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*Characteristics of Authoritarian/Abusive/Cult Organizations/Churches.* Steve Morris / Mona McReynolds *Dec 8 2003 08:35PM*

http://prophetic.net/false1.htm This article was contributed by Steve Morris and others and has been edited for even further clarification by those who care.

———————————————————————- Characteristics of Authoritarian/Abusive/Cult Organizations/Churches. ———————————————————————-

1. The people are really there to meet the needs of the leaders, rather than the leaders for the people. This can be in the form of ego, finances, power and position. True shepherds will help, guard, protect, and build the flock so the flock can walk in its own strength. The shepherds don’t own the flock. A true shepherd points people to dependance upon Jesus and to God as your Source.

2. The leaders continually remind members of their own authority—because it isn’t based on genuine Godly character, their message or their lifestyle.

The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or leader, is the over-emphasis on authority. Because a group claims to have been established by God Himself [with special endowments] the leaders in this system claim the right to command their followers.

3. If you mention a problem, then you become the problem. You are accused of causing them, not simply exposing them. The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the leader. The Word is not the final authority, the leader is.

4. Loyalty is demanded by the leader and/or his organization, instead of to Christ. Often fear of bad repercussions will threatened if you leave or do not follow the agenda.

5. Secrecy, surprises and suspense are utilized to continue to cause chaos and confusion. They are “the only ones who know,” you have no access to the “truths” they receive. People hide what is inappropriate, not what is appropriate.

6. Unbalanced doctrines are taught, i.e., prophecy, biblical law or esoteric methods of biblical interpretation and spiritual methods, to the exclusion of the whole counsel of God. This validates the group’s claim of special status.

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Techniques used for control

1. Excess flattery. We all want to think we’re special, and respond readily to a “special” group of people who are considered to be “insiders.” We all want to be a part of the “elite” group, but Jesus died for everyone to have full, equal and adequate access to the Father. The veil was rent that all may see. 2. A promise to bring you into an authoritarian cause, as a leader. There is a follow up on the flattery by urging you to use your “unique personal talents” to guide and teach others. Instead of being a servant to others, you are now a lord to others and your greatness is in your position.

3. A position of great authority over you is assumed. They will contact you again and again to try to get you to attend some sort of meeting, party or other special event and use other socially manipulative tactics in an effort to recruit you into the group—all for your own good, of course.

4. You will be lead to respond to questions with the answers they most want you to give by affirming their authority. This can often be a group psychology. They continue to flatter you, while leading you though a hidden agenda and making it appear as though the answers you gave meant that you strongly supported their point of view of your own free will.

5. The former flattery will be used against you. Now disappointed, in contrast with wild praise, the perceived loss of esteem such a response entails can serve as a powerful force motivating dissenters to “get with the program.”

They will let you know in so many words that you “owe” them for your blessings. God does not work that way. We don’t like to disappoint those who initially claim to be impressed with us, especially when they assume a position of authority over us and claim to have “selected” us for membership in some supposed special group.

Cult leaders and other authoritarian figures typically use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage. The underside of flattery is manipulation.

6. The rules of the game will be changed early on, with no warning, and proceed as though nothing unusual had happened. Such “bait and switch” tactics are typical of those who attempt to recruit others into authoritarian movements. When we find ourselves giving in to such strategies, and feeling reluctant to question those who are setting themselves up as knowing what is best for us, we can slowly begin to internalize their point of view and make the act of repressing any doubts we may have into a fundamental component of our own thought processes. Your mind is not your own anymore.

7. They will contradict themselves many times in the course of your relationship with them. They will cover their tracks by repeatedly verbalizing their stated objections toward the very tactics they used to manipulate you from the start. In other words, they are accusing you of what they are guilty of!

They believe your view of yourself as an independent, free-thinking person would most likely make it difficult for you to recognize fully the many ways in which they were controlling the underlying agenda from the start.

8. The desire to avoid feelings of disillusionment and isolation may be one of the most powerful factors motivating those who choose to remain members of various cult groups and other authoritarian movements, even after it appears obvious that the extraordinary hopes and desires they had when they first joined a particular group are never likely to be fulfilled.

This can occur because of the hopes for relationships and significance were considered part of the prize. If your foundation is really on Jesus, then everything built upon that will ultimately stand, in spite of the winds of adversity. ———————————————————————-

IF YOU ARE NOT AS FREE TO LEAVE AS YOU WERE TO COME IN, YOU ARE IN A CULT! IF CONDEMNATION (RATHER THAN A HEALTHY DISAPPOINTMENT TO SEE YOU LEAVE) AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATIONS ARE SEEKING TO CONTROL YOU, BE GLAD THAT YOU LEFT! IT WILL NEVER GET BETTER.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST–WHICH IS WORLD WIDE AND BASED ON SCRIPTURE AND THE LIBERATING SPIRIT OF GOD–NOT THE DOCTRINES OF MAN. IN CHRIST, YOU ARE FREE! FREE TO SERVE, FREE TO LIVE AND FREE TO DO RIGHT.

THE STRONGER THE CONTROL, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FACE VERY UNPLEASANT AND UNHEALTHY CONSEQUENCES. THERE ARE MANY CHURCHES, MANY OF WHICH ARE VERY GOOD. PLEASE KEEP LOOKING UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT GIVES YOU GOOD MENTAL HEALTH AND TREATS OTHER PEOPLE WITH RESPECT. ———————————————————————- http://www.hourtoempower.com/CULT%20PERSONALITIES.html

In the book, “The Kindom of the Cults” by Walter Martin, there is are two wonderful and educational chapters on what I call “control freaks”. These descriptions and portrayals of leaders with these mindsets is not limited to just cults. Unfortunately, I have found them to be in churches of every denomination. They may not have been looked at in the light of cult-like behavior or attitudes, but they are there and have led to the great wounding of many of Christ’s members in His Body.

Chapter 3 describes and deals wtih the psychological structure of cults. Chapter 4 deals with the personality of cult leaders. These are excellent and I will try to give you a “quick version” so that you may run while you read….

CULT-LIKE LEADER PERSONALITY TRAITS::

(1) Closed-mindedness – Beliefs, policies, and doctrines are not open for discussion or debate by members.

(2) Isolation – Object is to isolate from any person/persons/groups that do not believe as they do….not letting their followers queston their beliefs, actions, or doctrines, and will not let them interact with outsiders (especially ones that are critical of the cults beliefs) They will often expel or ostercize those who begin to think independently from the “group mindset”. And because people have this build-in desire to be a part of a family and to be accepted, they will go along with just about anything in order not to be rejected or abandoned and left alone. (Mona’s addition) Will use public humiliation as punishment for those who dare oppose them or question them

(3) Exhibits hostile behavior towards those who reject their interpretations.

(4) Hold to the belief that anyone who opposes their beliefs cannot be motivated by anything other than satanic force or blind prejudice and ignorance. In other words, you are being influenced by satan if you are having thoughts independently of the group or question anything. What a lie!

The author points out the example of the “Branch Davidian” compound in Waco as a prime example. We also know of others like the Jim Jones cult compound where they all followed him to their deaths.

Lest you think this does not exist in our churches, READ ON! and see if these ring a bell…

CULT-LIKE CHARACTERISTICS

On page 52, I will be quoting directly: Just substitute church denominations or leaders (especially charismatic evangelists) with the word cult and you will gain a great deal of enlightment.

(1) The cults’ability to control the mind supersedes that of the best military “brainwashers”

(2) The cult recruits become unable to think or make decisions for themselves.

(3) Cult recruits change their personality.

(4) Cultists cannot decide to leave their cult.(How many have been told that if they leave a particular church and go to another or change denominations, they will be “damned”, “go to hell”. Honest, people, this stuff really happens!

(5) A successful intervention must break the mind control, find the core personality, and return the individual to his/her pre-cult status.

There is so much more he has to say on the subject and it gets involved for those who wish to study and learn. There are also other books written by other Christian authors dealing with this sensitive subject. It is not my intent to scare anyone, to go on a “witch hunt” or cause division. It is my desire to alert the Body of Christ to these pitfalls, and to be asking God how to minister to those who have been deceived and abused and wounded by abusive leaders and situations.

I have been involved in situations where I have seen people fall prey to certain strong mind-contolling influences where you discern in your spirit that all semblence of truth and reality have long since disappeared and deception and bondage resulting. I don’t know about you, but a holy anger rises up within me because satan uses these stategies to take away God’s gift of freedom and liberty of spirit and mind….to make us slaves to him through people instead of letting our hearts and minds be free to CHOOSE who we will serve. God never forces us to love Him or serve Him. He does motivate and encouarage us and makes us aware of the consequences we will incur if we trespass His boundaries.

A few good books that I would highly recommend are as follows…if you have more recommendations, please post them on the message board in the Roundtable Room or Damesels in Distress Room.

“10 Lies the Church Tells Women” – by: J. Lee Grady

(this is written by a man and would be a great eye-opener for our christian brothers to read)!

“Boundaries – When to say yes, When to say no” – John Townsend & Henry Cloud (most people have never learned to set healthy boundries for thier lives and this book shows us how).

“The Healing Power of Love” – By: Floyd McClung, Jr. This is an excellent book that speaks to healing and developing the human soul and spirit.