LEADERSHIP THROUGH FEAR & CONTROL

LEADERSHIP THROUGH FEAR AND CONTROL

Jeremiah 50:6

My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.

Inside many churches today, the leader has set himself up in a position that only God should occupy in the lives of the saints. It is not that the members do not feel they love God, but they have been subjected to abuse by the leader in order for that leader to maintain an atmosphere where they can constantly get whatever they want. Pastoral abuse occurs when a leader uses his/her pastorate and authority unlawfully to manipulate and control the members for his/her own personal gain. They do this in order to accomplish their own personal agendas and satisfy their own lusts. To accomplish this, the pastor misuses his position as a spiritual leader. The saints trust their pastor and see him as one who will teach them the heart and mind of God and, consequently, make themselves totally vulnerable to him. They willingly reveal all areas of deficiencies and weakness primarily in an attempt to get help. Since that leader is aware of these deficiencies, he will then use and twist the truth of God to gain control of the person’s will.

2 Peter 2:12-19

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

The leader teaches members to believe they are placed in his life to teach them to understand God. This leaves unsuspecting members as easy prey. They have no other recourse than to have a misdirected understanding of God. Because the pastor is accepted as God’s authority, and the members believe he has the ability to teach them about God and God’s ways. Therefore, they submit and lose sight of their own will. Also, the ungodly leader will instil fear in the hearts of members by using the Word of God and making them feel there are severe consequences if they fail to obey.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

The consequences of the fear of God is a powerful tool, and leaders will even go as far as making the saints believe they are in rebellion to God if they do not fully obey them. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…1 Samuel 15:23

It is so sad to see how the leader takes the scriptures and teaches them from a perspective that will ensure he has something implanted in the saint that he can later draw on to accomplish whatever he desires. These desires could even include luring the member into sin. If the leader wants to drink, abuse drugs, gamble, be involved in ungodly sexual activity or any other fleshly desires that break the law of God, he will misuse the Word so that the member feels comfortable enough to either sin with the leader or overlook the leader’s sin.

St. John 10:1-13

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

NEGATIVE MINDSETS FORMED AS A RESULT OF PASTORAL ABUSE

A mindset is the method by which we judge situations, circumstances and relationships and is formed through direct and indirect experiences. Several negative mindsets are formed as a result of saints being subjected to pastoral abuse.

FAILURE TO HAVE A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S CHARACTER

The victimized members are really robbed of the possibility of having a proper understanding of God’s true character. Since the leader has only taught them to know God through his own ways, they do not realize that God is a God of love and mercy and cannot possibly understand God wants them to know Him for themselves and have a personal Father/Son relationship with Him. They have only been taught to see God only as a God of judgment who will deal with them harshly if they do not always remain in line.

SUPPRESSION

Members who are under pastoral abuse tend to walk in suppression, because of the consequences they have witnessed and experienced. They realize they run the risk of “being brought to an open shame” if they do not do or say exactly what the pastor wants. Their true feelings can never be expressed and must be suppressed in an effort to make certain everything they say or do will keep the pastor happy. We know it is the responsibility of the conscience to either accuse or excuse all actions and responses.

Romans 2:14-15

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another . . .

Members are never given the liberty to explain to the pastor that what they have been asked to do or say does indeed go against their conscience. Therefore, even when they know the truth, they go along with the lie to avoid negative consequences. They tell themselves God will not judge them because they are walking in obedience to God’s designated authority. Inside this abuse, members lose sight of who they truly are. Their own personality is changed to becoming an individual always wanting to please the pastor, which can never be accomplished. The more they do, the more they are expected to do since lust can never be satisfied. They no longer know how to hear from God and believe they must only hear from Him through the leader. They may know God has called them to work inside of ministry, but if the pastor says they should not or does not provide a platform for them, they even lose all hope of any possibility to ever be used by God or walk in the things He has purposed for their lives. They become frustrated and even lose their own identity. They then see ministry not as God sees it, but only as doing whatever their leader tells them to do, which will be only those things that satisfy him.

FEAR

Abused members live in constant fear, not in fear of the true consequences of sin, but of what the leader might do to them if they do not constantly remain in their place of submission to him. Leaders who are abusive are usually mean and will use whatever tactics they can to keep their personal subjects under them. They will stop at no length. This might include turning other members or even family members against them and will even preach specific sermons in large meetings where everyone there knows exactly of whom they are speaking. This is called “open rebuke.”

1 Timothy 5:20

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

The scripture does say that those who sin should be rebuked before all. However, this does not imply open rebuke for those who fail to do everything they are told to do by their pastor. One thing we must remember . . .God is a God of love and mercy. Whenever rebuke is necessary, He will also offer a remedy so that the individual can find their way back to Him. The abusive pastor always fails to bring God’s mercy and love in the situation. Usually, if a member is rebuked, everyone else in the congregation must leave that member alone until the leader deems it is time for them to speak to that ostracized member again. We must also remember another tactic the abusive pastor uses is fear of God’s consequences for disobedience. Since that leader has twisted and misrepresented the scriptures, the member only knows to expect that whenever he steps across the boundaries he will be cast away from God and end up in hell. This mindset is so powerful that even if someone does leave that church, they all too often still feel and even expect God to judge them. They do not feel they can be successful either in God or in life.

FALSE LOYALTY

When we further look at pastoral abuse, we realize that there are those who are aware of what is going on and are sometimes victims of what is going on. These victims make a conscious decision to remain under such leadership. One of the reasons this choice is made is because of false loyalty. Through careful spiritual manipulation, the members are made to believe they are obligated to the pastor and the church because of what the pastor has done in their lives. The pastor might use such statements as, “While all of you are sleeping, I’m praying for you;” or “Look what God has done in your life through me and my prayers;” or “You can only bloom where you’ve been planted,” which indicates if they leave they will miss God’s blessings for their lives. If the leader is used in the Word or in the gifts of the spirit, his manipulation is further strengthened. They see this leader as one they should be loyal to since God is seemingly working with him and one they must remain loyal to even though they may see him walking in error.

MISTRUST

Mistrust means to have a lack of confidence in or to have no trust or confidence in. Many believers involved in pastoral abuse are brought to a place of total mistrust of all ministers and even of God. They came to the church hoping to be able to know and serve God, but because of the greed and lust operating in their leader, they became merchandise and vehicles to satisfy his wantonness.

Isaiah 56:11

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

2 Peter 2:1-3

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Once believers realize their hopes have been denied and they have been exploited and taken advantage of, disappointment sets in and they lose trust in all leaders and in God. Many, after they realize how they were abused and taken advantage of, do not want to have anything to do with the church or even God.