Spirit’s Anointing…For God’s Glory?

In this episode of Centering, hosts Yulee Lee and Daniel Lee explore the unlikely convergence of the biblical story of Samson, fermentation of kimchi, and iconic Jane Austen characters. The topic, Spirit’s Anointing…For God’s glory? highlights the dangers of conflating giftedness with divine favor, the importance of character over charisma, and the critical need for communal discernment and accountability structures, emphasizing that the anointing of the Spirit is made apparent through the evidence of the fruits of the Spirit. They draw on theological insights, personal anecdotes, and historical examples to emphasize the potential pitfalls of toxic ministry. The episode underscores the necessity for spiritual leaders to embody Christ-like humility and to engage in practices that promote healthy, sustainable, and God-centered leadership.

00:00 Introduction to Toxic Ministry

01:16 Recap of Previous Episode

01:54 The Dangers of Public Figures and Parasocial Relationships

04:36 The Misuse of Spiritual Anointing

07:44 The Importance of Communal Discernment

08:56 Character vs. Charisma in Leadership

14:37 The Role of Wisdom and Maturity

16:07 Distinguishing True Movements of God

18:06 White Christian Nationalism and NAR

20:34 The Importance of Accountability in Leadership

24:36 Avoiding Desperation in Ministry

26:37 The Dangers of Familiarity with Holy Things

29:53 Final Thoughts and Reflections

The Violent Take It by Force by Matthew D. Taylor https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497785/The-Violent-Take-It-by-Force

About the New Apostolic Reformation https://www.npr.org/2011/10/03/140946482/apostolic-leader-weighs-religions-role-in-politics

If you appreciate the work we do at the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary, please consider supporting us! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: fuller.edu/giveaac

Authoritarianism…For God’s Glory?

In this episode of the Centering: the Asian American Christian Podcast, hosts Yulee Lee and Daniel Lee are joined by guest Gabriel Jay Catanus (Director of the Filipino American Ministry Initiative and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at Fuller Seminary; Lead Pastor of Garden City Covenant Church - Chicago), who shares insights on the pitfalls of authoritarianism within church leadership, drawing parallels from historical examples like Dietrich Bonhoeffer's criticism of Nazi Germany and discussing how immigrant church communities can inadvertently foster toxic leadership dynamics. The conversation also highlights the importance of plurality, cultural sensitivity, and self-reflection in cultivating healthy spiritual leadership. The episode concludes with practical advice for leaders to avoid believing their own hype and for communities to focus on collaborative and ethical leadership practices.

00:00 Introduction to Toxic Ministry

00:48 Understanding Authoritarianism in Ministry

03:11 Guest Introduction: Gabriel Jay Catanus

04:49 Authority and Power Dynamics in Churches

08:43 Cultural and Spiritual Influences on Leadership

12:35 Charismatic Authority and Its Challenges

21:02 Navigating Spiritual Power and Leadership

27:24 Muscular Christianity and Nazi Ideology

28:10 Identifying Authoritarian Leaders

29:26 Embracing Plurality in Leadership

31:20 Efficiency vs. Plurality in Ministry

32:18 Challenges for Asian American Leaders

35:59 God's Relationship with Authority

37:13 Personal Reflections on Leadership

46:42 Concluding Thoughts and Future Topics

Dr. Gabriel Jay Catanus https://www.gabrieljcatanus.com/

Fuller’s Asian American Center aac.fuller.edu

The Grand Inquisitor by Dostoevsky https://www.gutenberg.org/files/8578/8578-h/8578-h.htm

The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-brothers-karamazov-a-new-translation-by-michael-r-katz-fyodor-dostoevsky/aefeb2fa8f45adb1

Bonhoeffer's 1933 radio address https://books.google.com/books?id=PF1cpVfZS60C&pg=PA268&lpg=PA268&dq#v=onepage&q&f=false

If you appreciate the work we do at the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary, please consider supporting us! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: fuller.edu/giveaac

This Giving Tuesday, support the work we do at the AAC! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: fuller.edu/giveaac

Spiritual Gaslighting…For God’s Glory?

In this episode of Centering: the Asian American Christian Podcast, hosts Daniel Lee and Yulee Lee explore spiritual gaslighting, using scriptural examples and personal anecdotes, to illustrate its damaging effects on individuals and community health. Daniel and Yulee emphasize the importance of discernment, the need for genuine lament, and finding emotionally safe communities to navigate and heal from such toxic environments. They encourage listeners to anchor themselves in the true character of God and process their experiences honestly without bypassing pain and reality.

00:00 Introduction and Milestone Celebration

01:02 Season Overview: Toxic Ministry

01:49 Episode 3: Honest Conversations on Toxic Ministry

02:59 The Dangers of Spiritual Bypassing

05:51 Biblical Counseling and Its Pitfalls

12:24 Personal Story: Confronting Toxic Leadership

20:06 Recognizing Spiritual Gaslighting

21:59 Understanding Spiritual Gaslighting

22:23 Cultish Behavior in Churches

23:07 Examples of Spiritual Abuse

25:49 Personal Stories of Spiritual Abuse

27:53 Theological Reflections on Suffering

32:10 The Importance of Lament and Community

36:46 Practical Steps for Healing

40:54 Concluding Thoughts on Discernment

Emotionally Healthy Church, Peter Scazzero Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/author/369/peter-scazzero/

Bruggemann Loss of Genuine Lament

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/030908928601103605

Cultish by Amanda Montell https://amandamontell.com/cultish/

In the latest episode of Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast, hosts Yulee Lee and Daniel Lee delve further into the challenging topic of toxic ministry. The conversation highlights the necessity of discernment in ministry, distinguishing between toxic and simply unhealthy environments. They introduce the concept of “spiritual bypassing,” where spiritual language and “Christianese” is used to avoid addressing real issues. Personal stories and examples from the Bible illustrate how authentic spiritual maturity involves embracing and processing one's emotions rather than bypassing them for a facade of spirituality.

00:00 Introduction to Toxic Ministry

00:48 Understanding the Distinction Between Toxic and Dysfunctional Ministries

05:41 The Role of Grace in Enabling Abuse

06:53 Personal Stories of Ministry Abuse

12:11 Spiritual Bypassing vs. Spiritual Maturity

20:07 The Confusion of Discernment

20:19 Daniel's Story on Anger

20:42 The Complexity of Anger in Christianity

22:48 Spiritual Bypassing and Its Dangers

24:01 The Importance of Authenticity in Faith

25:36 The Role of Psalms in Prayer

26:37 Challenges in Ministry and Spiritual Manipulation

28:35 Embracing a Broad Spirituality

30:09 Avoiding Spiritual Bypassing

36:25 The Need for Honest Struggle in Faith

39:05 Concluding Thoughts on Toxic Ministry

Devotional Classics by Richard Foster https://www.harpercollins.com/products/devotional-classics-revised-edition-richard-j-foster?variant=32116217479202

Spiritual Bypassing by Robert Masters https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/spiritual-bypassing/

Emotionally Healthy Church, Peter Scazzero Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/author/369/peter-scazzero/

KPop Demon Hunters

https://www.netflix.com/title/81498621

If you appreciate the work we do at the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary, please consider supporting us! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/lhJydg?vid=18eqio

In this episode of Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast, hosts Yulee Lee and Daniel Lee introduce the season's focus on toxic ministry. They discuss how abuse is often justified in God's name, turning obedience into oppression. The conversation delves into the discernment needed to identify toxic leadership and move towards healing and healthy spiritual leadership. They share personal experiences, discuss the challenges of abusive ministry contexts, and emphasize the importance of theological grounding. Future episodes will feature guest speakers and topics like spiritual gaslighting, authoritarianism, and examples of toxic leadership in various ministry contexts.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:47 Meet the Hosts: Yulee and Daniel

03:40 The Genesis of the New Season

05:09 Understanding Toxic Ministry

07:25 The Spectrum of Toxic Leadership

12:21 Navigating Toxic Environments

20:22 The Dangers of Religious Claims

20:48 Personal Struggles in Ministry

21:49 Toxic Ministry Environments

24:15 Community and Cultural Challenges

26:26 Theological Reflections on Ministry

34:17 Upcoming Episodes and Final Thoughts

Fuller’s Asian American Center - aac.fuller.edu

Leading Change and Loving People, Change Management Insights from the Non-Profit Sector by Yulee Lee https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003272243/leading-change-loving-people-yulee-lee

About Min Chung and CFC https://www.wbez.org/race-class-communities/2021/08/02/a-reckoning-at-covenant-fellowship-church

Letters from Rahab Instagram Profile

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Ef9Qku9mr/

If you appreciate the work we do at the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary, please consider supporting us! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/lhJydg?vid=18eqio

9x08 - Representation: Empowerment, Healing, and Hope by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

9x07 - Coherence: Narratives & Reconciled Identities by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

9x06 - Nuances: Pathologies & Ideals by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

9x05 - Lenses: Because Not Everything's Cultural by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church

9x04 - Knowledge: When Personal Experience Isn't Enough by Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church