When the Church Wounds Its Own: Understanding Spiritual Abuse and Misused Leadership (Spiritual Abuse Series)

How do we reconcile the gap between the radical love of Jesus and painful experiences people endure within Christianity? This reflective episode dives deep into spiritual abuse—what it is, what it isn't, and why it’s such a vital conversation for modern followers of Jesus and those harmed by the Church. Mike Erre and co-host Andy start a thoughtful, at times humorous, exploration of what happens when Christian leadership gets it wrong and how we can move forward with honesty, grace, and accountability.

Key Takeaways: • Spiritual Abuse Defined – A breakdown of what spiritual abuse involves: manipulation, coercion, shaming, and misusing God's authority for personal gain. • Jesus and Abusive Leadership – How the harshest critiques from Jesus and the prophets were aimed at religious leaders who strayed from God’s heart. • What Spiritual Abuse Is NOT – Helpful clarifications on the difference between abuse and conflict, unmet expectations, or strong leadership styles. • The Importance of Fruit – Discussing the biblical metaphor of “fruit” to discern spiritual health in leaders and Christian communities. • Western Individualism vs. Biblical Community – Why our cultural obsession with autonomy often clashes with the collective nature of the Church. • Church Discipline Misunderstood – The difference between healthy correction and abuse masquerading as spiritual authority. • Cautions for Spiritual Leaders – Personal reflection on the temptation to feed off the church rather than feeding it.

Resources Mentioned: • Scriptures Referenced: Galatians 5 (Fruit of the Spirit), Matthew 23 (Jesus on religious leaders), Ezekiel 34 (false shepherds) • “Spotlight” (2015 film) – A look at the danger of systemic spiritual abuse • SubversiveKingdom.com – For further engagement and resources from Mike • For more on healthy church leadership: VoxologyPodcast.com

Call to Action: Help us change the conversation by sharing this challenging episode with someone who may need healing or clarity. To continue shaping conversations that matter, leave us a review on iTunes, subscribe on Spotify, and follow @voxologypodcast on Instagram and Facebook.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Email questions or share your story at hello@voxpodcast.com.

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Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre

The conversation doesn't end here—join the Voxology community as we try, fail, learn, and grow forward together in Christian faith.



As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy