5 Signs Of a CONTROLLING And Spiritually ABUSIVE Pastor... (And Why They Do It)

[@lionoffireraw]

❌ *I do NOT run ads on this channel (my conviction), so I make no money from ad revenue.* ➡ If you’d like to support this work, please consider donating🙂🙏 (see links below) ✅ Patreon link: www.patreon.com/lionoffireministries ✅ Paypal link: www.paypal.me/lionoffireministries Also subscribe on RUMBLE: rumble.com/c/LIONofFIRE

[@annejordan3772]

Matthew, first, they are false teachers. They will always deny the blood of Christ for salvation, and can never say, "I am saved by His blood," I John 4:1-3. The narcissist leader was outlined in II Peter 2, and the church has always had a complete list, but it has not been preached, and believers have not studied this in depth, nor I Timothy 3 or Titus 1 for qualifications of the true pastor in Christ.

[@1NOIAM]

Narcissistic ones have no place in the church.Praise God for those whom listen to The Lord Jesus Christ ✋✝️🛐

[@AwakeTruthSeeker]

Most pastors I have met have behaved just like that. Too many are there because they want power and control over people, rather than being servants. I have been accused of causing division when actually trying to do something good, and have known pastors who surround themselves with "yes men". Thanks for your insightful message.

[@user-pc8dl4cy3i]

You are describing someone with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder exactly. Sadly, many people with this affliction ascend to positions of authority and/or power. Pray that God will heal and deliver them from NPD; He can because He is the divine physician and creator. Happy belated birthday, Matthew, and thank you for your excellent content. 🎂🎉🥳

[@lionoffireraw]

Very true!! God bless you, and thank you 🙏

[@billbill5396]

Keep strong in the Lord Brother. thanks for the content.

[@theverystones2643]

I like the chess analogy. I have seen that happen repeatedly. It’s all a big power play.

[@gerritcoetzee4070]

Wolf in sheeps clothing.We are confronted with pastors who see the church as an opportunity to serve themself.This is why Jesus warned us about deceivers!

[@GA-Vic]

Yes, exactly!

[@craigpennington1251]

And they're out there by the thousands. Beware.

[@SauravKumar-nb4xc]

this video literally came in the perfect moment in my life, love you

[@c.marmion8430]

In mine too!

[@lionoffireraw]

I’m so glad!! Matt

[@richardholappajr.6184]

Great information, thank you Matthew!

[@Kim-js8jf]

Yup, I see it with a few on line pastors. Its Narcissistic behavior. A good passage of scripture for this example is in 3 John. Diotrephes being above the others and not teachable, but prideful in his OWN way. His way or the highway attitude.

[@daveablett1851]

Yes men , the world does the same in business in schools In parliaments councils every where , They bring it to the church , Power games

[@ChristopherDolby]

Nice message, thanks. I’d be interested in a follow up if you’re interested in discussing the flip side of this one. In my experience, there are spiritually manipulative Pastors, but there’s also congregants who are not open to challenge or correction. When they are told about their legitimate sin issue, they can become defensive and accuse the leader of being overly controlling and abusive. Maybe they leave the church because they’re not being affirmed in their sinful lifestyle, blaming the leadership team. It’s so uncommon to see a leader take an active role in the care of their flock’s spiritual purity; I’d hate to see people’s pride leave them unable to accept reproof and discipline. Could you make a video explaining how I can know if I’m being spiritually manipulated and controlled, or if I’m being rebellious and corrected? Sometimes the most loving word can feel like hate in the moment, but in hindsight was the best thing for us. Great content as always Matt ❤

[@lionoffireraw]

Great point! I’ll have a think about that 🙏

[@kellyhiller3977]

Absolutely have & as a person who stands up for what she believes in & is not a puppet to be quite honest, most ppl in leadership shun me. It's unfortunate but I must get my security from Christ alone.

[@c.marmion8430]

As a woman who doesn't ever cause issues, but stands up against hypocrisy and unjust/unfair behaviour by those in church leadership, I can completely identify with your comment.

[@kellyhiller3977]

@c.marmion8430 yeah unfortunately there is still this unspoken rule that women are to be silent and go along with everything.

[@bruceanthony3357]

Never forget, women are also voting members of the congregation and can hold leadership in areas of the church. They can also vote with their feet and join a real church family.

[@Ms.noelp453]

Great to know that there are sisters who read their bibles and act accordingly 🙏🏽✝️🤍

[@phyllischaffin4052]

I've run across a few of these pastors in my 56 years.

[@jesusbeloved3953]

I spoke to the dean of our Bible school about one of my teachers. He was a favorite. Two minutes into the conversation, he warned me about not “touching God’s anointed”. I turned the tables on him. What about me, I asked. You’re casting all sorts of derision on me and I’m one of God’s anointed! He mumbled something about not being sure I was Gods, but the conversation was over. He never expected me to shoot him with his own gun.

[@salescustomer-service2050]

That's what these self righteous Pharasies do. They get shocked by you knowing the word of God. Read my comment above to Matt of experience of the same type of situation.

[@c.marmion8430]

Nice one! 👍

[@jesusbeloved3953]

@@c.marmion8430 Thanks!

[@Ms.noelp453]

👏🏽😂

[@zannbee108]

The real problem is that most denominations are running 'church' in a way that bears no resemblance to what is in the Bible. The word leader doesn't appear anywhere. Pastors, Elders etc are all roles to facilitate the healthy functioning of ALL being activley involved in edifying one another for the building up of the entire congregation, not just a select, chosen few to rule over people. Your description here shows the stark contrast between building an empire of and for self over building together for God's kingdom. The 'touching God's annointed' is so taken out context. I bet most people who use the phrase don't even know where it comes from in the Bible and couldn't name the two main characters involved (David & Saul).

[@Margaret-228]

I know pastors like that. If you talk to him about something that's wrong, he just tells you he will think about it and just carry on doing the same thing. We heard lots of times that you are not allowed to touch God's anointed. So shut up and listen.

[@MitchWaldo-ws3tj]

Good message brother and I've seen it. GOD BLESS YOU.😊

[@velcroman11]

This type of behaviour is in all facets of life. There are teachers and managers that do the same. I think you who are reading this recognise these people too.

[@sunnyfamily6094]

I’ve been a member of multiple churches and each of them has this same problem. Where can you find a church with humble and biblically faithful pastors?

[@c.marmion8430]

I'm sure there must be some around... I personally know of one. I wonder though, whether the majority start off humble and with all good intentions to serve and 'pastor' the flock, but all the power they are afforded, and in some cases the money generated into their particular church fellowship, causes them to lose their way... 🤔

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

Maybe a much smaller church, without a fancy building? Maybe a house church? When I was growing up, my parents encountered a narcissistic pastor. Our denomination would to get a new pastor every two years?, and when I was 8 ('63) the last pastor became a Missionary, and Pastor K stepped in... My dad said "He thinks He is God". By summer, we found a church of the same denom. about 20-25 miles out in the countryside. We immd. changed to that church ... and before long, so did another family. My dad had helped build the church building(in town) after a fire, and 2 yrs later we left, but dad thought it was important enough to let God be God, and not some dude who acted like he was! The new (to us) church was just a small building that could Barely hold 40 people! (One Easter we had 45 and had to grab folding chairs from SS classrooms!) I went to visit last year and it has one wall and the roof caved in! 😢 ~ Hope this helps ~ Bon🙏🙏

[@sunnyfamily6094]

@@bonniemoerdyk9809 you have a really good dad! thanks for sharing your story and for the ideas

[@CounterfeitChristianityCanada]

Great video Matt 👍

[@powdapuff75]

It was nice meeting you the other day in Victor Harbor. I hope you enjoyed your b/day and your stay. Trish.

[@lionoffireraw]

So great to see this comment!! I would have loved to have chatted for longer. Thanks for calling out to me. Matt 🙏😃

[@lawrencehorner8418]

While I haven't experienced anything that extreme personally, I was raised in an IFB church, where one of the best known IFB pastors was Jack Hyles. He turned out to be very controlling, as well as a hypocrite. Look up him and his family some time. He and those associated with his college have done much to damage the image of independent Baptist fundamentalism. And now it has given us the likes of Pastor Steven Anderson. Talk about controlling and abusive!

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

I was married in one. My fianc'es family had just started going there after decades in a good bible-based church. I had NO idea what they were about, except Baptist. My little country church was too tiny to hold a wedding, so we held it in his. Anyway, my new m-i-law suddenly threw all her clothes away, her & her husband had just shopped the day before and bought several outfits. The next day was Sunday and the Pastor preached against women wearing pant-suits (no matter how frilly and feminine they were!) and so she Obeyed and tossed everything...incldg. the new stuff. Then, they tried to pull me away from my church altogether, and forced me to be baptized there (I used to be x-shy/quiet!...pls, I was only 18). Needless to say, I was not a happy camper there!

[@ellisonhamilton3322]

Good morning from Kansas. Raining here. Have a great weekend.

[@ChrisS310]

So Steven Anderson

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

I would def. put him at the top of the list!

[@ChrisS310]

@@bonniemoerdyk9809Especially since the latest news about his own children exposing him

[@GA-Vic]

Thank you, Matt. That's, the story of my last two "pastors". One, even tries to be a FOLLYWOOD, actor. He, runs up and down the aisles attempting to incorporate american football into his weak sermons, i could not put up with his silliness so i chose to walked away, permanently!🤦

[@GA-Vic]

I, had one "pastor", 3 years ago who worshipped and emulated, Henny Binn. He, acted just like the clown so again, i could not take the fakery and decided to run from that corrupt flock!...🏃

[@billbill5396]

That's the thing with religion. It gets people to have to question rather they chose the right one. Because they All: 1) promise salvation (as though its a gift they can give) 2) Have you follow their religious Physical/carnal understanding of scripture (an image that the "People" say Christ is) 3) judge everyone who is not in their religion (Meaning Everyone judges one another), while they set up their kingdom in the hear and now, storing money and being part of the world with salvation in hand, locked in their own understanding. 4) ALL CLAIM TO BE AND HAVE THE TRUTH. making the spiritual truth of God a liar. Why would (since salvation is not a work of man, nor is our knowledge, the truth) God, in His Perfect work and image, make us have to pick and choose (a work of man) our own understanding of what His truth is? Religion is carnal and the TRUTH is not in ANY. Because if it was then why would God not lead everyone to the right one? Because there is a Right one, and he does lead them in "Truth" threw the gate. It's just not a church made by man, or a Truth understood or able to be given by men. We in religion have made carnal knowledge our cornerstone, our foundation the Image of a Man, and a faith that is in ourselves. In religion we walk around like "Little gods" in which there are MANY, all on a broad road leading to hell. Following in the likeness of our fathers and their fathers before us and not in the Truth of our True Father in Heaven. It's His Truth. In this we judge, fight, war with, kill, and seek approval of men and the world. ALL without realizing we do. Thinking us doing the "Lords Work". As Paul thought also in His religion, to be doing the same. That is, before Truth was given to Him by GOD (He then leaving the religious view and following in Truth to get them to see the Truth God gave him). Getting All puffed up in our Knowlege. Without a clue we follow a light all right, only not the TRUE light but knowledge masquerading as the Truth. We all follow the words of the serpent and act exactly the way he said we would once we did listen and put our faith in his words over Gods and ate of the tree, the serpent said was good to eat. following in obedience to the words of the serpent (Physical understanding) We all want the best version or newest interpretation of scripture so WE Can gain a clearer picture of a Physical Image of the WORD. Not realizing that in Spiritual Truth the TRUE image of God is Seen in ALL scripture and in all creation with life in it. No matter what version or date written. The Image of God was NEVER the MAN.. As those who looked upon Jesus in the scripture tried to hold Him up high as a man and call him Good. The Image of God is Not that of the Creation, But the LIFE within all things created with LIFE in them. Jesus Being the PERFECT MAN (Christ the perfect lamb), with the Perfect Image of God within. Life. When you look at Gen 1 you see creation of All things (Physical, ANYONE can read and understand). I see LIFE, a child being conceived into a virgin earth, and coming forth from her water into physical light and named, to then live a life listening to man and putting faith in their words not gods, to die in sin and in Christ (the Hope of gen 3:15) the way home to his rest of day 7. Its Life God looked upon and called GOOD. Mankind before sin "very good" having been made also in his likeness of perfection. It's HIS LIFE, we join too in faith. It's this image we MUST believe in.. Not our own. It's This Faith that binds us to the Son (2 become 1) as we enter HIS death and His resurrection and into His Life. We, being 1 with the Son, When The Father calls His Son Home. It's us who comes Home With HIM.. We are NOTHING and can do NOTHING without God, Period. As I Live, I live by NO work of my Own (Do you live right now? What keeps you alive and breathing?). I live because God allows it (His breathe in Me). As I Live I live By FAITH. To then in the END (NOT NOW) Be given the Gift of salvation BY GOD HIMSELF... As I Live in the here and the now, I LIVE BY FAITH. Faith threw a belief in a Spiritual God (a truth of which comes from GOD himself and given in grace to us.. NOT MEN). So, Yes Calvinism and every religion gets us to question our "salvation" . Because for 1: Salvation is not ours to obtain or to be given one to another by any means or sense of the word. and 2: It's given after we die by God. Religion promises something that it does not possess or have even in themselves. Which is why we can know ALL are without TRUTH. until this truth is found, we will never be at rest in it. because in truth, there is NO HIGHER learning. NOTHING LEFT TO KNOW, and Only ONE. It's this Church that was started, and 1 in the SPIRIT. religion is just a fellowship of carnal minds following their own imaginations and by us "FINDING" one is to fellowship with likeminded Carnal minds and judge the world as god, thinking ourselves immortal as god, in a carnal understanding and view we give to the ONE TRUE GOD.. Don't take my word for it, I'm just a man. Take it up with God. We are to give the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. Not sit in our religion with carnal minds and physically interpret His WORD. I don't remember seeing in scripture where that was commanded of us too do. Yet in EVERY religion that's what we do.. Religion sais and promises that "We have the truth, We are the Way, and in us their is Life". Go to scripture and pray about this, and as you live, Live by Faith. God Bless anyone who reads this.

[@vickiware813]

When we went to two days of membership classes. We were given a lot of information of what would be expected as members and then told we were not to give an opinion unless asked. What do you all think of this?

[@lionoffireraw]

That bit about not giving an opinion, unless asked, sounds strange. I don’t know the context.

[@chadbomb9782]

❤🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@billbill5396]

I Just would like to apologize to you brother. Just as our lives and the way we go thew them, change from person to Person. I also understand that Gods timing in the lives of each and every one of us, also comes differently and at different stages, as we grow in Faith and in Love. Learning and growing in His Word at different speeds or even reasons (as we all have different jobs to do for His Glory, and the knowledge known from one to the other may vary greatly.) But His Love and Truth that leads to salvation is very much the same for all His children. In my judgement I tend to put down and discourage others (As I Have even you a few times), Not everyone is at the same spot in their faith, but that does not at all mean that God is not working in their lives bringing them to His truth and understanding. Yet I often blast my brothers, as though they are lost and act as though my level is like the Pinnacle of truth or something (As though I'm God as I judge them and you). Yet, in reality I am probably the weaker. I'm just trying to say I'm sorry to you Brother, because all that aside, you clearly Have Faith in God threw your belief in the Truth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Which to me, means that you're my brother, regardless of how we get along. That Reminds me of Cain and Able. Only I wish to not be jealous and blast you, do or say something to you that may be a stumbling block or make you feel bad or question your faith. In That I'm sorry and ask your forgiveness. I will still share with you, only I will be doing it with Love from now on. Unlike Cain, I think I'm done, arguing and fighting with other brothers, arguing and thinking each our own sacrifice to be the TRUE way of knowing or doing something. Because in the end we don't need to, God is in both our lives and teaching us both in Truth as we Go.. So, rather I am lacking in knowledge, or it be you. It makes no difference, because salvation does not come from our knowledge or our Truth of anything. But in Gods Truth we believe and have faith in, and both of us Rest in This Truth together.. Love ya Brother and may God forever bless you in all things True.

[@johnmartin3517]

I they are not humble......run forrest run!!!!!

[@lulurosenkrantz3720]

Potters House .

[@russjones4526]

CFM. POTTERS HOUSE. YUP.

[@keithdavis4683]

Most preachers don't understand spirit they only preach old testament and Jesus Christ as savior they are not doing Gods will

[@Robert-r4s4c]

I would never trust any Pastor.

[@salescustomer-service2050]

@Robert-r4s4c you are right and it's the reason why God tells us not to put our trust in man. Only trust in God because the heart is decietful. Hence why the Father gave us the gift of the Holy spirit to guide us.

[@c.marmion8430]

That's a bit of a sweeping Statement, and therefore unfair. Don't tar them all with the same brush.

[@Robert-r4s4c]

@@c.marmion8430 They all tell lies about the Catholic Church.

[@lionoffireraw]

The RCC has many false doctrines!

[@Robert-r4s4c]

@@lionoffireraw Can you give me a list ?

[@teresamcnulty8471]

We had one of those...I was convinced he was a Jesuit infiltrator.

[@wernerwepener8335]

That seems like a business not a church.

[@gbrown9273]

Totally sounds like a narcissist... ."entitled".. think they are "little gods"... "little kings" and think they can do anything they wish..

[@billbill5396]

EVERY single one fits your description. Tell me in the Bible where Jesus tells us to go out and interpret His Word for Him. Because I'm pretty sure we are supposed to give the gospel of Jesus Christ (good news about Jesus). Because Spiritual Truth of God's Word (Spiritual TRUTH of Who Jesus Christ is) is Given by God. its Him who goes through the scripture with us. instead, we give them the gospel as God commanded, then have them join our religion and have a MAN interpret the scripture according to their carnal understanding and their own religious knowledge passed down from generation to generation of men. as we pump out pastors left and right. Only possessing the physical understanding. Which is fine for the knowledge of God. But NOT the Saving truth that brings us to Spiritual faith. True image of God (Hint, its NOT a man). its in THIS truth they were all of one accord in the original church. That time has long gone. As men have become puffed up in their own knowledge, rejecting the spirit of truth.