|
|
The following are excerpts from Healing Spiritual Abuse, by Ken Blue. It is an excellent and recommended book that gives depth and insight to the motives and characteristics of abusive churches. It also offers truth, healing and freedom for those under abusive leaders. The comments as to how these relate to PSCC were submitted by a former staff member. "In most cases of spiritual abuse, the control of people is the central issue. "I have heard pastors say to their congregations, "Because I am the pastor, you must follow me." Their demand was not based on the truth or the God-directedness of their leadership but on their title. That is a false basis of authority. (This is a main theme at PSCC offering blessing from God for those who obey and "being out from under the covering of God for those who disobey) "Any appeal to authority based on position, title, degree, or office is false. The only authority God recognizes and to which we should submit is the truth. (Ken must be called "Pastor Ken" or "P.K." at all times as a constant acknowledgment of his "authority") "Men (and sometimes women) who take for themselves "seats of authority" often feel the need to embellish their offices, positions or titles with additional "special claims." They may point to their "unique calling," their "singular abilities," their "great experience" or their "prophetic revelation" to back up their office or their position. None of these special claims necessarily has anything to do with true spiritual authority. (Ken's claims to "discernment" and to a special relationship with God are touted often. He tells stories from the pulpit about incidents of his "discernment" to back up his position) "If by appealing to position, unique claims or special anointings, leaders succeed in creating a hierarchy in the church, they can more easily control those beneath them. They can also defend themselves against any who might challenge them. (Again, Ken's claims to a special discernment and relationship with God makes him unaccountable even to the elders and his family). "Another misguided leader puts it this way: A disciple is one who obeys his disciplers even if he doesn't comprehend what he's told. Because he wants to have a teachable heart he will fully obey and be totally obedient even if what he's asked to do is contrary to what he would normally do or think. To distrust the person God had put in his life is equal to distrusting God and his faith in God is shown by his faith in his disciples. (This is another main teaching at PSCC - to disobey a leader, especially Ken, is to disobey God. Unquestioning obedience is proof of faith at PSCC). "Paul knew otherwise and demonstrated it as he confronted his senior, the apostle Peter, as recounted in Galatians 2. When Paul discovered that Peter was "not acting in line with the truth of the gospel he opposed him to his face, because he was in the wrong. "Paul declared by his actions that the truth always outranks position or title in the church. Truth and its authority are not rooted in a personality or office. It is derived from the Word of God and the gospel it proclaims…There is no such thing as "the Lord's Anointed" preachers who are above the Word…any claim to divine authority for commands, expectations, revelations, or guidance that are not stated in the pages of Holy Scripture are marks of a spiritual tyrant and Pharisee. (Ken claims the right to decide on all aspects of the member's lives including jobs, marriage, children, and relationships as well as most other issues, no matter how small) "Most false doctrines result from overemphasizing a biblical truth, thus making it an untruth, or taking a biblical truth out of context and twisting it to a purpose the Holy Spirit did not intend. The notion of spiritual covering is a different kind of false doctrine. Not only is there little or no biblical basis for the idea of covering, but it flies in the face of numerous broad-based, biblical teachings to the contrary: the egalitarian nature of church fellowship (Mt 23:8-12), the fraternal nature of church discipline (Mt 18) and the parity among members of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:14-26). In Matthew 10:1 Jesus gave his disciples spiritual authority and the power to heal the sick and cast out demons. While Jesus delegated to his followers his authority over sickness and evil spirits, he never delegated his authority over people to anyone. (This is contrary to the claim of leadership at PSCC who say they have delegated authority over everyone. "God has placed us over you" is the constant phrase heard at PSCC) "What about Hebrews 13:17? Here the writer tells us, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account." To begin with, this verse does not apply to any leader who does not function first of all as a servant "watching over" the followers. Second, the New Testament word here for "obey" (peithomai) does not refer to the obedience that may be demanded by right or imposed by decree. Rather, this kind of trust is given voluntarily to leaders in response to their character and the power of persuasion. (This verse is brought up regularly as the basis for forcing members to obey on any issue or to prove an unsubmissive heart. "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority" is the PSCC mantra ) "The New Testament makes clear to spiritual leaders that they have no official or ecclesiastical power by which to lead. They may only appeal to their followers and persuade them to cooperate. By reading the New Testament, followers should understand that they cannot be coerced or shamed into submitting to any leaders. They are free to cooperate or not. (Those that do not cooperate are placed under heavy pressure to do so at PSCC) "It is no surprise that those who most earnestly desire to please God are most apt to be victimized by spiritual authorities setting themselves up as mediators for God. Christ calls us to spiritual maturity. And that sometimes means resisting spiritual authorities just as he did. " |
Abusive Church Leadership |