Spiritual Abuse

"Abuse" is a very strong word. In every case of abuse the central factor is the misuse of power. This is the context in which the word is used.

No-one would condone abusive situations when confronted by the realities. Abuse becomes a stark reality when you are the one involved. We reel in disgust at the story of the child who has been abused or the wife who displays bruises from her husbands fists. These are issues that must be acted upon as they all spring from a disregard for God's word. There is another form of abuse that is largely unseen and occurs all over the planet all the time. This is spiritual abuse. Because it is something intangible we ignore its seriousness. However this is a problem that claims the spiritual life, and sometimes the physical life, of many Christians. The fact that God appears to condone the ministerial treachery many experience is just too much for some. What is the truth behind spiritual abuse?

I believe that the systems and structures most ministers party to in their work are to blame. It is true that some ministers know that they are devastating a life but most are following some procedure that they see as 'scriptural'. If Christians do not understand this, they can forever remain a seeping wound. It is easy and often feels good to pin the blame on individuals who were involved in 'what happened'. However, to properly deal with the problem of spiritual abuse, we need to see what is behind it. It will be no surprise to learn that the way church is erroneously practiced is largely the problem. Men who place themselves in a tiered leadership structure in church are asking for trouble. In industry men can do their work in these ranked systems as constitutional boundaries protect those under these bosses. If there is an infringement, unions can represent the employee and ensure the correct procedures are administered. With this knowledge, those in industry generally work towards getting the 'product' out of the door to the people. Each are rewarded for their work and most of the time everything runs smoothly. In church it is different.

Ministers automatically slip into a ranked structure for a three reasons. Firstly, the Early Church Fathers erroneously began ranking church leaders. This practice remains in the church today yet is entirely opposite to scripture. Secondly, it appears logical to create an organisational structure with divisions and sub divisions to get a job done. However, the bible has no church directive to get a job done. We know there is the desire to see lost people become Christians, this is God's heart for those still bound by darkness. But this is not described as a job or a 'product' that the Church should aim towards. rather, it is more a natural consequence of being in Christ and meeting biblically. The church should meet for encouragement and upbuilding but mission has become the drive for most. Thirdly, the truth remains that the heart of man will relish the opportunity to be over other people. It is a biblical and historical fact that when man has anything from kingship to a leadership position in a local church, he is in great danger.

The heart of man is not capable of leading the spiritual life of others. Spiritual life bears no resemblance to organisational/project/industrial life. Spiritual life needs family and the warmth of brothers and sisters. Spiritual life needs the Lord of life to be central to what they do, not a mission or a vision-based end product. With these considerations we can begin to understand how the church has been playing into the hands of unhelpful situations. How can a man manage spiritual life? He can't. Only Jesus Christ can do that. What we see today is mere men making decisions about the lives of spiritual people. It ends in problematic situations.....sometimes misuse of power. Those who swallow and follow the papal directives from thousands of pulpits risk an even bigger problem. They become so convinced their elected Man Of God is their spokesperson that the leading of the Spirit always comes from that person. The result is people who are living their life with two mediators. They have their church leader and then Jesus. Jesus has always been and always will be your leader. A time comes when you either choose the leading of God or the leading of the church leader. Many church leaders react by assuming the church member is rebellious or has attitude problems. While this can be the case, most are being led by God and should obey.

Those who even today experience the darkness and depressive hangover of an abusive situation can find answers and understanding in these truths. If it is possible to see what happened as God's way of setting you free from the hierarchical leadership, you will begin to be healed. Men do act in atrocious ways towards each other to serve their own purpose but behind this is an erroneous system that flies in the face of biblical directives.

Our fight is not against flesh and blood. If you need any more help with this contact us. If you want to know more about how to live as a spiritual person in God's plan for church, contact us.

Understanding the Bible

When we learn that the Bible is God's word, it's little wonder that we try to take on as much information from it as we can. It is right and good to chew over God's word, examining the characters and learning a new mindset (Rom 12:1-2). The word of God can reveal more of God to us, his nature and his being. We can stand in awe at the incredible work that he has done, especially in sending Jesus to secure eternal salvation for those who will follow. While a healthy intake of the word of God is bound to help us immensely, we must not forget the reason why the word of God is given to us. It has been brought together to introduce us to the author: God! It is in this context, being in the presence of Almighty God, we can better understand the Bible.

In our institutional/hierarchical worlds we can easily fall into the mistakes that have beset many well meaning Christians. This world tells us that the more you know, the more superior you are. We see this in most institutional systems on this earth. With the bible the exact opposite is true: The more you know, the more humble you are! As God is revealed to you through the scriptures it is no ticket to swank around with a head full of Greek declensions. True revelation brings about humility and a heart that is ready to truly serve our brothers and sisters and those beyond 'our own'. Like John the Baptist when the Lord came into his ministry, we want to become less to make way for his work.

Revelation is not about knowledge that is stored in the mind. It is about how the person of Christ is given dimensions in your life. True revelation changes and transforms where knowledge alone simply provides and stored information. As the truth about Christ and the salvation he has gained permeates our beings, we begin to see how fickle and temporary this world is. We begin to see how we are often anchored here in this world when we can be anchored in Christ. As we live our lives, the Holy Spirit helps us to become sourced in Christ, not in this world.

With this in view, it is vital that we approach the bible without a view to gain knowledge, rather, be transformed. Today's church structures don't help with this. Tiered leadership produces a natural rank. Those with genuine contributions to make are silenced by the system that places the educated on platforms. the temptation is then to see education as a way to express a genuine gift. This is how we can approach the bible with a information mindset rather than having transformation as our reason for enquiry. We must remember, whatever our circumstance, our purpose in Christ is transformation, not to seek out position. Unfortunately many who know they have a spiritual gift wander around looking for a place that will allow them to express it. Ministers often call this insubordination, and sometimes the accompanying attutudes are less than impressive. However, they are also called into question as they party to an unbiblical system that has made spiritual gifts into a specialized science.

This is among many reasons why God wanted the church to be open partcipationary style, not pulpiteering or heirarchical. You, no matter who you are, can share Christ.

Who is your Preacher?

Everyone on the planet has a source through which they live their life. 'Information' is the biggest issue around because we act upon information. Subsequently, what we do affects ourselves and others. Music, media, politician, religious spokesperson, personal hero, pastor or celebrity; all can provide information on how we are to be or what we are to do. For example, masses of people want to look like a particular version of a human being. The right shapes, clothes and attitudes have neglected the simple and profound truth that you are unique! Theres only one of you! The need to be accepted and 'fit in' came from information pumped into the media. It is all usually geared around product and money making.

We have the ability as free thinking individuals to manage the information we recieve. Most of the time we do not consider ourselves to be recieving information when we actually are. So many things we come across in everyday life contains information. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can identify the 'usual suspects' in the information war. We usually treat certain areas in life with care, rightly managing the info that comes from the source. There can be ways in which the Holy Spirit is unable to help us identify potential dangers. These areas involve our permissions and levels of permission.

No-one should live without the help and advice of others. It is dangerous to close our lives to all human counsel because the Lord can use others. The body of Christ, when free from the institutional rank-and-routine format, is vital to our growth in Christ. When we take the advice or counsel or guidance of other people and elevate its importance we can go astray. When we give certain respected, educated, revered, talented, wise individuals too much scope in our lives, the Lord is crowded out of that area. Even the smallest degree of permission in an area can hand control to a man or woman. Can it be argued that the Lord, should he desire, can speak louder than any person on earth? Is it true that we can 'have an ear to hear' the voice of the Lord over that of our trusted mortal? Maybe so, but when we give permission in our lives to a person on earth we begin taking on their mindset, philosophy and their own version of their Christian experience. A time may come where the two voices conflict. Sadly, many experience this and because they have accepted the 'clergy culture', they default to flesh and render more control to the Pastor, Vicar, Priest or Pope. I am convinced that this is how the system of clergy and laity becomes control, manipulation, containment and stagnant religion without anyone lifting a finger..... it's just the way we are wired. That's another reason why God designed church to be safe, free and Christ centred.

Their information, even if you pray over it and 'lay it before the Lord,' is in danger of replacing the Lord's leading. The body of Christ is their to help you grow and act as a 'voice' of sorts. We must be clear on a few things about other Christians before readily accepting their 'leadings,' 'prophecies,' or 'things they feel.'

• There are no Christians more informed about you than you.
• No one except Jesus can know your heart.
• Jesus is alive and able to lead without any help.
• The appearance of God's 'special anointed' is unbiblical.
• You must outwork your own salvation.
• People have different functions but not levels of superiority.
• Sometimes 'helpful' people (including leaders) need to be needed.
• God uses people but the interaction always gives you a choice.

It is far easier to rely on people to deliver the 'word of the Lord' than embark upon a Christ-led Christian walk. We can go all our lives never facing the reality of who we really are. The pseudo world of minister, leader or author led Christianity can never delve into the heart attitudes that lurk within. We can even construct a world where everything is manufactured as 'real Christianity.' This inauthentic way to live is caused by the systems and structures readily accepted in Christendom today. The aim of the Lord's work is to cause change in our lives. We are changed into Christlike attitudes and actions follow. If these changes are driven by any outside information influence then we miss the real change Jesus intends within us. This change is sourced within, in the heart of the individual. Christ alone through the work of the Holy Spirit can cause this to occur. Today we see so many ways to change our christian walk, our witness and our worship yet most deal with technique, formula and prescription. It is the inner life that truly makes us salt and lighte. If you cannot accept that we need to return to Christ centred meeting then go the whole hog and buy a tee shirt saying 'SALT and LIGHT' on the front. This is about as much use as living in the artificial man-serving kingdom of NOD that sends millions to hell every waking day. WHO IS YOU PREACHER?

Gary Ward

Reasons for reform 2

Jesus opposed the practice of tiered leadership, rank and hierarchy in Mark 10:34-45

James and John were wondering if they could sit on Jesus' throne alongside him in glory! This caused problems with the others who were following Jesus. This occasion reveals a fundamental problem with the heart of fallen man even while in the direct presence of the Lord! James and John felt they deserved some kind of special reward for their sacrifice of following. These two said to Jesus "We want you to do for us whatever we ask." While it is ok to ask Jesus to do things for us, we must have the right perspective about who Jesus is. We are his disciples, not the other way around.

The heart of man is vulnerable to seek rank and figure in tiered leadership. To be over other people, in charge of something or be 'the boss' is a desirable position. The world system has rank and tiered leadership and uses it in its functions. When God's chosen people rejected God (1 Sam 8:7-21) Samuel was instructed to tell them what would happen if they had a king like the other nations. The resultant warnings showed how the king would become central to the flow of the land not God. It is here we also see rank introduced to the nation's structure. This came about as man rejected God! This biblical fact does not change over time! Attempts to defend the position of being 'over' other believers in 'spiritual Israel' is highly questionable in light of the historical debacle of choosing 'Kings.'

Rank and hierarchy belong to the 'other nations' and had no part of God's spiritual leadership of the nation. In the light of this it is no wonder the Church struggles to impact and influence society. It has taken on the structure and system of the very thing it attempts to contrast! Even the most Christlike Christian cannot be fully used while partying to the system!

Paul never included rank or hierarchy in his epistles. He only ever wrote to 'brothers and sisters.' Leadership was a crucial function in the ecclesia but was not hierarchical like the world's was. Today we see leaders in prominent tiered leadership positions. When challenged, many claim they are serving the people in their leadership to fall in line with Mark 10:42-45 and they need to be in authority. They say that although they are over other Christians in rank, it is a 'relational rank.' If they have leadership gifting then it will be apparent without an office. True authority does not come from labels or position. Uniform of any kind is enforcement not endorsement. Jesus left official positioning and ranked structure when he separated from the synagogue (Luke 4:19f). Rank of any kind works against the spiritual Lordship of Jesus Christ. Paul and the other authors of the New Testament epistles do not describe a system and structure, simply a way for those who are in Christ to meet. What this meeting has become hinders the work of the Holy Spirit through believers.

Feeling Forgiven

For various reasons people can have problems feeling that God may not forgive them. Faith is about taking on God's truth no matter how strong you feel otherwise. Over time we find faith replaces doubts and we find it easier to accept incredible truths that Jesus has done what he has done. No matter how holy others seem or make themselves out to be no-one will ever be up to scratch! Our responsibility is to respond to our shortfalls with repentance, putting plans into place to not go down the sinful route. We all want to be perfect and one day we will stand before the Lord whole, with no inclination to sin.

Jesus is our advocate, like a lawyer before God. He deals with it all. Sometimes there are deep rooted reasons why we feel like we are some 'special case' who never seems to be able to stop sinning. The truth is that everyone is struglling in some area of life. Sometimes we meet people who seem 'oh-so-perfect.' We can feel intimidated by their super Christian life and how they seem victorious over all sin. Here's a fact: If you live your life without being aware of some area that needs the Lord's work then you are deluded. Of course you could live in isolation from the world, couped up in a safe room with no outside influences to challenge your life. If this is you then you are not living your life to the full. Holiness is important but we cannot wrap ourselves in cotton wool in order to appear sinless! get out into this world, be salt and light and allow your own shortfalls to be made known to you. This is God's grace at work!

Some Christians don't understand Jesus words in Mark chapter 7. In short Jesus was saying that we should not assess the status of our righteousness by the amount of evils we can see in this world. The fallen heart of Man is capable of making anything into a river of sin! So as we live our lives be sure that there will be new challenges to deal with as time goes by. This is not an indication of your weakness, but a sign that you are living a Christian life sensitive to what is right and wrong. There are three types of righteousness:

Made Righteous: God made you righteous through Christ's finished work

Self Righteous: Your own actions are right.... because you say so!

Traditio-Righteous: You make up additional stuff based on man's wisdom

Sadly many of today's clergy have their own traditions as sacred as God's word. About three months after getting married we were expecting our first child. The pastors wife was less than happy for us. The reason was because it was considered 'wise' to wait 2 years after marrying before considering children! A fair comment I guess, but this had become more a law than general advice! Advice is all well and good as long as it doesn't become a commanding voice.

A story of the history of the Church

God says eggs should be poached

God says we should poach eggs because when
we eat them, they make us fit and
healthy in a world full of sickness.
That's it. Call off the search! It's
God's word so that should be enough.
Everyone understands this so those who
believe in egg begin to poach eggs and
eat them. Healthy people exist among a
world full of sickness. The sick see
the healthy people and ask them why they
are healthy; they answer... poached
eggs! God says we should poach our eggs
and eat them. The sick person asks "how
can I poach eggs?" After a short
discourse on poaching eggs, the sick
person goes away and poaches their own
eggs. They become healthy. Job
done!

Over time some of the leading egg
poachers decide that it would be better
if we made an omelette. These are
thrown together quicker, have more
ingredients and taste better. Soon
everyone is making omelettes! They eat
them, they taste nice and you can even
have your favourite ingredients in the
mix. Strangely those who are sick seem
unconvinced of this omelette lifestyle.
Generations live and die enjoying
omelettes yet confused as to why only a
few sick people ever get well.

Some study this phenomena. They examine
the ingredients.... eggs and stuff.
What can be the problem? We're not
missing anything out! The things we have
with eggs are harmless cultural
variants. Could it be the pan? The
heat? The omelette eaters? The
Antiegg?

Time goes on. Some experienced omelette
makers are employed to provide cuisine
omelettes. The leading omelette eaters
defend their omelettes as being the
best. Some question these eggsperts but
soon learn that those with more eggs
have more eggs for a reason: God trusts
them with eggs. Experienced omelette
makers continue to dish out the goods
weekly as the Omelette of God. Some
cook, most eat. The cooks become
revered. How special is it to be the
maker of omelettes? Eggrachies emerge
to reflect the level of eggcellence in
cooking omelettes! Generations learn to
never question the omelette or the
cook.

The omelette becomes sacred and holy.
Convinced that omelettes are the way
forward, some translate the word 'poach'
as 'omelette.' Some write books on the
best ingredients for effective
omelettes. Purpose driven omelettes,
the prayer of omelettes and the Alpha
omelette all become standard works
regarding omelette eating. Still, only
few sick people become omlette eaters.
The reason still revolves around the
antiegg and the deggle, the unseen evil
whose destiny is to burn in heggl.

Omelette groups emerge. Some like one
ingredient with their eggs and some like
others. The groups meet together and
their favoured ingredient is
celebrated. Omelette eaters go to the
street offering omelettes to sick
people. Few take the omelette. Those
who do often quit omelettes soon after
trying them.

One day an omelette eater decides that
he is quite capable of making his own
omelettes. After a diet of the same old
ingredients, he begins to question why
the omelette is not making people better
as it should. He consults God's word and
is shocked to find that eggs should be
poached and eaten by each person. He
tells his cook that he wants no more
omelettes and the cook gets eggstreamly
irritated. He leaves the egg-house and
pursues the poaching discovery. The
cook, in true eggressive fashion, tells
the other cooks that this ex omelette
eater has gone bad.

After a while he meets others who have
discovered that God said we should poach
eggs and eat them. This was eggciting
news for this poached pilgrim. He began
a wegg site and wrote a book, begging
people to re-eggsamine the word of God
regarding poaching. After consulting
fellow poachers over his findings
regarding poaching and the like, he
began asking questions why we need cooks
when we can all poach eggs and eat
them. He began asking why we need the
house of egg when the egg is in us all.
He found that the first poachers left
poaching instructions and the way fellow
poachers can help each other. None of
this involved the ingredients that were
to constitute omelettes. In fact, the
way the egg is prepared was the very
centre of all what would bring about
egghouses, cooks, omelettes and sick
people remaining sick.

Having eaten and sometimes even prepared
omelettes for people, he could
understand how omelette eaters remain
omelettized. However, poaching is God's
way and that's that. Those who have
eggxited the omelette way and taken on
poaching can confirm that they are
getting more healthy day by day. When
more people begin poaching it could have
an effect on the sick people in the
world. That was eggsactly what God
wanted.

Maybe some day we can all realise that
God wanted eggs to be poached and
eaten. Omelettes, no matter how well
cooked, do not have the desired effect.
Poached eggs were supposed to change the
eater and that change was to be seen by
those who had no egg. Eggs and poaching
instructions could be passed on to those
who saw the effect of poaching, but
omelettes could never do this.

Omelettes remain the egg of choice and
are offered to the eggless on a daily
basis. Stop making omelettes and get
back to the poaching that God
instructed. Then you will be able to
show people how to poach their own eggs
and be changed themselves.

Gary Ward
self declared egg poacher of the year

Reasons for reform 1

Tiered leadership structure is unbiblical, as pointed out in 1 Corinthians chapters 1-4

Paul the apostle confronted the Corinthians with a few issues concerning how they were following men because of gift and function. This had led to Paul himself being subject to their judgment as they questioned his apostleship.

There were divisions in the church based on how one considered another leader in, or associated with, the church. Paul could have simply told the church to make sure they follow Christ but instead goes on to underline the true nature of the Corinthian problem.

It is not worldly ability that makes them able to see the powerful message of the cross, yet the Corinthians had returned to esteeming and hankering after those with such abilities. These divisions had caused quarrels amongst the brothers just as it had when James and John asked to sit with Christ on his throne (Mark 10).

Having pointed out the problem of elevating people because of gift and function, 'as the world does' Paul appeals to the Corinthians to have no differences between them.

Chapter four ends the general rebuke before going into specific issues occurring in the church. In this chapter he writes with some irony, >"you are already rich, you have all you want. You have become Kings!"

Like the Corinthian church, everyone knows that kings preside over other people. Paul tells them of his own lifestyle as an apostle, clearly showing that he lived a life of pauper proportions. This contrasts the attitude of the Corinthians. They were happy to make the gifted, educated and talented into 'kings' and those with these attributes were happy to be regarded that way! Paul is reminding them that there will be a time when they will be kings, but at that time all God's people will reign with Christ in his coming Kingdom.

He recommends Timothy to them because he will remind them of his 'no divisions' lifestyle. Paul uses the language of relationship when describing his association with Timothy. Calling him his son again underlines the fact that there are no ranked divisions between himself and Timothy even though Timothy was learning from Paul.

This initial rebuke ends with Paul asking them if they want him to come to them biblically with gentleness and love or in an authoritarian rank - with a whip!

Today's Church are happy to lift up certain gifts and functions. Not everyone has a Corinthian attitude of reigning as Kings, but still function in tiered rank. Paul called this structure worldly. It also caused divisions and arguments. This is what we find today in the denominations and infighting within Christendom. It also accounts for the weak and insipid effect that Church has on society as ranked leadership makes people anything but Christ-centered.

Sadly, many do not recover from the spiritual abuse caused by 'Kings' in ranked leadership structures.

This is why Century One exists: to stand for truth, righteousness and justice when it's easier to do the done thing.