Charismatic Captivation

Recently, I interfaced and interacted with a group whose primary commonality is their claim to be apostolic leaders, which, in my view, is extremely dubious in the case of but only a few. In the aftermath, a great disappointment and matter of dismay to me was being made aware, despite the decades of disapprobation and disrepute, some of their number, including some of their senior leaders, continue to employ in working/relating “covenant relationships” with junior leaders of their group such “spiritual covenants” of the ilk described and referenced herein. I was deeply grieved in my spirit by what I saw, discerned, and experienced at that conference.

Posted in: Absolute Submission, Covering Doctrine, Curses, Discipleship Movement, Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, False Teaching, Leadership, Nicolaitanism, Personal Pastors, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Idolatry by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, authoritarian abuse, Biblical Authority, ECAL, Hyper-authoritarianism, ICA, ICAL, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual adultery, Spiritual Covering, Spiritual Idolatry, USCAL

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[CLICK HERE to read Part 1 of this article.] In the Revelation He communicated by the Holy Spirit to the Apostle John, Jesus issued a terse but severe warning to the Early Apostolic churches expressed His utter disdain for both the deeds and the doctrines of the Nicolaitans. He commended the Ephesian Church for being […]

Posted in: Absolute Submission, Covering Doctrine, Discipleship Movement, Domination & Control, Leadership, Nicolaitanism by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Nicolaitanism, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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One of the common denominators of false cults, false religions, and the occult is that their doctrines and practices are predicated upon the “isms” of vain, humanly invented philosophies. The same is true of the heretical hyper-authoritarian Discipleship/Shepherding doctrines, dogmas, and practices that were infused into the fabric and foundation of the Neo-Pentecostal church, which […]

Posted in: Absolute Submission, Discipleship Movement, Domination & Control, False Teaching, Leadership, Nicolaitanism by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Nicolaitanism, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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To merely call idolatry “sin,” though it certainly is, somehow seems an extreme understatement, for it is the ultimate affront unto God. Yet, arguably, it is the most pervasive sin of all today among professing believers. Contributing to the prevalence of idolatry within Christendom, no doubt, is the common perception by many that idolatry is something that occurs only in underdeveloped, far-away, foreign lands, or that it is something relegated mostly to ancient civilizations of past ages, while nothing could be further from the truth.

Posted in: Doctrines of Demons, False Teaching, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Idolatry by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Idolatry

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If you make a solemn agreement with people who are under the power of evil forces, you come under that same power…. As Christians, we are all in a covenant relationship with the Lord and the ONLY other valid covenant is that of marriage between a husband and wife. Covenants are very powerful, and to enter into a covenant relationship on any other basis but these can be extremely dangerous. If it is a scriptural covenant [which the author states are only those between a believer and the Lord, and between a husband and wife], its effect will be a blessing. But, if it is unscriptural, its effect will be a CURSE.

Posted in: Curses, Discipleship Movement, Spiritual Idolatry by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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The main focus of the initial installment of our discussion was the matter of hyper-authoritarianism in general and how easy it is for the most principled spiritual leaders to cross over the “thin line of leadership” between leading and lording, discipling and dominating, coaching and coercing, to operate in “foul ground” without even realizing it. […]

Posted in: Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, Leadership, Personal Pastors, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Leadership, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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There is a very thin line between leading and lording, discipling and dominating, coaching and coercing. So thin is the line, it is at times and in certain scenarios nearly indistinguishable. Indeed, church leaders commonly cross the divide without even realizing it, and are much chagrined upon discovery of their transgression. Moreover, many find themselves […]

Posted in: Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, Leadership, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Leadership, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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The adulterated concept of “spiritual covering” itself is problematic enough. Yet, its negative effect is increased by the fact that it is the predicate for several other, related elements of error comprising the heretical Discipleship/Shepherding doctrines and practices, one of which is the matter of “personal pastors.” Indeed, this element has been the basis for […]

Posted in: Absolute Submission, Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, Personal Pastors, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Personal Pastors, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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The adulterated concept of “spiritual covering” itself is problematic enough (for more on that subject, read the previous two posts). Yet, its negative effect is increased by the fact that it is the predicate for several other, related elements of error comprising the heretical Discipleship/Shepherding doctrines and practices, one of which is the matter of […]

Posted in: Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, Personal Pastors, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Personal Pastors, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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“Spiritual covering” as theorized by the false teaching that emerged and was widely disseminated during the Shepherding Movement is an absolute MYTH. No semblance of that version of “spiritual covering” exists anywhere within the pages of Scripture. “Spiritual covering,” in the way it is presented by proponents of these hyper-authoritarian teachings, is an outright deception! It is a complete fabrication concocted by the originators of these fallacious doctrines as a supposed pretext for facilitation of entirely self-aggrandizing objectives of subjugation, domination, and control.

Posted in: Absolute Submission, Covering Doctrine, Discipleship Movement, Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Personal Pastors, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Covering

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The following are some of the common signs and symptoms, or common characteristics, of authoritarian abuse manifest in hyper-authoritarian groups, churches, networks, and ministries, especially those identifying themselves as Charismatic or Pentecostal. Bottom-line is: any ministry in which more than a few of these signs of abuse are manifest should alert you to the fact that it is an organization that espouses hyper-authoritarian doctrines and employs abusive practices, regardless of how large, popular, or well-known it and its leaders are.

Posted in: Absolute Submission, Covering Doctrine, Discipleship Movement, Domination & Control, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Covering

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Hyper-authoritarian doctrines and practices have become cemented into the foundation, fabric, and functions of many churches and even whole denominations or networks of churches. The problem has become so widespread that it is almost pandemic in Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal churches. But, the reason these scripturally-condemned doctrines and practices have been able to proliferate and endure […]

Posted in: Doctrines of Demons, Domination & Control, False Teaching, Spiritual Abuse by admin / Tags: Abuse of Authority, Hyper-authoritarianism, Shepherding Movement, Spiritual Abuse

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