I’m going to tread carefully but unapologetically here among my evangelical and charismatic friends. Partly because many loved/popular preachers have given sermons on this topic, written books on the topic, and filled altars with troubled souls based on this topic. Ultimately though, I write to voice concern with the term ‘orphan spirit’. (If you’ve never encountered the term before, probably little reason to read on.)
To begin with, let’s set something straight. The term ‘orphan spirit’ can’t be found in scripture. It is a created term. No big deal, really. There are lots of those. However, the challenge is trying to find exactly how orphan and spirit ended up together in the same phrase. Orphan only appears twice in the New Testament, in John 14:18 and James 1:27. In John, Jesus promises followers not to leave them orphans. In James, readers are admonished to care for orphans. And that’s it. No mention of an orphan spirit. To get there you have to do some creative knitting and deduction around chapters like Romans 8 and then, to be honest, overlook vs 15-16 and Gal 4:6 which tell us we’ve been given a spirit of adoption.
So where did the ‘orphan spirit’ or ‘orphan heart’ phrase come from? That’s hard to track down. I couldn’t find it in any peer-reviewed journals. It’s not really in scripture. I couldn’t find it in the writings of the desert fathers. It’s not a clinical term. It seems to have kind of appeared in sermons, prophecies and some popular books written in the last few decades. And I’m hoping it goes away as quick as it has appeared. In fact, the more I hear and read about it, the more I detest the terminology and connotations.
Why do I hope it disappears?
Firstly, the terminology and context of most messages categorise it as a problem, something you ‘have’ that needs to be dealt with, loved out or cast out; and immediately, it carries with it a crapload of condemnation and shame. Neither of which can be found in Christ.
Secondly, it categorises real orphans as ‘less than’ and being associated with them as a negative/broken position to be in. It’s religious marginalisation. From what I read in scripture, God is a father to the fatherless (Ps 68:5-6) and we are called to care for the orphans. I wonder how Moses or Esther (both orphaned) would feel about the term?
Thirdly, it’s ethereal in the worst kind of way. By this I mean, it is classed as a ‘spirit’. It’s not a concrete or clinical diagnosis. It’s not clearly indicative of a state of being. Therefore, a senior man or woman of God may ‘perceive it’, and even if you can’t, tell you that you may have it and it must be dealt with. Oh man!
Finally, if you read some descriptions given around the orphan spirit, you find many definitions that match the characteristics of a traumatised, bereaved and perhaps lost or parentless child. In adulthood, it’s a relationally or emotionally stuck person behaving out of unhealed and unreconciled trauma. Could we simply call it immaturity, then? (1 Cor 13:11,12)
It may be safe to say, no one ‘has’ an orphan spirit. I’m of the opinion it doesn’t fall into the unclean spirit category. So what’s the problem to be solved, then?
Well, much of what I read and hear about ’the orphan spirit’ is centred around behaviour and thinking that is opposite to maturity in ‘Sonship’ – which is grounded in the truth that indeed, in Christ we are all children of God. And this is no small thing, I agree. But isn’t the movement into the full stature of who we are in Christ a lifelong spiritual journey? Does it really necessitate ‘orphan spirit’ terminology? I think Thomas Keating said it well: “…the conviction (that God is absent), that we bring with us from early childhood and apply to everyday life, gets stronger as we grow up, unless we are touched by the Gospel and begin the spiritual journey. This (spiritual) journey is a process of dismantling the monumental illusion that God is distant or absent.” [Book: Fruits & Gifts of the Spirit].
Have we objectified something as a spirit, which is really an old belief structure built upon life’s early experiences – many of which are traumatic and unreconciled? Possibly, because who really wants to go back to that family of origin stuff, wade through past hurts and be born again? That proposition rings with a kind of ‘hell’ for many of us.
Have we coined a phrase and scapegoated an unwelcome spirit because it’s easier than owning the decisions, vows and agreements we made growing up? Possibly, because that means we don’t have to participate in the dismantling of these illusions as part of the spiritual (heart) journey across a lifetime. For many, the idea of repentance, forgiveness, confession and deep inner work as a constant theme across a lifetime is a terrifying proposition, to begin with anyway. Hence, it’s easier to blame a foreign spirit, right?
I’m advocating we leave the phrase and term behind us. I’m advocating that we simply accept the universal human desire for unconditional love, connection, peace and joy as real and ongoing. Perhaps we need more loving healers than condemning preachers. Perhaps, we simply need a reminder of how Grace’s voice of acceptance is encountered along the spiritual journey.
I leave you with these thoughts on Grace from Paul Tillich, because I’d argue that no one ‘has’ an orphan spirit – but we ‘are’ all invited to enter into the truth that, just as we are, we are all accepted in Christ – and that radical notion deserves a lifetime to have it’s full effect!
“Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: “You are accepted.” Paul Tillich. [Book: Shaking the Foundations.]
Shalom,
David Tensen
pic by: @missmia.art
P.S. Disclaimer #2: I’m aware that some respected and loved men and women have preached and ministered healing and freedom from this term. Equally, many have used and abused the term, bringing shame, condemnation and further trauma to others. My concern, judgement or issue is not with the people, but the term ‘orphan spirit’. Defend the messengers if you like/must, I just won’t tolerate dishonour towards myself on social media or commentary.
Thought provoking and interesting point. Thanks David
Such great insight! Im thinking this thought process could possibly be applied to other “spirits” we have coined as a means of demonizing people rather than accepting, loving and encouraging people into maturity. It’s a much harder road to tread when we are all called to love one another as he has loved us.
So true Megan! The term may demonsize the person instead of pointing to some kind of demon! Oh my. Selah.
Really good! Thank you!
Very good points made. It is necessary for articulate writers to blow a little wind to clear the mist we sheep mill around in.
Excellent David, so well said and written.
I came across what I consider to be more helpful terminology yesterday. Benji Alexander from NZ calls it the “orphan illusion”.
Like it 100% true! it’s a lack of maturity (biblically speaking). truly mature people build themselves up and do not wait for someone to build them up- they take full trust in Psalm 139/
Why do we say things like,” in the spirit of xmas” for example. ‘Spirit’ can mean its character or nature of a thing. So Orphan Spirit(nature/character) is not such a bad term to describe an abandoned soul. Where did Jezebel spirit come from? It’s not really biblical either…spirit of defiance, spirit of joy, spirit of anger….what’s the issue here? Rebekah says: mature people build themselves up….she’s missed the basis of what this is about. Orphans never had anyone to build them up and what? they should build themselves up when they are empty. Thank God He says He will pick them up because some christians clearly do not understand that everyone is to some degree born with an Orphan spirit detached and fallen away from grace,…but the need for Christian Brothers and Sisters to have Gods adoptive love beaming out of them is what can only really restore an extreme case of the Orphan spirit/heart/nature/character/stronghold….whatever you want to call it, it matters not to the sufferer! He/She just wants freedom from the emptiness that never got filled.
“You will know them by their love for one another…thats how you know a true disciple”John13:35
All good but Grace striking….don’t think so…
“Grace striking”? Please explain what you mean.
I appreciate your term “belief structure” and it inspired a little processing…
When we think of God as “out there” and we need to invite Jesus “in” to be accepted and united with God, as the evangelical formula/tradition goes, that would seem to perpetuate the “orphan” identity? Evangelism from that perspective requires convincing outsiders they are indeed orphans, (or maybe children of you know who), before reassuring them that if they believe certain things, and invite Jesus into their hearts, Jesus’s Father will come in too and will adopt them.
I don’t believe that’s an accurate representation of Jesus or the Father, and propose that THAT “old belief structure” is perpetuating a a very real sense of separation (immature believers.) Sometimes adoptees are regularly reminded they don’t really deserve to be “in the family.”
Debi, Thanks for sharing your thoughts too.
Good that some address this topic. I find the term unbiblical too, and disturbing.
I agree with your article for the most point. However, if you have lived a life of not getting any if little positive affirmation as a child,even into your childhood years. How is that immaturity. How is it immaturity that because of the you feel that your never good enough and that God will never be able to use you as a Christian? How is it immature to feel or carry such a heavy burden that you constantly feel like a failure. I personally have been recently delivered from that mindset of having to preform to be to be accepted by God. That i wasn’t good enough to be any use to the kingdom and That God wouldn’t use me. So maybe it wasn’t an “orphan spirit” but what about a spirit of rejection. I do not believe that Christian’s can be possessed by evil spirits but i do believe that they can be oppressed. I have never held any ill will or bad feelings about my upbringing. I was raised in a Christian home but the fact remains it did happen and i was hurt. It also hindered me in how to communicate effectively.. being told i had a bad attitude for wanting to talk about how i felt. I think it is very mature to acknowledge that we have been hurt and that we are struggling and need the Lord’s help.
Respectfully Robert W Smith
Such a sane biblical explanation ..’ no such thing as an orphan Spirit …maybe just immature ‘ love it ! …thank you!
The church we have just moved on after 12yrs due to the Pastor preaching from 1st imaginations chapter who knows ???? just preached on an Orphan Spirit this morning !!! Hope he gets to reads your excellent exposition!
I feel the term “orphan spirit” describes a person’s mindset or perception. I recently found myself in a situation that caused me to react in fear, worry, panic. All things that are not of God. As I began praying about it this term “orphan spriti” came into my prayer and I understood it to mean behaviors that mirror than of an orphan. Not in a demeaning way such as is mentioned in the article, but rather the fear and panic that would come upon a person who has no source, no one to depend on, no father. But as a child of the living God who owns everything, I have the privilege of not worrying about my needs. I am not an orphan who has to live out of survival mode. I am a child who belongs to the most loving father. I am not an orphan. That is how I see the term “orphan spirit”.
As an orphan, I cannot tell you what this means. I am on a zoom call sermon right now on the orphan ‘spirit’. It is completely demeaning as a orphan, and in no way is this in keeping with the Word to care for the orphans. Its disheartening that this has become widespread, and I actively avoid preachings with this when this is in the title. Ugh. It’s so degrading.
Thankyou so much, this was refreshing and a delight to read. My christian friends have bought into the ‘orphan spirit’ teaching and used it as an excuse for their pastors bad behaviour.
Article and comments very helpful.
Whilst the orphan ‘spirit’ is not something to be addressed or tacked our focus in on knowing and ministering the Spirit of adoption is our focus. The imputed Christ life… Christ in us, the hope of glory.
Believers can definely move in an orphan type mentality.
Life stems from our identity as adopted sons.
Glorious grace. Hallelujah
As described in this blog post: Have we objectified something as a spirit, which is really an old belief structure built upon life’s early experiences – many of which are traumatic and unreconciled? Possibly, because who really wants to go back to that family of origin stuff, wade through past hurts and be born again? That proposition rings with a kind of ‘hell’ for many of us.”
I believe that we may be talking about “Strongholds” and good news is we can recognize them and pull them down and in other cases we just need to process traumas and feel and face those so we can heal.
Yes I do agree people love to marginalize others by adding the word “spirit” to everything and expecting people to renounce things that just need to be gently addressed and heal. Another example is “self pity” people often say to just serve others and you will heal, it can happen but not every time. ‘Self pity” can be a sign of negligence in Self Care, People have the need and right to learn how to love themselves so the can love one another in a healthy way. “Lovers of themselves” is not the same as “Self Care”, when the bible mentions “lovers of themselves” I think is talking about cold hearted unmerciful people that don’t care about others, but caring about oneself isn’t a sin but a necessity.
God bless you all!
It seems to me that your problem lies less with the term “orphan spirit” and more so with the application (or lack there of) used by the believer to rid this spirit from its stronghold.
The Orphan spirit is real, but, just like any spiritual oppression… we don’t fight our battles against flesh and blood. It should never be used to belittle or cast judgment on that person. If that is done, however, does that make the spirit less real? The stronghold less untrue? Not at all! Correction needs to be brought to that person AND the spirit still needs to be cast out.
The strategy is to go after the lies of this mindset, not the person who is oppressed. We do that first and foremost by declaring the truth of our identity as children of Father God. His goodness, love, He is with us. Not a works based relationship. We come with verses, pictures, songs that bring that truth reflective of what we find in Scripture.
A good friend of mine summarizes:
“Five characteristics of an orphan mindset:
First, spiritual orphans are often angry when others receive honor.
Spiritual orphans are unable to rejoice in the breakthrough that others receive for reasons such as: jealousy, bitterness, or envy.
Second, spiritual orphans find little joy in their ministry.
There is no lasting joy in the hearts of spiritual orphans when they are in the ministry.
Third, a spiritual orphan’s attachment to the Father is usually based on “what they do.”
The only attachment a spiritual orphan has to the Father is based on what they “do” rather than who they are in Him.
Fourth, spiritual orphans detach themselves from those they are angry with.
Spiritual orphans not only detach and distance themselves from those they are angry with, but they often surmise the evil or sin that others are involved in.
Spiritual orphans are good at assuming what others are doing and often they contrive untrue stories about those they are angry with.
The fifth and final characteristic of a spiritual orphan is their inability to recognize their inheritance; a failure to truly see their blessings. Spiritual orphans live in blindness or with a veil over their eyes that keep them locked in a mindset of spiritual deficiency.”
We fight this with truth; the Word of God. A team of intercessors and I are meeting on Saturday specifically to war against this principality. We will not speak a human name… In fact, the people involved won’t even be there. We are preparing our hearts (cleaning out our own closets if you will) in advance being extra careful to carry no offense of man into our time.
I completely agree with you sir… There is growth to be had in the Church in HOW we fight and war against these principalities (from charismatic to reformed), but to lead people in saying they don’t exist in my opinion is quite dangerous.
Wow. I heard the term a few times, and I needed some answers. You hit the nail on the head and answered all of my questions perfectly in this article. Thank you.
Finally, who the Son sets free is free indeed. Thank you for exposing this debilitating folly. I’m so tired of it. This was liberating. Shalom
There are many verses that speak of how a person can be walking in a certain type of spirit
Spirit of….
1chron 5:26 specific person
Num 5:14,30 jealousy
Psalm 76:12 princes
Prov 18:14 wounded
Prov 20:27 of man
Isaiah 29:10 deep sleep
Isaiah 61:3 heaviness
Hosea 4:12 whoredoms
Luke 4:33 unclean spirit
Luke 13:11 infirmity
Acts 16:16 divination
Rom 8:15 bondage
Ron 11:8 slumber
2 Tim 1:17 fear
1 John 4:6 error
Some are demonized and some are just the thought patterns of man. As two of the comments said above, CJ and Lindsey, for the Christian it is more of a mindset that God wants to set us free from. Any mindset that we may have can be labeled “spirit of”, thus the term “orphan spirit “
Sometimes we give labels to identify different mindsets that the mindset itself is contrary to the Word of God, thus the term orphan spirit. We do this so we can find the freedom we are promised:
I cor 2:12 given Spirit of God
2 cor 3:17 there is liberty
Sc, thank you for sharing through the Spirit of God. I would like to add that an underlying spirit of being fatherless is the spirit of affliction caused by being an orphan.
I think it brings a very sober, balanced, and it challenges our very reasoning as Christians. Here’s insight into my journey in my walk with God, as it pertains to this topic.
What I felt in prayer:
“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:9 CSB
“Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.’”
Joshua 1:13 CSB
These two scriptures were sticking out to me, like God was reminding me to remember to stay in agreement with what He spoke concerning the rest and “land” He promised us, that He will bring it to pass. To be strong and courageous, not to be discouraged because He is with us wherever we go!
This is a time of reset!
2 things I have been very misled on in my faith walk with God, that He will father me a certain way and that He will give me the desires of my heart, the way I want and how I want them to come and in the timeframe I desire them.
I feel this is the answer to one of the major reasons I keep getting let down, disappointed, hurt and frustrated with God, when it comes to Him fulfilling His word to me.
As a father, God’s ways on how He does things are different. He’s not coming down to earth to physically be here for me. He’s also not some fairy tale fulfillment from our imagination, that’s going to do and physically out preform every bad thing our lack of fathering our natural fathers, did not fulfill properly for us. Whether it was their absence, harsh parenting, consistent disapproval or abuse. What we know about fathering is flawed and jaded and manipulated to fit our fairy tale views. God will not and does not fit into this mold. He has broken this fantasy in my heart and it was/ is painful. But it truly set me up to receive true healing from father wounds and for my heart to be set up and positioned for learning how to properly trust and receive His fathering the way He want, how He wants, and in His timing.
It also has put me in position to see another flawed understanding of God concerning how He displays His faithfulness, “when He will and how He will”, especially pertaining to our heart’s desires. This has truly opened my eyes to the lordship, sovereignty and justness of God. We as humans, can fall into this entitlement expectation with God, not even realizing that we can take a position of dictating how God runs our life. How He fulfills the promises of our life and the timing in which He’s going to carry these fulfillment’s out to us. If we are truly submitting to His lordship, we are not telling God when and how we want something or how and when we want it to be done.
Submitting to His Lordship says, I surrender to your supreme power and rule over my life. Not to expect that power and ruling to work when I want it to work the way I want it to work for me and for my benefits. Submitting to His sovereignty says, I have no control over anything and have to truly submit everything to and in the hands of God. Things are just not going to make sense, they “why” God does things, the “when” He does things and the “how” He does things! It will seem unfair, unloving and just cruel at times! But submitting to and trusting the sovereignty of God for your life, all inclusively, means that you have to lay down your understanding, will, wants, desires, and passions to God, allowing Him to orchestrate them how He wants, if He wants, the way He wants, when He wants. This doesn’t mean that God is this mean dictator sitting in heaven crushing your hopes and dreams! This means that He knows all things, has a plan for all things and we must trust Him to bring about, fulfill and maintain all things in our life!
And submitting to Gods justness says, whatever you allow or have for my life, I believe it is just and good. This is very hard because often times this area has to do with great sacrifice and suffering. This part will always require you to struggle with “surrendering to the will of God” because of the great sacrifice and struggle attached to it. This form of suffering or sacrifice feels as if it contradicts the very nature of God. For example, if God loves me how could He allow me to have cancer, me to lose my house, or me to lose a loved one. It truly is an unknown area that our hearts and souls (mind, will, and emotions) will always face struggle with. But if the other two, God’s lordship and sovereignty are in place, your heart and soul will be held together and guided by God, leading you to the place of perfect peace as you embrace His will. This peace will not be birth out of understanding but out of the trust you have chosen and matured in through and with the father.
The part we forget about with all of these hard words, is that the love of God governs these three words. It assures us that His love is in us and with us, leading and helping us to learn to submit and surrender to these three words, one step at a time. It is the same loving hands that Christ shows us in the gospels that lead Him down a dark, dreadful, and lonely road to the cross. But it was the joy set before Him, the fathers love that kept Him and the peace produced by His total surrender in trusting the Father, that lead Him through Calvary, into His glorious triumph over the cross.
Ultimately, I believe it’s a lifetime process that as we trust the will of God for our journey with Him in this life, we will always struggle, in the very sense of the word, with knowing and receiving, through the many seasons of our journey, this perfectly loving and all knowing God will always love and accept us. And we have to trust that at every moment of our life when we need reminding of this trust and right, as sons and daughters of God, our Heavenly Father will remained us, how He wants, the way He wants, and the way we to need to receive and embrace this truth. We aren’t chasing after some nostalgic moment with God, that will only last briefly, having no lasting impact. But we are looking for God to give us those moments of truth, that will lead us to be set free in His love and a greater freedom in Christ.
Holy Spirit made it clear to me that the “orphan spirit” does not exist. The problem is a lack of biblical truth as to our identity in Christ. I come from an abusive childhood. It was my persistant seeking God in prayer and study that transformed me. We have received the Spirit of Adoption, Sonship. Truth is very powerful.Proverbs 23:23 declares BUY TRUTH AND SELL ITNOT. Jesus declared if YOU continue in my word, then are you my disiples indeed and THE TRUTH will make you free. It is NOT the will of God to carry a “victim” mentality, we are more than conquerors.
Here we ARE, now in December 2023. Many across the world are waking UP to TRUTH, as spoken in God’s word. We are learning most have been indoctrinated into man’s definition of truth, and easily led by ‘hearing’ statements said over and over again. Whether it be by Pastors, by tel-lie-visions, or most effectively, by the ones we think are suppose to love us unconditionally (family), we have been led astray. We listen, then we make the choice to HEAR, then will our hearts we are ‘told’ to protect, we make our free-will choice as to believing or not. Instead, we are called by God that ‘hearing is to come THROUGH the word of God’. That is to be our ‘truth meter’, our filter. Thank you Mr. Tensen for your discernment, for I was about to get caught up in a web of evil trappings being said of one who has an orphan spirit. Overwhelming so to make us ‘feel’ we will never be able to overcome! I will overcome by the blood of Jesus, and the word of my testimony, that His VICTORY in death is my victory in life. As I write this, I am already discerning truth over me, in me, is having it’s way. Praise the living God, for His word IS ACTIVE, it is a discerner of thoughts and intentions of the heart!
thank you for this insightful piece. Gave me a lot to think about and I appreciate all the comments. In my experience, I have not seen the term used to demean struggling Christians. I have felt understood and hopeful. So while the mindset and characteristic behaviors can be rightfully blanketed under the term immaturity, I find it more useful to zero in on the specifics.
Deliverance from this mindset can be a journey, but along the way, encountering God in ministry and other settings is beautiful and part of the healing process
It’s not to give emphasis on spirit or the title, but ti give and individual understanding on why they behave and believe the way they do, and to seek their heavenly father for healing no matter what the age or how long they have suffered with this orphan spirit mentality. Thank you for your insight
Thank you! ‘So glad I found this article. My friend just asked me this morning to watch a YouTube video by two women in ministry who talked about the orphan spirit. I watched a portion of it and said it did strike some chord in me however, it did not seem biblical but a construct some of the kinds of things that people come up with in Christianity that have nothing to do with what God said. So your article helped me to debunk it considerably and to do the same for my friend.
Hi David,
Whilst I agree with you that the term orphan spirit is imprecise, inaccurate and can be unhelpful – what’s even more unhelpful is leaving people relationally or emotionally stuck person behaving out of unhealed and unreconciled trauma by not employing the tools to help people get healed.
Ironically, it’s that people in Christ are living with shame that necessitates a healing work whatever it’s called.
In many cases, I think it is inadequate to simply call it immaturity. People have been left stuck for many years, even decades, working really, really hard at the symptomatic- or fruit-level – resulting in poor choices, cyclic behaviour, sin and addiction – when they really needed to work at the cause- or root-level.
Try harder, try harder. And not a lot changes. Here’s another Christian obligation to meet, but remaining under-resourced to meet it.
There’s a difference between being spiritually unhealthy and being spiritually immature.
Once you’re in spiritual health, you will move towards maturity through many means including “repentance, forgiveness, confession and deep inner work as a constant theme across a lifetime”.
Yes, to move from immaturity to maturity we need to grow up.
But trying to grow from a place of dysfunction or spiritual unhealth results in stunted growth or deformity. More heat than light.
To move from being spiritually unhealthy to spiritually healthy requires a measure of healing – and should not be taking place over a lifetime.
Often this will include “owning the decisions, vows and agreements we made growing up” and “repentance, forgiveness, confession and deep inner work”, but it’s much more targeted than the work of maturity over a lifetime.
I agree an orphan spirit is no spirit at all, though spirits may be involved in compounding the issue. Get rid of the term by all means. But, please, please don’t discount nor discourage people accessing the valuable tools and targeted healing work that many need in order to effectively engage in the journey towards maturity in Christ Jesus.
And, in the above sense, I think a conflation of spiritual unhealthiness (to be healed) with spiritual immaturity (to grow out from) as equally imprecise, inaccurate, unhelpful and potentially counter-productive.
I agree with CJ comment. I have lived with this for over 38 years. A person with all the traits and more from losing a mother in early childhood and not properly healed and restored to an “adopted” loving situation in a blended family resulting in calling every older women “Mother”. there is a form of Idolatry involved when we cannot let go of the dead which can open up for all kinds of spiritual chaos. Argue about “words” but the spirit about the matter is real. You can be an orphan without an “Orphan Spirit” too! Healed, graced and made whole by receiving the Truth, Will and Love of God.
Thank you David for your insight. It is certainly an interesting perspective.
Whilst I don’t believe the ‘orphan spirit’ to be a spirit in the actual sense, I do believe it is a useful term to describe the way in which certain traumas result in feelings of consistent rejection, abandonment and feeling unloved, unworthy and not good enough.
Immaturity doesn’t reflect the very real complex and compounded trauma that some people (like me) experience that clouds and colours our relationship with Jesus. The enemy manipulates the feelings of those whose brains are wired to perceive themselves as not mattering to others. There is a pervasive and consistent distress that you learn to mask and live with.
God gives revelation in all sorts of ways. My diagnosis of complex trauma is also aptly described by the orphan spirit terminology and helps me to understand that healing is a combination of deliverance and therapy.
With very big feelings of rejection being a part of my daily existence, I have to absolutely be rooted in God’s word to be reminded of the truth of his nature and his love for me. Being able to lean into other descriptors of a condition, is helpful for some and not for others which is to be expected.
For me, the problem isn’t the use of the term ‘orphan spirit’ but rather the issue is that spiritual leaders manipulate ideas and concepts to shame and control people.
I find these catchy terms, as good marketing to fund evangelicals. Stick to the scriptures. The truth is written, there is nothing so orphan about it. So don’t become orphaned. Speak blessing not curse.
Thank you for challenging this! I agree 100%. There is no orphan spirit. The intent behind term is degrading, condescending, patronizing, shaming and hierarchical in nature. Anytime I’ve heard discussion on the “orphan spirit” it’s always demeaning toward people who have trauma they haven’t fully healed from. Why are people with certain issues and broken perspectives being attacked? Every Christian has brokenness of some sort. Allow people to walk out their lifetime journey of knowing the Lord. His love breaks off things. A “son” isn’t better than a person with abandonment or rejection issues. Jesus has compassion for the broken hearted (which is trauma). Also why are folks attacking people for natural responses to trauma? I don’t think that anyone asked for trauma…..Let’s call things what they are….wounds. Wounds that God can lovingly heal. No one is an orphan! The concept is stupid and I hope leaders stop perpetuating it!
Thank you for this. There’s a lot of it I agree with but also a lot I don’t. Whilst it is sound and it’s good to challenge these terms we take so easily for granted there has to be recognition of peoples lived experiences especially in the years before the age of 5 as deeply formative and lasting. Whilst I believe in and live from a spirit of adoption in Christ and have walked this journey for over 40 years the battle to walk entirely free of the ‘orphan spirit’ thing is constant. This is not failure or lack of maturity on my part but a brain deeply traumatised by childhood abuse continuing to rewrite itself to a new truth. To assume that replacing one truth with another is that simple or that a lack of maturity is to blame shows a lack of love & understanding for those who struggle and of psychology generally.
I have raised two children without passing on the trauma I suffered and have allowed a marriage of over 30years to reshape me but there are still so many days when I have to put my natural feelings to one side a persevere in what I believe to be true instead of and frankly its exhausting at times. Please don’t call it lack of maturity because that heaps shame too.