What Is Spiritual Abuse? And How Do We Heal From It?

What is spiritual abuse in the church and how do we heal from it? Spiritual abuse is “a distortion and exploitation of spiritual authority to manipulate, control, use, or harm others, mostly through shame and fear,” Rachael Clinton Chen told Sojourners. The warning signs of spiritual abuse include intolerance for questions and doubts and using the Bible to arouse fear. Healing from spiritual abuse will be possible with time, therapy, and truth-telling among people who are known and trusted.