When the Church Harms God's People: Becoming Faith Communities That Resist Abuse, Pursue Truth, and Care for the Wounded - Paperback

by Diane Langberg (Author)

Internationally recognized psychologist Diane Langberg has come face to face with the crushing trauma of sexual abuse, trafficking, domestic abuse, and rape--and its cover-up.

Even more tragic, she has encountered it all within Christian communities and the church.

As a highly respected trauma scholar and psychologist working in the United States and around the world for more than 50 years, she envisions a better way.

In When the Church Harms God's People, Langberg unveils what she has learned about how churches cause harm and why Christian communities often foster unhealthy leaders who end up hurting rather than protecting God's people. She also offers hope for the future, describing how churches can reflect Christ not just in what they teach but also in how they care for themselves and others.

This book is an invaluable tool for leaders and laypeople alike who want to help the church resist abuses of power and become a safe place for survivors.

Back Jacket

Calling Churches to Reflect the Love and Care of Christ

Internationally recognized psychologist and trauma scholar Diane Langberg has come face to face with the crushing trauma of sexual abuse, trafficking, domestic abuse, and rape--and its cover-up. Tragically, she has encountered it all within Christian communities and the church.

In When the Church Harms God's People, Langberg diagnoses how Christian communities too often mimic worldly institutions and end up harming people; she then issues a call to the church to love and serve those in their care.

"This is a book for every Christian, but it is also a book for anyone wounded in the name of Jesus or seeking to understand who Jesus is and what the church is designed to be."
--Rachael Denhollander, speaker, author, and victim advocate

"As one of the foremost psychologists of our time, Langberg unpacks how the church can once again reflect the true beauty and character of Jesus: the preeminent good shepherd. A must-read book for both the sheep and the shepherds who guide them."
--Boz Tchividjian, attorney for abuse victims and founder of GRACE

"Langberg never fails to stir my heart toward greater Christlikeness!"
--Kay Warren, cofounder, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California

"If you are tired of seeing persons and systems use the name of Jesus Christ to prey on the vulnerable, this book will help you fight for a different future."
--Russell Moore, editor in chief, Christianity Today

Author Biography

Diane Langberg (PhD, Temple University) is an internationally recognized psychologist with more than 50 years of experience. She chaired the advisory board of the American Association of Christian Counselors until 2021 and cofounded the Global Trauma Recovery Institute, which trains therapists to assist trauma victims across the world. She is the founder of Langberg-Monroe and Associates, which provides counseling services in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and consults with Christian organizations around the world. Langberg is the author of seven books, including Redeeming Power. Her books have been translated into 10 languages.