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

In Untwisting Book 3 Your Words, Your Emotions, Rebecca Davis addresses the gag placed over victims and survivors of abuse through words like “don’t gossip,” “don’t bear false witness,” “don’t be negative,” and more, examining the Scriptures behind them. She also explores harmful messages that have been delivered in the name of God regarding our emotions, especially focusing on fear and anxiety, anger, and empathy, laying out what Scripture teaches about these emotions. A toxic faith needs to be deconstructed and rebuilt on the solid foundation of the true Lord Jesus Christ. Untwisting Scriptures does this by faithfully examining word meaning, context, and the heart of God for His people. This book will untwist and present the beautiful truth of God’s Word, exposing sin where it needs to be revealed, and offering hope to those who desperately need it. Scriptures can be untwisted. You can walk away from the spiritual abuse of “Don’t Talk Don’t Feel” without losing a relationship with God. In fact, you may just find a Jesus you never knew. First My Words & Emotions While I Wrote This Book 1. Part of the Problem, Part of the Solution 2. “Keep Quiet if Someone Offends Me” 3. Don’t Tear Down, Just Build Up with Gracious Words 4. “Speak No Evil”: Slander and the Tongue You Don’t Hear About in Church 5. “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness”: Reputation vs Character 6. Oh, Those Renegade Bloggers 7. “Why Are You So Negative?” A Response to “Positive” People 8. Does Reason Really Trump Emotions? 9. What Causes a “Noisy Soul”? 10. Helping a “Noisy Soul” 11. Is it Righteous Anger or Sinful? 12. Fear in the Helpful and Harmful 13. Those 365 “Fear Not” Verses in the Bible 14. “Why Are You So Fearful?” 15. Grappling with the “Sin of Empathy” 16. Growing Up Understanding “Moral Injury”

222 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There are several authors by this name in the Goodreads database.

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.

[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.