Religion | Diagnosis: Healing from Toxic Religion - Part 1

Springcreek Church - Garland, TX Podcast

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DIAGNOSIS
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
July 14, 2024
#god #realspringcreekchurch #healingfromtoxicreligion #toxicreligion #toxic #religion
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/
Over the past several years and in recent days, we have seen wave after wave of exposures involving high-profile pastors embroiled in scandals - child molestation, infidelity, and abuse of all varieties. With every exposure, you can know that there are many innocent victims whose lives are ruined, congregations that are left reeling, and our witness to the world in tatters. Why does this keep happening? What are the warning signs? And is there anything that can be done to prevent it? That’s what this Sunday’s message is all about - diagnosing toxic environments. Unless and until we really understand what’s happening and why, we will repeat what we refuse to repair. The path to healing begins with defining the reality of what we’re up against. Don’t miss this message.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The Bible is very upfront and honest when it comes to dealing with toxicity in leadership. It treats it as a given. In the same way, you will find bad actors in every arena of life, you will also find them among God’s people. Why are we so shocked when things like this are discovered today? Have you ever had to deal with something like this personally or have you known others who have? If you are comfortable sharing your own story, please do so. If what you know is regarding someone else’s story, make sure you have permission to share it.
2. Pastor Keith began today’s message by describing the environment that sets up all leaders to be tempted and that is in being given great influence or power. Why is power such a corrupting influence? What can we do as individuals to guard against the abuse of power?
3. Thinking in terms of Steven Berglas’ study in the Success Syndrome, the four great temptations that have brought down many leaders can be described as the four A’s: Arrogance, Aloneness, Adventure-seeking, and Adultery. We have all seen this pattern played out in the lives of leaders both inside and outside the church. What would a healthy leader do to guard against going down this path? What do you have in place in your life to ensure you don’t become part of the 20% of leaders who succumb to these temptations?
4. What stood out to you in the section where Pastor Keith dealt with narcissism? Have you seen or known people who were malignant narcissists? Without naming them, what characteristics stand out about them? How much is fear a part of their regular discussions or interactions? Have you noticed any of the signs of narcissistic wounding in your own life? How much do apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok feed our need to be noticed, appreciated, or loved? If you know you have narcissistic wounding, what have you found helpful in healing that wound?
5. We have likely all seen churches whose leaders were removed, rally around the fallen leader even to the point that victims experienced an even greater sense of abandonment and hurt from the defense of the perpetrator. In the final point, Pastor Keith explored how churches can be complicit in the platforming of leaders not qualified to lead in the church largely because of two reasons. What were the two reasons? What do you think of those reasons? Are there others you would add? Why do people tend to value gifting over fruit?