Spiritual abuse : when the system becomes the persecutor

160 Pages·2014·0.94 MB·English

by  Gary R. Veenhuizen

DDiiggiittaall CCoommmmoonnss @@ GGeeoorrggee FFooxx UUnniivveerrssiittyy
Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations
2011
SSppiirriittuuaall aabbuussee :: wwhheenn tthhee ssyysstteemm bbeeccoommeess tthhee ppeerrsseeccuuttoorr
Gary R. Veenhuizen
George Fox University
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin
Part of the Christianity Commons
RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Veenhuizen, Gary R., "Spiritual abuse : when the system becomes the persecutor" (2011). Doctor of
Ministry. 12.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/12
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons
@ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of
Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected].
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY

SPIRITUAL ABUSE:

WHEN THE SYSTEM BECOMES THE

PERSECUTOR

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO

THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY

IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY

GARY R. VEENHUIZEN

PORTLAND, OREGON

DECEMBER, 2011

ii
Copyright © 2011 by Gary R. Veenhuizen

All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from New King James Version, copyright
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version and are Public
Domain.
iii
iv
CONTENTS
PREFACE ………………………………………………………………………………… vii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ……………………………………………………………… ix

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………… x

Chapter

1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………… 1

Current Resources

Definitions of Spiritual Abuse

Characteristics of Spiritual Abuse

Causes of Spiritual Abuse

Purpose

Organizational Context

Summary Statement

2. A FOUNDATION OF RELATIONAL THEOLOGY…………………………. 19

Definitions

The Call to Relationship

Relation-ship and Community

Connectedness and Character

Love

Interdependence and Self

Relationship to Creation

3. SPIRITUAL ABUSE IN THE SCRIPTURES……………………………….…40

Old Testament Archetypes

v
The Law Builds a Platform for Abusers

The Law and Abuse

New Testament Archetypes

The Religious Authorities

Early NT Church Case Study

4. SPIRITUAL ABUSE IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY…………………….….……67

Abuse in Religious Constructs

Major Heresies of the Past

Traits of Abuse in Heresies

Some Observations about Institutional Systems

The Reformation Story

A Closer Look at an Abusive System

The System Becomes the Persecutor

5. THE PATHWAY TO ABUSE…………………….…………………………….94

Sources of Abuse

Short Survey OF Frank W. Sandford’s Life

Covenant Relationship vs. Abusive Relationships

6. SYNTHESIS AND CONLUSIONS…………………………………………....120

Created for Community

Principles of Relationship

Covenant

Grace

Empowerment

vi
Intimacy

Bringing Both Ends Together

BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………….…………………………………..138
vii
PREFACE

I have been asked many times by my friends and acquaintances what I intend to
do with this degree. I know what they mean, of course. What career change will occur
now that this is over? Well, I have some thoughts on what may happen. Several offers to
use this accumulated information for the Kingdom have surfaced. But the fact is, “doing,”
“being,” and “becoming” has been happening all along. This process has provoked
several rabbit trails of thought over these last eight years. In sharing, listening and
interacting in my own relational world, much of what I have been processing has been
foisted onto my unsuspecting friends.
Others, simply asking about the topic, have responded with their own stories of
abusive relationships in churches. It gives me pause to wonder how, or if, these
organizations we so closely attach ourselves to, could be structured or designed to
eliminate the painful experiences perpetrated on Jesus’ sheep. Then I remember—these
painful experiences are more often perpetrated by Jesus’ sheep. Actually, we are all
broken and in need of restoration in our relationships with God, ourselves, others and
creation. That is what living each day is ultimately about.
Of those who told stories of their own experiences, several offered their
permission to include their stories in this work. Those offers are deeply appreciated. It
was not possible to do so, however, since many examples of abuse were not necessary for
this paper. I do want to acknowledge their offer and state that they are exactly why this
topic is so relevant. Broken, abused people are a pandemic reality.
My deepest thanks for encouragement toward completing this effort belong to
some good friends: Dr. Bill Vermillion, my mentor, along with Charlie Ryan, Bill
Winkenbach, Bob Ward and Jeff Rasch, who when I met with them regularly they asked
viii