What Counts For Spiritual Abuse?

[_Drifting]

Fast & Testimony meeting.

[_madeleine]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_abuse

Of that list I've experienced:

Any act by deeds or words that demean, humiliate or shame the natural worth and dignity of a person as a human being;

Submission to spiritual authority without any right to disagree; intimidation;

False accusation and repeated criticism by negatively labeling a person as disobedient, rebellious, lacking faith, demonized, apostate, enemy of the church or a deity (a god);

Isolationism, separation, disenfranchisement, or estrangement from family and friends outside the group due to cult-religious or spiritual affiliation and indigenous beliefs;

Exclusivity and elitism: dismissal of outsiders' criticism on the purported basis that the assessment, opinions, and criticism of the critic is invalid because he/she does not understand or rejects the unorthodox nuances of the belief system of the group or group guru; it is not uncommon for outside critics to be accused of being or being influenced by a demon;

I am certainly condemned by this. Good for me that I do not take any
spiritual definition from men. I strive to look at all things spiritual from God's perspective. Some people need to be managed to see their folly.
It is no Political Right never to be made to feel wrong in spiritual matters. Our culture is certainly going that direction however. I see this a symptomatic of out time of greater arrogance against God's right to rule his own dominion.

No good Catholic is going to think Christ abused the Jews calling down on them as vipers, hypocrites and gnat straining camel eaters. Even though they repeatedly said that he had a demon.

Jesus is God. You're not.

[_Drifting]

Jesus is God.

What?

[_Nightlion]

Jesus is God. You're not.

What a crummy and immature thing to say. Shut up!
You can move the earth with a lever long enough and a fulcrum to set it on. Is that why you have to appeal with such far out logic? I scare you more than all the world?

[Guest]

Jesus is God. You're not.

What a crummy and immature thing to say. Shut up!
You can move the earth with a lever long enough and a fulcrum to set it on. Is that why you have to appeal with such far out logic? I scare you more than all the world?

What is crummy or immature about pointing out the obvious.

work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
13
For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.

...don't see your name in there anywhere, would be the basis of my logic. Doesn't mean I hate your, or even dislike you.

[_madeleine]

Jesus is God.

What?

What, what?

[_Nightlion]

What is crummy or immature about pointing out the obvious.

I was thinking more like, well, it's okay if Jesus preaches harshly, because he is God, for heaven's sake, but for ME to preach harshly is making myself out to be God, for Pete's sake, not that the same points need be made as if God points can only be delivered by God and I have to take a whimpy slot and dole out with the mamby pamby politically correct gospel lite or nothing. The battle of good and evil wages on the same regardless who happens to be on the front line at the moment. I got forty years of scars to witness my valiance.

You want to pooh pooh my dignity as a right teacher by making the obvious point that I am not God comes off both immature and stupid, sorry. Sort of:

Code: Select all

cry baby tit mouse, lay an egg in my house, ashes, ashes we all fall down. 

[_madeleine]

What is crummy or immature about pointing out the obvious.

I was thinking more like, well, it's okay if Jesus preaches harshly, because he is God, for heaven's sake, but for ME to preach harshly is making myself out to be God, for Pete's sake, not that the same points need be made as if God points can only be delivered by God and I have to take a whimpy slot and dole out with the mamby pamby politically correct gospel lite or nothing. The battle of good and evil wages on the same regardless who happens to be on the front line at the moment. I got forty years of scars to witness my valiance.

You want to pooh pooh my dignity as a right teacher by making the obvious point that I am not God comes off both immature and stupid, sorry. Sort of:

Code: Select all

cry baby tit mouse, lay an egg in my house, ashes, ashes we all fall down. 

I'm not your mother, and am not trying to fix your behavior. I can, however, express my own opinions as you can yours.

If you are going to claim the rights as a teacher of the Word, there are recommendations on how to go about that endeavor. 2 Timothy:2 Which, isn't about being politically correct.

The Lord knows those who are his.

Have a good'n!

[_Nightlion]

The Lord knows those who are his.

Indeed. So the question has to be: Do you KNOW you are his? And how do you know it.
Without this truth known of a certainty, how can anyone truly be free?

[_madeleine]

The Lord knows those who are his.

Indeed. So the question has to be: Do you KNOW you are his? And how do you know it.

Indeed, yes it is something I do know.

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.

In short, I have faith in Jesus Christ, have been baptized, and in Him is my Salvation.

But that was not my point. The Lord knows who are his, it is not our job to gaze at others with condemnation, but with love, kindness and joy at what God has done for *them* as well as ourselves. It is not for us to judge who belongs to God and who does not, but live our lives in belief, that we are His.

Did you read 2 Timothy 2?

Peace.