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Wounded in the Church: Hope Beyond the Pain
Church should be a safe place, right? Then why do so many get hurt there?
Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward combine their years of ministry experience to address head-on the elephant in the church members and church leaders hurt Christians. All the time. And the long-lasting effects—rejection, shame, despair, loneliness, fear—can be devastating. The authors have witnessed the rise of the “dones,” those who are just done with God thanks to scars from church. With first-person stories of hurt and loss, Wounded in the Church is a wake-up call for any who deny woundedness in the church but is also a redemptive message for any who hurt from church wounds.
In this companion DVD to the Participant’s Guide for Wounded in the Church , Ray and Chris introduce each of the eight sessions that are based on the book. Their fresh content and personal appeal make this an ideal aid for group leaders and participants.
Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward combine their years of ministry experience to address head-on the elephant in the church members and church leaders hurt Christians. All the time. And the long-lasting effects—rejection, shame, despair, loneliness, fear—can be devastating. The authors have witnessed the rise of the “dones,” those who are just done with God thanks to scars from church. With first-person stories of hurt and loss, Wounded in the Church is a wake-up call for any who deny woundedness in the church but is also a redemptive message for any who hurt from church wounds.
In this companion DVD to the Participant’s Guide for Wounded in the Church , Ray and Chris introduce each of the eight sessions that are based on the book. Their fresh content and personal appeal make this an ideal aid for group leaders and participants.
DVD-ROM
Published March 14, 2017
About the author
Ray Beeson
16 books2 followersRay Beeson is the director of Overcomers Ministries, a teaching ministry with a special emphasis on spiritual warfare and prayer.
Before becoming a full-time preacher, Besson was a junior high and senior high school mathematics teacher.
Before becoming a full-time preacher, Besson was a junior high and senior high school mathematics teacher.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 4, 2017
I opened this book with cautious but optimistic curiosity. By the time I finished, I was left a bit confused. I knew the authors would have to demonstrate the ugliness out there to show that there is a need for healing. In fact, I would have been upset if they hadn’t. What I didn’t want to read was a treatise on the evils of the modern church and how we have to accept all accusations as fact without acknowledging that sometimes those accusations are the first rounds fired at an “innocent” assembly of believers.
I can’t say this book did that. Unfortunately, I can’t say it didn’t, either. The anecdotal evidence felt forced most of the time. And just saying that makes me feel like a horrible person.
But aside from my theological differences and from the disappointment of them not having written the book I wanted them to write (*snickers at self*), my biggest frustration is that the book felt more like a commentary on the modern church. Really, much of the book seems to fall more under how not to be influenced by the misinterpretation and/or misapplication of Scripture rather than how to avoid wounding others and heal from situations of spiritual attack within the church.
Still, there are GREAT sections of information in this book, particularly in chapters 14 forward. In fact, if the whole book had been like those, I would have given this five stars despite my theological differences and the fact that it still doesn't feel like the insides match the title (aside from anecdotes).
Do I recommend Wounded in the Church?
That’s a tough one. I seriously have problems with the extra-biblical revelation sections, and frankly, as a book directly related to the title, for the most part, it doesn’t measure up. As I just told my husband, "It’s as if they wanted to write a book on the modern church but needed a more “relevant” topic so they wrote the book they wanted and added wounded anecdotes to make it all apply."
But there’s a lot of good stuff in here as well. Particularly in the latter chapters, it really just gets into what do we need to do to be the church and to serve one another. How do we keep ourselves from being led astray by “every wind of doctrine”? Those kinds of things. And that is really good.
I wanted to give this book four stars so badly. But, I just couldn’t. I didn’t “like” it enough. It’s just “okay.” But where it is good, it is very, very good.
I can’t say this book did that. Unfortunately, I can’t say it didn’t, either. The anecdotal evidence felt forced most of the time. And just saying that makes me feel like a horrible person.
But aside from my theological differences and from the disappointment of them not having written the book I wanted them to write (*snickers at self*), my biggest frustration is that the book felt more like a commentary on the modern church. Really, much of the book seems to fall more under how not to be influenced by the misinterpretation and/or misapplication of Scripture rather than how to avoid wounding others and heal from situations of spiritual attack within the church.
Still, there are GREAT sections of information in this book, particularly in chapters 14 forward. In fact, if the whole book had been like those, I would have given this five stars despite my theological differences and the fact that it still doesn't feel like the insides match the title (aside from anecdotes).
Do I recommend Wounded in the Church?
That’s a tough one. I seriously have problems with the extra-biblical revelation sections, and frankly, as a book directly related to the title, for the most part, it doesn’t measure up. As I just told my husband, "It’s as if they wanted to write a book on the modern church but needed a more “relevant” topic so they wrote the book they wanted and added wounded anecdotes to make it all apply."
But there’s a lot of good stuff in here as well. Particularly in the latter chapters, it really just gets into what do we need to do to be the church and to serve one another. How do we keep ourselves from being led astray by “every wind of doctrine”? Those kinds of things. And that is really good.
I wanted to give this book four stars so badly. But, I just couldn’t. I didn’t “like” it enough. It’s just “okay.” But where it is good, it is very, very good.
August 5, 2017
I was slightly hesitant to read this book because I never felt as if I was wounded in church. Yes, my family and I have changed churches once. However, it truly was a peaceful transition. I felt the Lord pulling me in one direction and shared that with my current pastor. We left on good terms, and my husband's family still attend our old church. We are still friends with the pastor and his wife along with several church members. So as I am looking at this book, I am pondering whether reading it is the right thing to do. And then I started to read....
First let me say that I did not totally agree with everything brought to light here. But that is just my interpretation of what the authors were trying to say. Sometimes I feel that we, as people, over analyze and over think situations in our life, and yes dare I say overreact, and I almost feel as if this might be a tool for those people who tend to overreact to situations. Now please do not misinterpret what I am saying. There are people who truly get wounded in church. Some of the stories in this book are proof. But let me provide an example: At my old church one of the minister's daughters got married. She had two bridal showers, one for the church members and one for friends and family. Now, even if you were friends with the bride, if you were in attendance at the church shower, they opted not to invite you to the other bridal shower. No pressure to buy two gifts, and left opportunities to invite other guests. We had one family in our church that got offended that they were not invited to the friends and family bridal shower, and so they left. They hardly speak to anyone at our church now, not a single church member. It seems so silly to me! This bride to be was upfront and honest about her decisions regarding the showers, and everyone in the church accepted it and supported it. Except for this one family.
So as I am reading this chapters of this book, I found myself remembering this scenario, which happened about 12 years ago. It made me look at the situation in a new light. Perhaps some of us church members should have reached out to this family more and tried to discuss the situation with them. Maybe we really did wound them. There are always two sides to a story, and maybe we didn't give their side of the story the time and attention it deserved.
That being said, I felt that this was more of a book discussing what and what not to look for in a church. How people should treat you, biblical standards to look for, lies to be on the lookout for. I did like the back of the book that provided specific bible references regarding many lies that Christians are told every single day. There are several different bible versions represented, so I recommend cross referencing with your own bible. But aside from some of the personal stories provided in he chapter, I did not feel as if I was reading how to recover from being wounded in church, or how to avoid wounding someone else in church. It just felt like a church do and don't book.
Remember that in reading this, how it is taken is total interpretation. So some people may absolutely love this book and get a lot of out it. And I did have some moments of conviction from it and am thankful for it. It just was not what I totally expected it to be. I do recommend that others read it, whether you have been wounded in church or not. It may point some things out to you and be a great tool. And certainly if you are searching for that special church to be a part of, this can certainly help you in how to approach your search and weed out the non-biblical churches from the good ones.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 27, 2017
This is a great book for anyone who has been wounded in a church experience. It validates that emotional hurt does happen by giving many personal accounts. Some of the stories were just heart breaking. But the authors don't leave the reader hurting. They go further and offer healing help to the wounded.
I was impressed with the extensive exploration of being wounded. They look at rejection, shame, legalism, control, dogmatism, neglect, and more. They include a good section on how to identify spiritual abuse and give practical help for spiritual warfare.
I really liked that they provide insights into what to look for before being wounded. An example would be a demand for submission or loyalty.
They give good suggestions on how to respond when wounded, including good teachings on forgiveness, releasing judgment to God, and establishing our identity in Christ.
They also add a section on how to identify a church that has real biblical leadership and one that is healthy in general.
Having been wounded myself by an overly authoritative church leader, I really appreciated this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been wounded in a church experience. Your hurt will be validated, you will have good suggestions on what to do, and will receive insight in what to look for in a healthy church. I also recommend this book to church leaders as the authors include insights from the pastor's perspective.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I was impressed with the extensive exploration of being wounded. They look at rejection, shame, legalism, control, dogmatism, neglect, and more. They include a good section on how to identify spiritual abuse and give practical help for spiritual warfare.
I really liked that they provide insights into what to look for before being wounded. An example would be a demand for submission or loyalty.
They give good suggestions on how to respond when wounded, including good teachings on forgiveness, releasing judgment to God, and establishing our identity in Christ.
They also add a section on how to identify a church that has real biblical leadership and one that is healthy in general.
Having been wounded myself by an overly authoritative church leader, I really appreciated this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been wounded in a church experience. Your hurt will be validated, you will have good suggestions on what to do, and will receive insight in what to look for in a healthy church. I also recommend this book to church leaders as the authors include insights from the pastor's perspective.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
March 26, 2017
A thoughtful, spiritual book on a very difficult topic: surviving abuses within the Christian community (editorial note: if Satan is real, and Jesus allows weeds to grow with the wheat in the Church, we should expect the enemy of our souls to attack believers; this book is for those who have endured such attacks, whether well-meaning or intentionally vicious). The co-authors have many years in ministry, and handle their topic with great sensitivity. Scripture references are sprinkled throughout without overwhelming the reader. A well-reasoned and researched, helpful book, with real-life examples of people who have overcome the issues discussed. I learned a great deal about a topic with which I was unfamiliar. I suspect people who have been driven away from the Church will avoid this book, but I challenge them to give it a try.
July 28, 2017
WOUNDED IN THE CHURCH by Ray Beeson & Chris Hayward. This book is an eyeopener. It makes one stop and think no matter if you are the one that has been wounded or you are the person causing it. This is a book that should be read by all who claim to be a Christian and those who are a Christian. Great read. I received a complementary copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion. 4.0 stars!
July 24, 2017
Hypocritical. Judgmental. Rigid. Unforgiving. Condemning. Often words that are used to describe the church are ugly. They come from places of deep hurt from people who have experienced the opposite of what God intended his church to be. Whether a visitor, a longtime church member, or a pastor, people have indeed left churches because they have been wounded by others there.
Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward come together and offer hope and advice to those who have been hurt by Christians as well as those who have done the hurting. In part one of Wounded in the Church, they address the areas where church members as well as leadership may hurt others. Part two offers solutions and insight into how we can become better at accepting people where they are, at letting God do the convicting, the shepherding, the growing of individuals.
Unfortunately, this book is needed in today’s church. Beeson and Hayward approach each of the issues with love and care. Their words are grounded in scripture as they encourage readers to take a look at themselves in order to create the church as God intended. One of love. Hope. Healing. Acceptance. Comfort.
Aren’t those words beautiful?
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward come together and offer hope and advice to those who have been hurt by Christians as well as those who have done the hurting. In part one of Wounded in the Church, they address the areas where church members as well as leadership may hurt others. Part two offers solutions and insight into how we can become better at accepting people where they are, at letting God do the convicting, the shepherding, the growing of individuals.
Unfortunately, this book is needed in today’s church. Beeson and Hayward approach each of the issues with love and care. Their words are grounded in scripture as they encourage readers to take a look at themselves in order to create the church as God intended. One of love. Hope. Healing. Acceptance. Comfort.
Aren’t those words beautiful?
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 28, 2022
When I read non-fiction, my attitude is one of gleaning, and of seeking to stimulate new ways of thinking. I can't say I was thrilled with this book, though I am very interested in the topic. I was able to both glean and stretch my thinking with this read, which I appreciated. The topic sure seems all the more pertinent today than when written in 2017.
January 25, 2025
thoughtful and encouraging
An easy to read and follow book that helps you get perspective on the thorny issue and sadly too prevalent issue of church hurt.
An easy to read and follow book that helps you get perspective on the thorny issue and sadly too prevalent issue of church hurt.
March 28, 2025
Not that helpful.
Didn’t talk about hurt that occurs at the hands of the church, but how churches react to hurt that occurs outside the church.
Didn’t talk about hurt that occurs at the hands of the church, but how churches react to hurt that occurs outside the church.
August 2, 2017
Wounded in the Church is an excellent book that portrays what can happen when Christians feel unwelcomed, neglected, or hurt by the church. Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward have created a book that explores an often unnoticed aspect of the church—that people are not as welcoming, accepting, or loving as they should be.
Through true stories, reflection, and anecdotes, Mr. Beeson and Mr. Hayward work through the damage that Christians can inflict through lack of care and compassion. They point out that it can be intentional or unintentional, which I believe to be the case.
This book is an unflinching look at how the Christian church is not always helpful or good for people. As someone who has been wounded by a church myself, this book resonated with me deeply. I struggle with my feelings about that church, even though I no longer attend that one. However, it has made it difficult to trust that my new church won’t do the same thing, which Mr. Beeson and Mr. Hayward also touch on.
After all, if one church has hurt you, how can you be certain the next one won’t? Feelings of judgment and shame often follow these wounds, and it is hard for humans to get rid of those after we have them. There is no way to entirely sure about how the next church will treat you and that feeling can be difficult to overcome if you were not shown love and care in a place that is meant to show all people both.
One of my favorite lines was one in which the authors tell us why we should show love and care toward other people, and I think it’s a perfect reflection of this book and why the church often fails to connect with people:
“However, there is great value in opening our hearts to other people with different persuasions. First of all, it can sharpen our own reasoning for taking such a stance. Second, it allows for the possibility that we might be wrong, or that our attitude needs some refining. But probably the greatest value in listening to someone else’s opinion is that we honor them and recognize their worth as a human being by giving them a voice…how many times do we violate this principle within the church by not allowing someone with a differing opinion to share their thoughts?”
This book is not all doom and gloom, however. The authors have taken years of ministry experience and worked out which types of churches or people cause wounds and those that don’t. It’s not an easy read but one I am still pondering and plan to come back to again.
I give this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who needs to understand why church doesn’t always make you happy. If you’ve been hurt by a church, this book is especially insightful and should help you consider your wounds in a new light. If you’ve never been hurt by one, I hope this book offers insight into the way it can happen.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.**
Through true stories, reflection, and anecdotes, Mr. Beeson and Mr. Hayward work through the damage that Christians can inflict through lack of care and compassion. They point out that it can be intentional or unintentional, which I believe to be the case.
This book is an unflinching look at how the Christian church is not always helpful or good for people. As someone who has been wounded by a church myself, this book resonated with me deeply. I struggle with my feelings about that church, even though I no longer attend that one. However, it has made it difficult to trust that my new church won’t do the same thing, which Mr. Beeson and Mr. Hayward also touch on.
After all, if one church has hurt you, how can you be certain the next one won’t? Feelings of judgment and shame often follow these wounds, and it is hard for humans to get rid of those after we have them. There is no way to entirely sure about how the next church will treat you and that feeling can be difficult to overcome if you were not shown love and care in a place that is meant to show all people both.
One of my favorite lines was one in which the authors tell us why we should show love and care toward other people, and I think it’s a perfect reflection of this book and why the church often fails to connect with people:
“However, there is great value in opening our hearts to other people with different persuasions. First of all, it can sharpen our own reasoning for taking such a stance. Second, it allows for the possibility that we might be wrong, or that our attitude needs some refining. But probably the greatest value in listening to someone else’s opinion is that we honor them and recognize their worth as a human being by giving them a voice…how many times do we violate this principle within the church by not allowing someone with a differing opinion to share their thoughts?”
This book is not all doom and gloom, however. The authors have taken years of ministry experience and worked out which types of churches or people cause wounds and those that don’t. It’s not an easy read but one I am still pondering and plan to come back to again.
I give this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who needs to understand why church doesn’t always make you happy. If you’ve been hurt by a church, this book is especially insightful and should help you consider your wounds in a new light. If you’ve never been hurt by one, I hope this book offers insight into the way it can happen.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own.**
August 1, 2017
Wounded in the Church by Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward is a theologically sound book, written about a difficult subject. With a combined total of more than 70+ years of experience in Christian ministry, these authors pull no punches in discussing the fact that people are wounded in the church and with this commentary are increasing awareness in the hopes of bringing repentance, forgiveness, change and the hope of healing. The book is written clearly and simply with specific examples of individuals from all walks of life who have encountered negativity, demands for perfection and emotional pain from people in a church setting. The book is organized into two sections, one defining the pain and the second highlighting the hope of healing, acceptance, and restoration through the love of Jesus Christ. Each chapter is steeped in scripture and ends with a Proverb and Psalms for the Wounded. One particular chapter, Will I ever get past the pain?, has a very powerful message of hope, of coming to know that the past that might have paralyzed one's life does not have to define the future. Understanding your identity in Christ, taking every thought captive, being full of courage, and learning to forgive are important keys to moving past the pain. Another chapter I found helpful was one that lists cliches (e.g. "you're too damaged to serve the Lord."), incomplete or confusing statements others may state (e.g. "Just trust God."), and statements a person might tell himself (e.g. "I've sinned so much God won't save me."). With each of the statements listed the authors give answers and scriptures to unmask the deception of the statements and show the truth from God's Word. The church should be a safe place where people can not only survive but thrive, where individuals can experience reconciliation, not division and yet the church is made up of people...people who are not perfect. This informative and enlightening book gives hurting individuals hope that finding a sense of love, compassion, and acceptance in a church setting is possible...hope that is realized when the body of Christ offers His love and ministers healing in His name. Wounded in the Church is timely and church leaders and laymen alike will benefit from its message. I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.
August 9, 2017
A deep look at a very difficult subject.
The authors start by addressing the fact that many are wounded in the church and this issue needs to be addressed so people can find healing. They then take the time to focus on a few of the ways that this wounding occurs. It is very clearly laid out and dealt with.
I found the first section of the book to be very hard to read. It brought back memories of wounds that I received from those in leadership in churches I attended in the past. I really appreciate the fact that they then went on in part 2 of the book to discuss the hope that we have to be healed from those wounds. They carefully lay out steps that need to be taken without making it a canned approach to wholeness.
The one thing that I really love is the fact that they make it very clear the first step to healing is KNOWING that our identity is in Christ! Everything else presented is built upon this foundation.
The other thing that I was very happy to see was how much scripture they use to explain the points that they were making.
I received a free copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
The authors start by addressing the fact that many are wounded in the church and this issue needs to be addressed so people can find healing. They then take the time to focus on a few of the ways that this wounding occurs. It is very clearly laid out and dealt with.
I found the first section of the book to be very hard to read. It brought back memories of wounds that I received from those in leadership in churches I attended in the past. I really appreciate the fact that they then went on in part 2 of the book to discuss the hope that we have to be healed from those wounds. They carefully lay out steps that need to be taken without making it a canned approach to wholeness.
The one thing that I really love is the fact that they make it very clear the first step to healing is KNOWING that our identity is in Christ! Everything else presented is built upon this foundation.
The other thing that I was very happy to see was how much scripture they use to explain the points that they were making.
I received a free copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
August 4, 2017
"Wounded In The Church" by Ray Beeson & Chris Hayward is a book that is written very straightforward and it is easily understood. I was happy to find that it wasn't written in a manner that was technical at all.
This book has personal stories from real life that shows that people have been hurt from others in the church. This book offered help to those that have been hurt. I think we all have been hurt to some degree whether by mistake or carelessness or neglect or purposely, and there is help for overcoming the hurt. I also think we ourselves have probably been on the other end of the hurting and delivered hurt to others to some degree whether by mistake or carelessness or neglect or purpose. This book offers help to us also by making us more aware of where we are less careful than we need to be.
I especially like the appendix A which lists lies and doctrines that are not Scriptural, and what is really good about this list is that after the lie is listed, the authors give the verses to support why it is a lie.
I recommend this book to anyone that has been hurt in the church and as a church member and a Christian I am sorry to say that the number is way higher than it should be.
I am glad that I have this book and can use it for future reference, and yes, this is one book that I underlined key points, and wanted to underline more but I stopped myself because I loan out my books.
I was given a complimentary copy by the authors and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.
This book has personal stories from real life that shows that people have been hurt from others in the church. This book offered help to those that have been hurt. I think we all have been hurt to some degree whether by mistake or carelessness or neglect or purposely, and there is help for overcoming the hurt. I also think we ourselves have probably been on the other end of the hurting and delivered hurt to others to some degree whether by mistake or carelessness or neglect or purpose. This book offers help to us also by making us more aware of where we are less careful than we need to be.
I especially like the appendix A which lists lies and doctrines that are not Scriptural, and what is really good about this list is that after the lie is listed, the authors give the verses to support why it is a lie.
I recommend this book to anyone that has been hurt in the church and as a church member and a Christian I am sorry to say that the number is way higher than it should be.
I am glad that I have this book and can use it for future reference, and yes, this is one book that I underlined key points, and wanted to underline more but I stopped myself because I loan out my books.
I was given a complimentary copy by the authors and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.
August 1, 2017
Wounded in the Church is thought-provoking and well worth reading and considering by those “in” and “out” of the Christian church. The authors present their points well from both the pastor’s and parishioner’s viewpoints – honestly acknowledging that deep wounding does occur in the church – both to pastors and parishioners - but there is hope for healing and restoration.
This is a resource to be read deliberately and considered carefully. An excellent tool for self-examination and honest evaluation of one’s experience within the church culture.
Especially encouraging and relatable is the section on brutal clichés and incomplete and confusing statements. Every reader will find something in this section they have heard or experienced or said themselves! Far too often these verbal assaults are thrown out as truisms when in fact they are anything but!
This book is a valuable and informative treatise which sheds light on causes, consequences and possible ways to change the effects of the all-too-frequent confusion and wounding that occurs in the church.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.
This is a resource to be read deliberately and considered carefully. An excellent tool for self-examination and honest evaluation of one’s experience within the church culture.
Especially encouraging and relatable is the section on brutal clichés and incomplete and confusing statements. Every reader will find something in this section they have heard or experienced or said themselves! Far too often these verbal assaults are thrown out as truisms when in fact they are anything but!
This book is a valuable and informative treatise which sheds light on causes, consequences and possible ways to change the effects of the all-too-frequent confusion and wounding that occurs in the church.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.
August 8, 2017
I rarely read books like Wounded in the Church. Theology just doesn’t appeal to me. When the Celebrate Lit team was asking for more people to sign up for this book, though, and I saw that we would still be in America when they sent out paper copies of the book, I decided to sign up and see what this book was like.
The authors have a lot of good points. They show how people in the church can be just like anyone else. Christians should be loving and caring, right, no matter what kind of people cross their paths? Well, unfortunately, quite often Christians act in unloving ways, ending up wounding people even within the church. The authors showed quite effectively how this happens. I felt disappointed, though, that no real solutions were presented. I kept looking for advice for how to cope when you have been “wounded”, but either I overlooked it, or it wasn’t there as clearly as I had thought it would be. On the other hand, there was a chapter of common cliches Christians use, which I found quite thought-provoking. We need to be very careful what we say and how we say it. On the whole, I didn’t find this book overly helpful, although there were several points that really stood out, which I believe will be useful for the rest of my life.
The authors have a lot of good points. They show how people in the church can be just like anyone else. Christians should be loving and caring, right, no matter what kind of people cross their paths? Well, unfortunately, quite often Christians act in unloving ways, ending up wounding people even within the church. The authors showed quite effectively how this happens. I felt disappointed, though, that no real solutions were presented. I kept looking for advice for how to cope when you have been “wounded”, but either I overlooked it, or it wasn’t there as clearly as I had thought it would be. On the other hand, there was a chapter of common cliches Christians use, which I found quite thought-provoking. We need to be very careful what we say and how we say it. On the whole, I didn’t find this book overly helpful, although there were several points that really stood out, which I believe will be useful for the rest of my life.
July 30, 2017
Wounded in the Church is a book that should be read by everyone, not just those who have been hurt by Christians and/or church leaders. Written in a conversational style, the book is split into two parts. The first half, titled “The Pain,” shares personal experiences of the authors and others, and many of the vignettes are difficult to read. It was sad to read about the harm done to people. The second half, titled “The Hope,” shares ways those who have been hurt can find healing. Through the use of Scriptures as well as coping mechanisms offered by those who have risen above their pain, the book offers caring and realistic answers. Other books on the topic are referenced, giving readers additional resources. Well-written, Wounded by the Church covers a volatile topic with sensitivity and professionalism.
I received this book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a favorable review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
I received this book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a favorable review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
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