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Spiritual Abuse
#116808
07/29/09 05:48 AM
07/29/09 05:48 AM
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OP
SDA Active Member 2024
Very Dedicated Member
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,984
CA, USA
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http://www.micsem.org/pubs/counselor/frames/spiritabuse.htmdo we know what spiritual abuse is? does the sda church have spiritual abuse or is it just limited to "those other churches? could we be practicing spiritual abuse and never know it, all the time meaning well?
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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Re: Spiritual Abuse
[Re: teresaq]
#116809
07/29/09 06:26 AM
07/29/09 06:26 AM
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OP
SDA Active Member 2024
Very Dedicated Member
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,984
CA, USA
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In my own particular faith tradition, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, is a key figure. Wesley spoke of sin in terms of overreach. We sin when we overreach.
The sin is not in wanting to live a holy life.
The sin is putting down other people in the pursuit of one's personal holiness.
The sin is not in wanting to win the lost for Jesus.
The sin is sacrificing any consideration of respect, limits, boundaries, and propriety in winning the lost for Jesus.
The aims of those who abuse others in the name of Jesus may in fact be good aims.
However, in striving to fulfill those aims, abusive Christians overreach and disregard other important and significant matters pertaining to the gospel.
Psycho-biologist Konrad Lorenz, author of On Aggression, wrote, "Men may enjoy the feeling of absolute righteousness even while they commit atrocities." In like manner, the famed psychoanalyst Eric Fromm wrote, "We know that a person, even if he is subjectively sincere, may frequently be driven unconsciously by a motive that is different from the one he believes himself to be driven by." In one sense, it needs to be recognized that there are many in Christian churches and ministries who may in fact be subjectively sincere, even while they are objectively abusive. We need not question, except in severe cases, the sincerity of those who abuse others in the name of Jesus. Most of the time abusive people will change when lovingly confronted with the effects of their abuse.
Here, of course, lies the responsibility of the Christian community. We need to lovingly confront those who may in fact be sincere in their Christian faith, and yet who are, nonetheless, abusive. We must not call Christian love what is really in essence abuse. At times, in doing good, Christians do great harm. Christians need to recognize the harm we often inflict upon others, even when we are seeking to do the greatest good of all, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. The great challenge for Christians is to observe that ancient dictum: "In doing good, do no harm."
Major Scott Nicloy
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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