Redeeming Power

Diane Langberg’s “Redeeming Power” should be read by every church leader, Christian therapist, and those affected by church abuse of any kind. Diane’s ability to uniquely integrate psychological research with biblical truths is unmatched. Her profound understanding of power, systems, the unique aches of those traumatized by corrupted leaders, and a path toward integration is truly challenging and inspirational. You will want this book in your library!

An important book on power and how the misuse of power can lead to abuse. A must read for church leaders to explore how the church can best support those suffering abuse, but also prevent it.

If you love the church, reading this book means aching on every page. I didn't read it to cry or as a masochist, no ... I read it because I know that there has been, there is, and will continue to be abuse in the church, and that hurts me. Abuse is unacceptable, with dire consequences and incalculable pain for everyone touched by such a situation. Abuse not only affects those involved or the victims, but everyone who finds out about it, those near and far, and also the name of Christ is reviled for it. That's why they believe a lot. Distrust and disappointment grow. That is why trust is broken and nothing is the same again. I have grown involved in the church and I know that, unfortunately, what Diane Langberg mentions in this book is true, on the other hand, I have also seen that there is still truth and people who would never get involved in something like that. When there has been abuse, there can still be repentance, forgiveness (requested and granted), and the opportunity that God gives to start over, this, in the best of cases. At worst the unforgiveness is always present and the desires for revenge as well. Some seek forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Not all. I have to say that I prefer the cases in which something like this never happens but it happens. It is my prayer that the sin that surrounds the world and sometimes infiltrates behind the most unexpected faces stops and the church does not continue to suffer this type of abuse. Grateful for this type of content that opens the eyes of many people in time not to continue being part of this chain of abuse of power, but rather to expose it for repentance, resignation, change and that it does not happen again.

What an insightful and timely book for the church, and for all those in positions of authority. In reviewing an advance copy of this book, considering whether or not to recommend it to others, I found personal challenges as to how I was going to handle the power I was being given in several roles. Authority and power are tricky things to manage well, and I'm so thankful for the depths to which Dr. Langberg goes in bringing concerns about this to light. This is a great work and I will be recommending it to others for some time.

I didn’t know which quotes I should use as I found so many thought provoking words throughout this book. As I read, it took me sometime to digest to get the full meaning behind the words. Here is one, from the beginning, that sunk deep into me.
“Let’s be honest. To our shame, we have often treated people the way Jesus was treated. We have humiliated, lied, crushed, blamed, and degraded. We have done so to those of other races. We have done so to victims of many kinds of abuse who disrupted our order and called us to enter in. We have worked in secret. We have not dragged such things to the light. We have acted illegally and refused to report child abuse. We have not acknowledged that domestic abuse and rape are against the law. We have covered up our deeds and our verdicts to protect our ways and our systems. In doing so, we have followed the Sanhedrin rather than Jesus. We have acted not as blundering disciples but as those who were flagrantly disobedient. And Jesus has to heal the wounds we have caused. This is a hard place, but it is good that many are beginning to see and are deeply troubled. I have said repeatedly that the voices of victims today, of those abused and violated and crushed in our “Christian” circles, are in fact the voice of our God to his people. Through those we have mistreated, he is turning on his light, exposing us to ourselves (and others), pointing out the cancer, and calling us to fidelity to him alone. In essence, this is what Jesus said when he declared, “Let the little ones come, for my kingdom belongs to such people as these” (Matt. 19:14). They are a prophetic voice to the church. They are canaries in the coal mines of Christendom. Victims are vulnerable, struggling, wounded, broken, and in need of extensive care. They are a picture of who we all are before God. And we are to be a picture for them of who he is with us, the One who came from the heights to the depths for those who were vulnerable, struggling, wounded, broken, and in need of extensive care.”
She writes with a learning experience behind her words.

Redeeming Power utilizes personal experience with interpretation of Scripture to help people overcome trauma and it's effects. Her years of teaching and counseling help her to shape the perspectives of the victims and the perpetrators. We have to recognize that there is power and vulnerability in all of us - it's what we do with that - that shapes the world.

God created a one-flesh union and called that union of male and female to rule and subdue the earth, not each other.
A scorcher of a quote so near the beginning of Diane Langberg’s new book on authority and abuse in the church, Redeeming Power. It sets the stage so well for what’s to come: a call for the church to condemn all forms of abuse and take steps to make sure that abusers are stopped before they can repeat their crimes against God. Langberg’s call finds its center in the gospel of Jesus Christ, more specifically the part of the gospel that states humans are created in the image of God and have worth because of their Creator. Spiritual abuse makes a mockery of the gospel, and Langberg is clear that it must be stopped:
Abuse of any kind is always damaging to the image of God in humans. The self is shattered, fractured, and silenced and cannot speak who it is into the world.
But as I said, this is not a polemic against abusers, but the church itself. We have failed on so many levels to stand up for the weak among our own brothers and sisters in Christ. Why? One reason is that in so many cases we both worship and crave power. We worship those in places of earthly power instead of worshipping the God who holds all ultimate power. We crave being close to those that hold earthly power because we feel we might taste some if we stay loyal. Langberg writes:
Godly power starts in the kingdom of our hearts, is expressed in the flesh, and then moves out into the world. We make the mistake of seeing power as an external thing. But power is not about having rule over a church, or a parishioner, or an institution, or a country. It’s internal, not external. God’s kingdom is the kingdom of the heart, not the kingdom of our churches, institutions, missions, or schools. He is building his kingdom, not ours, and he does that by exercising authority over the human heart to the extent that it is filled with the Spirit of Christ. That is godly power …
The church and the individuals in it have been complicit with horrific things that call for sanctuary. We are called to be a sacred place for the vulnerable. We have often chosen to be a safe place for the powerful and have deceived ourselves into believing that God would call that good.
Another reason we may fail to stand up for the abused is a belief that we are actually protecting the name of Jesus from being tarnished. “Don’t let it get out,” we think, “or it will ruin our witness.” But the truth has a way of finding the light of day, and when it does we are the ones ruining the name of Jesus by protecting those in power rather than protecting brothers and sisters in Christ from becoming victims. Langberg poses the question so many people wonder, but counters with the truth:
If word gets out that someone is committing fraud, abusing children, beating his wife, or treating group members in nasty, bullying, and ostracizing ways, then the reputation of Jesus will be marred, and we must prevent that. How can it ever be wrong to protect the name of Jesus? See how we can use godly words to cover ungodly deeds? …
We often confuse the system of Christianity (Christendom) with Christ. But no so-called Christian system is truly God’s work unless it is full of truth and love.
That is the key: we are not called to protect the system of Christianity. We are called to protect the church. The church is the whole body, and that includes the marginalized. Protecting the earthly powerful at the expense of the powerless is not protecting God’s name. In that case, you are prioritizing name recognition over God’s laws. That doesn’t end well for anyone, especially those aiding the leaders in their ill-used power grabs.
As you can tell, Redeeming Power is not a light read, but the biblical truth and practical application of this book make it a must-read for many Christians in the church today. If you have ever dealt with abuse in the church, anyone close to you has, or you want to be prepared if/when this is something you must deal with as a church, I would highly recommend. I look forward to a day where books don’t have to exist because churches are doing their jobs in curtailing, but that is not where we are for the American church in 2020. Langberg’s Redeeming Power traces out a clear path, along with the biblical reasoning that should bring us there.
I received a review copy of Redeeming Power courtesy of Brazos Press and NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.

Buy a copy for your Pastor, Priest, Elders, Church leaders.
This is a heart wrenching account of God's love for the vulnerable and hurting, and the dangers we face when we have authority and power, whether it's in a church, family, business or community.

Diane Langberg is an incredible counselor, author, and advocate. Her writing is so life giving and affirming for counselors, pastors, and victims
of abuse. I’ve read her other books and couldn’t wait for this one to release. Redeeming Power is a much needed voice in a space that has been conspicuously silent. As believers, we should call out abuse and advocate justice. I highly recommend this book for all pastors, counselors, and people in power in religious spheres. The more you know, the more you can advocate and bring abuse to the light and bring justice and redemption to victims. And not only that, but put people and policies in place that will stop abuse.

Diane Langberg is an incredible resource, and I think this book should be mandatory reading for every pastor and leader in Christian circles. She does an amazing job of clearly explaining what power and authority is and how it can be abused. She draws on Scripture to challenge the way Christians have protected their systems and harmed the vulnerable - and calls to a better way. This is hard but holy work - well done.

Dr. Langberg's Redeeming Power is one of the most powerful and comprehensive books I've read about the problem of abuse in our Christian communities. I highly recommend it to anyone in leadership or anyone who has been harmed by leadership.