Spiritual Covering Broken - #7 Demons in the Sanctuary

Demons in the Sanctuary - #7 - Spiritual Covering Broken

We could call this chapter ‘oppression in the sanctuary.’ Just reading the chapter is difficult for me because I start to feel oppressed. The central character Mira is tormented by a dream. Then there is a description of a young man who has appeared in previous chapters. Previous he was described as drifting away from God, dabbled in satanic ceremonies and saying “I think it’s time for me to try Satan.” In this chapter he murders and elderly couple with senseless violence.

The shock of this must be set in context. What happened? Is this related to the church? The leadership struggles? The pastor? What is the meaning of this horrible act?

The man was the young drummer from the worship team so he was involved in the church and some might say ‘under’ pastor Rutherford’s covering. At this point we are not so sure that being under pastor Rutherford’s covering is a good thing.

Many Christians say that it is essential to be 'under a covering.' They assume that it is better to be 'under a covering’ than not being ‘under a covering;’ that being ‘under a covering’ is a good thing.

This story forces us to dig deeper and understand more about a spiritual covering.

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Jesus - Our Ultimate and Primary Spiritual Covering

Our first covering is provided by God. It is a blood covering because we are talking about life or death matters. Disobeying God in the Garden of Eden lead to death and an uncovering. God made clothes from animal skins to cover them (death of the animal to provide the covering.) That prefigures the death of the Lamb of God who takes away our sins and this blood covenant is our ultimate and essential covering.

A Good Secondary Spiritual Covering

Our pastor (or other spiritual head) is secondary to Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. A secondary 'head' is only effective as a covering if their spiritual life opens heaven over them and others around them. If they are filled with light then that light will help protect others under them. If they have a humble prayer life and a broken and contrite heart before God, then they can help provide protection for others ‘under’ them.

A Poor Secondary Spiritual Covering

Those we submit to (this can even be mutual submission rather than one ‘head’) are not effective covering if their spiritual life is all pretense, if the moral life is shattered and if they have opened their life to satanic powers in those or other ways. Instead of heavenly angels and the Holy Spirit, this ‘covering’ may open them to powers of darkness. That rips the covering off and exposes the flock to oppression.

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The Horror of an ‘Open Heaven’ to Darkness

Pastor Rutherford breaks the news to Mira about the horrible double murder by the young drummer. But something is wrong! Wrong attitude! “He seems unconcerned.”

On the other hand, Mira’s heart is pierced to know that the young man attended the Good Shepherd church and “yet had completely lost his way.” She is deeply concerned.

Our Lord Jesus Christ - the good shepherd - is concerned about every lost one, every one that loses their way, every one who drifts away from the church. Mira has the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Pastor Rutherford recounts other murders that happened on his watch, while he was the pastor (shepherd) of the flock of the Good Shepherd Church. He should be alarmed at the fact that this is not an isolated event. But our author does not portray him as concerned but as mumbling as he munched on a sandwich. Here is the real horror in this chapter.

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I am alert for any patterns of evil or harm in a person’s life. Alerted to such a pattern I immediately start sniffing around to discern where the ‘covering’ is broken, where the spiritual attack comes from. My job as a shepherd (counsellor) is to protect my clients and move them into safety and protection.

Any pastor in Pentecost with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and years of experience should also be immediately alert and humble when seeing problems in the covering they provide. They sense danger to the flock and they take action to deal with it. (I always remember that this story is based on the ministry of an experienced Pentecostal minister - Rev. Ralph Rutledge - in an independent charismatic church.)

Why does Pastor Rutherford not get it! Why is he nonchalant about three murders in his church? Why does death not evoke horror in him?

Where is his spiritual maturity as a pastor and a man of God who has been filled with the Spirit? Where is the fruit that goes with the talk?

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In conclusion be aware that a ‘covering’ can be good or bad. If the man is in darkness the ‘covering’ – spiritual atmosphere – will be dark as well. If the man is in sin then the covering is broken in the area of his weakness and others may be vulnerable in this sin area as well. If the man is demonized then there will be a demonized church. That is not a good covering at all!

A good shepherd will be alerted by problems and act to discover the spiritual problem and to deal with it. Among other things that means dealing with unconfessed sin issues.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Narcissistic Personality Pastor

We use the term narcissistic for persons who are so focused on themselves that they do not really ‘see’ others. They enter social situations expecting to be special and to be the center of attention. The position of preaching head pastor certainly can allow the fulfillment of these needs in a grand way.

How would you know the difference between a narcissistic self-focused preacher and one who is genuinely dedicated to being the servant of the Bride of Christ?

Servant Leadership - an Alternative to the Narcissistic Personality Pastor

Jesus said the good shepherd ‘lays down his life for the sheep.’ He cares for the sheep and is not a hireling. (John 10:15)

Jesus began the Last Supper by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13). He again called them to fulfill a servant role.

After the resurrection Jesus said to Peter (John 21): “Feed my sheep.” Even after his resurrection, Christ calls Peter to a servant role.

Chapter 3 of Demons in the Sanctuary describes the pastor of The Good Shepherd Church in terms that suggest a manipulative person, preoccupied with appearances and needing to be the center of attention.

Chapter 3 begins with Pastor Rutherford admiring himself in the mirror. “He liked what he saw.” Good one! In the Greek myth of narcissus reflection and love of one’s image, so this is a very appropriate way to portray narcissism.

In preparation for the service our pastor insists that his mikes be set louder, “heard over the choir and other instruments. I am leading after all!” This may be another of several hints that Rutherford is a self-focused pastor. “It is all about me, after all.”  (The author of the book, Demons in the Sanctuary, has revealed to me that the subject of her portrayal of Rutherford is the former Golden-Boy of the PAOC - Rev. Ralph Rutledge who she observed in his final years in the pastorate to Good Samaritan Church.)

Eldridge on a man's need for his father's affirmation

John Eldridge, of “Wild at Heart” and “The Way of the Wild at Heart,” says that the first stage in the journey toward manhood involves know that you are your father’s beloved son; that you are a beloved son.

Eldridge says that if we miss our father’s affirmation and if we are not root and grounded in the knowledge that we are our father’s son, then we will always be seeking the attention, recognition and affirmation that will tell us that we are a beloved son.

The way we manifest our need for attention is to become the center of attention. We want center stage. We demand recognition for whatever we do. It seems as if life and death hinges on us getting recognition, being affirmed and never criticized.

Big wounds in our need for our father’s affirmation can leave us looking self-centered and narcissistic like Pastor Rutherford in this chapter 3 of Demons in the Sanctuary. Pastor is stuck in a “it is all about me” emotional stage.  

 He is trying to get what father never gave. He is pulling affirmation and recognition from others in a self-focused way. We would say to him: “Get over yourself.” He has a father wound. He is stuck.

Eldridge would speculate that Rutherford is trying to get the affirmation that his father never gave. His desperate need for affirmation and recognition from others could have the force of an addiction.

Getting to know his self-focused ways we are tempted to say: “Get over yourself.” God in His compassion might see the father wound and that Rafe needs to be affirmed as a beloved son by his Heavenly Father.

Rutherford/Rutledge is Narcissistic Personality Pastor

Though clothed in all the sounds and sights of Pentecostal religion this pastor (Rutherford/Rutledge) exposes the darkness of his soul by his lack of love for others. “This man’s religion is vain,” wrote James, if he does not show concern for the needy and pity for the widow (James 1:27) and if he does not express his faith by kindness and good deeds.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked

Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft

I am reading Demons in the Sanctuary a book by Marium Bellamy and I intend to blog on the contents here. The following discussion is triggered by Chapter One of Bellamy's book.  From all reports, this book is an accurate report of the final years of Ralph Rutledge at the Good Samaritan Church and Bellamy could refer to her own notes and minutes of board meetings while she served as secretary of the board.

Dan and Mira are husband and wife. Mira loves her pastor and is struggling with understanding all the problems that her pastor causes the church board. She is on the board.

Dan is a good contractor and handy man and has helped supervise projects around the church. Dan experienced problems with his pastor when he supervised the kitchen renovations.

The kitchen renovation was a major headache for Dan because pastor constantly was changing and adding things. Pastor nullified decisions made by the kitchen committee and did not follow guidelines and he got away with it.

Dan got to know his pastor from working with him. Dan wasn't a deeply “spiritual” man but he could read a man. When he observed his pastor being untruthful and dishonest he lost respect for him as a man and as a pastor.

Dan knew what his wife and the Board were going through in tiling project because he had sized up the pastor up close and personal in the kitchen renovation project. He has seen how pastor would change things to have his own way. He would make his little private deals on the side. If confronted he will skate around it. If anything went wrong he would blame problems on someone else.

Dan kept telling Mira that "He is a liar."  In Dan we see a man providing spiritual covering by sizing up the situation and speaking the truth clearly. There is no pretense in Dan and he can’t stand it in his pastor. Dan doesn't make excuses, he takes responsibility as a man for his work. He looses respect for a man who makes excuses, skips about with fancy words and blames others for his doing. When he sees a liar and calls a liar, a liar.

Dan confronts his wife when she makes excuses for her pastor. Intuitively he knows that real men don’t make excuses and woman shouldn't make excuses for them! Iron sharpens iron and to grow into men, boys need to be confronted with real feedback. “Don’t make excuses for him! He knows exactly what the truth is.”

Dan had confronted pastor to his face and he spoke just as clearly and directly to Mira. Pastor “will make his private little deals on the side and none of you will even attempt to stop him!” Dan is being tough, clear and confrontive. That is okay.  Real okay.  It builds backbone, courage, and masculine strength when we confront one another with truth.

I see Jesus in that. Jesus often led matters into open confrontation. He spoke very clear and did not mince words. Jesus was, in that sense, tough.

If instead of clean open confrontation we are too soft; if we waver and waffle on the truth; if we jump in to excuse behaviour, then we will not raise Christian men to maturity.

Good clean discipline clears the mind. Good clean confrontation builds men with backbone. Loving accountability raises tough loving men - good shepherds.

As John Eldridge points out in "The Way of the Wild at Heart"(page 15) - actual shepherds are rugged.

So do not make excuses or you will keep men in an immature boy stage and not have mature men. And appreciate that real men will sound tough and at times a little rough. Men need to have a tough side so do not coddle!

Dan is a good model of men calling it like it is and not trying to please. He calls a spade a spade.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.

See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked