Question:
Hello. I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced what might be termed "Spiritual Abuse." I have been researching this topic, the group dynamics behind it, and Im trying to sort through some things.
Particularly, I am trying to understand when mentoring or authoritative relationships overstep their bounds and when it could be labeled "abuse."
This is an interesting topic too because you could easily have the same discussion about families. One family might consider "spanking" under any circumstances to be "abuse." But another family would consider physical discipline to be "love."
The same seems to be true in church circles: one church would consider harshly rebuking someone or telling them something about a life decision they are making to be "abuse." Another church would consider it to be "love."
So, any thoughts on the difference between church discipline and mentoring, and church abuse?
And what have you experienced?
Thanks
Heather
Answer:
Seems to be a sensible term, the way i see it though, whether its abuse or love, i would typically give any comments/criticsms at least a good bit of thought, whether someone loves you or not, if they are telling you something about yourself, its good to listen, and see what the have to say about you anyways. We can learn something if we slow down and refrain from "they have no right", I say just give it a little bit of though

Though, it could be abuse, but, you know, you just deal with abuse.
Answer:
So, any thoughts on the difference between church discipline and mentoring, and church abuse?
Hard question to answer for a situation could either be "love" or "abuse". It si all in the spirit it is done in. Pastors have grave responsibilities over their flocks and if someone is making a decision that is harmful to them and as a result to the church (for if it is bad for the individual it will be bad fro the church.) he is bound to plead with them to stop and/or take action if ithey don't.
Outside of actual physical abuse or "screaming and shouting and belittling" it really depends on the situation and the spirit the "rebuke" is done in