Abusive Ministries Ending Now
Everyday, we read in the news about descructive cults and what happens to the people that belong to them. When one thinks of the word "CULT", Jim Jones (People's Temple) comes to mind as well as Heaven's Gate, Jehovah's Witnesses, The Mormon's, Moonies, and so on.
What some people fail to understand is that many people are ensnared in a "cult" or a spiritually abusive ministry and not even realize it. The member may have some suspicion that the group and its Leader(s) are not "quite right". But what keeps people in these groups? FEAR. Fear of leaving the group. In most instances, it's a fair statement to say that one of the common characteristics of a spiritually abusive ministry/church/cult is the FEAR OF LEAVING THE GROUP! Most often this is because the member is told that if they leave, disaster, calamity, and destruction, await them and their family. More importantly, cults and spiritually abusive ministries often convey the message to the member that if they leave, GOD will forsake them. In other words: to the person trying to leave the group, this means that to leave the group is equal to forsaking their relationship with God. If you have been told this, or if it has been implied by the ministry you are involved with, there is NO QUESTION you are being spiritually abused! Some other common traits of abusive groups are below. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list, but to simply touch on some key elements of such groups.
Many people do not realize that they are involved with spiritual abuse, because the group itself calls itself a "Christian Church", or perhaps the group is BIBLE BASED. This is not about knocking "Christianity" or any particular denomination. Just because someone belongs to a denomination that we ourselves do not agree with on every point, does NOT mean that the other person is in a CULT. There is room in the Body of Christ (The Church) for differences- minor differences that do not constitute the group being a cult. Therefore, we must be careful not to oversimplify our definition of "spiritual abuse". Abuse can and does happen in many denominations, as well as in NON-denominational ministries as well. The PURPOSE of A.M.E.N. Dallas is NOT to dissuade anyone to leave their denomination- but it IS our purpose to inform and minister to those "battered sheep" that have found themselves enslaved to an abusive group or cult.
SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
* Does the group have an "authoritarian" type of Leadership? Is it led by one dominating person? Even if there is more than one Leader, do you feel they use MANIPULATION, INTIMIDATION, DOMINATION, CONDEMNATION,GUILT, BROW-BEATING, PUBLIC(or private) HUMILIATION to "keep the congregation in line"? Any group using the mentioned tactics, in any form, constitutes abuse.
*Are the Leaders/Leader accountable to others? Are their teachings questionable? Do they welcome questions from members, or do they tell you: "It's THIS WAY or the highway". Any ministry that cannot be "questioned" by a sincere member is abusive. Not everyone may see eye to eye on "every jot and tittle", but if the member cannot approach the leaders, teachers, elders, deacons, etc, -- without fear of being labeled "rebellious, "a reprobate", "coming against God", "an unbeliever"- etc. this is a most certain mark of being in an abusive group.
* Does the teacher/leader teach sound Biblical doctrine? (This is a tricky one). While there is room for some interpretation, taking verses out of context and twisting them to suit the leader's own interpretation means you are on dangerous ground.
* Does the Leader set himself/herself on a different level than the members? Are they doing things that are unscriptural, while telling the members that they aren't to do the same, because the member "lacks the faith" to do as the Leader?
If you have answered YES to some of these questions, and see yourself as needing help, please continue on to our second page: ABOUT AMEN DALLAS. Thank you- God bless you! For more info: CLICK HERE.