Spiritual abuse can occur in many contexts and in many ways but the same threads run through it all. In the first chapter of the book, Soul Repair, spiritual abuse is described this way:
Whenever we give others the message that their relationship with God depends on something other than God’s love and grace – or that God’s love and grace need to be earned in some way – we are perpetrating spiritual abuse. (pg. 22)
Spiritual abuse communicates the message that God does not love and accept us as we are, that we must work to earn God’s approval and that God’s love and grace are not enough. (pg. 29)
Though of course they would never include these tenets in their statement of faith, I think we can clearly see from my story as well as the others that have been shared here that the environment of the Honor Academy is based totally on performance. (Just click on ‘true stories’ under the categories to read examples.)
The Bible says to accept each other just as Christ has accepted us. Instead, the Honor Academy gives you performance based acceptance which is no acceptance at all. It is rejection. And this rejection, coming from your spiritual leaders, is easily translated into rejection by God. And THAT is spiritual abuse.
