Redeeming Power : Book Review
Diane Langberg has long been a champion for the shadow world of Spiritual Abuse Survivors. She has a keen grasp of power dynamics, an understanding of the spiritual element involved in faith communities where abuse occurs, and she’s not afraid to call it like it is.
One of the things I found refreshing (both when I interviewed Diane for the Uncertain podcast and also while reading her book) is she has a very firm trust in Jesus and challenges the church in the ways the church is not exhibiting Christ’s character. She continues to challenge us to test the church and its leaders by Jesus’s character.
Basically, don’t just trust a spiritual leader because their title is priest, elder, or pastor. Trust them because they exemplify Jesus’s character.
Do they become defensive when challenged?
Do the dismiss questions and dishonor doubt?
Do they cover up and hide deficiencies and discrepancies?
Diane’s latest book, Redeeming Power, is just what the church needs. Often we forget about power dynamics in cases of abuse. We say things like, “Why didn’t you speak up?” Or “Why didn’t you just leave?” And forget about the dynamic involved, especially when an organization and administration wields the Bible and uses God’s name.
Diane has great compassion for those who have been abused in religious organizations. She calls the combination of abuse and silencing victims a “life-destroying tsunami.” (73) She doesn’t heap further blame on the victim—questioning the strength of their faith—as many are apt to do when a victim is compelled to leave a community called church and even decide they no longer want anything to do with God.
What I found particularly helpful in Redeeming Power, was the highlighting of power in systems and spiritual power. Not usually addressed when discussing church hurts or church abuse, these two elements actually should slide to the forefront of our understanding.
When a person is discovered to be an abuser in a church community, there is always an entire system backing them. There is the congregation who dismisses any notion of something being wrong, clinging to the leader’s teaching like a lifeline and ignoring the whistle-blower. There’s the leadership who intentionally try to silence the victim, dealing with the allegations in secret and extending “grace” to the abuser when the abuser tells them what they want to hear through tears and fake apologies. Then there’s the added element of loyalty to the system which includes the system’s material assets, which can easily rise to a place of importance beyond the humans within the system.
While power is something we must understand as we navigate situations of abuse, Dr. Langberg emphasizes that power itself is not bad. Every person has power in different degrees. And the very aim of abuse is to take away the victim’s power—the power of their voice, the vulnerability of their relationships, and the belief they can make changes.
A purpose of power is to care for the vulnerable and must be exercised in obedience to Christ. “May we not deceive ourselves or others regarding any use of power that is not under the authority of the One who holds all power.” (17)
This book is vital for anyone who works in a church institution, anyone seeking to understand abuse that occurs in a church environment, and anyone seeking an understanding of Spiritual Abuse.
Check out my interview on the Uncertain Podcast with Diane Langberg HERE.
Purchase Redeeming Power HERE.
Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash