Customer Reviews

Letters to a Devastated Christian

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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Gene Edwards is a master with the pen, and he has the heart of a shepherd to boot. This man's anointed writings have done much to aide in the healing of the spirit of many.

I've read most of his works, but this book, 'Letters to a Devastated Christian,' is his tour-de-force. It's a short read, but it is packed with a rich and manifold density. His spare writing style is showcased in this piece; there is a tremendous motherlode of wisdom and discernment packed into few words.

The outlay of the book is engaging... letters from a mentor to a crushed young man. The mentor doesn't try to sugar-coat the authoritarian abuses the young man has endured but instead uses them as stepping-stones to teach about issues such as suffering, humility and grace. The wells of wisdom come through as a breeze, refreshing, not as a jarring assault to an already-wounded soul. Edwards uses the Master to teach and show the higher way, the better way.

If you've ever been tormented at the hands of fellow believers then this book is for you. There's a healing balm in its words. It won't magically remove the pain inflicted upon you, nor give you rose-coloured perceptions regarding faith and fellowship, but it will help you understand that all things can be turned to good (hard as that is to believe)... and that the hardest things bring the biggest benefit to the maturing and deepening of one's faith. It will set you on the healing path and encourage you to take the higher, better road in life.

Edwards is a shepherd/prophet speaking to the church at large - admonition and exhortation for one and all is seen in his writings. Believers would do well to pay heed to his words. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who've gone through painful things in life, have been wounded deeply by fellow believers, or who just simply find life hard to live. I'm sure you'll treasure this title as much as I do.

Gene Edwards knows firsthand what it's like to try to cope with being in an authoritarian/abusive church and he uses the story of Saul and David most effectively to demonstrate his points. Overall, this book can offer comfort and understanding to those who have experienced being in such a group. However, I do disagree with Mr. Edwards' ultimate advice to deal with abusive/authoritarian ministries in a "hands-off" manner, as this approach provides no reality check (i.e., "accountability") and only serves to enable those who are abusing positions of authority to continue to do so. Who's to say who God might use to deal with an abusive person or situation. My own experience has been that speaking out against the abusive practices of the allegedly authoritarian/abusive "Christian" group I was involved with has helped so many others to feel understood, to feel they are not alone, and has also helped current members of that group to see another side of the story.

Gene Edwards is a wonderful author. He is a student of the Word of God,loves God and His people enough to share what God has put on his heart. I have read the Tale of Three Kings, Letters to a Devastated Christian and am currently reading The Prisoner in the Third Cell. If you have any questions at all of what kind of authority you are under, whether it be a man in submission to God's authority or under his own this book will open your eyes of understanding. It is small and once you pick it up, if you are caught in an authoritarian movement, you will not put it down until you have read the whole book. It has been another confirmation and help to my family and many close to us who were under a great deal of bondage. Everything shared in his writings is scripturally accurate and I encourage you to search the scriptures to line it up with the Holy Word of God. As I shared it was ANOTHER confirmation, meaning that we had 2 or 3, possibly more. I encourage you in whatever decision you make after reading the book, you take everything to prayer.

Having been involved in several controlling ministries over a period of twenty years,I try to read every book I can get my hands on with regard to "spiritual abuse". Gene Edwards book brings some new, insightful and sometimes hard hitting ideas I have not come across before. I am still processing these and will for a long time to come. His book continues to confirm in my mind that God DOES speak to me personally, I CAN hear His voice for myself and I CAN (and AM) in His will today! God Bless Gene Edwards for writing this timely book.

I was in a fundamentalist "heavy shepherding" movement on and off for twenty years. I was first offered "A Tale of Three Kings" also by Gene Edwards. Then I read "Letters" and was "hitting out" against the advice. But I read it over a few times, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night to recheck passages. He knows what he's talking about. It helped me a great deal through a tough time. There are no easy answers and it's hard to think for yourself after being under a form of mind control. This book helped me to straighten some thoughts out. I recommend this for anyone wondering what happened to them.

I wrote that this book was not available due to an email received by amazon. We were upset as this letter came AFTER we ordered it! But, we were reassured by customer service over the phone the book is in stock. Well, we recieved our order, thank you Amazon for coming through!! The Book is a wonderful read for anyone who has been hurt by the church or the people attending them........and who hasn't at one time or another? The damage that can be left behind from these authority figures can last a lifetime and ruin what could be a wonderful, close, personal relationship with Christ. If you are in this place and want something that speaks to the common man or woman in pain from these situations, Gene Edwards has many good books. Letters to a Devastated Christian being one of them. They are a fast read and touch the heart.

This is the most healing book I have ever read for anyone hurt by churches, especially controling authoritarian churches. If you have been hurt by "well meaning churches" or leadership that has overstepped their authority in Christ this is the book for you.

I read this right after "Tale of 3 Kings" during a time of trouble in our fellowship hoping to be "consoled" and justified in not submitting to the authority in my fellowship. Wrong! The Lord used this book to open my eyes to His purpose in my life and in my church. Thank you, Mr. Edwards in being obedient to write this and thus preventing me from "devastating" others.

Having survived the devastation that can come during the decision making process surrounding leaving a church, I can whole-heartedly recommend this little book to soothe, clarify, and aid in the healing that must come after such a soul-wrenching experience.
Before reading, set yourself to understand that when Edwards writes of "movement", he is also referring to "church". You don't have to belong to a movement for this piece of writing to apply. It can address any size setting where there is devastation from "top-heavy" spiritual leadership.

Edwards offers many eye-opening, key descriptions of what a hyper-authoritative leader looks like, operates like and what his character and habits reveal. This was very helpful to me and eased the guilt I had when I came to see this in my own situation. It gave words to what I had experienced but denied could be happening.
Edward's writing is crafted to be effectual in addressing the depths of soul darkness that can occur when one leaves a church due to authoritative(controlling)leadership. He is equally effectual in leaving you with tangible considerations to make and actions to take in effort to preserve your threadbare, if not abandoned, faith. This book gets right down to the heart of the matter and swiftly leads you to a lighted path.

I didn't find this book comforting at all. It started out to be and then continued in "what's wrong with me" "what did I do wrong that I feel devastated." It seemed to spin around the fact that a devastated person should just blame themselves for whatever happened!! I know, and of course DO, look at myself in situations but I found very little of the love and comfort of Jesus Christ in this book.
I say DON'T READ IT if you're really hurting!! Read God's Word, Pslams or find another book of "comfort" because this certainly wasn't it, in my opinion.