The church is a place where people across the world have found faith in Christ, hope, love, meaning, purpose and a deep connection with fellow believers. Sadly, for many, it is a place where they have been abused, traumatised and hurt beyond measure – thanks to the abuse of power and authority.

Sadly, Christendom has often mimicked the world or conflated itself with powers that be. We have worked towards building an external kingdom. Throughout the ages, Christendom has joined with – gotten into bed with – secular powers such as the state and the king. When that happens, the people of God lose their prophetic voice. Instead of bringing light to human affairs, the church blends in so well that it can hardly be seen. Light illuminates: it does not conceal. By investing in Christendom rather than the way of Christ, we have dimmed that light and lost our way.

Diane Langberg

In Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church, Diane Langberg, a clinical psychologist with decades of experience in trauma counselling, offers a thoughtful examination of how power is used—and misused—within the church and other institutional settings. She explores the dynamics of authority, the mechanisms of abuse, and how those in leadership positions can either facilitate healing or perpetuate harm. Langberg’s book is both a critique of systemic failures and a call for the church to reclaim a Christ-centered, servant-hearted approach to leadership.

“We are God’s dissidents every time we respond in offices, in communities, in churches, in schools, and in any areas of abuse. We do this as a part of systems, many of them with good and godly aims. We must not go to sleep. We must watch. We must not assume that our family, church, community, country, or organization is always right just because the people in it use the right words. We must never agree to “protect” the name of God by covering ungodliness. In Ephesians 5:11, Paul warns us not to participate in the deeds of darkness but instead to expose them.

Diane Langberg

Key Themes

1. The Nature of Power
   Langberg begins by discussing the concept of power itself—what it is, how it operates in human relationships, and the responsibility it carries. She distinguishes between power used for good (to serve, protect, and nurture) and power that is corrupted (used to manipulate, control, and exploit). She argues that power is not inherently evil but must be stewarded with wisdom and humility.

2. The Church and Its Misuse of Power
   A significant portion of the book critiques the ways in which churches have failed to address abuse within their walls. Langberg points out that churches, often unwilling to confront uncomfortable truths, tend to protect their institutions over vulnerable individuals. She highlights how unhealthy power structures can enable abuse, whether through toxic leadership, spiritual manipulation, or the silencing of victims.

3. Abuse in Its Various Forms
   The book does not limit its discussion of abuse to the sexual scandals that have rocked religious institutions. Langberg broadens the conversation to include emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse, showing how these forms of harm can be just as devastating. She provides real-life examples from her counseling work to illustrate how these dynamics play out in faith communities.

4. The Path to Redemption
   Despite her sobering analysis, Langberg does not leave readers in despair. In the final part 5 of the book ‘Power Redeemed’, he offers a vision for redemption—one where power is exercised as Jesus modelled it: through servanthood, sacrifice, and truth-telling. She calls the church to repentance, transparency, and a deeper commitment to justice for the wounded and marginalized.

“Most humans intend to use their power for good. They want to earn more money, grow the church, protect good programs, or preserve a good reputation. Adam and Eve told themselves they were pursuing a greater likeness to God. They seemed blind to the fact that they were pursuing a seemingly good goal through utterly ungodly means. We do the same thing. We tell ourselves that measures such as membership growth and financial gain in a ministry are proof of likeness to God. We then make decisions that silence unwelcome truths about fraud or abuse and tell ourselves the cover-up “preserves God’s honor.” We say we are using our power to seek likeness to God when in fact what we are doing looks nothing like him. It is not difficult to be seduced into such thinking.””

Diane Langberg

Strengths of the book.

Langberg writes with a rare mixture of both psychological expertise and deep pastoral concern. She is not merely critiquing but offering a way forward. She consistently ties her insights to Scripture, making her arguments compelling for Christian readers.

Given the numerous scandals involving church leaders and abuse that seem to be breaking every week, this book addresses an urgent need in churches and Christian organisations today. Some readers, especially those in leadership, may find Langberg’s critiques difficult to swallow. However, this discomfort is precisely what makes the book necessary. While Langberg provides personal and pastoral insights, there aren’t any detailed, practical steps for churches to implement systemic change. That work must come after reading a book like this.

Understand that you cannot singlehandedly change an entire system; you are not called to do so. Yet we are to speak truth about our systems. This is difficult to do and sometimes quite risky.

Diane Langberg

Final Verdict

Redeeming Power is a must-read for pastors, church leaders, and anyone concerned about the misuse of authority within religious spaces. It is a sobering but ultimately hopeful work that challenges the church to be a place of healing rather than harm. Langberg’s wisdom, drawn from years of working with survivors of abuse, makes this book an essential resource for understanding and confronting the realities of power in faith communities.

I recommend that church leadership teams order a copy for everyone in leadership, and conduct a series of book review discussions, to include an analysis of your churches positioning on the matters raised in the book. Get ahead of people being hurt by declaring your firm commitment to a culture of safety within your church – and what that looks like in terms of behavioural standards that are non-negotiable.

“Every time we treat someone with dignity rather than shame, respect rather than disregard, concern rather than exploitation, kindness rather than brutality, and careful attention rather than turning away, we are doing things that are the reverse of trauma and evil.

Diane Langberg