Warning Sign #2: Spiritual Abuse Isolates Critics
This is closely tied to the previous point. Not only are critics cut out of the spiritual abuser’s inner circle, they are also isolated. After all, the leader can’t afford to have critics talking behind his back.
And so they do everything they can to isolate and discredit critics, smearing their character, accusing them of lacking faith, saying their understanding of the Bible is wrong, and even spreading lies about them. The pastor wants his followers to have nothing to do with critics and seeks to discredit them as ungodly sinners who are holding back God’s plans.
The sad reality is that those labeled “critics” often start as close confidants of the pastor, but once they begin to push back, they are cut off. Instead of being able to provide guardrails for the roaring ambition of the bad pastor, they are sidelined and slandered.
Warning Sign #3: A Bad Pastor Prizes Loyalty Over Diversity
In order for a church or spiritual movement to be healthy, a diversity of opinions is required. In Christ, we are all priests to God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and given unique gifts to build up the church.
But this doesn’t work for the dangerous pastor or spiritual leader. Diversity leads to dissent, which slows momentum and keeps him from achieving his grandiose plans. He doesn’t want a variety of opinions, he wants loyalty. You’re either in or out, for or against.
And if you’re not all in, you’re accused of being disloyal. Of not being a team player. Of being a naysayer and downer. Of not believing in the mission. Those who are loyal are promoted to positions of honor, while those who criticize are ostracized.
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A sure sign that things are going downhill is when everyone in leadership thinks, acts and even speaks alike. Additionally, if the leadership team gets smaller and smaller, it’s a sign that the pastor is hoarding power and promoting only the most loyal followers.
Warning Sign #4: Spiritual Abuse Refuses Accountability
Another of the signs of a bad pastor or spiritual leader is such a person doesn’t like to be held accountable for his decisions. Because of this, he’ll take actions specifically designed to minimize accountability. Oftentimes, this involves creating odd leadership structures where those who are supposed to hold the pastor accountable are unable to do it.
They may be misled or kept in the dark about the leader’s actions. Or, when push comes to shove, they may lack the formal power to hold the pastor accountable.
The result is that it may look like he’s being held accountable when in reality he can do whatever he wants.
Warning Sign #5: A Bad Pastor Leads by Force of Personality
This one is a little trickier to evaluate and should be examined in conjunction with the previous signs. Most bad pastors don’t seem like bad pastors. They’re often charming, dynamic and even visionary. They are forces of nature, charismatic, able to inspire people to do hard things.
But the personality is often a facade, whitewash splashed over a tomb. On the surface, they appear to be prophets with a direct connection to God. In reality, they’re deceivers who don’t fear the Lord.
It’s the dynamic personality that often causes people to allow destructive spiritual leadership to go on for far too long. They can’t reconcile the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the bad pastor, and so they endure abuse and hope things will get better.
Warning Sign #6: Spiritual Abuse Refuses to Believe Anything Is Wrong
Sadly, most bad pastors refuse to believe that anything is wrong with their leadership style or the way things are headed. They remain convinced that everything is great, up until the point that everything falls apart.
And even if they do harbor doubts, they certainly don’t share them with others. That would be an admission of wrong, of fallibility, of weakness, of insecurity. It would be an acknowledgment that maybe, just maybe, God isn’t on their side. And so they are always full of bluster and bravado, making grand claims about how swimmingly things are going.
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The result is that things go from bad to worse to total implosion. Many people get hurt, the Lord’s name is dragged through the mud, and the movement usually falls apart. Even if it doesn’t, it’s only a shell of it’s former “glory.”
If You See Signs of a Bad Pastor, Don’t Tolerate Spiritual Abuse
If you suspect that your pastor is a spiritual abuser, don’t hope that things will get better. That rarely, if ever, happens.
Instead, talk to someone outside your normal circle of friends and ask their opinion. Share specifics with them, including all the red flags. Getting an outside perspective is helpful because it can be hard to make sense of everything when you’re in the middle of it. Additionally, bad pastors are often manipulators, able to explain away every action, no matter how egregious.
Whatever you do, don’t tolerate signs of a bad pastor and spiritual abuse. It will leave you hurt, disillusioned and feeling betrayed.
God has better things for you. Joy will come in the morning.
This article about signs of a bad pastor originally appeared here.
