Spiritual Abuse: Learning and Overcoming Spiritual Abuse in the Church and Home

By Yvonne Davis-Weir

Have you ever visited a church where the Word of God is being misused for personal gain? Or have you ever met someone who uses Scripture to control and manipulate their spouse or other church members? Well, both are examples of spiritual abuse.

This book takes an in-depth look at spiritual abuse. It provides ways to identify and overcome this form of abuse. Yvonne Davis-Weir provides personal experience with this serious issue that seems to be prevalent in todays churches.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490877280

Yvonne Davis-Weir

Yvonne Maxine Davis-Weir was born on August 8 to parents Melbourne and Edith Davis in beautiful island of Jamaica. She had 2 brothers Cleve (now deceased), and John, also three sisters Hyacinth (also deceased), Sharon (in Jamaica), and Maureen (Virginia). Both her parents are deceased, her father died in the early eighties after battling a long illness; her mom died in 2020 at the age of 89 from dementia. Yvonne is blessed with six awesome children, they are my first-born Michael who is now deceased, Linval, Sasha, Carlton Jr., Samantha and Clifford. Yvonne attended Park Hall Primary School, Frankfield High School and Clarendon College in Clarendon, Jamaica. Halfway through nursing school, she migrated to the United States as a wife and mother. After some years, Yvonne was forced to relocate to another part of the county after suffering through years of domestic violence. After receiving another chance to by the Almighty God, she settled down in her new location, she worked as a nurse for several years before being called into the ministry. She obtained her Bachelors (Magna Cum Laude), and her Masters degrees at prestigious Trinity International University in Florida. She became an ordained pastor was heavily involved in the ministry. It is due to her teachings atTIU, coupled with her experiences in the different churches which prompted her to write her first book titled “Spiritual Abuse”. From there she was also inspired to write other books titled “A Survivor’s Story” and “Please Don’t Drop Your Baton”. Yvonne is now close to completing her Doctorate Degree, upon completion, her desire is to concentrate on her company Sister to Sister Empowerment Group LLC which caters to the needs of those affected by domestic violence.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 Yvonne Davis-Weir.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7727-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7728-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015906010

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/21/2015

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Testimonials and Endorsements

Introduction

Chapter 1:   Defining Spiritual Abuse

Chapter 2:   Spiritual Abuse

Chapter 3:   Some of the Signs of Spiritual Abuse

Chapter 4:   Ways to Overcoming Spiritual Abuse

Conclusion

Some Questions for Your Personal Reflection

Sources

About the Author

Foreword

The topic of spiritual abuse is a relatively new one. We have all probably heard of physical abuse and even emotional abuse, but most have never heard of spiritual abuse. In this book, Yvonne Weir deciphers the different layers associated with this kind of abuse.

I met Yvonne Weir a few years back when I was teaching a college writing class at Trinity International University. All of the students were assigned topics for a final essay project which would be due at the end of the class. In conversations with Yvonne the topic of spiritual abuse came up, and she decided that she would research this topic further. I believe it was the Holy Spirit that, through the research, sparked something in Yvonne to want to know and do something about spiritual abuse. As you will read in the following pages, this kind of abuse shatters the very essence of our relationship with God. Yvonne explores in depth how the Scriptures can be used and distorted to hurt and control others.

The Bible provides us with tools to use in our daily lives to develop a godly relationship and find our identity in Christ—essential to our walk as Christians.

Yvonne Weir has become one of the most beloved students around campus. Her diligence and desire to learn are contagious. Throughout the book she exhorts readers to stay totally grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ, fully armored and ready for battle. The Bible states that Jesus committed no sin yet suffered a death which is the consequence or wages of sin. By becoming human, Jesus became subject to the possibility and actuality of death. In his resurrection, Jesus left behind the conditions associated with life on this earth. Thus the pain, both physical and psychological, of earth is no longer his. We need to have a profound appreciation for the full measure of what Christ did to bring us into fellowship with the Father. May this book shed light and bring awareness about spiritual abuse, as well as bring healing to its victims.

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed (Psalm 71:16, ESV).

—Professor Stephanie Santana

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to give honor to the Holy Spirit, the head of my life, for equipping me with the wisdom to write this book and the endurance and patience to complete it.

I would like to thank my family for their continued love and support. I also thank them for the many days and nights when they assumed the responsibilities in the home while I worked on writing this, as well as my other books. Included in this wonderful bunch are my mom, Edith, my dad, Melbourne (deceased), and my children, Michael, Linval, Sasha, Carlton (CJ), Samantha, and Clifford. Also my dear sisters, Maureen Dwyer, Sharon and her husband Eli Moore (living in Jamaica), and Hyacinth Dennis (now deceased). They have always been my inspiration, and this achievement would not be possible without them.

I would like to salute Trinity International University in Davie for making the writing of this book possible. In whatever one chooses to undertake in life, one will always require the help and support of others. In my case I can proudly say that