Thank you. I am in the middle of leading a group of victims to confront spiritual abuse at our former church. The battle has been intense. But what has helped is our group chat where we keep saying again what happened and prevent each other from gaslighting themselves.
That is such an intense battle, but it definitely helps to fight alongside it others rather than alone. I think we see that dynamic in John 9. It’s an individual story, and yet the man switches to 1st person plural in 9:31:
“WE know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him.” This is probably the “we” of the Johannine community. As you put it, gaslighting—questioning and doubting what one knows—has much less power when it’s “WE know ___” rather than “I know ____.”
Such a powerful perspective, Aaron. I also love how pairing John 9 with chapter 10 does introduce Jesus’s voice into the story, as the better shepherd who would never treat someone the way the religious leaders have treated the formerly blind man.
I wasn't aware that January was spiritual abuse month, but that has been the topic of my last two posts. One thing I have found is that the next church one goes to after spiritual abuse generally doesn't want to hear about or deal with it. It's almost as though they think one will taint or corrupt their community when all that is wanted is for someone to hear and care. I love how you spoke of what the blind man went through in John 9. I had never seen his story that way. God bless you, Aaron!
How to talk about church trauma at a new church is a real dilemma. I just read your post from Jan 24 and cannot fathom that pastor’s response, offering compassionate prayer but giving selfish rebuke instead. Talk about unspeakable. I hope John 9 opens up for you a way of seeing your story in the Gospel story, and being seen by Jesus. If interested, this post which explains a bit more this way of reading John: https://onceaweek.substack.com/p/hermeneutics-for-spiritual-abuse
Thank you. I am in the middle of leading a group of victims to confront spiritual abuse at our former church. The battle has been intense. But what has helped is our group chat where we keep saying again what happened and prevent each other from gaslighting themselves.
That is such an intense battle, but it definitely helps to fight alongside it others rather than alone. I think we see that dynamic in John 9. It’s an individual story, and yet the man switches to 1st person plural in 9:31:
“WE know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him.” This is probably the “we” of the Johannine community. As you put it, gaslighting—questioning and doubting what one knows—has much less power when it’s “WE know ___” rather than “I know ____.”
Such a powerful perspective, Aaron. I also love how pairing John 9 with chapter 10 does introduce Jesus’s voice into the story, as the better shepherd who would never treat someone the way the religious leaders have treated the formerly blind man.
Thanks Tabitha. You’re absolutely right. I think John invites us to imagine the man hearing Jesus’ voice in ch 10: https://open.substack.com/pub/onceaweek/p/the-dynamics-of-true-shepherding?r=16589c&utm_medium=ios
I wasn't aware that January was spiritual abuse month, but that has been the topic of my last two posts. One thing I have found is that the next church one goes to after spiritual abuse generally doesn't want to hear about or deal with it. It's almost as though they think one will taint or corrupt their community when all that is wanted is for someone to hear and care. I love how you spoke of what the blind man went through in John 9. I had never seen his story that way. God bless you, Aaron!
How to talk about church trauma at a new church is a real dilemma. I just read your post from Jan 24 and cannot fathom that pastor’s response, offering compassionate prayer but giving selfish rebuke instead. Talk about unspeakable. I hope John 9 opens up for you a way of seeing your story in the Gospel story, and being seen by Jesus. If interested, this post which explains a bit more this way of reading John: https://onceaweek.substack.com/p/hermeneutics-for-spiritual-abuse