While digging around the archives for a request I came across this link to psychologist Gary Schoener. He has done work in the field of sexual misconduct and sexual exploitation by professionals. In this brief article  he looks at themes he has found working with abusers - why fundamentalists and some evangelicals find it so difficult to address abuse.Â
1. Forgiveness
There is some belief that somehow God will forgive you (rent Scorcese’s fine film Mean Streets, which predates the Godfather movies, to see the use of confession in people who kill others). Ironically, usually these people don’t feel that you have to show contrition – just that you confess.
2. Repentance and leadership
If you repent and find Christ, this washes away all sins. So, you can ordain as your pastor a drug dealer and sleaze – bag, or a sex offender, as long as he is saved.
3. You are a person of faith so evil is not a problem.
4. Rationalizing – you did what you did to help others
5. If it isn’t in the 10 Commandments it doesn’t count -Â ethical issues are non-issues.
6. See #5
…an almost unbelievable inability or unwillingness to even consider that this conduct is subject to an ethical or moral examination. It’s really just the sort of “mistake” or “indiscretion” or who knows what…
7. An inability to look at behavior and consequences. (Introspection and self-inspection are lacking)
8. No problem if it’s in the grey area (focusing is on the situation and others)
Every time I try to focus on the offense, they give me a long list of the things OTHERS DID or how the situation was tough.
9. The Pontius Pilate approach. (it’s over, get over it already)
…Of course, the problem is that they weren’t even really psychologically, intellectually, emotionally, or morally PRESENT in the past. They did what they did and then jumped into the future..let bygones be bygones.
10. Persecution/Christ complex
… there is a quick shift to and focus on how they are being persecuted and how others have done the same thing and gotten away with it, how even murderers get off at times, and how unfair this is.
Schoener makes a valid and helpful contribution to the subject of abusers and their rationale of systematics that somehow justifies their abuse of others and their abuse of power and privilege.
The lack of insight and introspection in some of the more prominent cases of abuse in ecclesial circles in particular mentioned in these blog threads and elsewhere is astounding.
Most of these perpetrators and alleged perpetrators would be prepared to put their hand on their heart and swear they have a fear of God. So close are they to the wood they often can’t see the trees. They have become or have the potential to become wolves in sheeps clothing yet they don’t often realize they’ve become or could become wolves themselves.
It’s a complex situational ethic which if it were not so serious would continue to be the preserve of colloquy and debate in academia and professional circles.
But there is a real problem and the church needs to wake up to it’s responsibility of ensuring safeguards are built in to protect the flock from the danger that lurks within when left unchecked.
Interesting article. Another abuse I see happening in the church, that seems to follow this same top ten list is Spiritual abuse. I read “Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, The: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church” by David Johnson and found it to be a great read. Gives insight into other abuses in the church as well.
I think with the help of that book, and with the help of mentors, I was able to shift my perspective about many of the perpetrators of Spiritual Abuse. As Tim pointed out, I think most have no real idea what they are doing and how they are affecting people in their church. It helped me to have a more loving perspective, because really, living and breathing in an environment wrought with spiritual manipulation and extra biblical teaching is so unhealthy. Even for the perpetrators. They themselves are not living in that peaceful, loving relationship with Christ, and really in the end they are missing out.
Therese: I would assume from your comment that you have not read the work of David Johnson. Should you have taken the time to read the book, before making an assumption, you would have seen that the for mentioned book was saturated in Biblical content and truths. I don’t believe in any manner that I suggested my shift in perspective occurred apart from the Bible. I am of the sincere belief that God uses skilled and gifted writers to expound and exegete the Word of God through written work. Though no book should trump the Bible on topics, I see no fault in gleaning truths and understanding from Christ centered, Christ affirming works of literature. Many teachers, lectures and Theological books shifted my perspective while earning my degree in Theology, but that was never a part from the Bible.
I would certainly welcome the opportunity to clarify what I meant by “shifting my perspective” in Spiritual abuse, but I fear that your comment was more to make a statement than ask a question.
I also fear, that since reading Bene and starting to comment on his blog that there has been some hostility towards myself and others who comment here. As a twenty-something woman in ministry, interested and educated in Christian theology and the Canadian church, I sincerely hope that this blog stays a hospitable, honest and discerning place, where people feel safe to comment, safe to learn, but also safe to respectfully and loving disagree.
E – My comment was not meant unkindly, it was my honest feeling, and a cautionary hint to you. I realized a little while ago that the call in Revelation to return to our first love, is a call to return to the pure word of God that we loved first before we were seduced away to the word of man via ‘Christian’ books, television, and sadly the majority of pulpits. When someone has received some revelation from the word of God, even if it came through a human vessel, they normally will put forward the Word rather than the vessel it came through if indeed it was the Word that transformed their mind on any issue. This has been my honest observation and experience. In these days of rampant deception there is a lot of humanistic thinking backed up with selected passages from the bible, and this has led the church astray with tragic consequences.
Therese;
Thank you for your cautionary warning.
That is an interesting interpretation of Revelation 2:1-7, the letter to Ephesus and the call to return to their first love. I had always understood that to be speaking of their loss for their first love of Christ, not the return to the word of God (ie, the Bible).
Jesus seemed to actually commend the church in Ephesus that they were rightly dividing the truth from error and that they were not being seduced away into any false teaching. Not to mention Christ commending their works, labor and patience. I am in no way a biblical scholar, but, that is always how I had understood the verse.
Thanks for your response though!