"God hates divorce!" Christian wives frequently hear this first part of Malachi 2:16 as though the institution of marriage trumps the lives wrapped up in it. Rarely quoted is the second part of the verse, which says, "along with the one who conceals his violence by outward appearances." Christian wives often think they must choose between two grim options: endure abuse or face condemnation by God for not obeying the Bible. As a result, guilt, despair, internal conflict and heartache cloak every moment as they cling to survival, trying to please both God and their husband. The future looks hopeless, and their identity and value obscured. Children grow up as secondary victims of domestic abuse, desensitized to God's ways and primed to continue the cycle of abuse as adults. Drawing from her own experience married to a dangerously abusive "Christian" man, Robin explores the common reluctance of Christian wives to leave their marriage. After fleeing her own marriage, Robin suffered from guilt and confusion as to whether God approved of her actions or not, and if she could divorce. After months of Bible study and reading the works of respected theologians and Christian leaders on the topic, she realized that in leaving her abusive marriage she had actually come into alignment with God's will. Robin understands the mentality and nature of abuse that drives these spiritually destructive marriages. She draws from a deep well of biblical insight and practical experience to give wives the tools necessary to be set free and live a life of hope, clarity and faith. God Hates Abuse is a biblically liberating and refreshing resource for Christian wives. It offers a lifeline out of the darkness of abuse and spiritual condemnation. Victims of spousal abuse will find this book validating, encouraging and healing, regardless if they are bound by their abuser or by errant teaching from the church.

Looking at the experience of Holocaust survivors and of survivors of child abuse, this work asks disturbing questions why God permits victimization of the innocent.

This is an incredible book! The reader will understand the subject of spiritual abuse among Brazilian religious leaders, around the greater Boston area and how to respond to it in appropriate ways. There are powerful facts behind this book. It projects a powerful voice of passion and conviction. This book offers critical evidence that a significant number of Brazilian leaders have become dysfunctional and abusive. In this context, Rev. Dr. Pinto-Moura reports that the World Revival Church (hereafter WRC) is an example of a dysfunctional culture producing codependence. They seem to continually strive with combined elements of unbalanced and unorthodox doctrines, controversial government, disciplinary problems, irresponsible leadership - which result in explosive turmoil, division, wounded and confused sheep, and a derogatory reputation in their community. There are scores of people who have been deeply wounded by their experience with WRC. Religious addiction is identified and attacked as a part of this problem. It has been enormously traumatic. This book exposes this complex issue balancing facts with compassion. Developing a healing approach is needed. This supportive data is the result of scholarly studies and truths from the Bible. It substantiates a biblical response to the challenge to bring spiritual health to the Brazilian churches in the U.S. This book addresses healing strategies and explores possible solutions to the demoralizing problem of spiritual abuse. This book is revolutionary, prophetic and apostolic! The healing guidelines can be applied to any ministry and person experiencing the pain of leadership abuse. Rev. Dr. Regina Pinto-Moura is married with Apostle Jota Moura. They lead the Shalom International Baptist Community. She is ordained by The American Baptist Churches in Massachusetts. She has her Masters in Counseling Psychology and Addiction from Cambridge College. Her Doctorate is from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for her studies in Ministry in Complex Urban Settings.

Cienna is a strong-willed gal with an independent and assertive attitude. If anyone could have fought off an abduction, it should have been her. However, even she is unable to fight two able-bodied men and the drugs that they use to get her in the back of the van. Her journey begins as she awakes, and then is sold to a friendly man in a baseball hat named Mike, who promises to take her back to her family but instead ties her to a pole in his barn. Mike becomes her friend, saving her from the man who abducted her and violently took her innocence. But eventually she discovers Mike's secrets and realizes that he too is a monster. When she is finally rescued, she is left with a consequence of the men's sin and must decide along with her family what to do. Jasmine is sweet and kind and always berating herself for not being assertive like her friend Cienna. When Jasmine awakes, she is in a brothel, locked up in the "Trouble Room." Jasmine remains convinced for the rest of her journey that she has been very bad and sentenced to this place of horror. She deals with her plight by enjoying the drugs that her owners provide and developing a second personality. Her new friend dies at the brothel, but not before requesting a favor of Jasmine. When Jasmine is found, not only is she addicted to the narcotics she was given while in captivity, but she also must deal with trying to rid herself of her second personality, "Bay".

She's seen slave dungeons in Ghana. Genocide in Rwanda. Systemic sexual abuse in Brazil. Child abuse and domestic violence in the US. After forty years of counseling abuse survivors around the world, Dr. Diane Langberg, a world renowned trauma expert, remains certain that what trauma destroys, Christ can and does restore. This book will convince you, too, of the healing heart of God. But it's not a fast process, instead much patience is required from family, friends, and counselors as they wisely and respectfully help victims unpack their traumatic suffering through talking, tears, and time. And it's not a process that can be separated from the work of God in both a counselor and counselee. Dr. Langberg calls all of those who wish to help sufferers to model Jesus's sacrificial love and care in how they listen, love, and guide. The heart of God is revealed to sufferers as they grow to understand the cross of Christ and how their God came to this earth and experienced such severe suffering that he too is "well-acquainted with grief." The cross of Christ is the lens that transforms and redeems traumatic suffering and its aftermath, not only for the sufferer, but it also transforms those who walk with the suffering. This book will be a great help to anyone who loves, listens to, and seeks to help someone impacted by trauma and abuse. There is no quick fix, but there is the hope for healing through the love of God in Christ.

In a breakthrough book first published in 1991, the authors address the dynamics in churches that can ensnare people in legalism, guilt, and begrudging service, keeping them from the grace and joy of God's kingdom.Written for both those who feel abused and those who may be causing it, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse shows how people get hooked into abusive systems, the impact of controlling leadership on a congregation, and how the abused believer can find rest and recovery.

Take comfort in knowing that God hears you. The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel tells of one woman’s personal heartache and trust in the One who could fulfill her desires. She poured her heart out to God, and He heard her. The Our Daily Bread devotions selected for this collection reassure you that God is with you, God is for you, and God hears you. The personal stories and Scripture passages lift you up and remind you that God is bigger than the trials you face.

Gathers prayers and meditations designed to help survivors of child sexual abuse come to terms with their feelings and understand their relationship with God

While atheists such as Richard Dawkins have now become public figures, there is another and perhaps darker strain of religious rebellion that has remained out of sight--people who hate God. In this revealing book, Bernard Schweizer looks at men and women who do not question God's existence, but deny that He is merciful, competent, or good. Sifting through a wide range of literary and historical works, Schweizer finds that people hate God for a variety of reasons. Some are motivated by social injustice, human suffering, or natural catastrophes that God does not prevent. Some blame God for their personal tragedies. Schweizer concludes that, despite their blasphemous thoughts, these people tend to be creative and moral individuals, and include such literary lights as Friedrich Nietzsche, Mark Twain, Zora Neale Hurston, Rebecca West, Elie Wiesel, and Philip Pullman. Schweizer shows that literature is a fertile ground for God haters. Many authors, who dare not voice their negative attitude to God openly, turn to fiction to give vent to it. Indeed, Schweizer provides many new and startling readings of literary masterpieces, highlighting the undercurrent of hatred for God. Moreover, by probing the deeper mainsprings that cause sensible, rational, and moral beings to turn against God, Schweizer offers answers to some of the most vexing questions that beset human relationships with the divine.

Grappling with theological issues raised by abuse, this book argues that the Church should be challenged, and ministered to, by survivors. Paying careful attention to her interviews with Christian women survivors, Shooter finds that through painful experiences of transformation they have surprisingly become potential agents of transformation for others. Shooter brings the survivors' narratives into dialogue with the story of Job and with medieval mystic Marguerite Porete's spirituality of 'annihilation'. Culminating in an engagement with contemporary feminist theology concerning power and powerlessness, there emerges a set of principles for authentic community spirituality which crosses boundaries with God, supports appropriate human boundaries and, crucially, listens attentively. Appealing to Church leaders, students, practitioners and practical theologians, this book offers a creative and ethical theological enquiry as well as some spiritual anchor points for survivors.