Spiritual Abuse and Recovery

This page is the primary resource of the entire Barnabas Ministry website. It has articles on identifying, addressing and recovering from unhealthy or abusive churches.

In addition, there are also book reviews and recommendations provided below.

Barnabas Ministry Articles

Identifying and Understanding Unhealthy Church Dynamics and Spiritual Abuse
Characteristics of Unhealthy, Abusive and Cultic Church Environments (30k) What makes a church unhealthy?
Egypt, O Egypt (130k)-- A series of articles examining the Israelite experience in Egypt with a view towards understanding unhealthy and abusive spiritual environments.
Jumping off the Temple (44k) A look at taking advantage of God's providence vs. the law of sowing and reaping in the high-demand church.
The Perils of Obedience (39k) Classic article on obedience to authority, by psychologist Stanley Milgram
Real Stuff vs. Fake Stuff and Spiritual Abuse (40k) Fake stuff is all over the place, including the church. What to do about it?
Royal Leadership in the Church (55k) Discussing the rise of King Saul and its relevance for the church today.
A Sober Look at Unity (24k) Examining  group dynamics and Scriptural insights about unity.
Uncovering and Facing Spiritual Abuse (50k) Shedding light on spiritual abuse and mistreatment in a church setting, John Engler shares about his various experiences on all sides of the spiritual abuse phenomenon.
The Yeast of the Pharisees: Spiritual Abuse by Pastors and Counselors (23k). By Edward J. Cumella, Ph. D. Reprinted from Christian Counseling Today, a publication of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).
On-Line Assessments
Leadership Traits Inventory (35k)  From from Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership- The Paradox of Personal Dysfunction-. A traits inventory to help you identify which "dark side" traits you might be exhibiting in your leadership.
Keirsey Temperment Sorter II
Confronting the Unhealthy Church
Confronting Those in Authority (12k) Practical guidelines for working things out with leaders
When Confronting Doesn't Bring About Change, and Why Churches Can't Change (35k) Exploring the dynamics and options when confrontation doesn't go well
Scriptural Reasons for Leaving a Church (15k) When it's time to go, and how to look at it.
The Story of Barnabas (11k) Insights about the work of Barnabas in the early church-- and how the Barnabas Ministry got it's name.
Recovering from an Unhealthy Church
Finding a Counselor (22k) A discussion of one of the most common issues that arises in correspondence with the Barnabas Ministry
Leaving an Unhealthy Church and the Grief Process (37k)- How leaving a church is a loss, how various grief models can help us understand the process, and various mechanisms on recovering from the loss. It also discusses how patterns learned in an unhealthy church environment can make recovery more difficult.
Letting Go of Offenses in the Unhealthy Church (22k) The question of forgiveness in the context of the unhealthy or negative church experience.
Losing Weight (37K) How the author lost 40 pounds in 6 months.
Practicals on Spiritual Recovery (10k) Practicals on getting better from spiritual wounds
Suffering, Growth and Bitterness (17k) Overview of bitterness from a scriptural point of view

Barnabas Ministry Book Reviews

	Most often recommended by the Barnabas Ministry
	Changes That Heal: How to Understand Your Past To Ensure a Healthier Future (11k)  Dr. Henry Cloud (Harper Paperbacks, New York, NY. 1990, 1992, 1995.)
	Combatting Cult Mind Control  (3k)  Steven Hassan (Park Street Press, Rochester, VT. 1990. 236 pages). A behind-the-scenes look at how cults of all sorts manipulate and control people.
	The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith (7k) Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich, Sheffield Publishing Company, Salem, WI 1989/1995.
	Cults in Our Midst- The Hidden Menace in Our Everyday Lives (7k) Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich  (Josey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, CA, 1995, 1996).
	Dining with the Devil: The Megachurch Movement Flirts with Modernity (13k) By Os Guinness (Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1993)
	Escape From Freedom (10k) By Erich Fromm (Henry Holt and Company, New York, NY, 1941, Owl Books Edition 1994)
	Happiness is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual By Dennis Prager, Harper Books, New York, NY. 1998)
	Healing Spiritual Abuse: How to Break Free from Bad Church Experiences (11k) Ken Blue (Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. 1993).
	Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (10k) Robert B. Cialdini, Ph. D.  (Quill/William Morrow, New York, NY, Revised Edition 1993).
	Letters to a Devastated Christian- Healing for the Brokenhearted (6k) Gene Edwards  (The Seedsowers, Jacksonville, FL, 2001)
	Life After Church- God's Call to Disillusioned Christians (12k) Brian Sanders (Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 2007)
	Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community (16k) By Dietrich Bonhoeffer
	Man's Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl (Beacon Press, Boston, MA 2006).
	Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership- The Paradox of Personal Dysfunction (7k) Gary L. McIntosh & Samuel D. Rima (Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI. 1997. 233 pages). A fascinating look into leadership failure and what can be done to prevent it.
	People of the Lie M. Scott Peck, M.D. (Touchstone/Simon & Shuster, New York, NY 1983). A chilling look look at evil and deceit in life.
	Releasing The Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves  (9k) Steven Hassan (Aitan Publishing Company, Danbury, CT. 2000). Healthy techniques for helping those in unhealthy groups evaluate their experiences and make good choices.
	So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore (10k) Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman
	The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse (13k) David Johnson and Jeff Vanvonderen, Bethany House, 1991. Discussion of the roots of spiritual abuse and dealing with the problem in a constructive manner.
	Toxic Faith  (11k)  Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton (Shaw Books, Colorado Springs, CO. 1991, 2001. 268 pages).