Friday, September 12, 2008

Great Post Link

I read a great post today on Charismania's blog called 'Surveying the Wreckage.' She does an awesome job explaining what goes on in controlling churches. If you read it, let me know what you think.

10 comments :

Anonymous said...

The similarities to our former church are uncanny! What is it with these pastors? Do they all have a meeting and share their secrets on how to control and manipulate people?

Anonymous said...

Hi,"Set Free." Thanks for linking to Charismania. I just spent some time looking through your blog. It is amazing to me that these guys DO all seem to follow the same playbook.

My husband and I grew up in other non-Charismatic but Bible-teaching churches. When we entered "Charismania" several years ago, we both KNEW that it was odd when our "Charismaniac" pastor thought he was such a celebrity that he had velvet ropes separating his special path from his office to the stage. I guess he was afraid that people would accost him and demand impromptu prophecies or somthing. I dunno. But we thought it was so strange at first. Later, though, after we'd bought into the mindset about how "anointing" somehow magically confers celebrity, we'd defend this behavior. I'm really embarrassed to look back on it now! I know our family and friends thought we'd lost our minds for awhile.

But seriously - my husband and I have often wondered how it is that all these guys do the same things in all these different churches? We've often joked that there's got to be some sort of playbook somewhere that outlines all this stuff. Sometimes I wonder if it's NOT really a joke at all? Maybe there is some set of guidelines? It's almost too uncanny to be a coincidence.

Anonymous said...

They don't need to meet. The spirits that are active in their lives and ministries are familiar with all of them.

Anonymous said...

We may not have a pulpit, but we still have a voice. It is time for someone else to be heard, other than the one who stands behind the pulpit and thinks he is the only one who has the right to talk.

Anonymous said...

Proverbs 6:15-20 (English Standard Version)

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

When you leave they accuse you of sowing discord. How do they not think they are sowing discord when they tell people to shun all their friends who leave and then ignore them all in public?

Do they think when they get to heaven they will have a gated community?

Anonymous said...

The article is all too familiar.

The one good thing my husband and I had over some in our former church is that we did not "lift up" the former pastor. I remember several times that he spoke something and I found myself on the way home saying, "He's the pastor, but I can't exactly agree with that." When things were spoken that were "personal", I had room to judge them by the Spirit. He was and is a human vessel.

What we do regret is that we had become all about the Word and had lost our focus on the "Word Himself"!

Do not be deceived. Don't people recall that many a "call to the alter" had numerous responders? The sides of the auditorium would often have people waiting for space to be available up front. People face "life" - with its challenges and yes, disappointments - inside and outside of ANY church. God's Word and His protection are what we stand on and look to wherever we are. Much joy, and much sorrow took place in the former church. How can anyone not SEE this? (We will not be exempt from the 'sorrow' until we reach Heaven!)

After having observed an ugly progression in that church, I have a greater understanding of the reality of "For the love of money being the root of all evil, which, while some coveted after, they have ERRED from the faith, and pierced themselves through w/ many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10) - a common thread in some ministries. I also have a renewed understanding and joy found in "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. We would do well to be about our Father's business!

Anonymous said...

I just read the linked article and the situations are almost identical. I personally think that it's a demonic spirit at work. This problem with controlling churches is so wide-spread and it seems like the same things are going on in every instance.

But, I thank God that He is BIGGER than the demonic spirit! He is BIGGER than the control and abuse! The Holy Spirit can help us pray and we can take authority over it! He can show us how to reach people and get them to see the truth too. I am thankful for blogs like yours that help people see things for what they truly are. The Holy Spirit is working through you to get people out of these situations and helping people through the "wreckage" that is left to deal with once they're out. Thank you again for the link. It helped me.

Anonymous said...

One "playbook" that many of these churches use comes from a certain accountant that teaches this stuff in his seminars. Our former church used him and I have heard many of his money raising, pastor worship tactics used to control people.

A great post can be found at “Loving Jesus, Leaving Church.” It is called “An Old Add.”

http://leaving-church.blogspot.com/2008/08/old-ad.html

Anonymous said...

I read that article and I think my former pastor went to every one of those classes!

Anonymous said...

WOW! I failed the test. I was under the influence! Not any more though!