Episode 16 - Misplaced Loyalty: Are We Loyal to Christ, or Our Tribe?
Description
Misplaced loyalty in religious settings occurs when commitment to institutions trumps truth, justice, and human dignity. This harmful dynamic enables spiritual abuse by silencing those who recognize problems, creating environments where manipulation and control thrive under the guise of faithfulness.
• Institutional cover-ups of abuse scandals (Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention) prioritize reputation over justice
• Theological isolation creates echo chambers where learning from other traditions is discouraged
• Gender-based restrictions in ministry show loyalty to tradition over recognizing spiritual gifts
• Discouraging questions treats curiosity as rebellion and suppresses critical thinking
• Refusing cross-denominational cooperation promotes division over unity in Christ's body
• Elevating denominational rules over loving people creates legalistic environments
• Silence about racism, sexism and abuse within churches to "keep the peace"
• Fear of leaving toxic religious environments due to identity entrapment and loss of community
Join me for the next episode where we'll explore distorted loyalty and how these two concepts work together to create spiritually harmful environments.
"Be Human, Be Kind, Be Both."
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