Deprogramming Devotionals

When a victim  is caught in a spiritually unhealthy situation they really need to talk to someone  unbiased, who is not connected in any way with the “church”  that one is attending.  It could be a wise friend or a professional counselor.  Some have found more help with a counselor who does not advertise being a Christian.

 I found a counselor  who was a Christian, three  months before the abusive church experience blew up, when I was  almost overcome with anxiety.  I still did not know or recognise my being in a cultish/unhealthy church.  However my counselor realized that I was in a spiritual battle , and reminded me of the armor I needed to withstand and fight against the opposing  spiritual forces.   I was immediately helped by recognizing the battle for what it was, even though neither myself nor my counselor knew as yet  the extent of the problems in the unhealthy church  where I had attended and served  for 20 years.

Three months after the initial visit to the counselor all Hell had broken loose in the abuse by the church leadership against my whole family , and a lie concerning my mental health was perpetrated  , that I was “bi-polar”  and somehow  evil,  and was told  stealthily  and cunningly to the membership in order to cause them to cut off their fellowship , therefore excommunicating  myself and my family.  It was devastating;  an utterly shocking blow , and hard to take in  and process , as I thought these people truly had loved me, and I had served the pastor’s wife for 20 years and continued to love her. .  My family was a quarter of the church membership.

I soon went back to my counselor and the first thing he said to me when I told him what had happened was, “Sherry, you are not bi-polar , and you just left a cult.”  I don’t know what I would have done or how I would have worked through the  insidious level of spiritual and emotional abuse without hearing those affirming truthful words from his lips.  Although I was still in inexplicable pain for months, feeling bruised and beaten all over my soul and spirit, I  knew my counselor had told me the truth.

He has been a great blessing in my life, and I believe his help aided me to heal quicker than most , and to keep my relationship with God in tact through it all.   His advice against anger and resentment was a key that kept the door of my heart open to God. I highly recommend finding some help when you are experiencing emotional and spiritual abuse or pain.   There are  free clinics , and some with low prices and others  that go along with ones wages according to  what they can afford…  Brother or sister, get some help!  No one can get better all alone. We need perspective and someone to help guide us back to a place of hope, trust, and  a healthy spiritual life…

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