Mary Alice Chrnalogar - Twisted Scriptures: Breaking Free from Churches That Abuse

Mary Alice Chrnalogar, a dedicated Christian, has spent more than nineteen years working to rescue victims who are extremely controlled by leaders or destructive groups. Miss Chrnalogar is a respected international consultant in the field of cult education and has assisted with family interventions throughout the United States as well as in Australia, Canada, France, Israel, and Spain.

Her extensive work with those injured by mind control gives her a valuable insight into the thinking of these misguided persons and knowledge of how they keep themselves from thinking critically and objectively. This book is the foundation of the unique program Miss Chrnalogar uses to break the excessive and improper influences of leaders and abusive discipleship.

Miss Chrnalogar states: It is one of my greatest joys to receive phone calls weekly from individuals who are so grateful to me for writing this book because the information freed them from an unhealthy church. My favorite thank-you was a message sent to me by an ordained minister. He wrote, Chrnalogars book was a godsend to me. I left an abusive system five years ago but her book has given me new meaning to life. The scriptures that used to haunt me no longer do because Miss Chrnalogar places them in the correct context.

The author comments, My greatest happiness in life is knowing that many will be healed after they read this book that the Lord inspired in my heart.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from theHoly Bible: New International Version (North American Edition). 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society.

Many references to Holy Bible translations and commentaries are used with the gracious permission of the publishers of The Word (The Bible in 26 Translations), Curtis Vaughn, Th.D., General Editor (Moss Point, Miss.: Mathis Publishers, 1993). See p. xiii of The Word for a complete explanation of the codes used. The following translations from The Word are quoted:

ABPS
Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments: An Improved Edition (American Baptist Publication Society)

ASV
American Standard Version

BER
Berkeley Version of the New Testament

KJV
King James Version

NKJV
New King James Version

Knox
Monsignor Roland Knox

NAB
New American Bible

NASB
New American Standard Bible

NEB
New English Bible

RSV
Revised Standard Version

RV
Revised Version

Wms
New Testament-A Translation in the Language of the People (Charles B. Williams)

Tay
Living Letters (Kenneth N. Taylor)

Wey
New Testament in Modern Speech (Richard Francis Weymouth)

Also used:

Douay
Douay Version, translated from the Latin Vulgate by the London Catholic Society (1609)

For consultation you may contact the author:

Mary Alice Chrnalogar
PO Box 8021
Chattanooga, TN 37414
(423) 698-9343
www.cultbuster.com

ZONDERVAN

Twisted Scriptures

Copyright 1997 by Mary Alice Chrnalogar

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

EPub Edition MARCH 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-87408-9

Requests for information about this book should be addressed to:

Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Chrnalogar, Mary Alice

Twisted scriptures: breaking free from churches that abuse / Mary Alice Chrnalogar.

p. cm.

Originally published: Rev. Chattanooga, TN: Control Techniques, 1998.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.

ISBN 0-310-23408-5 (softcover)

1. Discipling (Christianity) 2. AuthorityReligious aspectsChristianity.

3. Control (Psychology)Religious aspectsChristianity.

4. BibleHermeneutics. I. Title.

BV4520.C58 2000

262.8-dc21 00-030250

CIP

Revised Edition Copyright 1998, 2000

00 01 02 03 04 05 06

To my aerobic intructor,
the instrument God used to inspire this book,
so that others may be freed
from the bondage of suppressive church leaders.

This is important! This book is designed to restore a loved ones ability to think without being unduly influenced by a particular group. For many, this book will break the psychological control exerted by an abusive discipling relationship or controlling church. That is why there is overlapping of information and repetition of ideas. The victims strongly biased mind needs this repetition if family, friends, or therapists are to be successful in restoring objectivity.

You may be reading this now because someone close to you suspects you are being hurt, rather than helped, by your discipling relationship. It is normal to feel somewhat defensive or resentful when questioned about the possibility of abuse in our own churches or ministries. Remember, the Apostle Paul tells us, examine everything carefully (1 Thess. 5:21 NASB). I am not asking you to accept my opinion about your church or group. Instead, evaluate what is happening to you and around you. After reading this book, you should be able to decide for yourself if there is reason to be concerned.

Friends and family: If you have a loved one caught up in what you suspect is a controlling ministry, collect information about the group, then ask the victim to read this book from cover to cover. Use the checklists at the end of each chapter as a starting point for conversation. Finally, discuss the information with him or her away from the group and with former members if possible.

Freedom exists through discipline and obedienceobedience not to yourself or another human, but to God. Many disciples think they are being taught the right way of obedience; but they are deceived into giving up their desires, wishes, and goals for those of another mortal beingtheir discipler.

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from among your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. The Apostle Paul (Acts 20:29-31)

Authentic discipleship is something I hold very dear, but I am vehemently against discipleship that is destructive (i.e., non-Biblical discipleship). If your first reaction to this book is to think that I am attacking discipleship, please take the time to digest my entire presentation with the Bible verses I use to explain my points. You may be surprised to find that your discipleship may be straying far from Scripture. This information can cause you to think more clearly or free yourself from a controlling environment in which you may find yourself. Once you are aware of it, you can make the proper changes in order for you to have balanced discipleship once again.

Even though I agree that there are many positive aspects of discipling even in abusive groups, this book will not focus on these positive aspects. Discipling, even abusive discipling, can lead people away from materialism, bad influences, and sinful habits. Disciples can be led to grow spiritually. In this world where Gods commandments are ever more violated, it is easy to overlook abuse in discipleship because of the good influences it can bring about. Still, this is no reason to avoid eliminating the non-Biblical ideas and controlling behavior that can creep into any discipleship.