Elitism and Camping Followers

 One mark of a spiritually abusive group is an attitude of superiority to groups of other believers, called "elitism." Elitism has nothing to do with social or financial status. Instead, it is the attitude that God approves of only a limited group of believers, and "we are it!"


It is exciting to be involved in a group that experiences special affection from God. Elitism appeals to those who need to be constantly affirmed in their faith or who need to feel better than others in order to feel they are living under God's approval and blessing.


On a forum called Family Radio Listeners, I found this passage, quoted from a Family Radio devotee and defender. In it are all the marks of elitism:


Monday, May 30, 2011 at 9:30pm

As many of you know Family Radio has been teaching for years that the Church age
has ended (it ended back in 1988). Family Radio has been teaching that the Holy
Spirit came out of the churches--and Satan's spirit entered in once the Church
age ended. Of course, the churches and congregations of the world have gone so
far astray over these last 23 years that they could not find the truth of the
gospel at this point if they stumbled over it.

Churches today believe that they are the authority over the Bible. Churches
today teach works gospels (through baptism, accepting Christ, being a member in
good standing, etc, etc). Churches today teach contrary on just about every
point of doctrine imaginable. The church world (Protestant churches & Catholic
churches)have done nothing over the last 23 years through their apostasy but
support the idea that indeed, God ended the church age in 1988.

Family Radio, the one organization that cared for the truth, and labored for the
truth, and stood for the truth----teaching the Bible's truths against all of
these apostate churches---presented a date (May 21) for Judgment Day! And now
since it did not happen exactly as some of the details given suggested it
would----suddenly all the churches and congregations of the world feel
vindicated. They cannot and will not allow this opportunity to pass of passing
judgment on the one organization that has dared to place the Bible above their
teachings. How ironic that the apostate now call the faithful "apostate". How
tragic that the multitude of heretical teachings found in the churches are
overlooked as they point the finger at Family Radio and cry "heresy".

You may fall over backward, you may experience holy laughter, you may speak in
tongues and wave your arms towards the sky and you are a brother & sister to
this rebellious house as long as you condemn the one organization that has
constantly been a thorn in the side of the churches.

You may have doctrines of free will, and pre-millenial. You may teach that women
can be elders and bishops, that divorce is fine, that homosexuality is nothing
but a natural thing---and you will be embraced as brothers and sisters by this
wicked house as long as you condemn the organization of Family Radio.

How does a great earthquake not happening on May 21 equate to the churches and
congregations of the world being correct in their teachings? The answer is it
does not.

Here is the truth---we have hordes of false prophets calling the true people of
God false. We have countless churches involved with heresies calling those that
hold to the truth heretics. We have those that have immersed themselves in
apostasy calling the faithful apostate. We have those that are tares trying to
sift the wheat as tares.

It's the Lord's will, therefore so be it. But it won't last long. For the Bible
tells us that the triumphing of the wicked is short.


  Notice the condemnation of other believers, the attitude of total superiority (believers not in the group "could not even find the truth of the Bible if they stumbled over it," "Churches today teach contrary on just about every point of doctrine imaginable ."

  Even in the face of humiliating error and embarrassing false prophecy, the elitist continues bashing other Christians and asserting the unique call and holiness of the group. As abusive church leaders do, this elitist uses shame and condemnation to turn the tables on those who question the practices of the spiritually abusive group. He brings up sins of churches not like his and focuses on their weaknesses, in boosting his group's claims. Many abusive groups and churches will do the same to individuals who dare ask questions or offer suggestions. This elitist minimizes his group's own problems. These tactics demonstrate classic elitism.

Is your group elitist? If so, it is one telltale sign of spiritual abuse.