Illustration of an unhealthy church
-
The figure of The Spirit of Pride with a stone body (and heart) immovable, unchangeable, and impenetrable to emotions and feelings.
-
Pride is a stone character, unmoving and is over the church (between the legs negative shape is a steeple and cross).
-
Pride has DARVO inscribed on it’s chest. Deny, attack, and reverse victim & offender”. DARVO is a tactic used by a perpetrator to avoid accountability for their actions. As the acronym suggests, DARVO commonly involves these steps:
-
The perpetrator denies the harm or abuse ever took place.
-
When confronted with evidence, the perpetrator then attacks the person that they had harmed, or are still harming. The attacker may also attack the victim’s family and/or friends.
-
Finally, the perpetrator claims that they were or are actually the victim in the situation, thus reversing the positions of victim and offender.[1] It often involves not just playing the victim but also victim blaming.
-
- The snake represents The Spirit of Fear. Fear of losing the church, members, money, etc.- it blinds the pastors and board members.
- The pastors are self focused, unable to empathize, or admit any wrong doing, rather deflecting and challenging. They are supported by Pride, literally standing on his feet like children.
-
The steps represent unfair judgement that’s biased, and tainted with group-think. Inscribed on the steps “Love to all who enter until they see.”
- Narcissism is behind it all.
Update: It has now been a year since this started. I’m so thankful for where I am now and how God pulled my family out of this system. I know I was bitter when I made this illustration, but I was not when I gave it to Marina to post. I have forgiven the pastors and advisory board for the harm they caused me, my family, and my friends. I am sad as I continue to hear new stories of hurt and abuse. I have consistently prayed for the pastors and the church to surrender to Christ and change their ways. I have been moving forward and am now giving them to God.
[1] Freyd, Jennifer J. (February 1997). “II. Violations of Power, Adaptive Blindness and Betrayal Trauma Theory”
