Thread by @MuiRebekah

A thread.

When I previously shared a chart illustrating spiritual grooming and abuse, people questioned whether these horrific things are actually taught. I will be using quotes from John Piper, Debi Pearl, Elisabeth Elliot and Marabel Morgan to exemplify just a few instances.

The problem really begins with a poor understanding of the call to the cross. I recently wrote an article about spiritualized suffering and self-imposed martyrdom: kingdomoutpost.org/the-cross-spir…

The second error comes from a misinterpretation of Genesis 1-2. Women WERE given dominion in Genesis 1:27 and a mission by God, and women are called to fulfill the Great Commission and be disciples of Christ too!

This third error exemplifies a Christian culture where women are expected to be so wholly given to motherhood/wifehood that if you're not completely losing yourself in the process, then you're just not doing enough.

Finally, submission is primarily and exclusively misinterpreted as subjection and obsequity. Reverence is misinterpreted as fawning. Everything resolves around making men feel superior, in-charge, and The Boss.

There are many more examples from a range of different authors. Some are more overt and some are less so. But pervasive is the idea that if you just draw the technical line at where you consider submission leads to abuse then you are safe.

The problem is a failure to consider that the entire culture and context in which some of these teachings like "taking up your cross" and "denying yourself" occur. It's not about drawing a line but rejecting an entire destructive culture that misuses scripture.