Churches That Abuse

Rating:
Summary: A Book Worth Reading.
Review: This is a excellant book. Not only for active Christians to read and study, but also for those who have been hurt in life, by Churches that have abused them.
This book came too late for me. I was a convert to a well known "church" denomination, that is a thriving cult in itself.
We were required as faithful members to attend special rituals, that were considered secret and "sacred". Along with this holy ritual we were sworn to secrecy with secret handshakes, signs, tokens and symbols. These things not to be shown to the outside world, or even to fellow Christians.
Coming out of this "church", and breaking away from it, was a mind wrenching experience. And taking it's toll on emotions was devistating.
This book should be read by even those in pastoral seminaries and bible schools also, as to how a Church should not be conducted by those in power.
Church counselors, and those in mental health professions could do well reading this book.



Rating:
Summary: One of the first books to talk about religious abus
Review: There is a myth out there that unless the church is part of some far-out cult it is 100% safe.

The truth is there are churches that abuse, even in mainline and evangelical protestant denominations.

The book perpetuates the myth some as the examples are given from more cult-ish groups.

No, not every church abuses. Sometimes otherwise healthy, vibrant churches can have unhealth, abusive pockets or sub-groups in them due to the negative influence of one or two leaders. And emotionally abusive parents can visit spiritual abuse on their children even in an overall healthy church.

The outline of the chapters in the book gives an excellent guide for evaluating one's church experience and if it is abusive:

Ten characteristics of churches that abuse:

* Abusive churches use fear, guilt and threats:

1. Control-oriented leadership

2. Manipulation of members

* Abusive churches see themselves as special:

3. Spiritual elitism (e.g., dogmatism)

4. Perceived persecution

* Abusive churches foster rigidity:

5. Lifestyle rigidity (e.g., legalism, performance oriented)

6. Emphasis on experience (e.g., experience of leaders is key source of truth)

* Abusive churches discourage questions:

7. Suppression of dissent (e.g., dogmatism--only our view is right; "trust and obey")

8. Harsh discipline (e.g., legalism, shunning, control of dating & family relationships, etc.)

* Abusive churches make leaving painful:

9. Denunciation of other churches (e.g. salvation is only through us, our brand of faith)

10. A painful exit process (shunning, humiliation, starting over in relationships and/or financially)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent--must read
Review: This book is a must-read for those who have suffered spiritual abuse, and for those who work with them. Mr. Enroth gives many real life stories of persons who became involved in harmful churches and groups. He shares what happened to these individuals, and then describes the patterns of abuse so that the reader can recognize signs of abuse or potential abuse. The reader will be able to see the similarities among various groups. The psychological and sociological ramifications are described. An extremely important contribution; this book will enlighten, warn, instruct, and maybe even shock you.

Rating:
Summary: Could It Happen Here? Spiritual Abuse Around Us
Review: This book is a must-read for those who have suffered spiritual abuse, and for those who work with them. Mr. Enroth gives many real life stories of persons who became involved in harmful churches and groups. He shares what happened to these individuals, and then describes the patterns of abuse so that the reader can recognize signs of abuse or potential abuse. The reader will be able to see the similarities among various groups. The psychological and sociological ramifications are described. An extremely important contribution; this book will enlighten, warn, instruct, and maybe even shock you.

Rating:
Summary: One of the first books to talk about religious abus
Review: This book is very important, especially since we are living in the last days. There are organizations masquerading as Christian churches when their lifestyles and theology are far from Christian. Even in the church, we must "try the spirits to see whether they be of God". Any pastor or organization that exalts themselves where Christ belongs are false. We must hold them accountable for abusing the precious name of Jesus for their own selfish purposes. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to help friends and loved ones be truly "set free" from the mind control of wolves in sheep's clothing

Rating:
Summary: "..try the spirits" applies to churches too
Review: This book is very important, especially since we are living in the last days. There are organizations masquerading as Christian churches when their lifestyles and theology are far from Christian. Even in the church, we must "try the spirits to see whether they be of God". Any pastor or organization that exalts themselves where Christ belongs are false. We must hold them accountable for abusing the precious name of Jesus for their own selfish purposes. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to help friends and loved ones be truly "set free" from the mind control of wolves in sheep's clothing

Rating:
Summary: Excellent--must read
Review: This book was instrumental in revealing to me things that were wrong in the church I was attending when I read the book.
It helped me know I wasn't "crazy" or rebellious or misunderstanding things. I was being abused and God used the truths in this book to set me free.
"Who the Son sets free is free indeed..."

Rating:
Summary: Excellent--must read
Review: This book was instrumental in revealing to me things that were wrong in the church I was attending when I read the book.
It helped me know I wasn't "crazy" or rebellious or misunderstanding things. I was being abused and God used the truths in this book to set me free.
"Who the Son sets free is free indeed..."

Rating:
Summary: A good book to own and to regularly review
Review: This book was published in 1991. But the central message is as true now as it was then. The church can be a wonderful source of comfort, spiritual guidance and fellowship to Christians. But unfortunately, there are churches -- some of them seemly "mainstream" -- that exercise too much authority in the lives of the people who attend them.

Ronald Enroth gives a list of red flags to look out for to indicate an abusive church. For me, one of them stands out strongly: when a particular person in the church (often, but not always, the pastor) announces him/herself as the channel through which God is working and that obedience to that person is a sign of being truly submitted to God. Some of them will even go as far as to say that if they are wrong, God can still use that for the ultimate good.

Well -- technically, that could be right. If you'll pardon a cliche, God can and does make lemonade out of lemons all the time. But nowhere does the Bible teach that we are to deliberately subject our judment, spiritual discernment and independent thinking to another person.

Since the book was written over 13 years ago, some of the groups Enroth describes may have changed -- but the warning is still there, and it is good for Christians to be aware that there are people who want to steal away the freedom that Jesus Christ can give. He explains why this can happen and gives suggestions on how to either avoid it or get out of the abusive situation.

This book is at its best when reviewed a lot.