This article was contributed by Steve Morris and others
and has been edited for even further clarification by those who care.

Characteristics of Authoritarian/Abusive/Cult Organizations/Churches.

1. The people are really there to meet the needs of the leaders, rather than the leaders for the people. This can be in the form of ego, finances, power and position.

True shepherds will help, guard, protect, and build the flock so the flock can walk in its own strength. The shepherds don't own the flock. A true shepherd points people to dependance upon Jesus and to God as your Source.

2. The leaders continually remind members of their own authority—because it isn't based on genuine Godly character, their message or their lifestyle.

The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or leader, is the over-emphasis on authority. Because a group claims to have been established by God Himself [with special endowments] the leaders in this system claim the right to command their followers.

3. If you mention a problem, then you become the problem. You are accused of causing them, not simply exposing them. The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the leader.

The Word is not the final authority, the leader is.

4. Loyalty is demanded by the leader and/or his organization, instead of to Christ. Often fear of bad repercussions will threatened if you leave or do not follow the agenda.

5. Secrecy, surprises and suspense are utilized to continue to cause chaos and confusion. They are "the only ones who know," you have no access to the "truths" they receive. People hide what is inappropriate, not what is appropriate.

6. Unbalanced doctrines are taught, i.e., prophecy, biblical law or esoteric methods of biblical interpretation and spiritual methods, to the exclusion of the whole counsel of God. This validates the group's claim of special status.

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Techniques used for control

1. Excess flattery. We all want to think we're special, and respond readily to a "special" group of people who are considered to be "insiders." We all want to be a part of the "elite" group, but Jesus died for everyone to have full, equal and adequate access to the Father. The veil was rent that all may see.

2. A promise to bring you into an authoritarian cause, as a leader. There is a follow up on the flattery by urging you to use your "unique personal talents" to guide and teach others. Instead of being a servant to others, you are now a lord to others and your greatness is in your position.

3. A position of great authority over you is assumed. They will contact you again and again to try to get you to attend some sort of meeting, party or other special event and use other socially manipulative tactics in an effort to recruit you into the group—all for your own good, of course.

4. You will be lead to respond to questions with the answers they most want you to give by affirming their authority. This can often be a group psychology. They continue to flatter you, while leading you though a hidden agenda and making it appear as though the answers you gave meant that you strongly supported their point of view of your own free will.

5. The former flattery will be used against you. Now disappointed, in contrast with wild praise, the perceived loss of esteem such a response entails can serve as a powerful force motivating dissenters to "get with the program."

They will let you know in so many words that you "owe" them for your blessings. God does not work that way. We don't like to disappoint those who initially claim to be impressed with us, especially when they assume a position of authority over us and claim to have "selected" us for membership in some supposed special group.

Cult leaders and other authoritarian figures typically use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage. The underside of flattery is manipulation.

6. The rules of the game will be changed early on, with no warning, and proceed as though nothing unusual had happened. Such "bait and switch" tactics are typical of those who attempt to recruit others into authoritarian movements. When we find ourselves giving in to such strategies, and feeling reluctant to question those who are setting themselves up as knowing what is best for us, we can slowly begin to internalize their point of view and make the act of repressing any doubts we may have into a fundamental component of our own thought processes. Your mind is not your own anymore.

7. They will contradict themselves many times in the course of your relationship with them. They will cover their tracks by repeatedly verbalizing their stated objections toward the very tactics they used to manipulate you from the start. In other words, they are accusing you of what they are guilty of!

They believe your view of yourself as an independent, free-thinking person would most likely make it difficult for you to recognize fully the many ways in which they were controlling the underlying agenda from the start.

8. The desire to avoid feelings of disillusionment and isolation may be one of the most powerful factors motivating those who choose to remain members of various cult groups and other authoritarian movements, even after it appears obvious that the extraordinary hopes and desires they had when they first joined a particular group are never likely to be fulfilled.

This can occur because of the hopes for relationships and significance were considered part of the prize. If your foundation is really on Jesus, then everything built upon that will ultimately stand, in spite of the winds of adversity.

IF YOU ARE NOT AS FREE TO LEAVE AS YOU WERE TO COME IN, YOU ARE IN A CULT! IF CONDEMNATION (RATHER THAN A HEALTHY DISAPPOINTMENT TO SEE YOU LEAVE) AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATIONS ARE SEEKING TO CONTROL YOU, BE GLAD THAT YOU LEFT! IT WILL NEVER GET BETTER.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST--WHICH IS WORLD WIDE AND BASED ON SCRIPTURE AND THE LIBERATING SPIRIT OF GOD--NOT THE DOCTRINES OF MAN. IN CHRIST, YOU ARE FREE! FREE TO SERVE, FREE TO LIVE AND FREE TO DO RIGHT.

THE STRONGER THE CONTROL, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FACE VERY UNPLEASANT AND UNHEALTHY CONSEQUENCES. THERE ARE MANY CHURCHES, MANY OF WHICH ARE VERY GOOD. PLEASE KEEP LOOKING UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT GIVES YOU GOOD MENTAL HEALTH AND TREATS OTHER PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.