Twisted Scriptures

Rating:
Summary: Getting Free From Control by Religious Dictators
Review: An informative, highly original book, Twisted Scriptures gives information to help people evaluate what the Bible actually teaches, as opposed to what controlling religious leaders teach. This book exposes shepherding, a practice that has crept into many churches. Ideas which are widely taught and accepted as being from the Bible, but which are not Biblical, are refuted. The author shows that submission is to be made to God alone and to His Word, not to leaders who attempt to control people with guilt and manipulation. The author raises a clarion call for the freedom of the individual and his or her freedom of choice. A groundbreaking book. This book will protect you from religous abuse, and give you firm Biblical ground for your boundaries. If you have been manipulated by controlling religious leaders, this book will set you free.

Rating:
Summary: A valuable book
Review: I have read this book, and I would say (not being too familiar with the field of "exit counseling/abusive church counseling" literature, though I read Steve Hassan's book (Jew former-Moonie) - COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL - years ago) that it's a pretty good book. If you deal with people who are or were in controlling churches (a lot of the book focuses on the Shepherding/Discipleship movement), or if you yourself were a victim or member of such a group, or even any abusive church, then you should buy this book.

In fact, this book is good to read if you're involved in most conservative Christian denominations/churches/movements, even "good" ones, as it will prompt you to continue to "prove all things [and] hold fast that which is good" as the Scriptures teach us to do, and not just accept leaders' statements or teachings. If you are discipling someone, or if you yourself are being discipled, this book has many good checks and balances and insights that should help you discern between good discipling and abusive or poor discipling. If you are in a small group that is designed to help you and others grow spiritually, this book will also be of value.

We were in a church that had some serious problems, and we finally left it. Skimming through her 6-page checklist at the back of the book of abusive characteristics, I would say that for us at least (I can't speak for the persons in our church who lived together at the "Bible School") we experienced few of these things, at least not in as overt a way as many controlling groups, but I would bet that if I sent Ms. Chrnalogar all my documentation of the things that happened that led to our decision to leave, she would agree that we were in an abusive church situation. She used to be a member of an abusive church or sect or cult (she never names the group) and was rescued by family intervention. She has helped rescue people for 17 years (as of 1997 when the book was written).

She only mentions a few names. She explicitly criticizes several items from the book/workbook EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry Blackaby, a very popular book that my wife and I studied from for at time. She seems to criticize Campus Crusade for Christ, as some of the items she comments on are from their literature (based on the footnotes). One comment, I think, criticizes Navigators literature. She criticizes YWAM at several points. She appears to be an Evangelical Christian (and CCC and Navigators are "favorites" of Evangelicals, so it's interesting that she faults their literature for being unbiblical at points), but I couldn't tell if she is Charismatic.

The Appendix on the history of the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement is fascinating. A particularly relevant item for us these days, as the "Five-Fold Ministries" and "New Apostolic Reformation" movements are continuing to gain adherents, is this one:

"During this same time [i.e., late 1960's and early 10970's], former leaders of the aberrant 1950s Pentecostal 'Latter Rain Movement' taught that the proper church governmental model was the 'Five-Fold Ministries.' The phrase refers to the presumed hierarchical ordering of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers found in Ephesians 4:11-13. This group taught that the ultimate purpose of these ministries was to unite all believers, and to acquire a divine nature. The Five-Fold Ministries doctrine also held that there are living apostles who are to rule the church and eventually the world."

Chrnalogar's book is such that you could give it to a person in a controlling group and, if they read it, they would be challenged, but not harshly or forcefully or stridently, to examine what their church does and why, and they would be led, if they allow themselves, to do an objective (if that's possible) evaluation of what their group does and teaches - which could result in loosening the hold their group has on them. This book is said to be the foundation of her exit counseling program.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent tool
Review: I left a cult earlier this year. At the time when I made the decision to leave, I was very confused and was having a difficult time understanding everything that was wrong, but I knew without doubt that things were not right. A friend of mine recommended this book to me. I bought it, read it and was absolutely stunned by everything I read. The contents of this book solidified my resolve to leave. Several friends later left this same spiritually abusive church after reading the same book.

I especially liked the checklists at the end of each chapter. It helped to have a visual list of how I had been deceived. When you are in a cult, the leaders are very convincing and often you find yourself thinking the way they talked. The lists were a great way to remind me that I wasn't insane. The appendices at the end of the book are also a great tool. It helps to know that others have experienced the same thing.

Rating:
Summary: Clearly written, logical, and freeing!
Review: I wish I could have read this book about 30 years ago.

For my own part, I was raised in a loving Christian home, but I had to put up with a lot of "do's" and "don'ts" in my church, most of which were not anywhere to be found in the Bible (including the statement that a praying knee and a dancing foot never grow on the same leg). My parents, however, were not controlling and we were a fairly happy family. Our comittment to Jesus Christ bound us even closer together.

I went to Bible school and one of the courses I studied was enitled Biblical Interpretation. It was an excellent course and well taught, and we learned the logical, common sense way to interpret the Bible.

However, I still managed to get involved in what I thought was a loving prayer group who later got caught up in the "Discipleship" controversey. I later was given the "left foot of fellowship" from the group when I made a remark that they interpreted as questioning their teachings. (By the way, the "left foot of fellowship" means that I was unceremoniously booted out!)

If I had been able to have this book back then, I would have recovered from that bad experience much more quickly. But I am glad that others are able to read it and recover from their traumatic experiences.

I am still 100% sold on the Christian faith, even though I'm not sold on some of the garbage that goes on in the name of Christianity.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Tool!
Review: This book was recommended to me by somebody who was in the same cult that I used to be a part of, and I found it to be very helpful. Chrnaloger not only does an excellent job of putting the most misued scriptures (such as Hebrews 13:17) in the right context, it also helped me to see that there were some elements of unhealthy faith that I had held onto. Although I have already finished reading this book, I am using this book as a reference to continually study out scriptures and characteristics of destructive churches. If you only buy one book this year on spiritual abuse and dangerous Christian organizations, "Twisted Scriptures" is it!

Rating:
Summary: Twisted Scriptures
Review: Wow! This is just the book we needed after discovering that our adult children are infact, in a religious cult. We had our suspicions, but thanks to Mary Alice Chrnalogar and the information leading us to this point, we now know with certainty.
This book is a must for active members, former members, relatives and loved ones who have any connection to an abusive church, "the decipleship, shepherding" type of movements.
They have successfully snared so many to a life of bondage and to a never-ending state of works and guilt mentality.
Our heart breaks for our children, as we watch them sacrafice their own personal choices to the whims of a "discipler".
I can not recommend this book highly enough. It is a must read. And I pray that when one who has found themselves deceived and need answers, "Twisted Scriptures" will find it's way into their hands. They will know that they are not crazy or beyond God's grace, but rather find unconditional acceptance and love from a loving and personal God. With correct understanding of the Scriptures, God's word will present freedom and life and the truth will indeed set them free.
Sincerely,
Parents who are praying for their children's deliverance.