Exodus Project Blog, He Walks With Me Blog

The Spirit Of Abuse In The Church

Posted on by Patrick Weaver
Abusive behavior isn’t new to the church, it’s still finding refuge in the church.
 
Let’s be clear, abuse is evidence of the spirit of the anti-Christ….But amazingly, the body of Christ, to a large degree, can be found trying its darndest to look the other way, to sweep willful, destructive abusive behavior under the rug and to resist calling abusers out. Why?
 
The Jesus loving, hymnal singing, foot stomping, Bible quoting, tithe paying, ministry leading, appearance keeping abuser is often celebrated, depending on their status in the church, instead of being called out for what they are — the anti-Christ. They cannot be willful, intentional, destructive abusers and be disciples of Jesus Christ…they remain in death as if they were enemies of the cross. How do we know this? The Bible tells us so in no uncertain terms:
 
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death” (1 John 3:14)
 
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35)
 
I’m not saying abuse is the only sin or evidence of evil influence, I’m saying clearly abuse isn’t love, therefore no overt or covert abuser is operating in faith or as Jesus said, in discipleship. They remain in death and are separated from God. Evil wearing a Christian mask.
 
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11)
 
Abuse is overwhelmingly ignored in the body of Christ. Too often resulting in abuser’s being able to hide and be fearless in the church. Abuse is unloving behavior, and therefore is the evidence of not being a disciple of Christ and remaining in death. The spirit of the anti-Christ and death could not operate in the church with impunity without a legion in the church protecting their own. Reread that…
 
When the Bible says, “A house divided cannot stand,” that means if there was sufficient opposition in the body of Christ to these spirits, they would not be able to comfortably coexist, victims would not be shamed and silenced. But we know they do coexist and in far too many churches, are more supported than the abuse victims are. I’ll say it again…the spirit of the anti-Christ and death could not operate in the church with impunity without a legion in the church protecting their own.
 
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
 

This is why the voices of victims are muffled. This is why, saving for an insignificant few churches, support for abuse victims is nonexistent. This is why most victims of abuse will tell an eerily similar story of leaders in the church coercing them back into abusive relationships with false doctrine to be re-abused. This is why you hear countless abuse victims in the church recount eerily similar stories of leaders in the church telling them, “If you love them more or better,” or, “submit more or better,” they wouldn’t abuse. Can you imagine God’s daughters being told to love the anti-Christ more or submit to death better by the church? How can this be happening without demonic influence?

 
“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

I’ll say it again…the spirit of the anti-Christ and death could not operate in the church with impunity without a legion in the church protecting their own. Abusive behavior is the sign of the anti-Christ and death, and it is alive and well in the body of Christ. We have all out warfare on our hands church, and we must not allow this destructive evil to rely on the church to be complicit, or stand idly by, doing nothing, while this spirit devours God’s children.

 
 
 
 

 If you've been blessed by this message, we would love your support. For the price of a cup of coffee, you can sponsor today's message and help us reach more and do more for the cause of Christ.

Walking With Victims and Survivors of Domestic Abuse

We see you. We hear you. We Believe you. Let us walk with you. Whether emergency financial support, 24/7 access to meaningful information and resources, The Exodus Project is on a mission to be an instrument of God’s love for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Learn more