2, love is corroborated by one's deeds. As James points out, if one comes to you hungry and inadequately clothed for the cold weather, it is hardly sufficient to send him on his way with your blessing of “Be warmed and filled.” Action is required. Not doing anything is confirmation that you really don't care about his condition. It is a telling verification of who you are: a cold-hearted, loveless, faithless hypocrite.

In Mat. 25:31-46, we see that acts of love toward one's neighbor is a salvation issue. Failure to act with love toward others will be a determining factor in whether one will be allowed into the Kingdom. Those who don't do what is required, namely treating others with kindness and compassion, will pay a terrible price as they are condemned to the Lake of Fire. It would seem that our bad actions toward others will be judged severely, despite all of our other accomplishments done in the Lord's Name.

Sadly, the relationship most Christians have with God is often centered on works. There are ministers and ministries supposedly doing great deeds in the Lord's name, not realizing they are missing the mark from the essential marks of faith that ought to receive the higher prioritization. In the end, they too will find themselves condemned.

It seems some get caught up in the works of the Law while neglecting the Spirit found within it, Mat. 23:23. In so doing, the most important aspects of the Word – namely justice, mercy, and faith -- go neglected. Some teachers can get so caught up with their extraordinary abilities, they might come across as being a master in Scriptural knowledge or possessing profound, even supernatural, spiritual gifts having. Nevertheless, in 1 Cor. 13:1-7, the Scriptures indicates that despite having these remarkable ministerial abilities, they are counted as “nothing” (Strong's #G3762) if they have not love. Their monumental ministerial works are viewed as having absolutely no value -- in other words, they are a total waste of effort.

When this statement is put into the context of Mat. 25:40, it is evident that the Almighty demands a higher standard for spiritual teachers and those considered prophets of the Word, especially in their dealings with the flock. Those who don't truly have the interests of the Kingdom in mind, despite whatever other accomplishments they may have in their service of the Most High, they are judged and condemned. In Num. 22-24, the Bible gives the example of Balaam, who acted as a spokesman for YHWH. After wrongfully giving advice to Balak that caused the Israelites to fall into sin, Num. 31:8, in the end he was killed, apparently his punishment for not doing as he was commanded by God.

In 1Kg. 13:13, the so-called old prophet of Bethel, lied to the unnamed man of God and caused him to go of course, resulting in the man's death. It would seem this incident is included in the text to illustrate the dangers of listening to false prophets and teachers and allowing them to deceive and mislead. As noted earlier, the two groups, false prophets and false teachers, are condemned together in 2Pe. 2:1 for secretly bringing in destructive heresies, leading to their own destruction as a result.

Interestingly, the Greek word (#G5578) for “false prophet” in Mat. 7:15 denotes those who come across as members of the flock but inwardly are “ravenous wolves.” It is not the lay members of the Church of concern here but those who give prophetic messages, the false prophets, who are the threat. As with false shepherds of Ezk. 34:1-10, these impostors only seem interested in feeding themselves, rather than feeding the flock. Verse 4 faults them for not strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the broken, and seeking out the lost, as the Good Shepherd, the Messiah Himself, would have them do, as indicated in the next part of the chapter, Ezk. 34:11-16. They have failed their God-given calling. Thus, in time, they will receive their just reward for their willful dereliction.

Because of the neglect from these false shepherds, the flock is scattered and became a prey for the wild beasts who would devour them. In His judgment, YHWH will save His people from these charlatans:

‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” Ezk. 34:7-10 (NKJV)

Typically, unchurched Christians choose a home congregation based primarily on their particular denominational affiliation. There is something to be said for worshiping with others in the unity of faith and without divisions in belief, as in Psa. 133:1. But there certainly are times when I'd rather worship in a congregation comprised of Spirit-filled people, full of love and cheer -- even if I might have some major doctrinal differences – than one with people with mostly identical beliefs. Sadly, the story of Christianity is a history of factions, splits, and schisms from the 1st Century to our time. And some such divisions have been plenty ugly with each side accusing the other of doctrinal heresy and apostasy from the Faith.

“Heresy” and “heretic” are terms that often are quickly misused by one side to demonize the other. And in that same vein, there are those who would brand someone a heretic and then pronounce damnation on them, as if the Almighty was under their orders to follow through with their judgments.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the dictionary of choice among many American journalists, defines the term primarily as an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma. Using this definition, each Church determines what is heresy and who is a heretic. Meanwhile, the secondary meaning has been defined as:

a. dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice

b. an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards

So, instead of basing the term's definition on whether there's disagreement with church dogma, one should go with indisputable Bible doctrine instead. When the Messiah says that to love God and to love one's neighbor as himself, quoting Deu. 6:4 and Lev. 19:18, are the two greatest commandments – along with being the upshot of the entire Law (Torah) and the Prophets – He is confirming that love essentially is at the central core of the Bible's overall message.

Love is so much at the heart of the Bible that the Messiah even commanded His followers to love their enemies, Mat. 5:44; Luke 6:27, 35. Therefore, if one tries to twist the Scriptures into saying that there are circumstances in which it's acceptable for believers to hate or mistreat others, especially those of the household of faith, it seems clear cut that this is heresy, as defined above. If we are required to love our enemies, it goes without saying that we should have a fervent love for our brethren, as directed.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (NKJV)

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1Pe. 4:7-8 (NKJV)

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1Jn. 5:2-3 (NKJV)

Let me be crystal clear here. For the record, if someone who claims to be a Bible believer teaches that believers can willfully mistreat fellow believers and act hatefully toward them, that person is espousing heresy and must be dealt with accordingly. When believers see this type of behavior occurring, they are obliged to take a stand and speak out against such an attitude. Whether it be racism, denomination divisiveness, political partisanship, personal grudges, or just plain old Pharisaic self-righteousness, these heretics must be called out and their ideas confronted for what they are: unsound and unBiblical.

As recorded in the Torah, YHWH's people are commanded to love one another, which includes rebuking them when they go the wayward way:

You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Lev. 19:18 (NKJV)

In Jer. 31, the prophet describes a transformation from the Old Covenant in which the Almighty's commandments were written on stone to the New Covenant in which His laws will be placed on His people's minds and written on their hearts: “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Jer. 31:33, NKJV). Instead of an annulment of YHWH's commandments as Christianity has traditionally taught, largely based on a misunderstanding of Paul's writings (as warned against in 2Pe. 3:15-17) and longstanding anti-Semitism within the Church, we see that His laws will be imprinted on His people. Ultimately, the keeping of His moral commandments are not an act of bondage but of liberty from sin, as well as being an expression of love for the Most High.

So, if love is such a central theme to the Biblical message and Christianity views itself as a so-called “religion of love,” why then is there a recurring problem from generation to generation, from century to century for nearly the past 2,000 years of unloving attitudes in the Church, It seems much of the problem with hateful attitudes within the Church descends from the leadership on down.

For example, in the book of 3 John -- a brief New Testament book with which many Christians seem unfamiliar – we see an instance in which one of the local leaders comes down with a bad case of despotism. The spiritual abuse situation was so bad that a leader named Diotrephes apparently had become so utterly consumed by his own authority that he refused to receive the Apostle John, one who had been taught personally by the Messiah Himself!

And if that was not bad enough, he also expelled members of the congregation who did not support him. It is almost beyond belief that this type of ordeal could have happened, yet the text plainly reveals this to be the case:

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 3Jn. 1:9-10 (NJKV)

In his classic Bible commentary, Matthew Henry says the following on this specific situation:

“The pastor is not at absolute liberty, nor lord over God's heritage. It is bad to do no good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would. Church-power and church-censures are often abused. Many are cast out of the church who should be received there with satisfaction and welcome. But woe to those who cast out the brethren whom the Lord Christ will take into his own communion and kingdom!”

Interestingly, if one does a study on the word “despot,” one finds a connection to spiritual abuse. The word is derived from the Greek word “despotes.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, its definition as it relates to Christianity denotes “a bishop or patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church.” In modern usage, it has been defined as:

“a ruler with absolute power and authority” and “one exercising power tyrannically: a person exercising absolute power in a brutal or oppressive way.”

The dictionary further described the word's transformation as follows: “...Indeed at that time (1755), the word was mainly used to identify some very specific rulers or religious officials, and the title was an honorable one: it comes from a Greek word meaning "lord" or "master" and was originally applied to deities. That situation changed toward the end of the century, perhaps because French Revolutionists, who were said to have been 'very liberal in conferring this title,' considered all sovereigns to be tyrannical. When democracy became all the rage, despot came to be used most often for any ruler who wielded absolute and often contemptuous and oppressive power.”

As time goes on, I've found that the saying “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” rings true. Not surprisingly, the Bible puts a premium on humility. There was a time when I thought this 1887 saying by Lord John Edward Acton was not applicable in view that Mat. 28:18 confirms that the Messiah has been given all authority in heaven and earth. Yet, He was not corrupted by this absolute power. Nevertheless, it would seem that He is the exception to the rule.

In contrast, for instance, King Solomon received great wisdom from On High. Even though he authored a portion of Scripture under the Holy Spirit's inspiration, building the Temple of YHWH, and ruling during a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity, he became wickedly corrupt and oppressive, which led to a split in the Israelite kingdom and a division that has persisted to this day.

The schism in the Israelite kingdom was between the southern tribes -- comprising mainly Judah and Benjamin, thereafter known collectively as the Jews -- and the ten northern ones, led by the tribe of Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph, Ezk. 37:15-28. It would seem that the Levites, the priestly tribe, was divided between both the northern and southern kingdoms. Eventually, the northern Israelite tribes were taken into Assyrian captivity and mostly became “lost” as they mingled with various Gentile ethnic groups, hence known as the “Lost Tribes of Israel.” It seems apparent that the Messiah referred to the people of these lost northern tribes when He said:

“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:16 (NKJV)

Thus, it would seem from Bible prophecy that a reunification of the whole house of Israel is part of the Restoration, which will occur during the Millennial Messianic Age. At that time, Yeh'shua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ) will take His place as king over the earth and return it to its Edenic state, thereby reversing the curse on mankind that occurred when Adam and Eve sinned.

Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Mic. 4:2, NKJV; compare with Isa. 2:3)

The Hebrew word for “law” in this passage is Torah (Strong's H8451), which perhaps best translates as “instruction.” YHWH's commandments are not burdensome laws but instructions on how He wishes us to live. We show our love through our obedience to His commands. Sin is defined as disobeying His commands, 1Jn. 3:4, 5:3.

“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it,” says Jas. 4:17, NLT. The NKJV translates this verse as follows: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (See also Rom. 7:12; 1Ti. 1:8; Psa. 19:7-14; Psa. 119:97-112, 124-128). Keeping the Almighty’s commands is good, especially when done with a pure heart.

Sadly, too often Christian pastors have not learned from the example set for us by the Good Shepherd, the Messiah Himself. The Apostle Simon Peter in 1Pe. 5:3 warns those in authority to guard against the temptation to lord over the flock and to treat others without exercising proper love and care. Sadly, this is an admonishment that too often has gone unheeded, leaving brethren spiritually wounded, sometimes to the point of their losing their faith. This is such a serious situation that the Holy Spirit inspired each of the three synoptic gospels writers to record the same dire warning to those who cause such stumblings:

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17:1-2 (NKJV); compare with Mat. 18:6, Mark 9:42.

When we see this type of repetition occur, it is as if the Almighty wishes to be extra sure to get our attention. The three-fold proclamation of this warning also tells us that believers had better be especially extra careful in their dealings with others. The Messiah even goes as far as to pronounce woe on those through whom such offenses occur. Other than judgment in Gehenna, the Lake of Fire, and the sentence decreed put upon Sodom and Gomorrah, this is about as severe a judgment as pronounced upon individuals in the Scriptures. Those engaging in such callous actions had better take heed and change their ways.

Frankly, I don't care if you're considered a Bible scholar or an expert in Biblical languages or have deep insights into the Scriptures or even possess great spiritual gifts, if you don't have a loving attitude toward the brethren, you don't have a great future to look forward to. This is confirmed by the Apostle Paul:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 (NKJV)

Likewise, those who don't show an effusive love for their brethren, regardless of their works, will receive the following greeting from their Master on the day of judgment:

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Mat. 25:41 (NKJV)

Many have found themselves spiritually wounded in churches, assemblies, and Bible fellowships. Some have such severe wounds, they have no desire ever to return. In my case, my main wound occurred between my arms, namely in my heart. I found myself both figuratively and literally heartbroken. I tried to deal with my heartbreak as the Scriptures direct in Mat. 18:15-17. Sadly, I found my main offender, the leader of a congregation, uninterested in hearing what I had to say. Meanwhile, it seemed a trickle-down effect occurred and I found myself feeling unwelcome and unwanted. Although feeling devastated by the way I was treated, I continued to pray for this individual. Hopefully, in time, the Holy Spirit would move upon him to repent of his loveless attitude toward me and endeavor to undo the damage he had done. I surely hope he has not done the same to others. However, word got back to me from someone else who felt mistreated for no good reason in the same congregation. Obviously, there is more here I could say here, but I leave the matter in the Almighty's hands.

Personally, I’m offended by insinuations of being a “maverick” or a “lone wolf,” when I know first hand that I am not. If a congregational leader wishes to claim certain spiritual gifts, such as the spirit of discernment, and then make allegations about others that are categorically untrue, it shows that he is greatly mistaken in the spiritual gift he claims to have. Essentially, he is a fraud. I'm reminded of King Solomon, who was blessed with wisdom from Above, only to play the fool and prove himself an infidel engaging in grievous sins. Sadly, his wisdom departed from him as did Samson's strength after forsaking the Almighty's instructions. It would seem that there was repentance by the end of the monarch's life. His authored book of Ecclesiastes reads almost like a death-bed confession, as he realizes the follies he has committed. I would hope that the Holy Spirit would overcome the stony hearts of all the spiritually abusive leaders out there who have become untrustworthy shepherds, bent on serving their own selfish interests.

For those leaders who have fallen into paranoia, insecurity, self-doubt, or cult-like obsessions, like King Saul, I would surely hope that they repent of whence they have fallen and step down from their positions, showing themselves derelict of duty and unfit to lead. While there are preachers who may be experts in their Biblical knowledge, they may not necessarily also be gifted in pastoring. Perhaps they might humbly recognize their own limitations and step down in favor of others who have received such a calling from On High. And those who have decided to pursue a ministerial career might just wish to redirect themselves toward another occupation if they find their faith teetering on unstable ground. This is all the more imperative if they find they cannot overcome their sinful urges to use their position to take advantage of others. These are the grievous wolves about whom we should be the most concerned, as warned of in Acts 20:29.

In conclusion, returning to Zec. 13:6, we see in the KJV that the wounds are in the hands, but other versions indicate the wounds are elsewhere. Some of the translations say the wounds occur in the back or in the chest while some, such as the NKJV, ASV, and NASU, indicate that the wounds are “between the arms.” Thus, it would seem the text could also be referring to wounds in the torso, perhaps to the heart. From the medieval Christian mystical belief of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there are those who belief that the Messiah died of a wounded heart, or figuratively He died brokenhearted over the sins of mankind. Perhaps there is some truth to this. As stated in Isa. 53, He was despised and rejected by mankind, along with being wounded for our transgressions.

What brings on brokenheartedness in the Household of Faith? When a relationship or trust is broken by willful betrayal by other believers, a figurative broken heart results. Sadly, believers experience a type of spiritual brokenheartedness when they are shocked by the discovery that their spiritual leaders have fleeced them like dumb sheep, caring more for their own self-indulgence than their people's spiritual welfare and salvation.

Instead of losing faith, brokenhearted believers must bypass these fraudulent leaders and establish a connection directly with the Almighty through a deep study of all things Biblical, driven by a fervent love for his Maker, similar perhaps to the relationship between the Creator, YHWH, with Adam and Eve before the Fall in the Garden of Eve.

Let me be clear here, I am not against having positions of authority within congregations. Certainly, the congregations founded by the Apostles had pastors, who were accountable to the main authority, such as we see in Acts 15 over which James presided. Neither am I in favor of isolationism from other believers, even though it seems nowadays that there are considerable differences in doctrine and practice. This, of course, has the danger of resulting in factions, divisions, and even acrimony among brethren in disagreement. I'm sad to report I've seen it throughout my entire life: a desire to separate from other believers based on the smallest of differences.

On the other hand, issues with “false brethren” was a danger that Paul encountered in his ministerial outreach, as noted in 1Cor. 11:26, Gal.2:4. These agents of the Adversary actually worked to subvert his teachings and create confusion among the communities of fledgling believers. The modern-day believer must be wary against these as well, taking the examples of Scriptures and using them as a warning of a potential repeat in history. While over-vigilant leaders might wish to focus on dissemblers coming into their congregations, it would seem the greatest danger lie with those who wish to teach a different gospel, not based on Sola Scriptura, but on certain men's wayward traditions and ideas that they love to teach others, thus developing a following after their own errors, Isa. 32:6, 2Pe. 3:17-18. The chapter of 1John 4 pretty well summarizes the situation. It's imperative that believers test the spirits to determine whether they are truly of YHWH.

From studying Western history, we see that Satan the Devil has worked hard over the centuries to sow discord within the Church in an effort to keep Christianity divided and at enmity with itself. Nevertheless, Y'shua declared that death (Greek: Hades; Hebrew: She'ol) would not prevail against His Church, or assembly of believers (Greek: ekklesia), Mat. 16:18. Thus, it would seem that Satan is doing his utmost to obstruct the Church from making greater progress in view that the Messiah proclaimed that it cannot be destroyed.

In that Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve Disciples, turned out to be a traitor and thief, it should not come as a total surprise when Christian leaders abuse their positions and fall into reprehensible behaviors. While indulging themselves with wealth and luxuries, they grow cold in their love for the brethren. As with the evil shepherds of Ezk. 34, they feast on the flock rather than feed it with words of love, backed up by actions showing sincere care and concern.

Therefore, it is incumbent for the body of the Messiah, both leaders and lay persons alike, to encourage and uphold one another so that we stir up each other to love and good works, as the Scriptures instruct us. Our daily actions, guided by our love for the Almighty and also our neighbor, should be a witness of our Faith, a light of Truth in a world darkened by sin and evil.

Confronting Spiritual Abuse at the Source:

Interview with a Cult Leader

This is my comfort in my affliction,

That Your word has revived me and given me life.

Psa. 119:50 (AMP)