Overview

There is a place that promises acceptance, spiritual growth, and friendship, but instead delivers criticism, abuse, and exploitation. A place that declares marriages will be strengthened, treasured, and protected, but instead weakens, diminishes, and marginalizes them. A place that claims to obey the word of God, but in practice weaponizes the word against those who disagree or doubt. A place where the good news of a tenderhearted, loving Savior is blurred by leaders who are controlling, traumatizing, and self-serving. A place that calls loudly to the storm-tossed at sea, only to lure them to the rocks where they flounder and fall apart. A place that appeared to be a house of friendship but was a place of betrayal. That place might be a Christian church. It might be a cult. It is probably both. In the House of Friends: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in the Christian Church is written for survivors of abusive churches, their families and friends, and all who want to understand spiritual abuse and help the abused. Dr. Garrett is a long-term pastor of a diverse, urban congregation and combines personal experience, sound academic research, and pastoral theology to address a poorly understood, rarely admitted problem today--spiritual abuse in Christian churches.

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9781725266032

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Reviews

How sad that in coming forward to follow Jesus, some vulnerable Christians are damaged by overbearing, unaccountable, demagogic church leaders. Sad but true. Ken Garrett tells the truth about abuse of power even in the church. He shows how Scripture depicts spiritual abuse, how to spot a potentially abusive pastor, and gives practical resources for responding to the sin of spiritual abuse. Ken's book is a godsend for all Christians who want the church and its leaders faithfully to represent Christ's love for his people. --Will Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School, United Methodist Bishop, retired, author of Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry One of the things that Christians don't like to discuss is the existence of cults inside the church; not theological cults, but emotional cults. Some churches teach the basic truths of Christianity yet enslave their members through the use of cultic practices, such as peer pressure, threats, and mind controls. . . . If you work with hurting people who escaped with emotional scars, or escaped yourself, or perhaps are still in an emotionally unhealthy church, this is the book for you. Garret provides a full review of how cultic churches work, as well as how you can escape, and how to minister to those damaged by them. --Gary L. McIntosh, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University This book is a valuable resource for victims and for pastors, seminarians, youth ministers, church members, and families or friends concerned about a loved one caught up in an abusive situation. Garrett effectively weaves together a compelling personal story, testimonies of other spiritual abuse victims, and clear explanations of what spiritual abuse is, how people get sucked into abusive churches, why they stay in abusive relationships, what kind of help they need when they leave, and how churches can become safe havens for the spiritually abused. --Michael D. Langone, from the foreword

Author Information

Kenneth J. Garrett is senior pastor of Grace Church, Portland, founder of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education, and is a member of the advisory board of the International Cultic Studies Association. Ken and Sharon have three daughters and three grandchildren and live in Portland, OR.

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