Christian MySpace GraphicsDr. Stephen Arterburn- author of "Toxic Faith" on "Surviving Spiritual Abuse"- part 1 (Don't forget to mute my music player)Exposing spiritual abuse in the church...
Are you or have you experienced church abuse? Is someone you know experiencing church abuse? Would you like to know what defines church abuse? Read carefully and objectively. Many of you are in an abusive church and don't even realize it.
Characteristics of An Unsafe Church:
1. Inability to ask questions or raise issues- If an individual raises a problem they become the problem.
2. Lack of accountability - accountability suggested, but not there in reality.
3. Increasing expectation of commitment.
4. Emphasis on external image- even if it is not reality.
5. Manipulation, dominance and control.
6. Social isolation of members from individuals outside of the church.
7. Obedience to authority in all circumstances.
8. Secrecy - over finances, decisions etc.
9. Emphasis on finances.
10. Misuse of scripture and the pulpit.
11. The belief that the minister always knows best.
12. Fear of leaving.
13. Personal slander and subsequent isolation on leaving.
14. Loss of personal identity.
15. Elitism - there is no other church like this.
Christian MySpace Graphics"Surviving Spiritual Abuse"- part 2
There are extremes of faith that harm rather than heal. A religious addict or spiritually abused person may not realize they are apart of a harmful church. The following quiz taken from the book "Faith that hurts/Faith that heals" can help us check ourselves or those close to us or even our spiritual leaders.
1. Has your family complained that you are always going to a church meeting rather than spending time with them?
2. Do you feel extreme guilt for being out of Church just one Sunday?
3. Do you sense that God is looking at what you do and if you don't do enough He might turn on you or not bless you?
4. Do you often tell your children what to do without explaining your reasons because you know that you are right?
5. Do you find yourself with little time for the pleasures of earlier years because you are so busy serving on committees and attending other church functions?
6. Have people complained that you use so much Scripture in your conversation that it is hard to communicate with you?
7. Are you giving money to a ministry because you believe God will make you wealthy or bless you more if you give more?
8. Have you ever been involved with a minister or other church leader sexually?
9. Is it hard for you to make a decision without consulting your minister even over small issues?
10. Do you see your minister as more powerful & wise than other humans?
11. Has your faith led you to an isolated life, making it hard for you to relate to your family and friends?
12. Have you ever looked to your minister for a quick fix to a life long problem?
13. Do you feel extreme guilt over the slightest mistakes or over the reality that you aren't perfect?
14. Is your most significant relationship going bad because of your strong beliefs or because you have a "weaker partner"?
15. Do you ever have thoughts of God wanting you to destroy yourself or others in order to go and live with Him?
16. Do you often believe God is speaking to you with an audible voice?
17. Do you believe God is angry with you?
18. Do you believe you are still being punished by God for something you did as a child?
19. Do you feel that if you work a little harder God will finally forgive you?
20. Has anyone ever told you they thought a minister was manipulating your thoughts?
A great on-line resource for Christian recovery from abuse/addiction is www.nacronline.com. Please take the time to check it out.
Christian MySpace Graphics
God is eternal;
Satan is not.
Love is eternal;
Evil is not.
Light is eternal;
Darkness is not.
Joy is eternal;
Misery is not.
Heaven is eternal;
Hell is not."
By Randy Klassen, author of “What does the Bible really say about Hell?â€
Myspace Layouts - Flowers Myspace Layouts
Myspace Codes -
Myspace Generators -
Myspace Backgrounds
TRUTH QUOTES
We are often unprepared for Truth, which is why Truth is revealed to us progressively. --Chip Brogden
The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable. --Jim Davis
From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth; from the laziness that is content with half-truths; from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth – oh God of Truth deliver us!—Unknown
Peace if possible, truth at all costs.-- Martin Luther
In this world, those who seek the truth will also find trouble. --Gary Amirault
To some the truth is an insult, to others life from the dead. --Gary Amirault
Honesty consists of the unwillingness to lie to others; maturity, which is equally hard to attain, consists of the unwillingness to lie to oneself.--Sydney J. Harris
"It's not a matter of what is true that counts but a matter of what is perceived to be true." --Henry Kissinger
The folks who know the truth aren't talking…. The ones who don't have a clue, you can't shut them up! --Tom Waits
First they ignore it, then they laugh at it, then they say they knew it all along. --Alexander Humbold
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. --Arthur Schopenhauer
Being human, we can only receive infinite truth in finite doses--Norman Grubb
The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. --Stephen Hawking
Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set. --Rev. Denny Brake
He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today. --Tryon Edwards
The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.--Niels Bohr
The greatest enemy of any one of our truths may be the rest of our truths. --William James
The greatest friend of truth is time, her greatest enemy is prejudice, and her constant companion humility.--Chuck Colson
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.-- Martin Luther King Jr.
To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant. –Bronson Alcott
When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic.-- Dresden James
Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side. –Unknown
Our first decision about Truth is based upon Who Jesus is. With that question settled many Christians are content, but Truth is living. Truth will continue to reveal Himself to us and around us for as long as we will allow it.—Chip Brogden
The thought that provokes thought is much more valuable than the thought that is only an echo of an accepted truth. - Thomas W. Hanford
Once your soul has been enlarged by a truth, it can never return to its original size. --Blaise Pascal
The one who buries the Truth in the ground for safekeeping will lose it, while the one who does something with the Truth will receive more Truth. This is why some grow spiritually and some do not. --Chip Brogden
When you know the truth, the truth makes you a soldier. --Gandhi
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.-- Martin Luther King
Luther, Amazing Grace, Saved!!!...
Intervention on A&E... Definitely NOT TBN!!!
The Shack; Toxic Churches; Toxic Faith; More Jesus, Less Religion; The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse; Tired of Trying to Measure Up; When God's People Let You Down; Healing Spiritual Abuse...
Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr., Stephen Arterburn, Jack Felton, Jeff VanVonderen, Dale Ryan, Ken Blue, Marc A. Dupont and all those who are in recovery from spiritual abuse...
Christian MySpace Graphics