Who Joins Spiritually Abusive Groups?
The question of who joins high control religious groups seems like it would have a simple answer. It does not. Nor is there a simple answer to how it happens. The starting place should be the question of what disposes a person to spiritual abuse? Why is a person vulnerable? What differences in people make one vulnerable and another not so vulnerable?
Here is a list that may help you think it through. Which of these statements fit you?
Excommunicated
Back in 2008, I was excommunicated as Jehovah’s Witness from the Watchtower Society. I did not yet know the Lord Jesus. But that night—the same night I was excommunicated—I felt a ball and chain fall off of me. I paid the price of losing my relationship with my parents and sister. I went on to live a very sinful life, as I thought I was free to live how I wanted to.
I had to endure heartache, guilt, rejection, depression, anxiety, and fear, at times in and out of the emergency room for panic attacks and health related issues, not realizing these were lies from the enemy.
What Is God’s Name?
Jehovah’s Witnesses have very little understanding of the Name they have taken for themselves. The origin of the Name is in Exodus 3, where a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus as “the angel of the Lord” says His name is I Am. In Hebrew the Angel of the Lord said, “ehyeh asher ehyeh” which was translated as “I Am that I Am.” It means “I Am the Eternal” which tells us the Angel of the Lord was the pre-incarnate Jesus. The Hebrew behind I Am is the origin of Yahweh.
Israel Reborn
(Frank Scherschel The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up the ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.(Isaiah 11:11-12)
Concerning Mormon Authority & Blacks in the Priesthood
Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Mormons teach that in the pre-existence Lucifer began a war in heaven over the rejection of his plan of salvation. One third of the sons of God sided with Lucifer, one third fought against him, and one third failed to be valiant in the struggle.
Brigham Young said these non-valiant sons of God were cursed from ever holding the Mormon priesthood. So they can be identified they were given the mark of Cain, which Mormons say are the Negro, or dark skinned, features.
The Bodily Resurrection
When we share the Bible with a Jehovah’s Witness, we should emphasize what is most important for them to know. We must let them know that the bodily resurrection is of “FIRST IMPORTANCE.”
My recommendation is that we should focus our witness to them on a topic that is essential to the Gospel. It also helps that this doctrine is very clear in the New Testament. There are no interpretive or textual problems. There are also a lot fewer verses to cover than other key doctrines like the Trinity [which, in Make Sure Ministries’ opinion, is not a subject that should be approached in early conversations, but rather just the deity of Christ].
Ancient Heretics: Marcion
Marcion, born in Pontus (modern day Turkey) about 85 AD, was one of the more significant of the gnostic heretics. The impact of his teachings and movement are largely unknown today. However, many of his doctrines survive in modern heretical movements.
Gnosticism holds that the material world is evil but the spiritual realm is holy. This led to heretical views that Jesus was not genuinely a flesh and blood man but a manifestation. You will find Gnosticism in modern cults such as Christian Science, among others.
Ancient Heresies: Docetism within Christian Science
Most of the earliest heresies in Christianity originated from the gnostic influence on the Church that was so prevalent at the time.
Christians are aware that what we read in the New Testament is frequently a response, or reaction, to what was going on in the Church at that time. Much of the New Testament is a record of the application of revealed Truth to a contemporary problem. Someone might think that what was going on two millennia ago is not quite relevant to our circumstances in a modern world. This is not true at all.
Simple Mathematical Truth
Let’s use some math to see if the above equation can be applied to Scripture. While there are many passages that can be chosen for each (fewer testifying to the Holy Spirit), we will chose but one for the sake of brevity. For more passages, click on the links below to other pages within this website.
Prayer of Thanks for God’s Word
Your Word gives me joy and comfort knowing You always continue to show Your mercy, grace, and unveiling love. Being in Your Word is a constant reminder of what You did for me. I am grateful that You removed my spiritual blinders and the scales of darkness fell from my eyes.
Science of Hermeneutics — Mr. Hermen Eutics?
Many do not know that there is actually a science for the study of Scripture. When it is carefuly utilized, all the while praying that the Holy Spirit be our teacher (I John 2:27), it brings us very close to the meaning that God intends for us to glean from His Word. This is the science of hermeneutics.
Book Review: Toxic Faith
As Arterburn discovered some of the ministries to which Nany was giving her hard earned money, he realized that toxic faith had robbed her “of the great blessing of knowing her money had been used to further the kingdom of God.” (p 2) All the while these “ministries” were fueling their jets to fly to Palm Springs with the money they were bringing in.
Introduction to Make Sure Ministries’ Blogs 2.0
Our absolute number one priority is to provide support for you and for your loved ones. Our contributors love those who are lost in these high-demand, authoritarian religious sects and who desire nothing more than to help them be set free from their bonds.