Religious Abuse online answers 

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Through my worldwide Internet ministry I hear from many different people who offer me comments on my website and book.  I always welcome an opinion, good or bad - and I always welcome your encouraging words. Some people write me regarding their spiritual warfare battles, and many tell me of their victories.  But sadly, many people share their stories of religious abuse.  What I mean by religious abuse is, when religious churches and organizations mentally abuse its members.  Not just child sex abuse like you have been hearing about in the news lately, but spiritual torment on adults, both young and old, to force them to submit to the will of their church. 

Over the years I have heard and read many sad stories, not just from Catholics, but from Protestants, the Jews, Muslims, etc.  The tactics are intimidation, coercion, threats, and sometimes murder.  Emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing, denying, blaming, and using the children.  Male privilege is a traditional favorite for abuse. And many women are seen as property. (Click for the Marriage Rites page;  Women and Faith page.)  These are crimes committed in the name of GOD, and they are not isolated incidents.  Through religious abuse, "religion ceases to be a heavenly inspiration for thought and conduct, and becomes instead an assemblage of meaningless ceremonies and a worldly ideology." 

 Jesus said to him, 

“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. 

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

-John 20:29

If you believe you are blessed - directly from YHWH!  

My website and book Homeworship 101 means to empower the individual.  I address religious abuse because it really annoys me when mere mortals think they control the gates of Heaven.  Quite frankly it is one of the things that YHWH hates (Prov.6:16-19; Rev.2:6).  Many (mis)use the Bible to justify their spiritual torment on others, but just as a reminder, many also forget that the Bible also teaches grace, love, understanding, long suffering. 

Many people tell me they are closer to God in the Garden then a church group – and I would not argue with them.  First let me say, I am a Bible teacher, I do not run a church, and I make no demands or judgments.  I believe when people are given the proper information the Holy Spirit will guide their hearts.  If you are suffering under religious abuse and spiritual matters get very complicated I have always found that it is best to bypass tradition and study what the Bible has to say, and then follow your heart. Traditions are a two-edge sword, some are good and we can learn from them, and some are destructive and can hold you back.  Work towards trusting yourself, and relying on your own abilities to learn and grow.  

 "...who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant..."

- 2Corrinthians 3:6

It is important to note that our CREATOR did not begin a religion; HE deals with humanity via a Covenant relationship.  I call myself chronicler extraordinaire because I like to start at the beginning.  In the beginning, the Bible teaches us that humanity – anyone with a belly button – has a covenant relationship with our CREATOR, YHWH.  This is the foundation of what I teach and it is generally called Covenant Theology.  The sign that we have a Covenant relationship with our CREATOR is the Rainbow.   Generally know as the Rainbow Covenant, it was the Covenant GOD made with Noah.  And was the Covenant that governs all life on earth in this spiritual age.  It is the basis of our spiritual promise leading to our CREATOR’S Kingdom, and no earthly church, and no mere mortal, has power over it. (Click to learn more: Covenant Theology, Sacred Covenants, and the Judgment Day web page)  

A Covenant relationship, means two parties coming together, to enter into a Covenant, both with responsibilities to fulfill the promises made.  Covenants with our CREATOR bind us as one into HIS Kingdom.  Responsibility is the key word, HIS Kingdom is not a free-for-all, take a moment and look the word up in your dictionary for its complete meaning. The seven basic laws the people must keep are called the Noahic Commands.  Remember: these are the basic Laws all the generations, and all the ethnic groups, immediately after Noah kept. (Click for the Commandments page.)   

Humanity is evolving, but it is not our bodies evolving from some type of pond scum - it is our minds, hearts and spirits that are evolving.  That spiritual evolution can be seen in these Heavenly Covenants designed by a loving and guiding hand leading all of humanity to our CREATOR’S everlasting kingdom - if they want it.  REMEMBER: The Biblical lessons do not force confusion, conversion, deception, or violence.  YAHWEH will not call anyone to live forever with HIM in HIS Kingdom if that person does not want to do so (Rom.ch.14).  There are many tricks and lies that corrupt religionists use to make the faithful do their bidding.  If anybody try's to force you into saying or doing something that will guarantee you a place in Heaven, ask them, "Did the Rainbow suddenly fall out of the sky?  Because that is the sign of my Heavenly promise."  

Our CREATOR wants us to grow in knowledge and here in America, we have the freedom to study the Bible, and other ancient texts.  Computers make it very easy to compare different language texts.  And the Internet makes access to information easy.  With the Jews back in their homeland, we have many-many, discoveries in Biblical archeology, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are helping to prove the Biblical accounts and prophecies.  After careful examination, clear thinking Bible readers can see the prejudice and methods of control in different religions, and now find themselves questioning long held beliefs.

Throughout history, various groups - churches, trade unions, governments, etc. - came to power by instituting reforms to help people.  In time, the organizations lose their way and become rigid and top heavy, no longer serving the people.  Then the roles reverse, and it is the people who wind up serving the organization.  For example: I was raised Lutheran (the people who spawned the Protestant revolution), and my biggest question is: "What have you done for me lately?  Originally, Martin Luther (the early years), had 90-odd good ideas, but he could have gone even further.”  Sadly, it seemed to me that the religious leaders are more revenue then Bible orientated.  Frustrated, I put on my hiking boots and blazed my own trail up the spiritual mountain of knowledge.  I hope that I have an "inspired" point of view, but I didn't stand in a beam of light to get this spiritual enlightenment, I worked at it!  It took many books, and many years of study to get this far. 

Remember: No mere mortal can guarantee you a place in Heaven.  False doctrines aside, I see organized religion more as a Bible learning experience.  The Romans brought the Bible down to its lowest common dominator, and let's call that the grade school level.  The Protestants are like high school.  The Sabbath keepers, the Holy Day keepers, the Sacred Names keepers, Jewish Messianic, are like junior college.  Studying Hebrew (and a little Yiddish), Biblical archeology, and natural healing, are like the university level.  I can't help but wonder, do the university professors look down their noses at the grade school teachers?  Do the college students, confident in their educational superiority, insult the grade school students?  One has to remember that the worldwide faith are at different levels of understanding, and the frustrating reality is that in this Age of Grace, Divine teachings requires a patient, and gentle touch – you cannot use your higher calling as a club.

The Jews, Christians and Muslims all claim Abraham as their ancestor, and back in his time spiritual matters were a little simpler.  You were either monotheistic (believe in the one CREATOR-GOD and HIS plan for humanity), or pluralistic (believing in the chaos of many gods).  Unfortunately, today it’s not that easy, there are more and more church groups that fight and split up for all kinds of reasons.  I think they fight over minutiae and miss the bigger spiritual picture, and I do my best to counter such an attitude (Prov.6:16-19).  I describe it this way (visualize monotheism as a pizza pie):

Remember: GOD is…, like eating a pizza! 

Some people like it with just plain cheese; others like to load it up with everything.

Some like the thin crust, some like only the regular crust, some others like the double thick crust, and there are those who like all three. 

Some like to eat carefully with a knife and fork, some others just grab hold and chomp away - sitting is optional. 

Sometimes you like to eat it at home, sometimes you feel like going out fancy and eating it in a restaurant. 

And for those who do not like pizza - we will pray for you. 

Be aware, if you are a pizza lover, then Satan wants you!

The moral of the story is that they are all feeding on our CREATOR’S knowledge, even if it is in their own particular style.  Satan hates all Believers - he does not care which brand of Believer you are.

We should always look to the example of our Master-Teacher.  When Yahshua-Jesus was talking to a general audience about Heaven, with all His spiritual knowledge, He didn't look down his nose at them and demand ritual purity.  He spoke of His FATHER's Kingdom as a blessing to the people (Mat.5:1-12).

In YAHWEH’S universe, love is the power.  

And these are the fruits of the spirit.

Love - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him" (1Jno.4:16). Through Jesus Christ, our greatest goal is to do all things in love. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1Cor.13:4-8).

Joy - "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh.8:10). "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb.12:2).

Peace - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom.5:1). "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom.15:13).

Longsuffering (patience) -- We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Col.1:11). "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph.4:2).

Gentleness (kindness) -- We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left" (2Cor.6:6-7).

Goodness - "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power" (1The.1:11). "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Eph.5:9).

Faith (faithfulness) - "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isa.25:1). "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Eph.3:16-17).

Meekness - "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal.6:1). "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph.4:2).

Temperance (self-control) - "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love" (2Pet.1:5-7).

I believe GOD empowers the individual and that is the theme of my book and website.  Some say the church is the recruitment office for the army of GOD.  Why is it that the spiritual army is never taught how to invoke the spiritual power tools which defeat the dark side?  The sage would say, “to lead an untrained army into war is as to throw them away.”  In my humble opinion, every church should have a homeWorship department.  Priests are to be spiritual teachers and coaches – not just masters of ceremony.  For example, when YHWH told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he wasn’t told to see a priest to have it done – he had to do it himself (Gen.ch.22).  Today, if the head of the household wants to anoint, bless, lay on of hands, baptize their loved ones, use the Covenant salt, bless wine and bread, etc. their local priest should be teaching them how to perform the rite themselves, not simply collecting a fee for service.

If GOD is in your heart, log on to my Spiritual-power tools section and learn how to spiritually empower yourself.

It is important to remember:  That the first humans Adam and Eve, after being created, immediately knew their CREATOR.  After their fall from grace, humanity now has to have 'faith' in our CREATOR, and have the 'heart' for HIS Righteous path (Heb.11:1).  That is what makes the faithful so special during this age, because in all the Universe we are the true faithful because we are the only ones who believe without seeing (Jon.20:29;1Pet.2:9).

Additional Links:

> http://www.apologeticsindex.org/a04.html

> http://home.mchsi.com/~ftio/ritual-abuse.htm

> http://sosa.org/index.asp

> http://www.verbalabuse.com/8.shtml

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