Minimal shelfwear w/ scuffed edges and beginning to curl corners. No markings. Pages are clean and bright. Binding is tight. This description may be from another edition of this product.
This book was very helpful. It's unfortunate that more books are not written like this one to help christians discern error. The writing was biblically balanced. In an unhealthy church it is considered rebellion when decisions are questioned. Matthew 23 is referred to as giving example of where the Christians loyalty should be -- To Christ. The author gives the traits of abusive leaders and unhealthy churches. He gives a list of warning signs: 1) Power positioning 2) Unquestioned Authority 3) An atmosphere of secrecy 4) Elitist attitude 5) Performance emphasis 6) Fear motivation 7) Painful exit There are a list of questions for discussion at the end of each chapter. One valuable point in the book is; when leaving a controlling church, it is impossible to leave correctly in the eyes of the abusive pastor. If you are suffering under the control of a manipulating leader, this book will help you put things into proper perspective.
Excellent and well balanced
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
this is a well written book and well researched. You not only identify forms of abuse but also are provoked to look at yourself and see if you are harboring anything. Very good for some one who is feeling something is just "not right." Great help and insight.There are questions at the end of every chapter that deal with the issues discussed in the charpters just read. Makes you think.
God does care & leading me to this book proves it!!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
I have just come out of a church just like this. I couldn't believe that this book described it to a T. It was absolutely amazing. It really helped me and my husband. It put to rest a lot of questions that we had and made us realize that we aren't bad or crazy people. There are really places like this book describes. If you are in an abusive church or have come out of one, I say READ THIS BOOK. It came in the mail last week and I opened it and read it in 2 1/2 hours. I did not put it down. That is GOOD! Enjoy and God bless!
Thank God for this book!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
To all those who love God but who do not want to be abused in God's name by their church leaders, you'll love this book. If you've ever felt you've given your best and you didn't run at the first sign of trouble in a church, but there came a point when you had been stripped of so much inside that you had to go, yet you were talked about from the pulpit as if you had given up on God, this book is for you! Don't use it as an excuse to not submit to your church leaders, because clearly God tells us we should. Don't use it to justify leaving a church because the leaders didn't listen to you about changing the songs the choir sings or because the pastor didn't come visit you in the hospital. That's not what it's about. Use it as a guideline to see when the things that you're being pressured to submit to cross the line from godly submission to man's manipulation and control. For those who would try to tell you that this book is not from God, remember this--David had a submissive attitude to Saul, when he was in Saul's house and afterwards. But when Saul tried to kill David because of his own emotional demons, DAVID RAN and GOD BACKED DAVID! So don't let church leaders tell you that you're wrong to leave a church in which abuse is being justified in God's name.
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