“He cannot bear that you should live in such misery, such blackness of darkness. He wants to give you your life again, the bliss of your being. He will not speak to you one word of reproach, unless you should try to justify yourself by accusing your neighbor. He will leave it to those who cherish the same sins in their hearts to cast stones at you; he who has not sin casts no stones."
George MacDonald
Strong in the Grace
Churches with a heart for the hurting are finding that many coming to them have been hurt by our own. In our zeal to serve God sometimes we have forgotten that Jesus was first a servant of all.
Jeff VanVonderen says "Spiritual abuse occurs when someone in a position of spiritual authority, the purpose of which is to 'come underneath' and serve, build, equip and make God's people MORE free, misuses that authority placing themselves over God's people to control, coerce or manipulate them for seemingly Godly purposes which are really their own."
We have found that the damage done to a persons identity and ability to trust is the same as damage done to an incest victim . It is the same misuse of power that disempowers in both situations.
This seminar helps us all to personalize Romans 8:1 "There is therefore NO Condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." and to walk tall being "Strong in the Grace which is in Christ Jesus" II Timothy 2:1b as we are challenged to give grace as well as receive it.