Leaders: Control, part 2

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/control-part-2/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>Inappropriate control, 4-6</p><p><strong>4) Abuse of authority</strong></p><ul><li>Leaders have authority, but not to create their own rules, or in the language of Jeremiah, “to rule by their own authority” (Jer 5:30-31).<ul><li>"Giving up everything" is not unlimited, but should be interpreted in the light of apostolic teaching, as found in the epistles and in Acts.</li><li>Again, we mustn't fail to distinguish between principle and practical (implementation). These rules may only be called “guidelines,” but you can tell whether they have been elevated to near-biblical status by the reaction when they are violated.</li></ul></li><li>Violation of confidentiality<ul><li>Discussing others’ personal lives in a leadership or staff meeting</li><li>Manipulation in discipling based on a leader's knowledge of people's weaknesses / sins.</li></ul></li><li>Definition: "Spiritual abuse is the mistreatment of a person by someone in a position of spiritual authority, diminishing that person's spiritual vitality and growth. At the core of spiritual abuse is excessive control of others, such as religious leaders who use manipulation to compel attendance, use guilt to get people to give more money, take emotional or sexual advantage in the name of comfort or compassion, accuse those who disagree with them of being rebellious against God, or demand absolute, unquestioning obedience regardless of whether it is reasonable or biblical." (June Hunt, "Abuse," in Clinton & Hawkins, <i>The Popular Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling,</i> 177).</li></ul><p><strong>5) Controlling words = abuse</strong></p><ul><li>“It’s God’s will… that you move / stay / give up____ / etc.”</li><li>“You need to obey me.”</li><li>“I prayed about it and I sense God wants you to…”</li><li>“Lord put this on my heart…” (no comeback)</li><li>“You have a bad heart” <i>or</i> “You’re proud” (in cases