Diane Langberg - Redeeming power : understanding authority and abuse in the church

With the clear-eyed assessment of Jeremiah and the courage of Esther, Langberg looks leaders square in the eye and tells the unflinching truth about power. This is difficult truth that every leader needs to know but most work hard to avoid. Her relentless pursuit of protecting the powerless is supported by her decades of listening for Gods voice amid victims pain, as well as that of the perpetrators, some of whom dont realize the damage their words and actions produce. For all who hunger for healing and yearn to know how power can be both abused and properly used, this book is for you.

Robert L. Briggs, president and CEO, American Bible Society

With immeasurable insight and grace, Redeeming Power exhorts people, institutions, and nations to wake up, repent, and seek the kingdom of God by looking critically at the imbalances and injustices we have allowed to flourish. If there was ever a time we needed to receive this challenging, life-saving word, its now. Thank God for choosing Diane to profess it!

Jeanne L. Allert, founder and executive director, The Samaritan Women

This book broke my heart, instructed my soul, and pointed me to the most powerful King-Servant-Healer, who lovingly humbled himself to overcome evil with good. This is an anointed book, reflecting theological sensitivity and egregious life experiences, calling us to steward and reclaim power for its original purpose: human flourishing.

Ronald A. Matthews, president, Eastern University

Every now and then you come across a resource that you passionately want to recommend to others because you know its contents are that essential and valuable. Redeeming Power is one of those resources. Langberg helps us see and understand the truths we so often miss, ignore, or explain away because they are shrouded in much deception of self and others. Redeeming Power is a ray of light streaming through systems and hearts darkened by the abuse of authority. Those who read will discover truths that can reveal, free, and heal.

Wade Mullen, Capital Seminary & Graduate School; author of Somethings Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuseand Freeing Yourself from Its Power

Langberg has done us all an excellent service with this book. There is currently a desperate need within the church to better understand power dynamics. The cost of the church not fully grasping what power is and how it is appropriately stewarded is too high. I see this regularly as I care for those who have endured both spiritual abuse and racial trauma within the church. This book is profound yet accessible and carries with it the potential to inform and heal. I commend it wholeheartedly to all.

Kyle J. Howard, Soul Care Provider, Lighting a Path, Inc.

The most difficult aspect of my profession is seeing the pain and suffering that people can inflict on each other, especially in church and family environments that should be safe and protective. Dr. Langberg has spent decades understanding what the process of healing from personal and systemic trauma looks like. Her book is required reading for anyone who seeks substantial training in helping victims of emotional, sexual, physical, and racial trauma.

Michael R. Lyles, MD, psychiatrist, speaker, and visiting lecturer

In this weighty and timely book, Dr. Langberg addresses a topic that too often goes ignored or even dismissed: power. As human beings, we have been given power and that power can be used to serve or to oppress. You will need to read this book with a highlighter and a box of tissues nearby. As a tender and experienced therapist, Langberg writes a book that painfully reveals even as it lovingly heals.

Jemar Tisby, New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise

No stodgy academic language hereLangberg is a woman on fire, and in a manner worthy of the prophets before her, she delivers a call for justice on behalf of those deeply wounded by power wielded in ungodly ways. This book is packed with biblical truths, insight, wisdom, conviction, and instruction for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Kay Warren, co-founder, Saddleback Church

2020 by Diane Langberg

Published by Brazos Press

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.brazospress.com

Ebook edition created 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-2756-7

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are the authors paraphrase.

Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Text Edition: 2016.

Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Composite Disclaimer: The names and details of the people and situations described in this book have been changed or presented in composite form in order to ensure the privacy of those with whom the author has worked.

With love and gratitude to my father,

William F. Mandt,

my father-in-law,

Simon Langberg,

my husband,

Ronald Langberg,

and our sons,

Joshua and Daniel Langberg,

extraordinary men, each distinguished for using their power with endless kindness and impeccable integrity

Contents

Cover i

Endorsements ii

Title Page iii

Copyright Page iv

Dedication v

Prelude ix

Part 1: Power Defined 1

1. The Source and Purpose of Power 3

2. Vulnerability and Power 19

3. The Role of Deception in the Abuse of Power 29