This is the 12th part of a series on the subject: Uncovering the Myth of Spiritual Covering, consisting of excerpts from the audiobook of that title. The book and audiobook is adapted from a chapter of the widely disseminated book, Charismatic Captivation—Authoritarian Abuse & Psychological Enslavement in Neo-Pentecostal Churches, which exposes the widespread problem of authoritarian abuse that has been flourishing virtually unabated for decades since it was first infused into the very fabric, foundation, and functions of the Charismatic/Neo-Pentecostal church during the false movement known as the Discipleship/Shepherding Movement (1970-77).

Owing extensively to that Movement and the teachings that were promulgated during it, hyper-authoritarian doctrines and practices have become cemented into the foundation, fabric, and functions of many churches, major segments of some denominations, as well as many of the apostolic networks of churches, ministries, and ministers that have emerged over primarily that last four or five decades. The problem has become so widespread that it has now reached pandemic proportions in Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal streams.

The purpose of Uncovering the Myth of Spiritual Covering is to analyze against the foundation-stone of Scripture, one of the foundational elements of this hyper-authoritarian ecclesiastical culture, demonstrate its irrefutable incongruity with Scripture, and disabuse believers from acceptance of and adherence to it, thereby liberating them from the invisible chains of psychological enslavement that have been holding them in bondage to the illegitimate authority structures of men.

Hyper-authoritarianism is predominance or psychological control imposed by spiritual leaders upon their followers or congregants regarding not only their involvements within the church or ministry, but also regarding their personal and private lives.

Ministries and church-groups practicing this illegitimate domination employ various means and degrees of psychological indoctrination and coercion to compel congregants or adherents to subject and conform their personal activities, behavior, and affairs of life to the leadership-prescribed standards, rules, expectations, and collective corporate goals of the church or ministry. The purported pretext for the imposition of this religious governance is an adulterated or perverted concept of ecclesiastical authority.

Promulgators and practitioners adamantly claim that the mechanisms of manipulation they employ are a perfectly Scriptural system of "discipleship" or "spiritual training" in fulfillment of the role and responsibility of spiritual leaders to "make disciples."