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Live the Life: A Soul Survivor Guide to Doing It
Live the Life provides an anchor for young people and teenagers trying to live a Christian life away from churches, staged events, and normal fellowship. The authors deal with issues ranging from drugs and depression to family life and work.
164 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 16, 2023
The re-read is blemished with the stain of manipulation. 10 years after my placement within this very church “cult” (as described in 2023 news articles), this revisit was more than a little sinister – not least - after the damning news concerning the Mike Pilavachi investigations.
Shaming, humiliating, and embarrassing to correct unwanted behaviour, whilst telling people it’s the epitome of divine love is a great way to normalise the relationship between love and abuse.
Pilavachi’s rhetoric is used strategically to mobilise the masses into spiritual Christian warfare. There is startling similarity here to radical extremism manifestos, utilising orders: (“get ready” “go” “integrate into every aspect of our lives” “worship and obedience” “in obedience we will deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him, obeying Him with all our lives.”)
How convenient, that it is Pilavachi - who is undergoing a serious safeguarding investigation - is the one anointed to direct us here.
I have first-hand experience of the damage that can be done by militant religion, and its framing as “it’s not a religion - it’s a relationship” only furthers the coercive undercurrent. It took me years to recover in my 20s.
This is a belief into something bigger than oneself.
After all, necessary revolutions all happen because of belief in something better, correct?
What is the evil alternative Pilavachi is warning against here, though? When I first read this at 15, I thought it might be against satan-fuelled unfulfillment. But now in hindsight, I think it’s against freedom of nuanced thought, and perpetuating control. An encouragement of passivity and a that we are so “broken” that we require a saviour (read: abuser) to redeem us, as described, “there are plenty of examples of how God loves, cares, and years for His people. But look inside us and there’s little more than a bad smell and a load of broken promises.”
The first chapter he describes an abusive relationship. If we agree to “love and obey” and be “100 per cent dependant” on God, Pilavachi promises he will love protect and care, “but it broke God’s heart because [humans] constantly fell short, turning away from the friendship offered with Almighty”. Which is a little grandiose and entitled, is it not? I digress. He goes on to describe, “The nation was little more than a whore, because they were unfaithful” and “abandoned” God. This rhetoric makes me sick. How many times do we hear of an incel who coercively attempts to pull an unsuspecting woman, only to call them a ‘whore’ when they do not consent? Pilavachi’s urges of “turning Him down is not an option” and “When we get to the stage when giving is painful, we know we’re headed in the right direction” do not give me a warm, fuzzy, safe feeling.
In the spirit of turning things progressive, if this is the prophet Pilavachi’s correct depiction of god, I think they should both go to therapy (a secular one, please).
Pilavachi continues to perpetuate through the read how broken we all are, and how God will heal this through Mike’s word. It does a good job of mobilising, weaponising the ‘in group’ and ‘out group’ with a warning against “rubbish excuses”, “false propaganda” and “enemies”, whilst simultaneously bolstering up Christians in a patronising way, declaring “the salvation of our nation lies, not surprisingly, in our own hands”; the implication here, of course, being that non-Christians are helpless, clueless, broken, and in need of saving.
This read perpetuates abusive sentiment (with Pilavachi's idea of self-deprecating comedy inserted now and again for palatability), and its rhetoric makes me sick. I had to pause reading this several times due to the abhorrent and sinister spiritual manipulation.
This indeed is a rhetoric of a different kind. Sowing seeds. Of which the crop reaped, has now led to Pilavachi’s serious safeguarding investigations, and suspension from the church.
If it looks like a cult, smells like a cult, and operates like a cult… it’s probably a cult.
Is anyone surprised?
The sentence “[…] waiting for the indigestion to fade, I was playing with Ben [the 6 month old baby]. Being a cuddly kind of guy, I know all the moves, and I showed him my full repertoire” becomes more sinister when we consider Pilavachi invited 'broken' male teens into his room for massages and wrestling, promising them the world before ghosting them.
If I was still a Christian under the spell of its coercion, I’m sure I’d give this book rave reviews.
Shaming, humiliating, and embarrassing to correct unwanted behaviour, whilst telling people it’s the epitome of divine love is a great way to normalise the relationship between love and abuse.
Pilavachi’s rhetoric is used strategically to mobilise the masses into spiritual Christian warfare. There is startling similarity here to radical extremism manifestos, utilising orders: (“get ready” “go” “integrate into every aspect of our lives” “worship and obedience” “in obedience we will deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him, obeying Him with all our lives.”)
How convenient, that it is Pilavachi - who is undergoing a serious safeguarding investigation - is the one anointed to direct us here.
I have first-hand experience of the damage that can be done by militant religion, and its framing as “it’s not a religion - it’s a relationship” only furthers the coercive undercurrent. It took me years to recover in my 20s.
This is a belief into something bigger than oneself.
After all, necessary revolutions all happen because of belief in something better, correct?
What is the evil alternative Pilavachi is warning against here, though? When I first read this at 15, I thought it might be against satan-fuelled unfulfillment. But now in hindsight, I think it’s against freedom of nuanced thought, and perpetuating control. An encouragement of passivity and a that we are so “broken” that we require a saviour (read: abuser) to redeem us, as described, “there are plenty of examples of how God loves, cares, and years for His people. But look inside us and there’s little more than a bad smell and a load of broken promises.”
The first chapter he describes an abusive relationship. If we agree to “love and obey” and be “100 per cent dependant” on God, Pilavachi promises he will love protect and care, “but it broke God’s heart because [humans] constantly fell short, turning away from the friendship offered with Almighty”. Which is a little grandiose and entitled, is it not? I digress. He goes on to describe, “The nation was little more than a whore, because they were unfaithful” and “abandoned” God. This rhetoric makes me sick. How many times do we hear of an incel who coercively attempts to pull an unsuspecting woman, only to call them a ‘whore’ when they do not consent? Pilavachi’s urges of “turning Him down is not an option” and “When we get to the stage when giving is painful, we know we’re headed in the right direction” do not give me a warm, fuzzy, safe feeling.
In the spirit of turning things progressive, if this is the prophet Pilavachi’s correct depiction of god, I think they should both go to therapy (a secular one, please).
Pilavachi continues to perpetuate through the read how broken we all are, and how God will heal this through Mike’s word. It does a good job of mobilising, weaponising the ‘in group’ and ‘out group’ with a warning against “rubbish excuses”, “false propaganda” and “enemies”, whilst simultaneously bolstering up Christians in a patronising way, declaring “the salvation of our nation lies, not surprisingly, in our own hands”; the implication here, of course, being that non-Christians are helpless, clueless, broken, and in need of saving.
This read perpetuates abusive sentiment (with Pilavachi's idea of self-deprecating comedy inserted now and again for palatability), and its rhetoric makes me sick. I had to pause reading this several times due to the abhorrent and sinister spiritual manipulation.
This indeed is a rhetoric of a different kind. Sowing seeds. Of which the crop reaped, has now led to Pilavachi’s serious safeguarding investigations, and suspension from the church.
If it looks like a cult, smells like a cult, and operates like a cult… it’s probably a cult.
Is anyone surprised?
The sentence “[…] waiting for the indigestion to fade, I was playing with Ben [the 6 month old baby]. Being a cuddly kind of guy, I know all the moves, and I showed him my full repertoire” becomes more sinister when we consider Pilavachi invited 'broken' male teens into his room for massages and wrestling, promising them the world before ghosting them.
If I was still a Christian under the spell of its coercion, I’m sure I’d give this book rave reviews.
September 16, 2023
I found this book as moving home and added to the read list as I’ve been going back over time and adding books read. At the time thought it was a made sense book then a friend pointed out safeguarding concerns with the author. Did a little looking into and didn’t have to see much to see inappropriate behaviour and misuse of role.
After the behaviour of pastors from a well known global mega church with Aussie beginnings turning out to have safeguarding concerns about the original pastor then his successor and son’s behaviours. The planetshakers scandal as well. These “famous” churches have become out of touch and cult like. With individuals below of n they’re untouchable.
After the behaviour of pastors from a well known global mega church with Aussie beginnings turning out to have safeguarding concerns about the original pastor then his successor and son’s behaviours. The planetshakers scandal as well. These “famous” churches have become out of touch and cult like. With individuals below of n they’re untouchable.
August 12, 2011
A must for any young christian - funny with great truths about life - read it NOW
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews