97. Narcissism, Spiritual Abuse, and Healing: A Deep Dive with Josh Berger

Can a church or an organization become a narcissistic system?This eye-opening episode dives into how to recognize, confront, and heal from spiritual and emotional abuse inside communities that control, manipulate, and harm in the name of faith or “purpose.”Together with Josh Berger, we explore:What a narcissistic system really is and how it operatesRed flags many people overlook until it’s too lateThe impact on your identity, faith, and relationshipsWhy leaving is so hard (and why it is NOT your fault)Practical steps to heal, rebuild your voice, and find a healthy communityHow to prevent churches and organizations from becoming toxicThis episode is for you if:✔ Something feels “off” where you worship or work✔ You’ve experienced manipulation, pressure, or isolation✔ You are looking for a path toward restoration✔ You want to protect your community from unhealthy dynamics IMPORTANT RESOURCE — Live Q&AWe know you’ll have questions… so we planned ahead!Join us for a special Live Q&A with our guest Josh 🗓️ Thursday, January 29🕡 6:30–8:00 PM Central Time💻 Hosted on the bE+ (beEmboldened Plus) platform👉 Register here: https://www.beemboldened.com/beplusLook at our previous podcast together! 👉 https://youtu.be/XLeELxinPbk?si=gsJgVv1KRCwWjjupIf finances are a concern, please email us; we don’t want that to be a barrier. We want to hear from you!What resonated with you the most? Have you lived something similar?Share your thoughts in the comments below. You are not alone.Save this episode to support the mission.Follow and turn on notifications for more conversations like this.Share this episode with someone who might need it.

Should Christians Keep the Torah?In this episode of Reclamation, Naomi talks with apologist and professor R. L. Solberg about the Hebrew Roots Movement (Torahism)—what it teaches, why it’s spreading, and how it can slip into high-control or spiritually abusive patterns.Together, they consider:- What Hebrew Roots / Torahism actually is- Why some Christians find it appealing- The five-stage progression from fascination to control- What Galatians teaches about law, grace, and freedom- Practical advice for families and friends affected by this movementThey also discuss beEmboldened's new course, “Rebuilding with Biblical Literacy,” designed for those healing from spiritual abuse and seeking a deeper understanding of Scripture.📘 Resources mentioned• R. L. Solberg – Torahism, Divergence, and his Galatians study• beEmboldened’s Rebuilding with Biblical Literacy course (starts Oct 27). More info: beemboldened.com/biblicalliteracy👉 Email: [email protected] for scholarship info00:00 Intro & why this topic matters03:40 What is the Hebrew Roots Movement?10:20 High-control traits & spiritual abuse23:30 Rebuilding biblical literacy56:00 Red flags & the “Do Christians have to keep Torah?” test1:01:30 Galatians vs. Judaizers1:15:00 Practical help for families#HebrewRoots #SpiritualAbuse #Galatians #Christianity #Torahism #BiblicalLiteracy

In this powerful conversation, Naomi sits down with licensed counselor Josh Berger from Rivers Edge Counseling and Wellness to unpack narcissism, spiritual abuse, and the path toward healing. Together, they explore how narcissism develops, the difference between traits and diagnosable NPD, the impact on relationships, and practical steps for setting boundaries. If you’ve experienced manipulation, spiritual harm, or want to better understand narcissistic dynamics, this episode is for you.Want to learn more about Josh? Click here for more info: riversedgecw.com/counselor/josh-berger/ 🌐 Learn more: https://beemboldened.com

Deliverance ministries promise freedom—but at what cost?In this eye-opening conversation, Naomi sits down with clinical apologist Anna Kitko to unpack the real damage caused by deliverance ministries and the flawed theology behind them. Anna shares insights from her UK-based master's research, where she developed a groundbreaking clinical tool to assess the spiritual and psychological harm caused by these practices.They discuss:Why some deliverance frameworks are spiritually manipulativeThe difference between true spiritual care and coercive controlHow trauma is misdiagnosed as demonic afflictionWhat healthy support actually looks likeHow Anna’s psychometric tool is helping clinicians worldwideWhether you're a mental health professional, a survivor, or someone trying to understand the growing influence of deliverance ministries, this is a must-watch.📧 Want a copy of Anna’s tool or her dissertation? Contact: [email protected]🌐 Learn more: https://beemboldened.com

Is forgiveness without repentance biblical? What if someone never says they’re sorry? What if you’re told to “just forgive” and move on? In this bold and deeply clarifying conversation, Naomi sits down with author and Bible teacher Vee Chandler to discuss what Scripture actually teaches about forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation—especially in the aftermath of harm or abuse. This is the conversation for anyone who’s been told, “You need to forgive,” without any accountability or change from the person who caused the harm.Whether you’re wrestling with family betrayal, church abuse, or simply trying to reconcile Scripture with your pain—this episode will help you walk in both truth and freedom.📚 Grab Vee’s book: ⁠https://a.co/d/eMuxN8C⁠ 📚Wipf and Stock website: ⁠https://wipfandstock.com/9781666714692/biblical-boundaries-of-forgiveness/⁠ Wipf and Stock special discount: 🎉 Use the code CONF40 at checkout to get 40% off your purchase! ✅ The code has no expiration date and can be shared with anyone.📚 Anthony Bash's book: ⁠https://a.co/d/c7m698n⁠💬 Email us at [email protected] if you need support.

Is forgiveness without repentance biblical? What if someone never says they’re sorry? What if you’re told to “just forgive” and move on?In this bold and deeply clarifying conversation, Naomi sits down with author and Bible teacher Vee Chandler to discuss what Scripture actually teaches about forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation—especially in the aftermath of harm or abuse. This is the conversation for anyone who’s been told, “You need to forgive,” without any accountability or change from the person who caused the harm.Whether you’re wrestling with family betrayal, church abuse, or simply trying to reconcile Scripture with your pain—this episode will help you walk in both truth and freedom.📚 Grab Vee’s book: https://a.co/d/eMuxN8C 📚Wipf and Stock website: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666714692/biblical-boundaries-of-forgiveness/ Wipf and Stock special discount: 🎉 Use the code CONF40 at checkout to get 40% off your purchase! ✅ The code has no expiration date and can be shared with anyone.📚 Anthony Bash's book: https://a.co/d/c7m698n 💬 Email us at [email protected] if you need support.

In this deeply personal survivor story, Naomi Wright sits down with Blake, who opens up about his journey through spiritual abuse, cult dynamics, and finding freedom after leaving a high-control religious group. From his upbringing in the Worldwide Church of God to a more radical offshoot with charismatic manipulation, Blake shares how faith, fear, loyalty, and trauma shaped his experience—and how he found the courage to walk away and rebuild.This conversation is raw, insightful, and healing for anyone who has wrestled with leaving a toxic religious environment.👉 Subscribe for more survivor stories and spiritual abuse prevention content.

Bobby Conway has been a voice in apologetics for years, but did you know he also prioritizes mental health in his church? In this conversation, we discuss his journey, the role of mental health in the church, and the misconceptions many have—especially for those who have experienced spiritual abuse. How can the church better support those struggling? Let’s dive in.-----------------Support this work by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beemboldened.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to make a tax-deductible donation (formerly Naomi Wright Ministries / NWM).

Join Founder & Executive Director Naomi Wright and Board Chair Natasha Fish as we share about the impact of 2024 and vision for 2025. ----------------- Support this work by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beemboldened.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to make a tax-deductible donation (formerly Naomi Wright Ministries / NWM).

Join Found & Executive Director Naomi Wright, author/apologist Lindsey Medenwaldt, and Board Chair Natasha Fish as we discuss the systemic failing of David Platt and McLean Bible Church, recently exposed in a free two-part documentary. This documentary explores the currently active, influential, and strategic systems of deceitful leadership, showing just how far they will go to cover for themselves, and the devastation caused in the McLean Bible Church community. Whether or not you've watched the documentary, come with your questions to engage with this timely topic. ----------------- Support this work by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beemboldened.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to make a tax-deductible donation (formerly Naomi Wright Ministries / NWM).