Honestly not knowing what was going on

[psalm55]

and making decision based on what you do know is not being abusive.
Knwoing the truth and hiding it or misrepresenting it, calling it something
other than what it is...is abuse.

Abuse is about the heart's intent and actions taken. God is looking at our hearts and we all like sheep have gone astray.

Is it possible that overloading someone's senses with constant conflicting, vague and random messages and hearsay is abusive?

[Jerry]

Is it possible that overloading someone's senses with constant conflicting, vague and random messages and hearsay is abusive?

Dear Psalm55....
Absolutely !!!! It is one of the methods used in Military Interrogation and Mind Control....The name of the technique is "Sensory Input Overloading"

Love Jerry

[SpinningHead]

Dear Psalm55....
Absolutely !!!! It is one of the methods used in Military Interrogation and Mind Control....The name of the technique is "Sensory Input Overloading"

Love Jerry

Now see...I did not know that.

[mary]

Dear Psalm55....
Absolutely !!!! It is one of the methods used in Military Interrogation and Mind Control....The name of the technique is "Sensory Input Overloading"

Love Jerry

Check out this link re: sensory input overload: http://www.homestudycredit.com/courses/contentPT/trkPT07lo.html

I think most of us can recognize these techniques as having occurred in our old churches.

Point to remember: God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33.) He is the author of peace, "as in all the churches of the saints." (Ibid.) So whatever is frank confusion is not of God, and whatever is not from God is opposed to Him.

I pray that we all keep on the road that we've been set upon by God's grace, the road to the ability to discern between false and true shepherds. We won't have perfect discernment on this earth, but on the other hand, everyone here has been uniquely blessed in at least being removed from or having left a false teacher and/or false congregations. We're down, but we're not defeated. (2 Corinthians 11:23-26.)

mary

[psalm55]

thank you for the replies. it helps to know i'm not going crazy but being driven there. ahhhhh. close that subject.

anyway, went to ER for the second time for angina like chest pain, severe enough last night that I couldn't lay down or stay asleep. Been given some medicine and asking the 'powers' that be to stop the overload, eavesdropping messages and all that goes with it. I have been saying for at least 4-5 years that I can't take it, I can't even break through to clear thinking that produces change rather than thinking that produces adrenaline induced reactions that fail EVERY single time.

But anyway. I'll have to look up that website. I'll sign, I'll sign and turn the key over and then I'm outta here to quieter, more simple living (I hope...she said sheepishly, hoping more so to not be disappointed again).

[FreeinJesus]

Now see...I did not know that.

DITTO here! OMG....xpreacher would go on & on & on & on....over the smallest details, taking forever to exegete a simple verse. He'd chase all kinds of tangents, many times it was information overload!:eek:

I never knew this stuff......:confused:

[broken_hearted_sheep]

I used to think it was normal to hear preacher talk for hours on end :confused: Then one Sunday, the pastors son was up and preached 25 minutes. He gave a better message and it made more sense than the ramblings on by his parents. Even now when he or the other youth pastor preach, the pastors will come up and talk for another 30-45 minutes.:mad:

I found a website with fifty signs about SA churches.

http://www.proclaimliberty.info/#BM50_Tell_Tale_Signs_of_a_Spiritually_Ab

Point #28 almost made me fall off of my chair.

Whether it was prayer, Bible study or a women's group, even if someone else is being used by God, the female pastor at our church would take over and go on and on. :mad:

Maybe I'm just not that spiritual, but sometimes when I watch a basketball game, It's JUST A GAME! Every game is not symbolic of a greater spiritual meaning!::eek:

I don't quite think that type of personality, the ones who find revelation in their cereal EVERY morning is what God had in mind when He said deep calls unto deep. :p

[psalm55]

The overload is not only at church, though sometimes i was given counsel in private then used anonymously as the object with totally different advice given in the public context.

the overload is that a person who will not talk to me when i approach him as 100's of people talking to me, about me ... everywhere i go. So, then i get back in my car and try to rehash what they said and what their point was but in the moment it is complete overload not to mention pusing some really painful buttons. I feel like I'm on constant 24/7 ptsd internal reactions that shut down every normal process I have.

[broken_hearted_sheep]

The overload is not only at church, though sometimes i was given counsel in private then used anonymously as the object with totally different advice given in the public context.

the overload is that a person who will not talk to me when i approach him as 100's of people talking to me, about me ... everywhere i go. So, then i get back in my car and try to rehash what they said and what their point was but in the moment it is complete overload not to mention pusing some really painful buttons. I feel like I'm on constant 24/7 ptsd internal reactions that shut down every normal process I have.

I remember thinking I was so special because the pastors personally took us out to dinner, lunch, breakfast. For premarital counseling, we spent hoursover their house. I thought we were unique, but now I see it was just a way to reprogram us. I grimmace as I think back to spending holidays with them instead of our families.:(

I remember thinking I was crazy when people would shake their head at my family or snicker and laugh at me or my husband. The problem was everyone knew our business. When confronted about it, it was always dismissed like they weren't the ones spreading it.
:mad:

(((((((( Be encouraged)))))))

BH Sheep:)

[mary]

I found a website with fifty signs about SA churches.

http://www.proclaimliberty.info/#BM50_Tell_Tale_Signs_of_a_Spiritually_Ab



Interesting that this exhaustive, comprehensive list seems to come from a Messianic Jew.

As some here know, I was involved for awhile with a Messianic congregation. (I had some German Jewish forebears who were forced to convert to Catholicism when they were still back in Germany. So I was curious about what Jews do in worship when they're converted to Christ.) We're no longer involved with that congregation because I started to see that the "senior rabbi" was an autocratic dictator with numerous, tallit-wearing bats in his belfry. :cool: :eek: :rolleyes: :D The "junior rabbi," on the other hand, was one of the nicest people I've ever met, and I'm 99.9% sure he is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach). I'm still in happy e-mail contact with him.

It's unfortunate that Messianic Jews have not been spared spiritual abuse in their congregations or its effects. I'm sorry to hear that other such congregations are having problems...

mary

[Lvanett]

I think the fact that we are seeing more believers from different denomations and churches with stories of spiritual abuse, in its many forms, is a sign we are in the End Times. It's sad to see so many hurting folks.

I also want to thank BH Sheep for that link! That is so helpful and I've passed it along to some friends and family who've been victimized by churches.