In a church community which has developed an unhealthy relationship structure, each element conspires to make legitimate bringing of concerns a risky business.
Typically, in an unhealthy church environment, you might find any of the following well documented characteristics:
1) A single 'Moses-style' leader. Such a leader is not accountable to others either within, or outside the church for what is preached or taught. Such leaders can be very charismatic, 'larger-than-life' and greatly admired. They often have a gift for 'taking others under their wing' and provide a sense of security and fatherhood to the vulnerable.
2) A tightly-knit 'inner-circle' of devoted followers, who are in many respects dependent on the leader for their well-being.
3) An exalted view of the leader as 'The Man of God' or 'God's Anointed', to whom special revelation and wisdom is given.
4) Highly personal interpretations of the Bible, based on 'what the Spirit is saying' together with a disdain for education and intellectual thought. (Conversely, in some groups, the leader claims superior education and intellect for his revelations.)
5) Preaching which increasingly shames members into 'repentance' and places unrealistic demands, in the name of promoting holiness.
6) An unbalanced emphasis against 'gossip' or 'criticism'. This extends to those who, from good motives, become concerned about certain church practices, behaviours and teachings that are becoming damaging and who express those concerns.
7) The leader's own questionable behaviour, teaching and actions are minimized in favour of a misplaced 'loyalty'. Scriptures such as 'Touch not the Lord's Anointed', or 'The sin of Miriam' are used to ensure that loyalty trumps truth.
8) The teaching of forgiveness is twisted so that raising issues about leadership is taken to be a demonstration that one is not exercising true grace.
9) Those who raise issues find the tables turned on them, and are accused of an 'impure heart', rebellion, or a 'spirit of criticism'. They are 'messengers of Satan.' Their motives are questioned and they are increasingly preached against. Even if not directly by name, the congregation is made to understand who is the offender, often by subtle suggestion. Individuals in the church may be taken to one side and warned against them.
10) Warnings are given of dire consequences for leaving the group. Such people will find themselves 'in the hands of Satan', 'out of the protection of the body', 'cut off from the vine and burned' and ultimately losing their salvation. Scriptures are twisted to reinforce this such as, 'Unless you stay with the ship you cannot be saved'.
11) Members have left in the past. Often silently.
12) Members are discouraged from making contact with those who have left - Who would want to associate with those who have a critical spirit and have separated themselves from the body?
13) Those who leave find themselves shunned. Scriptures are twisted to endorse such behaviour.
14) Information which is 'critical' of the group is severely censored. Since those who leave tend to do so quietly, no one who remains is at all clear on why. They have only the leader's words to go by and these tend to be trusted (see points 1,2,3)
It should be clear how the above serves to insulate an erring leader from accountability.
Imagine, for example, loyal Fred, who becomes increasingly concerned about the dangerous dynamics of the group he has been part of for many years and who notes that, in recent months, the leader has made numerous statements, supposedly from the Bible, which are untenable. Together with an alarming increase of shaming and legalism (in the name of holiness) from the pulpit, Fred consequently takes it upon himself to entreat the leader to make some adjustments and to seek accountability. He does so privately.
In response the leader considers him a messenger of Satan, a challenge to his authority, a danger to the body of Christ and having an impure heart that does not want obedience.
Fred cannot talk to others in the church, because to do so invites the charge of criticism and divisiveness, which is now forcefully preached against from the pulpit. Talking to others would merely demonstrate that Fred is indeed disloyal and unable to overlook weaknesses in the name of honouring the man of God. He would be demonstrating exactly what has been preached, spreading disharmony in the body of Christ and proving his own heart to be impure.
Fred is effectively silenced and isolated.
Not only that, Fred's life is made increasingly intolerable consequently through threats, accusations and insinuations made each week in the preaching. Insinuations of wanting to topple the leadership. Accusations of pride and rebellion. Accusations that he is separating himself from his brothers (by not attending all meetings).Threats of what will happen unless he 'repents'. Threats of what will happen if he leaves. His actions are interpreted in the worst light from the pulpit - without mentioning him by name, thus giving plausible deniability. Perhaps some in the congregation are even unaware that Fred is being targeted. Most people have found Fred to be a loyal sort of chap. Being turned on by the leader who has supported him and whom he has supported so fully, is beyond bearable.
Fred's life has, of course, been tied up in this group for many years. It has an impressive record for helping the poor. It is only recently that the group, which has been a shining light in the local community for decades, has increasingly developed its darker characteristics. The members are his lifelong friends and it is where he has found his identity, support and opportunity to give.
If you were Fred, what would you do?
And if you were in a church that displayed more than a few of these characteristics, what would you do?
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