Soul Bruises

Episode 11 - Untangling the Web of Spiritual Authority - Spiritual Abuse Tactic & Behavior 4 of 12 - Authority, Spiritual Authority & Distorted Loyalty

• Christie Hodson • Season 1 • Episode 11

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Spiritual abuse can shatter faith and trust in devastating ways. Imagine an environment where authority becomes a tool for manipulation rather than guidance. In this episode of Soul Bruises, we tackle the harrowing reality of spiritual abuse within religious settings, dissecting how authority and distorted loyalty can morph into instruments of harm. Learn how to differentiate between genuine spiritual authority and the misuse of power that leads to exploitation and suffering, and understand why speaking up is crucial for mental and spiritual well-being.

Journey with us as we examine historical and modern figures like William Wilberforce, Pope Gregory the Great, Thomas Merton, Henry J. M. Nouwen &  Jill & Jinger from the Duggar family, whose lives highlight the dual-edged nature of spiritual authority. By delving into their insights, we uncover the qualities of healthy leadership—humility, accountability, respect for autonomy, and community-building. Through personal stories and testimonies, we shed light on the dark corners of spiritual abuse, offering a pathway to reclaiming faith and trust.

In our critical analysis of Bill Gothard's controversial teachings and the dynamics within his organization, we expose the dangers of absolute obedience and hierarchical control. Hear firsthand accounts from individuals like Jill Duggar Dillard and Jinger Duggar Vuolo, who bravely share their experiences of entrapment and the struggle for autonomy. We close with a hopeful vision for church communities, advocating for empathy and compassion, and highlighting real-world examples of churches making a positive impact. Join us in this candid and necessary conversation to foster safer, more supportive spiritual environments.

"Be Human, Be Kind, Be Both."

Christie:

Hello my friends and fellow soul defenders. My name is Christie and this is Soul Bruises, a podcast devoted to taking a closer look at spiritual abuse. Whether you're a new listener or returning, I want to welcome you to a podcast that is addressing spiritual abuse out loud. If you are new, while each episode can be listened to individually, you might find it helpful to explore past episodes for more context. Addressing and eradicating spiritual abuse is going to take a lot of consistent voices speaking up and refusing to tolerate or accept this abhorrent behavior in the name of God. The Soul Bruises podcast is my personal effort to be one of those voices. I hope you will consider joining me on this important journey. I understand the weightiness of this subject matter and realize that a podcast on this topic can be heavy and intense. Spiritual abuse is a challenging topic to discuss, let alone exposing and discussing it openly. However, staying silent is no longer an option for me. My conscience won't allow it. I acknowledge that this material might evoke some strong emotions and may elicit some traumatizing memories for some listeners. Because of this, I urge you to prioritize your mental health before you choose to listen. Know that you are not alone and I'm here to support you. In previous Soul Bruises episodes, I began laying out a list of 12 behaviors and tactics that contribute to spiritual abuse. So far, we've covered deception, power and control. In this episode we will tackle the fourth behaviors and tactics authority, spiritual authority and distorted loyalty. Before I dive into this topic, some have asked me who my target audience for this podcast is. I hadn't clearly defined it in my mind and simply hoped that if it helped at least one person, I'd be satisfied with that. However, I feel a subconscious direction formulating as time passes. This topic of authority, spiritual authority and distorted loyalty challenge that perhaps need for further clarification.

Christie:

Spiritual abuse often occurs in religious settings and uses religious languages, with the Bible tragically being used as the abuser's weapon of choice. Thus, my target audience has been those who believe in God, are followers of Jesus, endorse the Bible and are regular churchgoers, and while it seems I'm focusing mostly on pastors and spiritual leaders, the body of Christ is also accountable when harm is shown to others, especially in the name of the Lord. While spiritual abuse can happen in any denomination and in any environment, as a Christ follower I am most familiar with that spiritual family and because of this many of my perspectives come from that viewpoint, I recognize that spiritual abuse does happen in other contexts, denominations or spiritual environments happen in other contexts, denominations or spiritual environments. Yet because I'm most familiar with Christianity, many of my perspectives will be taken from that mindset. I would invite those from other denominations or spiritual environments to join me in speaking out against spiritual abuse or abuse of any kind, as you have a unique viewpoint of how it's showing up in your environment. This may explain why some of these episodes lean into Christianity more than others. I hope you can sift through the specific tactics and behaviors in determining how they might show up in your own environment.

Christie:

Exploring the matter of authority is tricky. Your own environment Exploring the matter of authority is tricky. Throughout my research on spiritual abuse, the terms power, control and authority kept recurring. They appeared so frequently that I gave them the term spiritual abuse triad. The last strand of this triad is authority. Under that strand comes the term spiritual authority and distorted loyalty. As we are starting to process this from a spiritual abuse perspective, I will first define what the term authority and spiritual authority are, explain the similarities and differences, and then explain how they find their way into the spiritual abuse realm. While doing so, we will see how this opens up environments to create a distorted loyalty to these authorities.

Christie:

To do this, I need to warn those who have experienced trauma around the Bible. I will again be using a few passages from the scriptures. While I personally view the Bible as a source of truth, I acknowledge that some have misused it against you as a tool of abuse. If this trauma prevents you from listening any further, I completely understand and respect your decision to not continue listening. For those that do choose to listen, please understand that I am a traveler on this journey through life and what I present is what I have learned so far. I am open to being challenged or questioned. Ultimately, my goal is to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of spiritual abuse in spiritual and secular settings. If my personal perspectives get in the way, ignore those and focus on the behaviors and tactics. My heart simply wants spiritual abuse to end. So let's start with some definitions.

Christie:

Authority is when one takes the power and right it has been given, often through delegation. To give orders, make decisions and enforce obedience. To give orders, make decisions and enforce obedience. Examples include parents, teachers, pastors, spiritual leaders, police officers, bosses and politicians, as was discussed in the podcast on power and control. Every single one of us exhibits a degree of power and control, from the smallest infant to the president of a country. Every single one of us has an influence on the world around us. Some just have more influence than others because of their authority. Those authority figures have been delegated to hold more power and influence. Sometimes these authority figures use their power for good, while others have used it to coerce, bully or force those underneath them to act in the best interest of the authority figure. Often, this affords the authority figure more power, control and, consequently, more authority. German sociologist Max Weber defined authority like this quote the legitimate power that enables individuals in positions of power to give commands and be obeyed. End quote.

Christie:

Taken to the extremes, authority can turn into authoritarianism, where the power is centralized at the top, giving that person unchecked power and often resulting in the inequality among those they govern. Even at the least extreme levels, authority is often hierarchical in nature. Authority is often hierarchical in nature. On the other hand, power and control differs from authority in that they are not hierarchical and can flow in any direction. Authority is given to a person who is in charge In the case of work, a boss, in the case of home, a parent and, in the case of church, a pastor or spiritual leader. Authority, unlike power and control, often gains legitimacy from the delegation or position of their leadership. This top-down hierarchy, especially coupled with unchecked powers, can lead to significant damage if the authority becomes corrupted. This is particularly the case regarding spiritual authority and spiritual abuse. So what is spiritual authority and how does it differ from regular authority? American anthropologist, author, linguist and evangelical Christian speaker, charles Craft, defined it this way quote spiritual authority is the God-given right to receive and use God's power that flows from the indwelling Holy Spirit. End quote Spiritual authority refers to the legitimate power of influence that individuals or institutions hold within a religion or spiritual context, or does it In the context of religious organizations?

Christie:

Positions of spiritual authority are often decided on, voted on, nominated, and persons are elevated to these positions by those in lower positions of authority. It is the recognition and acceptance of a person or organization as having the knowledge, experience and wisdom to guide others in the matters of faith, spirituality and religious practices. Often these people are seen as having spiritual authority. More on that in a bit. There may even be cases where a person is receiving inspiration, dreams and visions from a higher spiritual being, namely God, jesus or the Holy Spirit. While this may make sense in the spiritual realm, it can easily be dismissed in the secular realm. This does not inherently delegitimize or legitimize it.

Christie:

Clinical psychologist Diane Langberg states that many individuals who are given a leadership position (quote) have a mix of knowledge, intellect and skill. Those, she says, increase the likelihood that a leader will be granted unfettered, sometimes automatic, authority by the people they lead. (End quote). Langberg explains how these traits can build up a level of trust toward that person. However, she cautions that, (quote) knowledge, intellect and skill render credibility, but without any certainty of the character of the one who possesses them. (End quote.)

Christie:

Langberg illustrated this by describing what happened to the German church. They were promised by an authority figure that he would protect their Christianity and eliminate immorality often promises that are heard in our present day. As Langberg described (quote) the church followed the man whose words give them hope, but failed to study and discern the character of the one who spoke them. (End quote). That was none other than Adolf Hitler himself. Character matters regardless of whether one is holding a position of secular or spiritual authority. In this case, many saw Hitler holding both. A toxic combination, as history has taken record of. Individuals that possess knowledge, intellect, skill and charisma often draw people in, and it's common that these people are given an elevated spiritual authority status. However, if the leader lacks a good character, none of these qualities matter. Spiritual abuse often occurs with an individual of poor character, despite their gifts. While Hitler is an extreme case in poor character, his story should serve as a reminder that we should be cautious of those we put in any position of authority.

Christie:

Before diving deeper into spiritual authority, I think it's important to compare and contrast its differences with regular authority. They are similar in that they are both given the power to lead and influence. The key difference is the entity that delegated that authority. One is granted by human institutions, while the other is accessed through God. I want to note here that I personally believe that spiritual authority is something we can access through God. But how does that jive with churches and spiritual institutions elevating men and occasionally, occasionally women to higher levels of authority and believing that equates to their level of spiritual authority? This can often be the beginning breeding ground for spiritual abuse. Another key difference is that, while regular authority exists within governmental and social structures that influence laws, regulations and civic responsibility, spiritual authority is typically found in more religious or spiritual settings that tend to deal with matters of faith, moral values and religious practices.

Christie:

Regular authority is often based on positions, titles and roles, involving figures such as presidents, ceos and law enforcement, just to name a few. Whereas spiritual authority is rooted in the perceived divine or supernatural sources, such as biblical texts or visions. It usually pertains to religious leaders, clergy pastors or spiritual guides. It can also be granted to whomever God or Jesus delegates, although even that can be warped by a spiritual abuser looking to elevate their own status and not God's. Regular authority is rooted in human-made laws, regulations and social structures laws, regulations and social structures whereby spiritual authority is derived from a higher power In Christianity, that is, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, in some cases, that higher power status is kidnapped by a human who has self-elevated their authority as a religious leader and used it to coerce and manipulate others. In extreme cases, you see this in the hands of a cult leader. In a less extreme case, you see it in a spiritual leader or pastor who is using the mismatched power dynamics and skewing them to something more favorable to them.

Christie:

Both regular and spiritual authority can be misused. Both run the risk of someone taking over the authority of another. In regular authority, the accountability and decision-making of someone is often subject to external oversight, with checks and balances that guide those in charge, which help to ensure integrity and principled behavior. In contrast, spiritual authority may be perceived as guided by the divine will and not subject to the same external scrutiny, leaving the responsibilities for checks and balances primarily to the person or group with a perceived spiritual authority. If there was a bleeding wound that the church has, I believe it is this the lack of accountability or protocols in place to ensure the existence of responsible oversight and checks and balances in an organization.

Christie:

Whether or not you believe or don't believe you are under spiritual authority isn't the point I'm trying to stress here, but rather are you and those around you using authority or spiritual authority in a way that is not only counterproductive but harmful? Lost in this difference is the fact that some authority figures can and do harm others through their positions of authority, and to be able to see these traits and take a stand against them, or, if you are in the religious realm, that you would see how they may be weaponizing their spiritual position of authority in a way that causes others to reject God altogether in a way that causes others to reject God altogether. While Jesus was on this earth, he set standards that were exemplified in his character. If a Christian who claims his name but misuses the spiritual authority accessed and ignores these principles, they need to be called out, at the very least by fellow Christ followers. Unfortunately, it's sad that often the first to confront them or call them out are those from outside the church organization. We can do better. We can have dynamic church services, numerous baptisms and extensive evangelistic seminars, but if we are not repairing the boat of its holes before we go fishing for men, we are setting ourselves up to drown in our own lack of accountability and integrity.

Christie:

As I move forward from here, I will be addressing spiritual authority and its role in spiritual abuse. I will explain how the spiritual abuse tactics and behaviors of authority can be weaponized through others' positions of authority to cause harm inside and outside the church. First, I must ask have you experienced the weaponization of spiritual authority against you? Have those in authority position over you misused their position of authority to cause harm to spiritually abuse? Has a spiritual leader used their position of authority to do harm to you or someone you love that affected your faith or has caused you to reject God altogether? Let's explore these questions together.

Christie:

In the mind of most Christian believers, ultimate authority is believed to belong to God, who willingly gave it to his son, jesus. Submitting to God's authority is something many Christians freely choose to do and is demonstrated through worship, obedience and faith in God. As a Christian, I believe that God is the authority and his laws and rules are designed to benefit everyone. I believe that God has authority over me and has given me the access to his spiritual authority to do good and not harm, to love and not hate, and to follow truth, not lies. He provides the freedom to choose his leadership and offers guidance navigating life's challenges. In addition, other guidance systems, such as a spiritual leader or mentors, may be available and can play an active role in stengthening my faith.

Christie:

In her book Redeeming Power, author and clinical psychologist Diane Langberg paraphrased Matthew 28, 18-19 by saying to Christians (quote) Jesus holds all authority. That means any bit of power you and I have is derivative, which means that something is based on another source. We are dispatched under his authority. Jesus does not give authority to us, he retains it. He is sending us out under his authority. This not only highlights the importance of recognizing that we cannot exercise spiritual authority without God's authority. We also cannot possess it, we can only access it. Should that cause us to question someone when they say God gave me the spiritual authority to say or do that? I think so. We cannot rightfully possess spiritual authority. We can only access it from God. While I could spend the next three hours making a case for the spiritual authority of God and Christ, I will leave that to the theologians. Instead, I want to focus on the spiritual authority we can access as humans, as well as understanding the destruction that can result from its misuse.

Christie:

A shared trait amongst many spiritual leaders and pastors is their perceived possession of divine spiritual authority. They claim to speak for God and allege that they have a special connection to God that no one else has or can have. This is simply not true. We all have access to his spiritual authority. We can also inadvertently lead some to believe that whatever they say is directly from God and carries his authority. Without careful discipline of this principle, it can create such a belief that can lead the congregation to idolize the spiritual leader without even realizing it, by accepting the leader's words without even verifying them against the true source. Eventually, their words will no longer be checked with the source of truth. A humble leader constantly directs others toward the source. An honest leader reminds you that you have access to God's spiritual authority also.

Christie:

Take, for example, the inspiring true story of William Wilberforce, a British politician and philanthropist who used his influence to effect significant social change. Despite not being a religious leader in the traditional sense, wilberforce was a member of the British Parliament in the late 18th and early 19th century and is best known for his pivotal role in the movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade. His motivation was deeply influenced by his Christian faith and the sense of moral responsibility that came with it. Although he was not a cleric or pastor, wilberforce believed that his Christian values called him to fight against the injustice of slavery. He drew on the moral teachings of Christianity and his belief in the inherent dignity of every human being and advocated ferociously and tirelessly for the abolition of the slave trade. His efforts were driven by what he saw as a divine mandate to challenge and change the status quo. William Wilberforce's crusade involved persistent lobbying speeches and strategic alliances with other abolitionists. His efforts resulted in the passage of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807, and later the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, which ended slavery in the British Empire.

Christie:

His story is a powerful example of how a deeply held moral and spiritual conviction can lead someone to use their position and influence to make a profound difference in the world. It's a vivid reminder that we have that same access to the same spiritual authority to make a difference in the lives of our fellow humanity, just as Wilberforce did. The flip side of that is what Pope Gregory the Great spoke about when he said (quote) no one does more harm in the church than he who has the title or rank of holiness and acts perversely. Let me repeat that no one does more harm in the church than he who has the title or rank of holiness and acts perversely. (End quote). As we study the responsibility of those who have spiritual authority and commit perverse acts of spiritual abuse or worse, we will see that, even though the term spiritual abuse was developed in the 1990s, a pope from the 500s had already acknowledged a truth that many of us are reluctant to accept Spiritual abuse existed back then and is still present today and that those who are perceived to hold spiritual authority bear a significant responsibility to avoid committing spiritual or any other forms of abuse. The reality is that because we all have access to spiritual authority, we all bear responsibility to avoid committing acts of abuse, spiritual or otherwise. It's not just the pastors and spiritual leaders who need to be held accountable. Every one of us must be careful how we exercise the spiritual authority accessed from God. This realization was my personal turning point. I knew that, even if I wasn't misusing my spiritual authority or causing harm to others, I still held responsibility as a member of the family of God to speak out against this misuse of spiritual authority.

Christie:

Often, those most affected have given their abusive spiritual leader the credibility and authority they believe he or she deserves. Taking him or her at face value, they see a person that embodies the character of God, who espouses many great gifts. Yet behind their deceptive mask, they harbor an inflated ego and an intent to control and coerce others. This behavior makes them dangerous In the context of authority. When this abusive spiritual leader is perceived to have the spiritual authority and representing God leader is perceived to have the spiritual authority and representing God, yet possesses those harmful characteristics their leadership will inevitably create opportunities for spiritual abuse. One of the most significant abuses will be the accusation that anyone who refuses to listen to or follow this leader is rebelling against God himself. This is truly heartbreaking because if the leader feels they speak for God, are they equating their words with God? Some would have you believe that what they say is what God says. Can you feel the gravity of the authority a spiritual leader can have if they believe they hold this esteemed position of authority? What they say is what they say God says. I dare say this behavior violates the first three of the Ten Commandments. Accessing the spiritual authority of God requires an immense amount of humility of God, requires an immense amount of humility. Without this humility, a dangerous precedent can be set and spiritual abuse will no doubt be a constant visitor to that organization.

Christie:

American writer and monk Thomas Merton wrote about such individuals when he said (quote) it is a terrible thing when such a one gets the idea he is a prophet or a messenger of God or a man with a mission to reform the world, he is capable of destroying religion and making the name of God odious to men. Healthy spiritual authority respects the autonomy of the free will of the individuals, encourages personal growth and exploration, promotes compassion and understanding and upholds the dignity and rights of all members. It's rooted in wisdom, discernment, humility, servanthood, integrity and accountability. Responsible spiritual leaders strive to empower individuals and help them develop their own spiritual discernment and connection with the divine, not create a dynamic where their dependency on that spiritual authority figure is mandatory for that spiritual connection with God or the church. Ultimately, the key is for spiritual authority to be exercised in a manner that promotes the well-being and spiritual growth of individuals, without crossing into abusive or manipulative behaviors.

Christie:

In the hands of a person with spiritual authority, there is a potential for great good or significant harm, depending on the individual's heart and actions. Healthy spiritual authority involves building trust and credibility, establishing direction and order and confronting error and heresy. In contrast, the abuse of spiritual authority involves deception and lying, which breaks down the trust and credibility. It creates chaos that disrupts the direction and elevates the leader instead of directing their followers to the source of all authority. Henry J M Nouwen states that quote the compassionate life is the life in which we believe that strength is hidden in weakness and on building community of fellowship rather than exerting control or causing harm. The possession of spiritual authority is complicated and, as I've laid out, sometimes it's used to abuse.

Christie:

Perhaps God didn't intend for us to have authority, let alone spiritual authority. Author Michael J Kruger's response in his book Bully Pulpit would prove otherwise. He stated (quote) Jesus, who was the Son of God, addressed the problem of abusive authority, but not in the way we might expect. He didn't say the solution here is to eliminate all positions of authority and then there'll be no more abuse. No, Jesus called for a radical recalibration around how authority is wielded.

Christie:

If a person wants to be first or to be great, they don't climb the ladders of power to the best seats, nor do they call down fire from heaven on the dissenters Instead. Dissenters. Instead, they must become a servant and a slave. It is a life of death. It is not a life of power and position, but one of humility and sacrifice. We want to reign on the throne, but Jesus asked us to serve on a cross. (End quote.)

Christie:

We too can be servants and access spiritual authority, just as Jesus demonstrated when he came down to this earth as a humble servant. His authority was God-given, yet his mission was to serve mankind. He got down on his hands and knees to wash the dirty feet of his disciples, mingled with the marginalized, and led around a motley crew of misfits known as his twelve disciples. Allowing himself to die on a cross, even though he had the power and authority to prevent it, might seem passive. However, his crucifixion happened because he stood up against the powers of his day that misused their authority against others. The spiritual leaders of that day felt threatened by his spiritual authority to perform miracles and garner a whole multitude of followers. Jesus stood up against the injustices of the authority of his day, drawing the ire of those in power. Even his own followers thought he was going to take over control, overcome the powers of that day and place himself in the authority of being their king. Life reflected the profound truth that genuine authority is not found in lofty religious heights or celebrity pastor fame, but in humble service and selfless sacrifice.

Christie:

Author and podcaster Herb Montgomery characterized Christ's death on a cross this way (quote) the cross reveals the violence inherent in the Roman system. And yet the focus need not be on the fact that Jesus was executed. It should be on the fact that he resisted in the face of a threatened empire that dealt him execution on the cross. The teachings of this Jesus call us to resist in the face of threats too. (End quote).

Christie:

The cross became about Jesus' resistance to how the world was using their power, control and authority. So standing up against abusive authority will not be without resistance. So what if you have a spiritual leader who says they want to serve, but you find out the one they most like serving is themselves? You have a significant problem. They will be primarily focused on what they need how they look, how they sound, how much do they do for the church? How large is their congregation? How many people they baptized, how much do they know? What organizational status have they risen to?

Christie:

True spiritual leadership is about leading others to the true source of spiritual authority, rather than using their measure of spiritual authority and position to dominate or harm other human beings. Why is serving so important when it comes to spiritual authority? To truly wield God's authority, we must humble ourselves and submit to His divine will. Failure to do so can lead to disastrous consequences. When pastors, spiritual leaders or any of us choose to go our own way, we risk not only our relationship with the Almighty, but also the well-being of the congregation or spiritual organization. The danger increases when leaders adopt authoritarian methods, demanding strict adherence to their authority at the expense of personal freedom, choice or agency. Equally threatening is when authority is non-existent, leading to a lack of structure and an absence of accountability.

Christie:

Author Michael J Kruger speaks how some churches have (quote) shifted to a more organic form of ministry where there's little accountability or oversight of the flock, while still other churches have gone the opposite direction and, intent on preserving their authority, have decided it's best to clamp down even harder, showing people how seriously they take their authority and how they won't bow to the spirit of the age. Like an insecure father with a rebellious teenager. They figure they better show them who's boss. Neither option is biblical". Both ways are destructive in their own right. Both bet on the abusive concepts of legalism for the clamping down harder moves and complacency for the lack of structure and accountability of anything goes. All too many churches have gone down either of these paths, led by a spiritual leader that uses their authority as a hammer or, conversely, a leader who uses their position of authority that sends messages that truth doesn't matter.

Christie:

We live in a broken world, making it nearly impossible to navigate spiritual authority without wrestling with our human tendencies to misuse it. This struggle often results in using spiritual authority to exert control over others rather than to uplift and support them. It's important to recognize that our spiritual authority status isn't based simply on the fact that we hold a special position, rank or title. Authors Johnson and Van Vonderen articulated in their book the Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. That (quote) though people may honor us with a position of leadership, we do not have authority in God's eyes simply because we are named the pastor, the elder or the chairman. We are going to have to speak the truth to have authority. We are going to have to be sensitive to the spirit to have authority. We are going to have to speak the truth to have authority. We are going to have to be sensitive to the Spirit to have authority. We are going to have to be wise and seek to know and say what God says clearly and accurately. Could we also say that truth is the spiritual authority, not the person or the denomination? Johnson and Van Vonderen, in their book, pose this question by asking (quote) is it possible for one person, group of leaders, to comprehend all that's in God's word? Not likely. God's living word is demonstrated through all who are seeking him, regardless of rank. (End quote). Essentially, truth is the spiritual authority. Why is this statement so crucial to spiritual authority?

Christie:

We can get in serious trouble when we go by what we feel is the truth. Simply stating something is truth because we want it to be or because something benefits us personally regarding the truth can lead to harming others, especially when it's done in the name of truth. Many abuses have been committed in the name of truth. This should not surprise us, as the original deceptor of truth, the devil, used the same blueprint. Those misusing their spiritual authority to pervert the truth about God have been following this same pattern ever since. In contrast, adam and Eve were deceived into stepping away from the authority they had access to by believing the devil's deception and lies. The devil was grasping for God's authority then and has been ever since. He has continued to convince countless human beings that we will and can never access God's spiritual authority, all the while another group of individuals he convinces to not only want to possess God's authority and spiritual authority, but use it to control others. He especially targets pastors and spiritual leaders of any kind, understanding that if he can sway the shepherds, he can potentially sway the flock. By manipulating leaders of influence and guidance, he can extend his influence over the entire congregation. In doing this, he convinces some pastors and spiritual leaders that they can possess and manipulate God's power for their own glory. This sets the stage for countless abuses against individuals within a church community and ultimately, amongst the entire body of believers.

Christie:

True spiritual authority doesn't lead to spiritual abuse, but false spiritual authority can and often does. What does false spiritual authority look like when a spiritual leader adopts the mindset of this is how we do things or this is how it's supposed to be done, and equates and substitutes this with thus saith the Lord, with Thus saith the Lord. In doing this, they are imposing their desires on potentially something sacred that Jesus had in store instead. Dr Adam Denny, pastor of the North Run Baptist Church, expressed in his sermon on spiritual authority by saying Any church denomination or believer who falls for that snare sets themselves up for spiritual apostasy and may already be engaging in gross idolatry. As they equate tradition with God, preferences over God's priority, comfort over commandments and tradition over biblical conviction and tradition over biblical conviction. (End quote).

Christie:

Access to spiritual authority is a humble honor. To allow our egos, our elevated positions in the church or our selfish natures to take root and rule, we are treading on dangerous ground of poisoning that authority. It truly becomes a counterfeit or false authority. At that point, the perception that someone with status, intelligence, prestige and charisma and title of a pastor or spiritual leader. That they have authority to speak for God is all too common. When someone claims to speak for God or that God is speaking through them, they are asserting spiritual authority. This authority can be used to guide and influence in a constructive way. It can also be used to manipulate or abuse. If God is truly speaking through them, truth will prevail and there will be no sign of abuse or harm.

Christie:

Sometimes pastors must take a stand on what they believe is truth, even if it opposes a fellow church member. In doing so, ideally, both the pastor and member will take the opportunity to sit down and humbly search together for the truth. A pastor or spiritual leader is someone we often look to for the truth, yet everyone has the option of seeking after truth. Truth is not exclusive to pastors, elders or spiritual leaders. Messengers of truth have come in all different ways, some through even the voice of a child. A personal side note I know that discussions about truth outside of Christianity or for those both anti or with no religion may seem relative, and postmodernism has certainly driven that mindset.

Christie:

However, I firmly believe that truth is truth, whether you believe it or not, whether you like it or not, whether it fits your views or not. Truth is not relative. It is true regardless of whether it differs from our personal opinions. Simply put, truth is an absolute reality. I have personally said what I believe the truth is, while others may think it's something different. I'm a firm believer that truth does not move. We continue to move. I am continually convinced that I have a responsibility to actively seek after it. This pursuit is not to gain spiritual authority, but that I will know and recognize spiritual authority when I see it. By doing so, I can align myself with what is true, all the while acknowledging the importance of humility in my search for truth.

Christie:

In author Ken Blue's book Healing Spiritual Abuse, he wrote (quote) Spiritual abuse happens when a leader with spiritual authority uses that authority to coerce, control or exploit a follower, thus causing spiritual wounds. (End quote) those with spiritual authority who use their status as a way of belittling others and demanding great honor for themselves have ended up in spiritual abuse territory. It's important to address these abusive behaviors to create a healthy and nurturing spiritual environment. In Michael Kruger's book the Bully Pulpit, he wrote that (quote) these repeated biblical warnings they may be so intent on defending the legitimacy of their authority that they devote little time to exploring possible abuses (end quote). They are so focused on power and control authority of their position to give time, energy or credence to the abuses that the dark characteristics of these tactics create. Take, for instance, this scenario captured in Diane Langberg's book Redeeming Power, quote the power of a pastor is intensified by the fact that many see a minister as speaking for God. Indeed, a pastor may tell people that they are doing exactly that. So when a male pastor says to a woman, god says you should go home to the man who is battering you and love him better, she says okay. The woman assumes the pastor speaks truth because of his theological knowledge and because he is the mouthpiece of God. End quote. One woman got the same reaction from her spiritual leaders and, instead of following their instruction, she went to the secular authority for help.

Christie:

Over 20 years ago, a church under the authority of John MacArthur, a prominent minister in the evangelical world, faced a painfully shocking situation. Eileen Gray, a mother and a wife of a Bible and music teacher at the church-affiliated school, went to the elders of the church asking for help in her abusive marriage. Her husband, according to her, had been physically and mentally abusing her and their children. She later discovered he was sexually abusing them also. Instead of turning to the governmental authorities, eileen chose to go to those she saw as possessing spiritual authority. However, the response they gave her was that she was to submit to him more. She was told to submit to him more. She went instead to the governmental authorities and got a restraining order against her husband. When he was eventually arrested for the criminal abuses against his family, the church supported him and continued to speak ill will of her. Eileen's husband was convicted of aggravated child molestation, corporal injury to a child and child abuse. He is presently serving a prison sentence of 21 years to life.

Christie:

Regardless of her church's failure to acknowledge and address the abuse fully and their unconscionable excommunication of her and her children from the church, she went on to fulfill a bigger mission. After being excommunicated, she moved away with her children. She became a chaplain serving inmates and fellow law enforcement. She now teaches Bible studies in jail, runs a 24-hour hotline out of her home and is involved in rehabilitation programs and mentors women charged with drug crimes, assault, murder and other charges. She is affectionately "othe other of the jail, while her church's spiritual leaders did not recognize or acknowledge the abuse that was happening to her or her children. Thankfully, eileen found support and justice in the governmental authorities that held her husband accountable for these crimes. Her story begs the question of why does the outside systems seem to take care of abusive matters more readily than the inside church systems? Fortunately, eileen came to the realization of her own access to spiritual authority and is changing the lives of those behind prison bars, talking to numerous women that are in a similar situation to the one she was in. The husband, who has acknowledged his crimes and is repentant, is now holding Bible studies behind the bars where he resides. While I can easily look at him and be skeptical, restoration is possible for everyone, even the worst of criminal. What both baffles me and saddens me the most was to hear that the church where this all took place continues to support the husband and not the wife, highlighting that we as a church have so much more room for growth.

Christie:

In the past couple years, Amazon Prime put out a documentary called Shiny Happy People that introduced many of the teachings of Bill Gothard and the Organization of Institute of Basic Life Principles, IBLP for short. Among the concepts he promoted were fundamentalistic homeschooling, courtship umbrella of authority, and others, courtship, umbrella of authority and others. The concept of the umbrella of authority is a Gothard teaching idea that in order to be protected from the devil, one must practice absolute obedience to those higher up in the chain of authority. This idea is rooted in the patriarchal structure, where the authority is visualized in a hierarchical ranking of umbrellas. The smallest and lowest umbrella represents the wife, who is responsible for the care of the home and the children beneath her. Over her is the husband's umbrella, which is larger and represents his role of being in charge of protecting and providing for the family. The largest umbrella of them all symbolized the God umbrella. While this may sound innocent and straightforward, this structure, when taken to the extreme, which often happens in abuse cases, is far from benign.

Christie:

This was vocalized by Jill Duggar Dillard in her and her husband's book Counting the Cost. There she described how her family was a hierarchical system where God was top and her father was over his wife, her mother and the rest of the family. According to her, this led to a restrictive, controlled environment where even questioning authority was rebellious and dangerous, often leaving her to feel trapped and without a sense of personal autonomy. She talked about how the concepts of the umbrella of authority was used to justify strict rules and expectations. Her younger sister, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, wrote in her 2023 memoir Becoming Free Indeed, about the umbrella of authority and shared how it shaped her upbringing. She stated that under the umbrella of authority, you, as a female, are not only under the authority of your father, but later, when you're married, that job is now your husband's. Deterring from this was believed to cause the individual, spiritual and even physical harm. This level of authority controlled her decisions, beliefs and behaviors by causing an environment of fear and compliance where questioning was an act of rebellion. She described how this led to a lack of personal autonomy and internal feelings of guilt and anxiety if she ventured away from this umbrella of authority. In a process she coined as disentangling, she attempted to separate her personal belief from the rigid and often extreme beliefs she was raised within the Institute of Basic Life Principles. In so doing, this led her to a different understanding of God that allowed for personal freedom and individual responsibility.

Christie:

Why do I bring up Gothard's teachings regarding the umbrella of authority here? Because this teaching, though it started in Baptist circles, has permeated its way into other denominations as well. Let's examine it a bit further. Gothard's teachings state that in order to be protected from the devil, one must have absolute obedience to those above them in the chain of authority. I want to break down three issues within that statement that I personally consider red flags regarding Gothard's teachings on authority. First, the phrase to be protected from the devil.

Christie:

For those familiar with Christian teachings, we know that there is no surefire way to be protected fully from the devil by absolute obedience. Jesus exhibited perfect obedience, yet God didn't even keep the devil away from his son Jesus. Why would I think I had any chance? Secondly, absolute obedience is almost laughable if I didn't believe Gothard generally advocated for this. This concept is simply not possible. Absolute obedience is both rigid and black and white, where there is no room for human error. Again, from a Christian perspective, jesus embodied perfect, absolute obedience, which is why his name is synonymous with truth, John 14:6. Such perfect obedience is unattainable from a human perspective. In this broken world, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. Absolute obedience is not possible.

Christie:

And lastly, regarding the chain of authority, gothard's depiction of the umbrella of authority reveals a distinctly male-dominant, top-down, patriarchal approach where the female is subservient in authority and obedience to the male. As a Christian female, I am only personally comfortable having God or Jesus as my authority. To some that might sound antagonistic or appear as if I have some contempt or prejudice against men. Quite the contrary. I can both respect men and authority, but give allegiance to God and Jesus as the sole authority and spiritual authority in my life. I know the patriarchal system can be a complex and sticky subject, so I will not delve into that further here, although it will no doubt be the topic of a future Soul Bruises episode. Doubt be the topic of a future Soul Bruises episode. In regards to distorted loyalty and its relationship with authority, it can be characterized as such.

Christie:

In systems and organizations like the IBLP. Leaders like Bill Gothard and other authoritarian leaders tend to attract a group of close followers who are agreeable, non-confrontational, essentially, yes, men and women. These faithful supporters march forward with a common purpose creating a system that gives a mutual advantage to both the leader and the close followers. For those that use their authority to rule at all costs, this dynamic is present as a leader gets validation and support and the close followers receive the power that being close to the leader provides. Many followers will do whatever it takes to retain that power, even if it means protecting the leader, even if it means keeping that person in a position of authority, and even when they have committed objective patterned spiritual abuse toward their followers. What of the other followers, those who make up the remaining part of the system of an organization? Many would say that these individuals carry little authority or influence in the organization. However, I dare say that these individuals carry significant impact in transforming the system.

Christie:

Leaders are put in place and kept there by delegation, so the responsibility extends to those who enable or support the leader if they are spiritually abusive. All too often, these followers either support the system because of their devotion and loyalty to the leader and organization or have no desire to rock the boat relinquishing their agency in favor of placating, enabling or obeying the leader. Favor of placating, enabling or obeying the leader. This passive acceptance makes them easy targets to be manipulated and abused. While others walk away from the organization never to return, others remain trapped by this cycling of enabling.

Christie:

When an organization or system misuses spiritual authority, they create an environment where the abuse of that spiritual authority dominates and no one stands up against the abusive leadership for fear of being ostracized or shunned. This creates a compliance amongst the members to stay in the good graces of the spiritual leader. In turn, this creates a distortion of loyalty toward their leader. Spiritual abusers who create this environment of distorted loyalty to their self-appointed spiritual authority may demand absolute allegiance. Bill Gothard did this in his teachings and there are many others. They remove their critics to enhance the possibility of allegiance and decrease the possibility of being challenged, where the only acceptable path for followers is obedience to their spiritual leaders.

Christie:

I believe when they use their spiritual leadership position for this, they are corrupting any bit of spiritual authority they may have accessed from God. God is not anti-authority, but he is anti-abuse. Abuse is in direct contrast to God's character. Therefore, actions committed by someone who claims spiritual authority yet commits abuse, committed by someone who claims spiritual authority yet commits abuse. Their spiritual authority is hollow and self-serving and they become a great danger to their followers and those around them. Often, this danger is characterized in the form of followers doubting their own perceptions or becoming emotionally and mentally paralyzed as they struggle on how to respond. Followers who fall victim to this kind of spiritual abuse doubt themselves, because how would a spiritual leader who loves Christ and his church supposedly want to do anything to harm or control anyone Because we don't recognize or acknowledge this is spiritual abuse. This behavior is underreported for fear of getting it wrong, raising a problem or hurting the reputation of the abuser.

Christie:

Organizations who abuse spiritual authority are difficult to identify, let alone expose. Often the abuse can involve more than one leader. Because of this manipulated allegiance to the top leader, many times lower level leaders have become minions to the abusive leader that is abusing them without them even knowing it. This leads many of the abusive acts to be committed at the behest of the spiritual leader by the minions, all the while the spiritual leader's hands remain clean, which makes confronting the abuse difficult because the amount of minions one has to go through to identify the main instigator of the abuse. Unfortunately, these yes, men and women often pledge their allegiance to the perpetrator rather than to the victim, often leaving support for the victims unlikely. If a follower were to challenge the status quo, they could be seen as disloyal or rebellious. So breaking from the pack will involve a high level of courage and moxie. Due to this lack of support from the system, a victim may find it quite difficult to find others who will acknowledge the abuse, listen to their stories, analyzing them for evidence of spiritual abuse and treating their voices with the same equitable treatment given to the abusive leader.

Christie:

Much attention is placed on the spiritual abuser with self-proclaimed spiritual authority. Yet those who stay silent or enable these behaviors contribute significantly to the harm. These behaviors contribute significantly to the harm. When I began this project to expose spiritual abuse, I nearly talked myself out of it. Honestly, I've struggled with imposter syndrome throughout. I'm neither a spiritual leader nor have I experienced significant spiritual abuse, significant spiritual abuse leaving me in the category of either a follower or a messenger. I once was a silent follower. Now I have chosen to be a messenger. Remaining silent would mean defaulting to a passive role I no longer am interested in taking. I'm hoping there are others that feel the same way.

Christie:

In Diane Langberg's book Redeeming Power, she writes quote she adds this fear, disbelief or self-deception will not protect the system from the disease that will kill it if left untreated. End quote. We must not leave it untreated. We can do better. An important factor to remember is located in Rebecca Davis's book Untwisting the Scriptures to Patriarchy and Authority. In it she writes quote we who trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ, serve under him, who has all authority. He has delegated certain authority to each of us who trust in him, but it's not over people. End quote. This episode on authority has surprisingly been one of the hardest to write, for reasons too numerous to mention.

Christie:

I am as much a student of this topic as I am a messenger. I have no interest in religious authoritarianism of any kind. The Bible doesn't address abusive authority by eliminating authority altogether. So because of this, I believe that Christ's followers can use spiritual authority in an honorable, humble and responsible way. Spiritual authority can lead to spiritual abuse, and not because of the authority itself being bad, but because of the character of the person with that authority.

Christie:

Christ's kingdom is based on an upside-down principle compared to that of the secular world, and unfortunately, in some religious and spiritual worlds also. The secular world may not know this upside down concept, but those of us in Christianity we know better. Jesus showed this principle by the way he served his followers. Despite being given complete authority, he chose to serve and encourage those around him. Serve and encourage those around him. Just like he came down from heaven to fulfill his mission, we must come down also in our own ways, not by taking ourselves out of levels of earthly authority, but by transforming those positions into higher opportunities of service for others. In the Bible's book of Mark, chapter 10, verse 45, it reads quote Jesus, the Son of God, did not come to be served, but to serve end. Quote In author, educator and spiritual leader Nicole Parker's paper entitled leader. Nicole Parker's paper entitled "Seeking the Lowest Place. She wrote, quote God's goodness. His character is the opposite of self-exaltation. It is this character, the seeking of the lowest place as Jesus modeled from the manger to the cross, that he desires us to reflect. In contrast with the character of Satan, seeking after Christ's character would seem a mighty fine place to start.

Christie:

Before I go, I had mentioned in the previous podcast that, while I am addressing very uncomfortable issues within the church, I plan to mention some factors that create a healthy church. A great resource out there is Scott McKnight and Laura Barringer's book A Church Called Tov. Tov means good in Hebrew. In the book they have laid out seven components to cultivate a healthy culture Over the next seven episodes. I will end each with a nugget of hope and healing.

Christie:

Tove churches nurture empathy. What is empathy? When we are trying to feel another's pain, we are expressing empathy. When we have a desire to alleviate the pain, we are expressing empathy when we have a desire to alleviate the suffering we are experiencing. Compassion. Often empathy and compassion go hand in hand. A church that expresses these virtues looks like a church quote, designed by God to wrap its arms around the poor, the oppressed and the needy of this world widows, widowers, single parents, the physically challenged, challenged women, the depressed, the anxious, the elderly, the divorced, the poor or people of color, just to name a few.

Christie:

According to the authors, Mcknight and Barringer quote churches that follow Jesus don't simply take up a cause for one specific group. They develop a culture in which, they added, tove churches will develop an empathy radar with an instinctive bias toward acts of grace, peace, mercy and goodness for everyone. End quote. With the input of empathy and compassion into your church, you can create a culture where everyone feels seen, wanted and appreciated. The authors of Church Called Tov further explained that in a Tov environment quote when they bring their woundedness with them, they will be embraced and enfolded and responded to with grace and mercy, and if they bring allegations of abuse, they will be believed, comforted and supported. The truth will be pursued and upheld, even if it leads to the courts of power. The Tov Church will not protect the institution at the expense of what has happened and protect the abusers. And the Tov Church will do everything it can not to rewound the wounded, will do everything it can not to re-wound the wounded. Empathy and compassion demand no less. End quote.

Christie:

The implementation of empathy and compassion are crucial to creating a healthy church culture. It's essential for building strong and authentic relationships where people feel seen, heard, valued and cared for, where they feel the support of others and the mutual respect and kindness that such a culture creates, that they feel they're in an inclusive and healing environment. Empathy and compassion are vital virtues to a healthy church, and compassion are vital virtues to a healthy church. An example of this is the inspiring story of St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Baltimore, maryland. This church, established in 1840, is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the United States, but its significance extends far beyond its historical roots. The church is well known for its unwavering commitment to serving the homeless and those in need, embodying empathy and compassion in a deeply impactful way.

Christie:

In the late 1960s, Baltimore was grappling with the challenges of urban decline, with the challenges of urban decline, poverty and social uprising. Instead of retreating inward, St Vincent de Paul decided to take action led by their pastor at the time, Raymond E Kelly, the church began to open its doors to the homeless population of Baltimore. They transformed their basement into a makeshift shelter, offering a safe place for people to sleep, something that was desperately needed in that city. Over time, what began as a temporary solution evolved into a comprehensive program aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness. The church established the Soup Kitchen, which not only provided meals but also became a place of community and support for those who had nowhere else to turn. Volunteers from the parish and the surrounding community came together to prepare and serve meals, engage with the guests and offer a listening ear. St Vincent de Paul's approach was grounded in empathy. They recognized that their guests needed more than just food and shelter. They needed dignity, respect and a sense of belonging. The church worked to build relationships with the homeless individuals they served, understanding their stories, challenges and needs. This approach helped to create a sense of community and trust between the volunteers and the guests.

Christie:

St Vincent de Paul's church's work has had a lasting impact on the Baltimore community. Impact on the Baltimore community. Their programs have grown to include not only the soup kitchen and shelter, but also job training, addiction counseling and advocacy for affordable housing. They have shown that, by implementing empathy and compassion, a church can be a powerful force for positive change, helping to lift people out of poverty and rebuild lives with dignity and hope. This story at St Vincent de Paul's Church is a testament to what can be achieved when empathy and compassion are put into action, creating a lasting legacy of love and service.

Christie:

As I close on this topic of authority, I welcome any and all feedback. I know these topics can get complicated really fast, but as you listen to them, I hope you will keep an open mind to potentially a different perspective. If you learned something new through the listening of this episode, please pass it on. We have to stand together against the soul-bruising acts of spiritual abuse. If you know someone that has indeed been spiritually abused, or if you believe that has been your experience, I hope this podcast can be helpful to you or to those you know. If you know someone that has indeed been spiritually abused, or if you believe that has been your experience, I hope this podcast can be helpful to you and to them.

Christie:

If you have experienced spiritual abuse through the manipulation of authority by someone in leadership, I am extremely sorry. It's such an ugly abuse of power and position and upside down to what was intended by God. If you've been abused, either through the abuse of someone in authority or by someone else, there is a number of resources you can reach out to for support. Domestic Violence Hotline offers a toll-free number of 1-800-799-SAFE with a chat option on their website. I also want to mention here an organization called GRACE, which stands for Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments. The heart at the core of Grace's mission is to empower Christian communities to recognize, prevent and respond to abuse. They have many resources on their site that you might find helpful.

Christie:

As an individual or as a church, I also want to challenge the Christian church-going community to, instead of being in league with an authoritarian spiritual leader who is committing acts of any form of abuse, to call it out, refuse to let it continue and protect the vulnerable amongst you. And for those that feel I am only focusing on pastors or spiritual leaders either in this podcast episode or others, please know I am not naive that the abuse can go the other way also. Abuse towards clergy is also present and I'll be addressing that in a future episode. If you are a pastor or spiritual leader and you feel like this has been your story. Please contact me and let me know how I might address this most responsibly. Please reach out to me through email, soulbruises at gmailcom, or through Instagram at soulbruises2023, to help me understand things from your perspective.

Christie:

Thank you for tuning into this podcast. I wanted to give you a sneak peek of some upcoming podcast episodes. The next tactic and behavior of spiritual abuse that will be discussed is indoctrination and mind control, followed by a potential bonus episode on heavy shepherding. I will also explore the tricky topic patriarchy, headship theology and complementarianism, as well as an episode on the term DARVO and discussion of whether we should use the term victim or survivor. So the podcast has a full agenda ahead. I will also be interviewing two special guests, so stay tuned. This is Christie Hodson, and you've been listening to the Soul Bruises Podcast. Until next time, Be human, Be kind, Be both.

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Christie Hodson

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