Untwisting Scriptures that were used to tie you up, gag you, and tangle your mind: Book 3 Your Words, Your Emotions

Untwisting Scriptures #3

by Rebecca Davis

Stop Letting Twisted Scripture Shut You Down and Protect Your Abuser

Have you been told that speaking about abuse is gossip? That your anger is always sin? That showing emotion means you lack faith?

Abusers and abuse enablers have turned Bible passages about gossip, slander, and bearing false witness into tools that protect perpetrators while silencing victims.

Using twisted Scriptures, they've condemned your anger, dismissed your fear, and demanded you suppress every emotion that alerts you to danger.

But these interpretations aren't biblical—they're abusive.

In Untwisting Scriptures that were used to tie you up, gag you, and tangle your mind: Book 3 Your Words Your Emotions, Rebecca Davis exposes the systematic Scripture-twisting used to gag abuse survivors and shut down their emotions.

With meticulous biblical scholarship and trauma-informed insight, she examines every verse weaponized against those who speak truth, then shows you what these passages actually mean in context.

You'll Discover


The true Biblical meanings of gossip, slander, and bearing false witness.
Why "gracious words only" is manipulation and what Ephesians 4:29 is really all about.
The truth about the "too negative" label: learn from the examples of the prophets, psalmists, and Jesus Himself.
Why your emotions aren't inferior to reason and how emotions are displayed in Scripture.
The truth about anger and how you can tell whether yours is righteous or unrighteous.
All the kinds of fear in the Bible and what "fear not" actually means.

And much more. Discussion guides available without charge at heresthejoy[dot]com.

What Readers Are Saying

“To say that reading this book was revolutionary to me is an understatement!! Rebecca helped me to understand how important my emotions are - that they are a God-given part of my being that He created. This has brought much-needed healing to this area of my life.” - J. Thompson

“I cannot recommend this book highly enough!! It addresses so many toxic Christian teachings that have been used to shame, blame, confuse and shut up the innocent.’” - Amazon Customer

“I have seen the twisting of these scriptures about gossip and slander used by abusive leaders to keep people in fear of speaking up. Rebecca Davis zinged the target with this book!” - Paul

“Ms Davis writes with an earnest heart of love, compassion, and boldness. While none of the topics were easy, somehow it was an easy read. - J. Shrock

“Grounded in Scripture, easy to read, and full of common sense!” - Rosanne Hood

“I have struggled with feeling guilty anytime I feel fear. I love the way this book brings new light to the issue of fear, and it helped free me from guilt that I now realize was not from God.” - LMBBP

“A must read if the Bible has been used against you! I have read this whole book to my kids 19-10 during our devotion time because I have found it so freeing and God-honoring.” - Brooke

You don't have to choose between honoring God and protecting yourself.

You don't have to suppress your emotions to be spiritual. You don't have to stay silent to be godly. The truth will set you free—and this book will show you what that truth is.

Scriptures can be untwisted. You can rise up from the spiritual abuse of "shut up and shut down" . . . to walk in the freedom of Christ.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

I write the Untwisting Scriptures series of books for those who have experienced spiritual abuse that includes the twisting of Scriptures.

I also offer "untwistings" on my blog, heresthejoy.com, and in emails to my email subscribers.

Before writing for adults, I wrote nonfiction for children and young people--biographies of great Christians, true stories of "hidden heroes" in various countries, and two devotional books for children.

Reviews

[Grace Cacayorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, about “gossip”, this has been such a healing book to read. I’m glad the author quoted Bill Gothard’s (very wrong) definition of gossip and corrected it, since that is what I grew up with: the idea that you were never supposed to share "detrimental information" with anyone who wasn’t “part of the problem or part of the solution”, something that has been used to silence me more than once.

Rebecca points out something I had not thought of before - "When a person is seeking help from a cruel oppressor, then any one of us who listens has the potential to be part of the solution." This is so true. Any one of us can listen and be there with the person in their pain, letting them know they are not alone and supporting them as they seek to escape from abuse.

She goes on to explain the difference between what is often treated as gossip (but really isn't) and what truly is gossip. (I don't want to give *everything* away, so read the book for more!) She also points out the double standard that seems to allow many abusers who are in power to get away with gossip, while those who have been abused by them are often falsely accused of gossiping when they are simply trying to get help, and to warn others who are also in danger of being abused.

There is so much more good stuff in this book! I'm working my way through the second half, and still finding it so healing. I'm so grateful that God is raising up men and women, like Rebecca, to bravely speak truth to His church - truth that can lead to deep healing for the hurting, and can lead to repentance for those who have done harm, if they are willing to listen to the Spirit's voice.

[Aleassa Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

All three of the Untwisting Scriptures have been incredibly helpful and eye-opening. These books are a compilation of Rebecca Davis’s personal in-depth Bible studies, blog posts, and numerous comments and personal letters from blog posts, and as such can read a little choppy. This does not take away from the wealth of information and perspective. Her trauma-informed perspective shines through as she references her many years working as a Christian lay counselor with abuse and trauma survivors.

Davis takes on twisted teachings from a plethora of influential leaders, authors, teachers, and preachers, including Nancy Demoss Wolgemouth, Bill Gothard, Jay Adams, Jim Berg, Tim Challies, and many others. She also includes suggestions for healthy resources, such as the book Living From The Heart Jesus Gave You by Jim Wilder, which I have also read and is a wonderful book in the pursuit of wholeness.

All of the topics were interesting, applicable, and helpful. The chapters on bitterness, taking up offenses, patriarchy, authority, submission, and anger were particularly interesting, thought-provoking, and life-giving for me personally.

I highly recommend these books for anyone who has been living “tied up, gagged, and with a tangled mind” as a result of spiritual abuse and twisted Scripture.

The Truth will make you free.

[Ashley Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so wish some of my classmates, friends, professors, pastors, and counselors would read these books. There's so much in them that I've been taught that the author seems to destroy by contextual study.

I appreciate how she isn't loyal to any person, denomination, school, program, etc. but critiques each work individually. I grow more and more frustrated with the lack of care by so many people in the evangelical world that it's no surprise to me why so many walk away. Many may have had illigitiment conversion, but they often end up wanting nothing to do with Christianity because of how they were treated by supposed "Christians" and sadly, these "Christians" are often the ones who are training up the next generation of pastors, counselors and other leaders in evangelicalism. I've found myself saying more frequently: "if this is Christianity, I don't want it". For instance, it's saddening to me to read about how someone will die on the hill of calling empathy a sin, but will then make a statement about how people are hurt by their church and find better help in their secular, empathetic communities. There's something wrong with that picture.

I'm thankful for someone who works at trying to sort out all the messes that have been made with taking verses out of context and using the Bible for personal agendas and justifying abuse.

[Abigail Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read in this series. I had been wary of them at first, since there are so many books out there full of angst and dismissive of Biblical authority. But I have been pleasantly surprised at the respectful way Mrs. Davis handles each topic - staying solidly true to Scripture and clearly pointing out the ways it has been misinterpreted by false teachers over the years. I especially appreciated her gentle approach with readers who have heard (and believed) these twisted teachings for years - she understands how hard it can be to begin to comprehend a new perspective. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is familiar with ATI, BJU, or fundamentalism in general.

[Emily MacGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because her first _Untwisting Scriptures _ book was so helpful to me, having grown up in Bill Gothard's cult. (The "Recovering Grace" website, which the author referenced, has been extremely useful in my own personal journey out of legalism.)

Rebecca hits the nail on the head regarding gossip. So many times I've heard that I shouldn't talk about something if I'm not part of the problem or solution. However, if I expose evil, then I am part of the solution! I'm going to reread this chapter.

I highly recommend this book!

[Elisabeth Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Davis’s third book on Untwisting the Scriptures is yet another healing, refreshing look at the harmful ways that religious groups have used the Bible as a weapon to control people. This book covers the topics of words and emotions, diving into the way that accusations of “gossip” protect abusers, and admonitions to “have more faith” are unhelpful to victims of trauma. I particularly appreciated her rebuttal of one of Tim Challies’ blog posts, in which she responded - “if a person is an evildoer, then his reputation deserves to be tarnished.” Isn’t that contrary to popular sentiment in the evangelical church!

Overall, I have found Rebecca’s books to be informative and helpful in forming a new perspective on the things I was taught as a young adult in church settings.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, logical progression. Rebecca Davis approaches these topics as they relate specifically to those who have been seriously abused, whether physically/sexually, emotionally, or spiritually. While she did briefly reference how they apply to "every-day life," I would have been interested to hear her speak more to that perspective. It was a solemn reminder that when we make a statement based on Scripture, to be clear about the context of the passage, and to whom it applies, rather than making blanket statements. We serve a compassionate God Who has a heart for hurting people, and we should not use Scripture in a way that pushes hurting people away from God, but show them that heart of compassion.

[Sarah Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this series through the Reclamation podcast (which I love) and they have been so helpful for me. I’ve spent the last eight years disentangling pseudo-Christian beliefs and I’ve found several helpful books along the way. But I have to say that these books are the most comprehensive at correcting incorrect interpretations of specific Scriptures. This one focuses on emotions and gossip.

[Jessica Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing My Heart

These books have been so healing to me. It’s been good to have language to use to describe these feelings. I am super thankful for the author spending the time to unravel the tangling and knowing her heart is for Jesus.

[Joy Harris]

Excellent!

[Tiffani Abair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening and healing, but also caused me to do some deep soul searching.

[Tanja Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying my way through this series ad it unlocks and untwists false teachings I have believed most of my life. Powerful, healing and truth bound.