Customer Reviews

Twisted Scriptures

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I wish I could have read this book about 30 years ago.

For my own part, I was raised in a loving Christian home, but I had to put up with a lot of "do's" and "don'ts" in my church, most of which were not anywhere to be found in the Bible (including the statement that a praying knee and a dancing foot never grow on the same leg). My parents, however, were not controlling and we were a fairly happy family. Our comittment to Jesus Christ bound us even closer together.

I went to Bible school and one of the courses I studied was enitled Biblical Interpretation. It was an excellent course and well taught, and we learned the logical, common sense way to interpret the Bible.

However, I still managed to get involved in what I thought was a loving prayer group who later got caught up in the "Discipleship" controversey. I later was given the "left foot of fellowship" from the group when I made a remark that they interpreted as questioning their teachings. (By the way, the "left foot of fellowship" means that I was unceremoniously booted out!)

If I had been able to have this book back then, I would have recovered from that bad experience much more quickly. But I am glad that others are able to read it and recover from their traumatic experiences.

I am still 100% sold on the Christian faith, even though I'm not sold on some of the garbage that goes on in the name of Christianity.

I have read this book, and I would say (not being too familiar with the field of "exit counseling/abusive church counseling" literature, though I read Steve Hassan's book (Jew former-Moonie) - COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL - years ago) that it's a pretty good book. If you deal with people who are or were in controlling churches (a lot of the book focuses on the Shepherding/Discipleship movement), or if you yourself were a victim or member of such a group, or even any abusive church, then you should buy this book.

In fact, this book is good to read if you're involved in most conservative Christian denominations/churches/movements, even "good" ones, as it will prompt you to continue to "prove all things [and] hold fast that which is good" as the Scriptures teach us to do, and not just accept leaders' statements or teachings. If you are discipling someone, or if you yourself are being discipled, this book has many good checks and balances and insights that should help you discern between good discipling and abusive or poor discipling. If you are in a small group that is designed to help you and others grow spiritually, this book will also be of value.

We were in a church that had some serious problems, and we finally left it. Skimming through her 6-page checklist at the back of the book of abusive characteristics, I would say that for us at least (I can't speak for the persons in our church who lived together at the "Bible School") we experienced few of these things, at least not in as overt a way as many controlling groups, but I would bet that if I sent Ms. Chrnalogar all my documentation of the things that happened that led to our decision to leave, she would agree that we were in an abusive church situation. She used to be a member of an abusive church or sect or cult (she never names the group) and was rescued by family intervention. She has helped rescue people for 17 years (as of 1997 when the book was written).

She only mentions a few names. She explicitly criticizes several items from the book/workbook EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry Blackaby, a very popular book that my wife and I studied from for a time. She seems to criticize Campus Crusade for Christ, as some of the items she comments on are from their literature (based on the footnotes). One comment, I think, criticizes Navigators literature. She criticizes YWAM at several points. She is apparently now a Catholic, which may explain these criticisms of Evangelical Protestantism. I couldn't tell if she is Charismatic.

The Appendix on the history of the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement is fascinating. A particularly relevant item for us these days, as the "Five-Fold Ministries" and "New Apostolic Reformation" movements are continuing to gain adherents, is this one:

"During this same time [i.e., late 1960's and early 10970's], former leaders of the aberrant 1950s Pentecostal 'Latter Rain Movement' taught that the proper church governmental model was the 'Five-Fold Ministries.' The phrase refers to the presumed hierarchical ordering of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers found in Ephesians 4:11-13. This group taught that the ultimate purpose of these ministries was to unite all believers, and to acquire a divine nature. The Five-Fold Ministries doctrine also held that there are living apostles who are to rule the church and eventually the world."

Chrnalogar's book is such that you could give it to a person in a controlling group and, if they read it, they would be challenged, but not harshly or forcefully or stridently, to examine what their church does and why, and they would be led, if they allow themselves, to do an objective (if that's possible) evaluation of what their group does and teaches - which could result in loosening the hold their group has on them. This book is said to be the foundation of her exit counseling program.

An informative, highly original book, Twisted Scriptures gives information to help people evaluate what the Bible actually teaches, as opposed to what controlling religious leaders teach. This book exposes shepherding, a practice that has crept into many churches. Ideas which are widely taught and accepted as being from the Bible, but which are not Biblical, are refuted. The author shows that submission is to be made to God alone and to His Word, not to leaders who attempt to control people with guilt and manipulation. The author raises a clarion call for the freedom of the individual and his or her freedom of choice. A groundbreaking book. This book will protect you from religous abuse, and give you firm Biblical ground for your boundaries. If you have been manipulated by controlling religious leaders, this book will set you free.

Before this book came out, Mary Alice posted on the internet a few summary chapters of her upcoming book!

Three month later I was desperate to find out more about what she had written because it seemed that she was following me around the last 7 years. She basically had a part of my lifes story!

She had completed the manuscript, but had no time to complete the website summaries because this book was going to the press.

I managed to get the manuscript because of the dire pain my family was going through by the abuse from a Word of Faith church that we attended. The church wanted to control our family. They did not respect a personal decision that my family had made and wanted to control us. The pastor finally gave us an ultimatum - "change your personal decision or get out of this church! I'm tired of people not listening to what I tell them to do!"

Wow! I was shocked, but why should I have been? After getting the book, I read it 4 times more! This was my story and other peoples stories as well!

As I looked back, I started to look back of 7 years of false doctrine presented by twisting scriptures in order to extract money from the people and slowly you started to notice that the pastor had the best car, the best suits, the biggest house and worst of all was the flaunting arrogance as he stood at the pulpit holding his lapel and stating - "one day God will supply you with a suit like mine!"

It was unbelievable! God never provided him with that suit!

When exerts of the book was presented to a deacon at that church, the comment was, "80% of the material in this book represents our church"!

Great news! I was not dreaming, but that was not all! We somehow became a threat to the church and there were some who dared to report to us that for 6 months the pastor subtly continued to twist scriptures in order to isolate the church friends from us.

The deception or fear instilled in the flock was unbelievable. Mary Alice touches the essence of this fear in h! er book.

Once you go through the checklists and you realize that this book is about you and you step out and take a serious look at the control that occurred, then it is guaranteed that you won't look at that church again in the same light and a great weight will be lifted off of your shoulder.

Mike

Chrnalogar's volume is addressed to those who might be in an abusive pastoral or ecclesial relationship. Her tone is direct but polite. The references are clear and well annotated. The research is very well documented. For a volume designed to assist people in a troubled relationship, this work also meets high academic standards. A great addition to any pastor's shelf regardless of denomination.

Other reviews note that Chrnalogar is a Roman Catholic. It was clear to me that she was from the way she presented some of her thoughts and ideas. Don't let her denominational affiliation stop you from reading her work. This is first-class scholarship.

I left a cult earlier this year. At the time when I made the decision to leave, I was very confused and was having a difficult time understanding everything that was wrong, but I knew without doubt that things were not right. A friend of mine recommended this book to me. I bought it, read it and was absolutely stunned by everything I read. The contents of this book solidified my resolve to leave. Several friends later left this same spiritually abusive church after reading the same book.

I especially liked the checklists at the end of each chapter. It helped to have a visual list of how I had been deceived. When you are in a cult, the leaders are very convincing and often you find yourself thinking the way they talked. The lists were a great way to remind me that I wasn't insane. The appendices at the end of the book are also a great tool. It helps to know that others have experienced the same thing.

Wow! This is just the book we needed after discovering that our adult children are infact, in a religious cult. We had our suspicions, but thanks to Mary Alice Chrnalogar and the information leading us to this point, we now know with certainty.
This book is a must for active members, former members, relatives and loved ones who have any connection to an abusive church, "the decipleship, shepherding" type of movements.
They have successfully snared so many to a life of bondage and to a never-ending state of works and guilt mentality.
Our heart breaks for our children, as we watch them sacrafice their own personal choices to the whims of a "discipler".
I can not recommend this book highly enough. It is a must read. And I pray that when one who has found themselves deceived and need answers, "Twisted Scriptures" will find it's way into their hands. They will know that they are not crazy or beyond God's grace, but rather find unconditional acceptance and love from a loving and personal God. With correct understanding of the Scriptures, God's word will present freedom and life and the truth will indeed set them free.
Sincerely,
Parents who are praying for their children's deliverance.

>>... I have read about half-way through the book "Twisted Scriptures" and have recommended the book to no less than a half-a-dozen people. It has been a God-send to me. Ø >>I read "Toxic Faith" about 5 years ago and it helped me to realize that my family and I were in an abusive system. Although the book touched on manipulation of scripture, Mary Alice Chrnalogar's book, "Twisted Scriptures" has really given me new life. The scriptures that used to haunt me no longer do because they are no longer twisted. So much made sense to me. Obeying, sacrificing, not touching God's anointed all now have new meaning because Mary places them in correct context. I pray that someday I will be given the opportunity to teach from this book. .....read the book... you will never, never be the same.

Many churches are trying "discipleship" programs which can be a mere cover-up of the true intentions of those in the high leadership roles in the church. This book explores some of the many methods and the psychology behind religious mind-control and offers help, recovery and finding true happiness and freedom in one's religious beliefs. No Christian library is complete without this book.

When I got my hands on this book I couldnt put it down or stop to sleep, devouring it in one night. It changed my life, and can change any believer's because it clarifies the subtle ways that many churches and parachurches mistake their own reasonings for God's, especially in ways that diminish the individual personality. I had been in an aberrant parachurch group for 23 years and didn't realize it, and had even tried to leave but couldn't. Only after reading this book did I find the clarity and courage to begin to take back responsibility for my life and my faith instead of giving it up to the leaders who had dictated it to me under the guise of "discerning God's will."