Churches That Abuse (Paperback)

by Ronald M. Enroth (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book warns and informs readers about the fringe churches and groups that operate with abusive styles, creating emotional and spiritual perils for their adherents.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Zondervan (July 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310532922
• ISBN-13: 978-0310532927
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #814,835 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the first books to talk about religious abus, May 23, 1999

By A Customer

There is a myth out there that unless the church is part of some far-out cult it is 100% safe.

The truth is there are churches that abuse, even in mainline and evangelical protestant denominations.

The book perpetuates the myth some as the examples are given from more cult-ish groups.

No, not every church abuses. Sometimes otherwise healthy, vibrant churches can have unhealth, abusive pockets or sub-groups in them due to the negative influence of one or two leaders. And emotionally abusive parents can visit spiritual abuse on their children even in an overall healthy church.

The outline of the chapters in the book gives an excellent guide for evaluating one's church experience and if it is abusive:

Ten characteristics of churches that abuse:

* Abusive churches use fear, guilt and threats:

1. Control-oriented leadership

2. Manipulation of members

* Abusive churches see themselves as special:

3. Spiritual elitism (e.g., dogmatism)

4. Perceived persecution

* Abusive churches foster rigidity:

5. Lifestyle rigidity (e.g., legalism, performance oriented)

6. Emphasis on experience (e.g., experience of leaders is key source of truth)

* Abusive churches discourage questions:

7. Suppression of dissent (e.g., dogmatism--only our view is right; "trust and obey")

8. Harsh discipline (e.g., legalism, shunning, control of dating & family relationships, etc.)

* Abusive churches make leaving painful:

9. Denunciation of other churches (e.g. salvation is only through us, our brand of faith)

10. A painful exit process (shunning, humiliation, starting over in relationships and/or financially)

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book to own and to regularly review, September 10, 2004

By	L. L Teuling "meloroze" (McAllen, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Churches That Abuse (Hardcover)

This book was published in 1991. But the central message is as true now as it was then. The church can be a wonderful source of comfort, spiritual guidance and fellowship to Christians. But unfortunately, there are churches -- some of them seemly "mainstream" -- that exercise too much authority in the lives of the people who attend them.

Ronald Enroth gives a list of red flags to look out for to indicate an abusive church. For me, one of them stands out strongly: when a particular person in the church (often, but not always, the pastor) announces him/herself as the channel through which God is working and that obedience to that person is a sign of being truly submitted to God. Some of them will even go as far as to say that if they are wrong, God can still use that for the ultimate good.

Well -- technically, that could be right. If you'll pardon a cliche, God can and does make lemonade out of lemons all the time. But nowhere does the Bible teach that we are to deliberately subject our judment, spiritual discernment and independent thinking to another person.

Since the book was written over 13 years ago, some of the groups Enroth describes may have changed -- but the warning is still there, and it is good for Christians to be aware that there are people who want to steal away the freedom that Jesus Christ can give. He explains why this can happen and gives suggestions on how to either avoid it or get out of the abusive situation.

This book is at its best when reviewed a lot.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could It Happen Here? Spiritual Abuse Around Us, December 17, 1999

By	Laurie Hobey (New England, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a must-read for those who have suffered spiritual abuse, and for those who work with them. Mr. Enroth gives many real life stories of persons who became involved in harmful churches and groups. He shares what happened to these individuals, and then describes the patterns of abuse so that the reader can recognize signs of abuse or potential abuse. The reader will be able to see the similarities among various groups. The psychological and sociological ramifications are described. An extremely important contribution; this book will enlighten, warn, instruct, and maybe even shock you.