Eight Distinctives Of An Aberrational Christian Group

II. Controlling Leader/Leadership.

Frequently, near to total submission is implicitly or explicitly demanded by the leader/leadership. This is because they have "the mind of Christ," special revelation, are "God's anointed," etc.

A. The leader/leadership has a special pipeline to God with no actual accountability. This gives to them a special authority and weightiness in their pronouncements, even in non-essentials.

B. Scriptures like Hebrews 13:17; Psalm 105:15, etc. are used to manipulate the member and justify the leader's position. These verses are taken out of context and were never intended for leaders who are not accountable.

C. The leader/leadership often determines the areas of your life that are important for you to submit in. Refusing their counsel is to be rebellious.

D. The problem is that members of these aberrational groups tend to abdicate their decision making power to the group or leader.