Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse occurs when a person in religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of God or church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept. Spiritual abuse often refers to an abuser using spiritual or religious rank in taking advantage of the victim's spirituality (mentality and passion on spiritual matters) by putting the victim in a state of unquestioning obedience to an abusive authority.

Spiritual abuse is the maltreatment of a person in the name of God, faith, religion, or church, whether habitual or not, and includes any of the following:

• Psychological and emotional abuse
• 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
• Unreasonable control of a person's basic right to make a choice on spiritual matters
• False accusation and repeated criticism by negatively labeling a person as disobedient, rebellious, lacking faith, demonized, apostate, enemy of the church or God
• Prevention from practicing faith
• Isolation or separation from family and friends due to religious affiliation
• Physical abuse that includes physical injury, deprivation of sustenance, and sexual abuse
• Exclusivity; dismissal of an outsider's criticism and labeling an outsider as of the devil
• Withholding information and giving of information only to a selected few
• Conformity to a dangerous or unnatural religious view and practice
• Hostility that includes shunning, (relational aggression, parental alienation) and persecution

Characteristics

Researchers conceptualize a set of discernible characteristics of spiritual abuse.
Ronald Enroth in Churches That Abuse identifies five categories:

1. Authority and Power - abusive groups misuse and distort the concept of spiritual authority. Abuse arises when leaders of a group arrogate to themselves power and authority that lacks the dynamics of open accountability and the capacity to question or challenge decisions made by leaders. The shift entails moving from general respect for an office bearer to one where members loyally submit without any right to dissent.

2. Manipulation and Control - abusive groups are characterized by social dynamics where fear, guilt, and threats are routinely used to produce unquestioning obedience, group conformity, and stringent tests of loyalty to the leaders are demonstrated before the group. Biblical concepts of the leader-disciple relationship tend to develop into a hierarchy where the leader's decisions control and usurp the disciple's right or capacity to make choices on spiritual matters or even in daily routines of what form of employment, form of diet and clothing are permitted.

3. Elitism and Persecution - abusive groups depict themselves as unique and have a strong organizational tendency to be separate from other bodies and institutions. The social dynamism of the group involves being independent or separate, with diminishing possibilities for internal correction and reflection. Outside criticism and evaluation is dismissed as the disruptive efforts of evil people seeking to hinder or thwart.

4. Life-style and Experience - abusive groups foster rigidity in behavior and in belief that requires unswerving conformity to the group's ideals and social mores.

5. Dissent and Discipline - abusive groups tend to suppress any kind of internal challenges and dissent concerning decisions made by leaders. Acts of discipline may involve emotional and physical humiliation, physical violence or deprivation, acute and intense acts of punishment for dissent and disobedience.
Agnes and John Lawless argue in The Drift into Deception that there are eight characteristics of spiritual abuse, and some of these clearly overlap with Enroth's criteria. They list the eight marks of spiritual abuse as comprising:

1. charisma and pride,
2. anger and intimidation,
3. greed and fraud,
4. immorality,
5. Enslaving authoritarian structure,
6. Exclusivity,
7. Demanding loyalty and honor,
8. New revelation.

Although some of these points form aspects of a strong and healthy society (e.g. respect for proper authority, loyalty and honor), the basis of spiritual abuse is when these characteristics are overstretched to achieve a desired goal that is neither supported by spiritual reality nor by the human conscience.

Endure As A Good Soldier In Christ

2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2Ti 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2Ti 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Soldier in the kingdom of God - In the army of god, the Lord Jesus is my commanding officer, the holy bible is my code of conduct, prayer and the whole armor of God are weapons of warfare, I have been taught by the holy spirit, Trained by experience, Tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

God wants you to know that he is not a liar. He has made promises to each and every one of you. They are exclusive to you. Words he has written on your heart. In order for me to give you the promises it is going to cost you. Some of you want things returned to you that I cannot do yet. Your heart is not right. I would not give you a heart transplant in a body riddled with cancer. The enemy wants you to believe I have for gotten you. Suffering is part of the Kingdom. It isn't only for certain people. All have had their share and must to take part in my Kingdom. Your eternal glory should be first and foremost on your mind. I desire each of you to have an abundant life. There are seasons for all things. There is a time to sow a time to reap a time to plant and etc. You are creating a hell in your mind. Read my words beloved so you can cleanse your mind. If your mind is a battlefield you must read what my promises are for you in my word.

Being a good soldier means enduring hardness. Life is difficult but it is imperative that you see it as gain for the kingdom. God says yield. You are distressed about what you lost but count it all for joy because I want to give you something new. Why do you want to carry the burdens from 10 years ago? My love and mercies are refreshed each morning like the dew of the grass. The dew on the grass is from the coolness of the evening and the sun warming the blades of grass. I am strengthening you in this season. You need to know my plans and purpose for your life. If you don't know who you are in Christ the enemy can tell you things that are not true. Constantly refresh, seek me in those hard places. God gives you understanding at all times but you have to seek me to find me. I need you to drink of me and be refreshed. I have come to give you life with purpose but you have to let go of all the things inside you so I can fill you anew.

->End

Grace and peace to you all and may God be lifted up in your life. I praise God for each and everyone who is fulfilling the purposes of the Kingdom. Glory be to God!

Apostle Diane Robinson

The five Fold Ministry Must Operate in Today's Church

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

I went to church in a well known church today on the east end of Long Island NY. Holding out hope church. We were greeted with love and treated great. They broadcast on WLIX radio. The praise and worship reminded me of the days with The Vineyard. Talented musicians and the two pastors husband and wife led worship Pastor Richard and Diane Anderson. He preached so beautifully. They both loved God and it was clear. We were asked to fill out a contact card and we hesitated because we are members of another church. My husband filled it out Pastor Eric Robinson and Apostle Diane Robinson. So as praise and worship finished he said we have clergy visiting us Pastor Eric Robinson and his wife Diane Robinson.

My heart sank. The church did not recognize the five fold ministry. They did have a layman team, intercessors. There were some speaking in tongues. There was no prophet or apostle. I felt sad because there is so much we could do together and because they do not recognize my office I cannot go back. It was funny too because he was talking about the prodigal and getting kissed by the father when you come back. He said sometimes you get kissed by a Judas. I thought it was ironic. I was blessed because I said if nothing else I attended their church to worship God and that is what I did.

They are having a huge revival coming up. They are spending $15,000 and have collected $10,000 so far. It is a blessed thriving church. A sadness came over me as I remembered the scripture when Jesus said many will come in my name and say Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
See the lesson in this is we cannot be ignorant and follow some of the scriptures and not all. God is the word and all of it is GOD. Not just the New Testament. The five fold ministry is how the church is to operate. If your church is not it is because it is not accepting it as valid and is from false doctrine or there are none in the church because it is small.

We have to take the blinders off. Your pastor could be leading you straight to hell because of doctrine. My husband and I could have been a tremendous blessing to them and aided them in their revival week. We would have thoroughly enjoyed it. Our passion is the lost and every ministry that operates in the church. I am grateful to God that my husband and I read the word and do not get tickled on Sunday by good preaching. It is not the will of God for us to be deceived. We must know the word of God and operate in our gifts. Any church out there who does not operate in the five fold and recognize the offices in Ephesians 4:11 or picks and chooses scriptures to follow is making a grievous error.

The good news is the churches can repent and allow Gods anointed to operate and help the church. People do not go sick to a hospital and not expect to get healed. It is the same for a church. My job is not to down pastors or tear down churches who really do love the Lord but because they are blinded are missing God and the gifts he wants to bestow on people. Please pray for our churches so that God can build his churches the way he intended and have all the gifts operating together. In Jesus name I pray…AMEN

The Herod Spirit

The Herod spirit is violent. Herod tolerated the people worshipping the God of Israel when he did not…But he would have no other king other than him. Herod loved only one person in the whole world…himself. Jesus threatened everything that was Herod: his legacy, pride, comfort, and pleasures. Herod also didnt want to be... told he was wrong and cut off John the baptist's head.

History teaches three things about Herod. First, Herod was one of the richest men who ever lived. Second, he was violently paranoid. Third, he possessed a monumental ego.

The enemies of God withhold no tactic to assault his people and profane his word. In response, we need to be spiritually violent ourselves by making a bold stand for God, which ... See Morewill mean the world will forsake us. We may lose friends, promotions, or even recognition and respect. How striking that this pervasive spirit, we see today, was epitomized by King Herod.

Many set up their little kingdoms where everything is about I. God is the ruler of one kingdom. The kingdom of God! Herod was prideful and didn’t want to be told he was spiritually immoral for marrying his brother’s wife. The wife asked for John the Baptist head. Some of you are being assailed like John the Baptist. Some of you leaders are acting like Herod. God will cut you off and you won’t even know it. Herod was a manipulator and was a master at it. He was chosen by himself and manipulated his way into authority.

Imagine Herod’s response were someone to confront him about all the wrong he’s done, that he needed to give it all up and repent. This is the very enemy we fight today! People have their pleasures and their comforts. They’re terrified of what others will think and what they stand to lose to follow Jesus