The Abuse of Spiritual Authority in the Church 

I found this info that goes along with what you said in video…..The term spiritual covering is usually used in the context of the Shepherding Movement, though it can have other meanings. In its primary context, having a spiritual covering means being submitted to the authority of another Christian believer. The concept is taken to mean that, for a person’s spiritual life and/or ministry to be valid in the eyes of God, the person or ministry must be under direct submission to a specific person. This might be an elder or pastor of a church, an older or more mature Christian, or some other authority figure. The idea that a “spiritual covering” is required was initially developed within the Charismatic movement. Today, it is sometimes associated with the New Apostolic Reformation and the Hebrew Roots movement. According to the teaching of spiritual covering, Christians are not only accountable to God but also to their leaders and elders. For biblical backing, supporters of spiritual covering cite verses such as Ephesians 5:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, and 1 Peter 5:5. In practice, the concept of spiritual covering makes an earthly authority figure an intercessor or a substitute for God in the life of the person or ministry that has the “covering.” This has led some Christians to consult their designated “shepherd” prior to making career or family decisions. In some cases, professing Christians have claimed that, given an apparent choice between obeying God or their shepherd, they would obey their earthly shepherd. Naturally, this idea is not without controversy within Christianity. The teaching of spiritual covering has been the cause of various levels of authoritarian abuse. Several early proponents of the spiritual covering concept, such as Bob Mumford and Charles Simpson, have since distanced themselves from it and apologized for being involved. Of course, it is not wrong to submit to the authority of a pastor and follow his lead; however, with the “spiritual covering” concept, some groups have taken the basic structure of church authority and moved it far beyond biblical precepts.

This is SO HELPFUL! THANK YOU!! My pastor-husband abused me for decades with the false doctrine of positional authority. He is deceased. I am free. God bless you!!

I’m 70 and have attended various churches in different denominations from a large cult that is looked on as a regular church to several Pentecostal & charismatic churches. I’ve come to the conclusion that the way we ‘do church’ is damaging to almost every member. I love God with all my heart and learnt to discern when God is leading me and to hear His ‘voice’ in most situations. The damage occurs because most church members have learnt to sit, listen and obey the pastor rather than God. They have never been taught to have an intimate relationship with our Almighty God and don’t realise they haven’t been born again and cannot see the Kingdom. John 3 So we have worshipped in home groups for the last 15 years, taking turns to host the gathering, and saw the Acts type church in action. I have contracted a chronic illness that forces me to stay home but still we have three other folk visit every fortnight to worship and encourage each other.

I am very thankful for this teaching for I am currently recovering from spiritual abuse.

Thank you

Very interesting and useful, thank you brother.

So interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Very good teaching. Thank yiu

this is so real!!! It is so painful

This has been refreshing to think through...am working through a heavy handed background and appreciate you putting this "out there".

Thank you for such well grounded teaching on this. Look forward to rest of the series. A lot to consider on not only what I've listened and submitted to but also on how I've acted out of deception towards others.

I've listened to this twice already. This is pretty interesting. Could you explain 1 Tim 2:12 about women not to teach and usurp authority.

Fz

my pastor is a narcissist and he is sinking our church.

Fz