Scan barcode
A review by hwolfram
Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Diane Langberg
3.0
Do not take my review to mean that I do not approve of this book- on the contrary, I think that this book is excellent for diagnosis and recognition of abuse, and many pastors, elders and laypeople alike should read this book. There are some really powerful sections that shock you into realizing how bad the problem of abuse is in our church context, and the focus of this book is consistent throughout.
Redeeming power is at its best when it focuses most clearly on defining power and abuse, giving examples and speaking up for victims, which it does pretty much the whole book. I am thoroughly impressed with the author for caring well for victims of abuse of all kinds and constantly reminding us that Jesus is the example who we look to as we seek to love our neighbor and those who are victims of abuse.
Simultaneously, there were a few things about this book that bugged me. For one, the author would frequently (though not always) take scripture out of context or add meaning to certain passages to mean things that aren't always clearly present in her paraphrases (which I don't think she tells you are paraphrases unless you read the publishers stamp on the inside cover). She never said anything that was out of step with Christian doctrine that I could tell, but it was quite distracting to me as I read.
I also think that there is a serious lack in this book of forgiveness. While the elevation of and listening to victims by the Church is highly, highly important, it is portrayed as the entire healing process for victims of abuse and of church culture. Langberg does an excellent job of pointing out the false forgivenesses and repentances that go on so often in our broken church culture that lead to more cycles of abuse, which we ought to pay close attention to. In the end, however, she sacrifices true Christian forgiveness for an attitude of, essentially, just care more and just do better. In condemning the attitude of "just forgive the abuser and move on," which is destructive and dangerous for victims, she swings the pendulum the opposite way and presents us with a path that makes people feel better with only demonstrations of love, kindness and empathy (which is super important!) but can potentially leave people bitter and angry, both toward their enemies and the body of Christ.
Overall, this is a well written and easy read that is powerful, challenging and thought provoking (it made me cry!), and it also is lacking (in my opinion) in the redeeming aspect of Redeeming Power.
Redeeming power is at its best when it focuses most clearly on defining power and abuse, giving examples and speaking up for victims, which it does pretty much the whole book. I am thoroughly impressed with the author for caring well for victims of abuse of all kinds and constantly reminding us that Jesus is the example who we look to as we seek to love our neighbor and those who are victims of abuse.
Simultaneously, there were a few things about this book that bugged me. For one, the author would frequently (though not always) take scripture out of context or add meaning to certain passages to mean things that aren't always clearly present in her paraphrases (which I don't think she tells you are paraphrases unless you read the publishers stamp on the inside cover). She never said anything that was out of step with Christian doctrine that I could tell, but it was quite distracting to me as I read.
I also think that there is a serious lack in this book of forgiveness. While the elevation of and listening to victims by the Church is highly, highly important, it is portrayed as the entire healing process for victims of abuse and of church culture. Langberg does an excellent job of pointing out the false forgivenesses and repentances that go on so often in our broken church culture that lead to more cycles of abuse, which we ought to pay close attention to. In the end, however, she sacrifices true Christian forgiveness for an attitude of, essentially, just care more and just do better. In condemning the attitude of "just forgive the abuser and move on," which is destructive and dangerous for victims, she swings the pendulum the opposite way and presents us with a path that makes people feel better with only demonstrations of love, kindness and empathy (which is super important!) but can potentially leave people bitter and angry, both toward their enemies and the body of Christ.
Overall, this is a well written and easy read that is powerful, challenging and thought provoking (it made me cry!), and it also is lacking (in my opinion) in the redeeming aspect of Redeeming Power.