Vox Podcast With Mike Erre

How do spiritually abusive environments form, and why do they often look so "religious"? This fourth installment in the ongoing Spiritual Abuse series dives deep into Jesus' own critiques of religious leaders as a template for recognizing toxic patterns in modern churches and Christian communities. Mike Erre and Andy Lara explore themes of hypocrisy, majoring on the minors, and the death of mercy—all signs that a group is more interested in control and image than transformation and love. Drawing from Jesus' confrontations with Pharisees in Luke 11, they examine how legalism, performative spirituality, and prideful self-righteousness continue damaging people today—especially within churches where power dynamics, surface-level morality, and theological rigidity replace empathy, authenticity, and the true heart of the gospel. Key Takeaways: • Hypocrisy and the Heart – Jesus prioritizes inner transformation over outward religious performance. Mike reflects on how external conformity without internal renewal foste