Written in 1998 but needed for today to equip you! Updated and Revised!
Authoritarian, Cult, Organizations and Churches
As Pastor of New Beginning Christian Center, International, I came across an important Article that has pastoral implications.
I believe it is very important for the Leaders as well as the flock to comprehend. This Article is used by permission.
This article was contributed and edited by Steve Morris, myself, and others who care.
If you don’t know who you are, then people will tell you who you are and you will be who they want you to be, instead of who God wants you to be.
We must remember those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise. So, in the light of God’s Word we will look deeper into a system that may be familiar to our journey.
Religion is a return to bondage, plain and simple.
Religions are all self-motivated and we are measured by our behaviors.
Religion focuses on the flesh of man.
Christianity focuses on the finished work of Christ.
Legalism causes what should be the joy of knowing Christ, into works and adhering to the rules of the organization can harden our heart to bondage.
There are some very good people that are bound and they don’t understand, they only think it is part of the drill.
A legalist wants everyone to do it their way, or you are not getting with the program.
A legalist labels you as not Christian when you are a free thinking, intelligent, rightly dividing the Word of Truth and basing your outcome on God’s Word.
It makes religious groups infuriated when you are not following and adhering to their rules, especially if God is still blessing you!
A legalist is very intolerant of anyone who doesn’t measure up to their standards.
This information below I believe is one of the most important pieces of information we can receive in this hour. In the last days even, the very elect would be deceived if it were possible. (Matthew 24:24)
The deception will become more acceptable with a lot of well-known ministries that appear to be good.
It is my hope as you read this that it will deliver, equip, and prepare you for the coming days.
I witnessed and understood this information personally and I believe it will give you a guideline to go by in the future.
Due to the times we live in, you will see these techniques used in religious Churches, in cults, in jobs, relationships and anything that deals with mankind.
I exhort you! Get secure in Christ! Get your confidence from Christ!
Be who you are and realize that no matter what you do, people won’t always be happy with you. Quit trying to prove something and just be yourself.
Stop casting your pearls before swine. Guard your heart diligently like a vault is safeguarded. Stop defending yourself and attempting to prove your innocence.
Lean against The LORD and make Him your stronghold, and HIS Word the final authority.
I pray The LORD uses this article to equip you for your present and futures! In Jesus’ Name.
Characteristics of Authoritarian, Abusive, Cult Organizations and Churches
1. The people are there to meet the needs of the leaders, rather than the leaders for the people.
This can be in the form of ego, finances, power, and position. True shepherds will help, guard, protect, and build the flock so the flock can walk in its own strength.
Shepherds don’t own the flock. A true shepherd points people to dependence upon The LORD Jesus as your Source.
2. The Leaders continually remind members of their own authority — because it isn’t based on genuine Godly character.
The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or Leader, is the over-emphasis on authority.
For example, a group claims to have been established by God Himself [with special endowments] and the leaders in this system claim the right to command their followers.
3. If you mention a problem or ask questions then you become the problem.
You are accused of causing them, not simply exposing them.
The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the leader. The Word is not the final authority, the Leader is!
4. Loyalty is demanded by the leader and/or his organization, instead of to Christ.
Often fear of bad repercussions will be threatened if you leave or do not follow the agenda.
5. Secrecy, surprises and suspense are utilized to continue to cause chaos and confusion.
They are “the only ones who know, and if you question them” you have no access to the “truths” they receive. People hide what is inappropriate, not what is appropriate.
6. Unbalanced doctrines are taught, i.e., prophecy, biblical law or esoteric methods of biblical interpretation and spiritual methods, to the exclusion of the whole counsel of God.
This validates the group’s claim of special status.
Techniques used for control
1. Excess flattery.
We all want to think we’re special and respond readily to a “special” group of people who are considered to be “insiders.”
We all want to be a part of the “elite” group, but Jesus died for everyone to have full, equal, and adequate access to the Father. The veil was rent that all may see.
2. A promise to bring you into an authoritarian cause, as a leader.
There is a follow up on the flattery by urging you to use your “unique personal talents” to guide and teach others.
Instead of being a servant to others, you are now a lord to others in your position.
3. A position of great authority over you is assumed.
They will contact you again and again to try to get you to attend some sort of meeting, party or other special event and use other socially manipulative tactics to recruit you into the group — all for your own good, of course.
4. You will be led to respond to questions with the answers they most want you to give, therefore affirming their authority.
This can often be a group psychology. They continue to flatter you, while leading you through a hidden agenda by making it appear as though the answers you gave meant that you support their point of view of your own free will.
5. The former flattery will be used against you. Now disappointed, in contrast with wild praise, the perceived loss of esteem such a response can serve as a powerful force motivating dissenters to “get with the program.”
They will let you know in so many words that you “owe” them for your blessings.
God does not work that way. We don’t like to disappoint those who initially claim to be impressed with us, especially when they assume a position of authority over us and claim to have “selected” us for membership in some supposed special group.
Cult leaders and other authoritarian figures typically use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage. The underside of flattery is manipulation.
6. The rules of the game will be changed early on, with no warning, and proceed as though nothing unusual has happened.
Such “bait and switch” tactics are confusing. However, they are typical of those who attempt to recruit others into authoritarian movements.
When we find ourselves giving in to such strategies and feel reluctant to “question” those who are setting themselves up as knowing what is best for us, we can slowly begin to internalize their point of view. (The frog in a pot of cool water)
Our questions and repressing doubts is a fundamental component of our own thought processes. Your mind is not your own anymore!
7. They will contradict themselves many times during your relationship with them.
They will cover their tracks by repeatedly verbalizing their stated objections toward the very tactics they used to manipulate you from the start.
In other words, they are accusing you of what they are guilty of! It is called mirroring….
They believe your view of yourself as an independent, free-thinking person would most likely make it difficult for you to fully recognize the many ways in which they were controlling the underlying agenda from the start.
8. The desire to avoid feelings of disillusionment and isolation, is a powerful elixir motivating those who choose to remain members of various cult groups and other authoritarian movements.
Especially after it appears obvious that the extraordinary hopes and desires they had when they first joined are never likely to be fulfilled.
This can occur because the hopes for relationships and significance were considered part of the prize.
If your foundation is really on Jesus, then everything built upon that will stand, despite the winds of adversity.
If you are not as free to leave as you were to come in, you are in a cult!
If condemnation (rather than a healthy disappointment to see you leave) and emotional manipulations are seeking to control you, be glad that you left! It will never get better.
We are called to be part of The Body of Christ — which is worldwide and based on scripture and the liberating Spirit of God — not the doctrines of man.
In Christ, you are free! Free to serve, free to live and free to do right.
The stronger the control, the more likely you are to face very unpleasant and unhealthy consequences.
There are many churches, many of which are very good.
Please keep looking until you find what gives you good mental health and treats other people with respect.
Recognizing Manipulation and Intimidation for the Purpose of Domination
Control
Manipulation: definition — Skillful and efficient deceit using artful, unfair, or unobtrusive devices and contrivances in a secret manner to control others.
Intimidation: definition — The use of fear or coercion to force submission to another’s will.
Domination: definition — To influence the actions and conduct of another to be first in power, influence
or rank.
Practitioners attempt to project an attractive and irresistible image of superior natural and/or supernatural skills, abilities and accomplishments.
The attempted techniques, methods and procedures employed are easily recognized:
1. Projection of guilt upon others by:
- Correction
- Criticism
- Fault finding
- Disapproval
- Condemnation
- Confrontation
- Ignoring an individual’s existence
- Circulating malicious opinions
- Non-acceptance into their cliqueBlame
2. Statements in the form of questions or analogies designed to put others on the defensive.
3. Not initiating closure when problems surface in a personal relationship, regardless of who is responsible for the problem.
They will always depend on the unresolved tension to cause the other party to contact them first to resolve the issue.
4. Establishing uncertainty of the past, present or future to build insecurity in a person and dependence upon the practitioner’s abilities and information by:
- Altering true information
- Withholding true information
- Issuing false information
- Using big names as information sources
5. Illegally assuming authority without responsibility, by:
- Outright claims that they have the official sanction of those in charge
- Implied claims they have the official sanction of those in charge
- Manipulating, maneuvering, and motivating others to think, feel and choose the way the practitioner wants them to
- “Spiritual” revelations
- Physical authority — violence, temper tantrums, force, sex, drugs, etc.
- Rebelling against established authority
6. Illegally attempting to assume responsibility without authority.
7. Declarations of dependency: “You don’t understand how much I need you (depend, trust, etc).”
This may be followed by “and how little you care what happens to me.”
8. Declarations of reverse dependency: “You don’t understand how much you need me (depend, trust, etc.).”
This may be followed by “and how much I care what happens to you.”
9. The “Let me show you how to do it” ploy.
This makes others realize they do not have the time, talent or temperament to accomplish something, thereby shaming them into letting the practitioner volunteer to do the job.
10. The “Show me how to do it” ploy.
This makes others realize the practitioner does not have the time, talent or temperament to accomplish something, thereby shaming them into volunteering to do the job.
11. The “I tried to cover for your mistake” routine, “and it:”
- Worked, so you’ve got to repay the favor by doing something for me.
- Didn’t work, so you’ve got to do something to fix the problem.
12. The “I tried to teach you, but you won’t listen to me, so don’t ask me any more questions” ploy.
This ploy is to punish others by instilling a deep sense of loss created by withdrawal of the practitioners (opinionated) “wise counsel.”
13. Insults directed at others to further distance the practitioner, who by now knows they have failed in their efforts to dominate.
14. Polarizing groups of people into adverse parties.
This is further punishment for failure to recognize the superiority of the practitioner and an attempt to establish control by comparing persons to create competition.
15. Withdrawal, when suggestions, comments or questions come up about their pronouncements, with simulated:
- Hurt
- Rejection
- Depression
- Physical sickness
- Protests of innocence
- Accusations of others
16. False remorse, with hypocritical statements of now perceiving how their past activities have hurt others and a seeking of forgiveness for past behavior.
17. Self-proclaimed martyrdom usually follows withdrawal or false remorse when the practitioner realizes others are not fooled by their insincerity.
Withdrawal or self-proclaimed martyrdom is tacit admission of failure to successfully dominate others.
18. Instigation of difficult, uncomfortable, or costly activities for others, which may or may not benefit the practitioner.
This is their last desperate effort to control others after having been exposed as two-faced hypocrites, gossips, and liars.
They will eventually resort to their old, more satisfying, tactics to force others to depend upon them.
This dominating technique, however, may be used at any time by them to control situations, circumstances, and social environments.
19. You may also notice one or more of the following communication techniques. They will:
- State the obvious
- Make a mountain out of a molehill
- Play “can you top this”
- Promise beyond their delivery capability
- Stampede into action before all the facts are in
- Edit the facts to dramatize their point
- Keep in constant motion, unconcerned about direction
- State the opposite of the facts, because all else failed.
Under no circumstances respond directly to their overtures. Do not address the issues they raise.
You must respond by stating that they have no responsibility or authority to make such a statement to you, and that they are out of order.
If your relationship with them has not been that close in the past, you may add that because of their present improper social behavior and breach of etiquette, your mutual relationship certainly won’t be close in the future.
The Danger of Self-Centeredness
Self-centeredness, as opposed to Christ-centeredness, opens a person to a spirit of pride, from which comes an unteachable spirit, a spirit of control and a rebellious spirit.
When you meet a person with either of these spirits, look for the others. They will be there. The most obvious one you have spiritually discerned may overshadow the others. But upon close observation you will see them all in operation.
When a person becomes self-centered to the point of pride, and begins to manifest these spirits, it opens the door for the Jezebel and Ahab, who always bring their idols along with them.
And with idols always comes sexual immorality, which brings about an abandonment of oneself to fleshly pleasures, drawing the person even further away from God.
A Jezebel spirit will attempt to play prophet/prophetess by its familiar spirits and really loves a true prophetic gift if it edifies, exhorts, and comforts.
But when a true Prophet of God, who has been anointed by God to speak the judgment coming to the house of God and exposes this spirit, it attempts to destroy the true Prophet by:
- Destroying their character.
- Destroying their credibility as a prophetic minister.
- Destroying the conscience of the prophet.
When a Prophet’s Character and Credibility are destroyed , then the conscience is ripe for destruction.
Many in The Church will agree, because they believed the lies about the Prophet’s Character and Credibility as a Prophetic Minister.
The Prophet then will begin to doubt his own character and credibility and the inception of the destruction of his/ her conscience is established and, without proper prayer and counseling, will continue until the conscience is thoroughly destroyed.
The Jezebel spirit thus establishes itself as a true prophet of God who exposes a “false prophet” and draws the rapt adoration of its followers even further into the slime pit of hell.
That’s why Discerning of Spirits [1 Corinthians 12:10] is of such great importance in this day and hour.
And we will establish the usage of that Holy Spirit gift firmly in our lives by continually remaining and abiding in the presence of the Father. Selah……..
“to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:10
In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey
New Beginning Christian Ministries International 