Join Diane Langberg, an expert on trauma care and church abuse, as she discusses her new book on healing from spiritual harm. Langberg emphasizes the importance of transparency in addressing abuse within the church and calls for these institutions to act as safe havens. The conversation explores the rise of narcissism in leadership and the often marginalized voices of women in evangelical communities. Langberg offers hope and practical steps for church leaders to adopt trauma-informed care, urging a shift towards nurturing environments that foster healing.
The conversation stresses the critical need for churches to confront uncomfortable truths about abuse, promoting healing through transparency rather than cover-ups.
Diane Langberg highlights the systemic undervaluing of women in evangelism, illustrating how this perpetuates silence and abuse within church communities.
Deep dives
Addressing Church Harm and Abuse
The discussion emphasizes the urgent need to confront issues of sexual and spiritual abuse within the church. The importance of shedding light on these matters is highlighted, referencing Jesus' own willingness to address the harm done in God's house. It is argued that churches must face uncomfortable truths to initiate healing and foster safer environments, as cover-ups only perpetuate cycles of abuse. The prevalence of such issues suggests they have been longstanding, calling for a sustained commitment to transparency and care for those affected.
The Role of Women in Church and Society
The conversation underscores the systemic undervaluing of women within evangelical circles and how this contributes to abuse and silence surrounding it. It points out that many women endure physical and emotional harm in churches that claim to be sanctuaries, yet fail to address their needs. The container of expectations regarding women's roles often leads to blaming victims rather than protecting them, which has detrimental effects on their spiritual journey. Recognizing and empowering women as integral members of the church community is crucial for healing both individual lives and the church as a whole.
Understanding Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual abuse is characterized by the manipulation of scripture to control or silence individuals, particularly vulnerable members of the church community. Victims often internalize guilt from these distorted teachings, complicating their process of healing and forgiveness. The conversation illustrates how language can reinforce harmful power dynamics, leading individuals to feel responsible for the abuses committed against them. It highlights the need for a shift in how clergy and community members approach these discussions, ensuring that they support victims rather than perpetuate cycles of blame.
Creating a Safe Church Environment
To cultivate a safer church environment, leaders must prioritize education on trauma-informed care and recognize the signs of abuse. The importance of immediate action when a victim comes forward is emphasized, along with the need to validate their experiences and provide appropriate resources. Training for church leaders on how to handle allegations appropriately is crucial, as is fostering a culture where victims feel safe to speak out. By addressing these concerns, churches can move towards becoming truly supportive communities that echo Christ’s love and protection for all individuals.
Content warning: This episode discusses sexual, spiritual, and domestic abuse.
Should discussions of the church harming people be kept in-house so the world doesn’t hear about it? No, says Diane Langberg, and there’s a simple reason why: “That would be quite unlike Jesus Christ.”
Listen in as Langberg, an international speaker, psychologist, and author on trauma care, joins Moore to discuss her new book, When the Church Harms God’s People. Their conversation covers abuse in institutions and considers why it is different when those institutions are churches. They talk about the importance of churches and homes as havens from harm and how it affects people when they become places of hurt.
Moore and Langberg consider power dynamics, the importance of language that properly names the abuses people have suffered, and a Christian view of women. They provide reason for hope and opportunities for church leaders to love and care for the hurting.
Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: