Recovery from Spiritual Abuse

Recovery from spiritual abuse is a process that requires a refocusing of the organisation and individuals upon the ONE who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

The environment of abuse needs to be challenged and changed and individuals need to be freed to discover their own journey of faith.

A Healing Environment - This essentially is a leadership (elders and ministers) issue as the leaders of a church, primarily, set the tone or environment.
Leaders are to be known as servers. Positional tags and titles are replaced by a towel of service. "you also should wash one another's feet". (John 13: 1-17)
Shepherds not ranchers - the call of Christian leaders is "Feed my sheep". The lost art of pasturing needs to be rediscovered within the managerial context of the twenty first century.
Showing rather than telling. "Do as I say and not as I do" is to be replaced by leaders who model the essence of their Christian calling.
Create an environment where it is OK to fail. This means modelling failure and having another go! (This is not permission for sin) mistakes are OK. They provide wonderful growth points and learning opportunities in life.
Leaders are to demonstrate authenticity, vulnerability and transparency. This may be a very painful journey as it requires honesty in owning and dealing with personal addictions, co-dependencies, and scars of abuse. If this is not done the cycle of abuse is sure to continue. You may need help from a counsellor or spiritual director.
Rediscover true community. The Body of Christ, where each part is of vital importance, where when one part is hurting all hurt, and when one part rejoices all rejoice. True community is not hierarchical and is beyond what we call consulting. Consulting people today is not really listening to them. It is presenting pre-selected options to gain their permission. True community must start with listening to what the Spirit of God is saying to the people of God. Manipulative agendas must be sacrificed (even good ones) before any listening is done.
Introduce people to the liberating Jesus. Healing is a journey of becoming whole as you walk with Jesus. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". (Matthew 11:28-29) It is a journey because it will require a transforming and renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2) Distorted images of who God is and who you are that have held you in the abuse cycle will slowly be replaced by the truth.

Begin to own your journey, the good, the bad and the ugly, and ask Jesus to walk you through into your future. This may be very difficult because those who have been spiritually abused are likely to have lived their faith through another person. It has been someone else's journey they have tried to walk.

Find a friend with the shepherd's heart to help you along the way - someone you can talk to, will listen to you and give you the freedom to rediscover THE GOOD SHEPHERD.