The Spiritual Trauma Thread

[TheIndianGirl]

This is a thread to talk about spiritual trauma. I know this is a sensitive issue for some, and many may prefer not to talk about it or pretend they have not suffered from spiritual trauma. You do not have to disclose the issue if you do not want to. I am more interested in how you overcame spiritual trauma.

One of my spiritual trauma issues rose from a health issue. It is kind of a rare condition, and people in the church including pastor were telling me there was something "spiritual" about it. This caused me a lot stress at the time. Later, I learned that the health issue is an actual medical condition (but no cure but there is work in progress), and other people also have it (there is a support forum for it). I've been researching the science behind this condition. I think the people at church didn't know much about this condition and quickly called it a spiritual issue. I mean, it could still be a spiritual issue but I believe it is more a medical issue.

 

[Bingo]

"This is a new one on me, and perhaps you are able to explain a more relevant or applicable occurrence
you may have experienced. Spirituality being acquired with each unique personality.
Attempting to combine spiritual with worldly things has been known to bring confusion and delusional consequences,
which may be interpreted however an individual cares to define their situation.
My personal spiritual journey has been shared on many pages, and now over two decades, I assure you of
no 'trauma' related issues. And, I have learned the necessity of a personal spiritual inventory, being essential."
Just my thoughts...'this side of the glass'.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

This is a thread to talk about spiritual trauma. I know this is a sensitive issue for some, and many may prefer not to talk about it or pretend they have not suffered from spiritual trauma. You do not have to disclose the issue if you do not want to. I am more interested in how you overcame spiritual trauma.

One of my spiritual trauma issues rose from a health issue. It is kind of a rare condition, and people in the church including pastor were telling me there was something "spiritual" about it. This caused me a lot stress at the time. Later, I learned that the health issue is an actual medical condition (but no cure but there is work in progress), and other people also have it (there is a support forum for it). I've been researching the science behind this condition. I think the people at church didn't know much about this condition and quickly called it a spiritual issue. I mean, it could still be a spiritual issue but I believe it is more a medical issue.

I want to say something to you if I may, it isn't to hurt you and I don't think it will if you understand what I'm saying.
Please understand that this is not spiritual trauma, it is emotional, and it came from people who are not spiritual. We have to understand that so many believers are so ensconced in babylon that they do not understand that we are not citizens of babylon. Your health issues are not because you are not spiritual at all. they are because you sojourn in babylon, in the veil of tear, in this valley of the shadow of death. Your church is so babylonian that they are trying to spiritualize their citizenship here. Too many Christians have not actually defected from babylon but rather desire to capitalize on duel citizenship, but they are pawns sent by Nebuchadnezzar, to prevent defectors from escaping.

 

[TheIndianGirl]

Please understand that this is not spiritual trauma, it is emotional, and it came from people who are not spiritual.

Yes, I probably meant emotional trauma. This thread is about people who experienced spiritual or emotional trauma from people at church.

 

[breno785au]

I experienced some pretty heavy spiritual abuse early on in my walk, didn't really realise what was happening until a few years after. We thought we were doing God's work and 'rightly' rebuked if we fell short but it was just plain abuse and being used.
The demands were heavy, prayer for like 9 hours on a Friday night til 3am and anyone who wasn't there were blasted some Sunday indirectly in the sermon. When the senior Pastor went on India crusades and got 'attacked' spiritually he would come back and blame us for being in the flesh and not praying enough.
That's just some of it. It was the grace of God that saw me through to help work through and unlearn stuff I learned.
For anyone who's gone through similar, you can get through it, God will help you if you, just hold on, let Him guide you!

 

[Nehemiah6]

I mean, it could still be a spiritual issue but I believe it is more a medical issue.

If you believe this then why make an issue out of it, as though others were traumatizing you? Many issues which are outwardly physical or mental may indeed be spiritual. Someone who is capable of assessing this should be consulted, preferably a pastor or elder.

As to the "medical" aspect of any mental health issue, those practitioners who claim to be qualified TOTALLY REJECT the spiritual aspect, and try to prescribe medications. Medications are definitely not a solution to mental. emotional, or spiritual issues. The health profession has been trained to simply prescribe drugs and ignore every else. As a result things can actually get worse instead of better.

 

[TheIndianGirl]

If you believe this then why make an issue out of it, as though others were traumatizing you? Many issues which are outwardly physical or mental may indeed be spiritual. Someone who is capable of assessing this should be consulted, preferably a pastor or elder.

As to the "medical" aspect of any mental health issue, those practitioners who claim to be qualified TOTALLY REJECT the spiritual aspect, and try to prescribe medications. Medications are definitely not a solution to mental. emotional, or spiritual issues. The health profession has been trained to simply prescribe drugs and ignore every else. As a result things can actually get worse instead of better.

It is not a mental health issue, it is a physical probably nerve or cell issue. I was not making an issue out of it, but the people at church.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

Yes, I probably meant emotional trauma. This thread is about people who experienced spiritual or emotional trauma from people at church.

Sorry but I think you have missed my point.

 

[Goldensparrow]

The point of this thread was IndianGirl speaking up about the trauma that spiritual abuse from other people in the church could cause one another and inviting others to share their experience in order to offer them support and encouragement similar to the spirit of the #metoo Movement.

There are other forms of abuse that I believe IndianGirl was also willing to include under the topic of this thread.

Considering the fact that there are some things that can not be addressed at a local church sometimes for obvious reasons, it might be best that a couple of you back off and you know who you are. This might be one of the few places that some people have to go for some of the help and healing they need. Not everyone is really good with words and it is difficult to talk about some things. It becomes even harder if someone knows ahead of time that they will have someone else ready and waiting to attack or nitpick apart everything they write in their post.

You do not have the right to discourage others from responding to this thread either just because you do not like the topic.

 

[SoulWeaver]

We're not going to ever be able to get judgmental people to stop walking in judgment by telling them to stop.
Whether something is a medical or spiritual issue, it's when we're not walking in judgment but in love of God, that we bring freedom and healing to the world.
I hope the thread is going to be fruitful, don't be disheartened by people trying to tell others what to think. It's an issue in and of itself, and just like the rest of the wrongdoings that majority is practicing, it's looked upon as right and acceptable. Make a sin common enough and it becomes a common good. Sadly.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

Yes, I probably meant emotional trauma. This thread is about people who experienced spiritual or emotional trauma from people at church.

I didn't have time to respond properly to you earlier, but I'm not sure that I was clear to you. I hope I can be more clear because I do empathize with you, in that "church" people can be very hurtful. Sadly I'm not so sure some of those "churches" are actually churches.
My point is, while we can be emotionally hurt, I don't think we can actually be spiritually hurt. Our security in Christ doesn't depend on how things look or feel. Our spiritual status is 100% dependant upon Jesus and what he did for us in his life and in his death burial and resurrection. There is nothing anyone can do to change that.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:32‭-‬39 ESV

Particularly the last part of this passage.
Anyway I'm writing your to encourage and strengthen you. I don't know what your health issues are, but they are not a reflexion of your spiritual condition.

There is a passage in Luke where Jesus speaks of men who were killed when a tower collapsed, he said that it wasn't because they were worse than anyone else. The point is that when bad things happen to us, it's not a spiritual statement against us. Everyone is all equally sinfully and all need to repent, equally.
I hate that some folks cast judgement upon you for something not in your control.
My prayer is this from Psalms.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O Lord , to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 125:2‭-‬5 ESV

That the judgement of these wicked men who judged you for becoming ill will not do you or yours any harm, but that their judgement will fall on their own heads. That they be lead away with the other evildoers so that they will repent, and that peace will be upon you and all the faithfully believer who trust in the Lord.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

I experienced some pretty heavy spiritual abuse early on in my walk, didn't really realise what was happening until a few years after. We thought we were doing God's work and 'rightly' rebuked if we fell short but it was just plain abuse and being used.
The demands were heavy, prayer for like 9 hours on a Friday night til 3am and anyone who wasn't there were blasted some Sunday indirectly in the sermon. When the senior Pastor went on India crusades and got 'attacked' spiritually he would come back and blame us for being in the flesh and not praying enough.
That's just some of it. It was the grace of God that saw me through to help work through and unlearn stuff I learned.
For anyone who's gone through similar, you can get through it, God will help you if you, just hold on, let Him guide you!

I'm very glad you were able to escape that. They seem very cultish, and like they were not of God at all.

 

[SophieT]

Have you ever heard the expression the church is the only 'army' that shoots its wounded?

You are calling it spiritual trauma. It is also called spiritual abuse. It abounds.

 

[SophieT]

I didn't have time to respond properly to you earlier, but I'm not sure that I was clear to you. I hope I can be more clear because I do empathize with you, in that "church" people can be very hurtful. Sadly I'm not so sure some of those "churches" are actually churches.
My point is, while we can be emotionally hurt, I don't think we can actually be spiritually hurt. Our security in Christ doesn't depend on how things look or feel. Our spiritual status is 100% dependant upon Jesus and what he did for us in his life and in his death burial and resurrection. There is nothing anyone can do to change that.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:32‭-‬39 ESV

Particularly the last part of this passage.
Anyway I'm writing your to encourage and strengthen you. I don't know what your health issues are, but they are not a reflexion of your spiritual condition.

There is a passage in Luke where Jesus speaks of men who were killed when a tower collapsed, he said that it wasn't because they were worse than anyone else. The point is that when bad things happen to us, it's not a spiritual statement against us. Everyone is all equally sinfully and all need to repent, equally.
I hate that some folks cast judgement upon you for something not in your control.
My prayer is this from Psalms.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O Lord , to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 125:2‭-‬5 ESV

That the judgement of these wicked men who judged you for becoming ill will not do you or yours any harm, but that their judgement will fall on their own heads. That they be lead away with the other evildoers so that they will repent, and that peace will be upon you and all the faithfully believer who trust in the Lord.

Actually, best to forgive those people and allow the healing balm of the Holy Spirit to soothe the wounds. Do not let hatred or revenge for hurt take root. It will eat you alive. Confusion comes when we do not just follow the simple instructions. Thing is, I doubt those people would know if judgement should fall, why it was falling. Imprecatory prayers are not for such as this.

The op even states she does not believe they meant to cause harm:

I think the people at church didn't know much about this condition and quickly called it a spiritual issue. I mean, it could still be a spiritual issue but I believe it is more a medical issue.

 

[Goldensparrow]

Spiritual abuse can take more than one form.

Neglect is one form where a certain group might be denied some or all spiritual teaching or the gospel on the basis of their gender or race.

False teaching which results in another Christian being exploited or impeding their growth to spiritual adulthood is another form. Breno785au gave a pretty good example to start. Sometimes, false teachings can lead other Christians to do some pretty awful things to each other and to those who are not yet saved. This can result in driving people away from the rest of the Church body because the only experience the victim has is with the abusive 'group', whoever they were.

If parents do not like the talent which G*d gave to their child and the parents abuse their authority to force the child to bury the talent which G*d has given the child in hopes the child might lose the talent...

If a Christian Supervisor or Manager abuses their authority in order to try to make a Christian employee working under them do something that would be outside the will of G*d while performing their occupation...

 

[Subhumanoidal]

The point of this thread was IndianGirl speaking up about the trauma that spiritual abuse from other people in the church could cause one another and inviting others to share their experience in order to offer them support and encouragement similar to the spirit of the #metoo Movement.

There are other forms of abuse that I believe IndianGirl was also willing to include under the topic of this thread.

Considering the fact that there are some things that can not be addressed at a local church sometimes for obvious reasons, it might be best that a couple of you back off and you know who you are. This might be one of the few places that some people have to go for some of the help and healing they need. Not everyone is really good with words and it is difficult to talk about some things. It becomes even harder if someone knows ahead of time that they will have someone else ready and waiting to attack or nitpick apart everything they write in their post.

You do not have the right to discourage others from responding to this thread either just because you do not like the topic.

You're obviously new to the site. Expect to see a lot more of this and don't expect anything you say to have the slightest effect on such people. It's been going on in the 9 years I've been here, and only gotten worse.

 

[Goldensparrow]

You're obviously new to the site. Expect to see a lot more of this and don't expect anything you say to have the slightest effect on such people. It's been going on in the 9 years I've been here, and only gotten worse.

Sounds like the wrong hands are on the potter's wheel if things have only gotten worse over the last nine years.

 

[GiveThanks]

Depending on the type of church you are apart of, there are some that believe there is an evil spirit behind everything.

For example. If you have a headache, they will tell you not to take any pain tablets, but instead you should rebuke it. They are unreasonable people and if you go to them for advise about anything, they will confuse you or make you feel like something is wrong with you spiritually and that is why you are having problems.

 

[breno785au]

I'm very glad you were able to escape that. They seem very cultish, and like they were not of God at all.

Yes well, it was over 10 years ago now. The greatest gift that God gave me out of it was the ability to forgive. Actually, two great gifts came out of it, I met my wife there too, strange how things can work out hehe.

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

Actually, best to forgive those people and allow the healing balm of the Holy Spirit to soothe the wounds. Do not let hatred or revenge for hurt take root. It will eat you alive. Confusion comes when we do not just follow the simple instructions. Thing is, I doubt those people would know if judgement should fall, why it was falling. Imprecatory prayers are not for such as this.

The op even states she does not believe they meant to cause harm:

I think the people at church didn't know much about this condition and quickly called it a spiritual issue. I mean, it could still be a spiritual issue but I believe it is more a medical issue.

The best thing is to separate from those people and pray they repent.
Such prayers are for predatory devourers of the flock. Whether they intend to be or not. If they are purposefully doing this harm they are wanton of they do it unintentionally they are ignorant. Either way they not qualified to be leaders of the church of God, and also either way they need to repent. Why would anyone not pray that they repent? And that God do what ever I'm necessary to cause them to repent? That's not love at all. If I love someone my desire is that they repent. So I pray what is best for them.

Her illness is indeed not spiritual.
Her illness is because as the rest of us do, she sojourns here in babylon, this veil of tears, this valley of the shadow of death, and this flesh is doomed to die. All of our flesh will indeed die. However because our God, the Lord Jesus has paid the cost; though this body fall away, we will live forever, because He has given us eternal life.

Thank you for your response, but we do disagree, and on that note. I agree to disagree. Peace be with you.