“Johnson & VanVonderen use the following 7 criteria to identify the abusive system. These criteria can be used in a wide range of systems, from families and groups to organizations, to see if they are abusive:
- Power-Posturing
- Performance Preoccupation
- Unspoken Rules
- Lack of Balance
- Paranoia
- Misplaced Loyalty
- Secretive
Spiritual (religious) abuse occurs when a leader uses his or her spiritual (religious) position to control or dominate another person.” http://www.crescentlife.com/spirituality/spiritual_abuse.htm
Spiritual abuse can exist in families. When a parent uses his or her spiritual authority to spiritually dominate a son or daughter, that is spiritual abuse. Parents are given authority to guide and point their children to God, not to themselves.
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:1
[ Freedom in Christ ] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
James 2:12
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
