Breaking the Chains: Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel

by Shari Howerton

Shari Howerton was born and raised in Southern California. Her worldview was formed inside a tightly knit religious community, by the one pastor she had known from birth. In 1993, she and hundreds of others sold their homes in California and followed their pastor to Tennessee. In 2003, Shari left the church and soon thereafter found hope in a new life with her husband, John, and church family at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In Breaking the Chains, Shari chronicles her life and the lives of others who were subject to control and abuse. She illustrates the profound challenges of leaving close friends and breaking free from a lifetime of harmful conditioning to find joy, hope and freedom in the cross of Jesus Christ.

Genres: Amazon

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2013

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this after a patient mentioned it to me, because she had also broken free of the same cultish denomination. Two stars for the author having the courage to confront a pretty screwed up system. But I I was really only interested in the story of her leaving the cult and found her endless talk of her current religious beliefs pretty boring.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much in this book that I thought could have been left out - I certainly did not have an interest in all that was going on in the author's personal life. In one sense, I see this book as therapy for the author.
Having said that, I did appreciate reading about the doctrine and views of the Gospel Assembly founded by William Sowder. It truly is a cult and this book is a good reference book in witnessing to them. This is a read about the journey of the author being raised in this "fellowship" and her journey out, and this part of the story I appreciated. I cannot agree with all her new doctrine. I am thus reminded of 1 Cor 13: 11-12 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. We will one day be perfected- though not here on this earth. We will all see the whole, not the part we now see.

[Luv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I firmly believe that one should bring their brain to church. Listen to the preaching and go back to the Bible to verify for yourself if what is said is consistent with the Gospel. Even the best preacher have "self" involved in some of their preaching. Be discerning.

Quite a few of the practices/lifestyle would have alarm bells ringing for me. But of course, it's easy for me to say, cos I was not brought up in a cult. There is no indoctrination.

I stopped reading the book as I got distracted.