Encouragement, Anyone?

[SpinningHead]

"Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—beware of their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public."
Luke 12:1-2 NLT


Does anyone know of Scripture that talks about Spiritual Abuse (SA from here on in...k?) and is encouraging to us....please, please share! :)

~SH :cool:

[Jerry]

You bet "Spinning" :D
Matt 12 verses 33-37 with special attention to verses 36-37
Love Jerry

[SpinningHead]

You bet "Spinning" :D
Matt 12 verses 33-37 with special attention to verses 36-37
Love Jerry

Matthew 12:33-37 (New International Version)

33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

[Jerry]

Thank You Spinninghead,,,,
I am a one finger typest ;)
Love Jerry

[SpinningHead]

Thank You Spinninghead,,,,
I am a one finger typest ;)
Love Jerry

I'm a copy & paste gal myself...check out www.biblegateway.com for online Bible resources. It's very helpful if you want to look something up, copy & paste text & so forth.

~SP :cool:

[jjc9497]

Since Jesus was put to death due to the religious authorities of His day convincing the Romans that He was a threat, I would have to say that He suffered spiritual abuse. Now He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. That is encouraging to me.

[profnachos]

Since Jesus was put to death due to the religious authorities of His day convincing the Romans that He was a threat, I would have to say that He suffered spiritual abuse. Now He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. That is encouraging to me.

Have you read the Brothers Karamazov? Midway through the book is a narrative of Jesus coming back to visit Christians. I believe the chapter was called the Great Inquisitor.

After a few heated exchanged with Jesus, the church executed him. Again.

Fydor Doestovsky attempted to shed light on the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church in that allogory.

I often wonder if today's church has become that way again.

[Tim]

Have you read the Brothers Karamazov? Midway through the book is a narrative of Jesus coming back to visit Christians. I believe the chapter was called the Great Inquisitor.

The Brothers Karamazov is my favorite novel and 'Rebellion' and 'The Grand Inquisitor' two of the best chapters in all literature. Dostoevsky was one of the keenest observers of human nature ever to write. He was an orthodox (and Orthodox) Christian. I have been reading Dostoevsky for many years.

If you like Russian lit, you may want to try Bulgakov's 'Master and Margarita' where the Devil and a few chosen associates visit the earth to wreak a little havoc. Great stuff!

[butterfly]

:) Since Jesus was put to death due to the religious authorities of His day convincing the Romans that He was a threat, I would have to say that He suffered spiritual abuse. Now He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. That is encouraging to me.

:) Thank you jjc9497 I never thought of that before. butterfly

[profnachos]

Ah yes.

Another favorite chapter was when Ivan came face to face with Satan. "Nothing human is beneath me." WOW.

I plan on finishing up Crime and Punishment. Love Alexander Solzenitzen.


The Brothers Karamazov is my favorite novel and 'Rebellion' and 'The Grand Inquisitor' two of the best chapters in all literature. Dostoevsky was one of the keenest observers of human nature ever to write. He was an orthodox (and Orthodox) Christian. I have been reading Dostoevsky for many years.

If you like Russian lit, you may want to try Bulgakov's 'Master and Margarita' where the Devil and a few chosen associates visit the earth to wreak a little havoc. Great stuff!

[Tim]

Love Alexander Solzenitzen.

Solzhenitsyn is one of the moral giants of the 20th century, who suffered eight years in the Soviet labor camps and forced exile. He stood up to the communist authorities with nothing but his bare hands and said "No". A quote of his I love, taken from his Nobel Prize address, is this: "One word of truth outweighs the whole world"

[Carmen]

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 'A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.' I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be." Galatians 5:7-10.

Knowing that God is just is a great comfort to me.

[SpinningHead]

'A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.' Galatians 5:7-10.


Interesting timing...I've been reading a lot lately about "a little yeast working through a whole batch of dough".

[gwen]

This is a scripture that particularly encouraged me after I left our group:

Matthew12:18-21: "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout; he will not raise his voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. And his name will be the hope of all the world." (NLT)

My hope is in Christ...

[Leslie]

This might be stretch, but I think the verse Hebrews 3:13 addresses a dynamic of spiritual abuse. (Not trying to blameshift here, as some have accused!) :)

"Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the (B)deceitfulness of sin".

The verse suggests that encouragement is necessary for our perseverance in the faith. The inference seems to be that those who Discourage a Christian's walk share responsibility for the resultant hardness/unbelief/struggles. This might not fit with a purely systematic view of sin and responsibility, but the text seems to say it. (A caveat of systematic theology!)

Anyway, this fits with my experience. Two years ago I wasn't struggling. I was rejoicing and had explanations for the "hard" doctrines and life made sense. (Believe me, I understand that trials are supposed to be refining.) Enter very authoritarian church and much more. I can't help but, almost subconsciously, make mental associations that do me a disservice. My mind associates the Faith (spun by the pastor) with his unfair treatment of people. Being transparent about my spiritual 'blocks' with my husband was NOT smart. The 'doubts' only justify his and the pastor's criticisms and disrespect. My husband says I don't deserve the explanations of their behaviors that I seek since I'm not a member, since they must think I'm incorrigible, since I disdain the Word.

So I think a sad irony of spiritual abuse is that we get blamed for the (I trust temporary) very damage that they cause.

What does anyone think?

[butterfly]

:) Leslie, You know what is sad to me. That some familys are split because of SA. My heart goes out to all here who have to deal with this heartache. After reading your post I thought how sad that the SA damages familys. I am sorry you have to go thru this. butterfly

[Leslie]

Thanks, Butterfly. You have a ministering spirit. This goes for the collective "you", (group), too.

[Hope 98]

Leslie - I LOVE your avatar :)

[gwen]

My husband says I don't deserve the explanations of their behaviors that I seek since I'm not a member, since they must think I'm incorrigible, since I disdain the Word.

So I think a sad irony of spiritual abuse is that we get blamed for the (I trust temporary) very damage that they cause.

What does anyone think?

I'm so sorry to hear that you have to be degraded like that. :( :( :( What you don't deserve is to be treated that way!

Being blamed for the very damage that they cause is known as "projection" and it's a way to cause confusion and throw off your opponent. I've had it done to me many, many times...I know how frustrating it is. I can truly sympathize with you!

[Leslie]

Gwen, thanks. I'm hoping to learn an EFFECTIVE strategy for dealing with the denigration. He doesn't even see that it's wrong. (HIs family had a punishing attitude toward his emotions growing up, so I think he doesn't 'get' that it's mean.

It's nice to hear that your family is doing pretty well.

Does anyone see what I think I see in Heb 3:13 about the effects of interpersonal discouragment on faith? (There's an implicit admission of mine in drawing this connection, if anyone feels like praying for me! Thanks!)

Leslie

[SpinningHead]

Does anyone see what I think I see in Heb 3:13 about the effects of interpersonal discouragment on faith?

Hebrews 3:13 (New International Version)
13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

I think you might also be interested in this one...I Peter 3:7
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Notice that it say "treat them with (I'm sorry what??) RESPECT! not undermine them, belittle them, patronize them...R-E-S-P-E-C-T! find out what it means to me!

Tell him if he doesn't shape up and treat you right, his prayers are hindered! ;)

~SH :cool:

[gwen]

Does anyone see what I think I see in Heb 3:13 about the effects of interpersonal discouragment on faith? (There's an implicit admission of mine in drawing this connection, if anyone feels like praying for me! Thanks!)



Yes, I see what you mean about Heb. 3:13...I think that we are accountable for affecting another person's faith in a negative way. And yes, I am praying for you! You are in such a tough situation...

God bless,
Gwen