The Altar: Overcoming Abuse by the Church

By Debbie Vanderslice

The Altar is a ten-chapter non-fiction book that examines the parallel relationship between abuse that goes on in the church today and likens it to the act of rape. By taking a metaphoric look at why God despises authoritative leadership abuse within the church, the author will compare this abuse to the key Biblical text where Jesus drove out the moneylenders and priests for raping, or abusing, those trying to get to the altar, or God. By taking the reader through the actual example of rape itself, part one is entitled,
The Intruder Within. Part one of the book metaphorically uses the rapist as the intruder within the church who has unlimited and unquestionable position, power, and authority Part two of the book, The Exposer Without, brings into focus how Jesus is on the outside looking in. Whereas part one of the book concentrated on how the intruder within, the rapist, gains unlimited positional authority, part two reveals that Jesus seeks to bring healing to His church by exposing truth wherever necessary. Readers will be comforted by the fact they are not alone and that God truly feels the pain, as well as the rage, when His children are raped at the altar. God was close to the broken hearted during Jesus’ time on earth and continues to be today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jan 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489731869

Debbie Vanderslice

Debbie Vanderslice graduated with honors in history (BA) from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, where she played tennis on full scholarship and was selected to the GTE all Southwest honor team. With her strong writing skills and love for God, the Arkansas bred razorback has gone on to work freelance for Day Spring Cards and Celebration as a freelance writer. Debbie has also had Shameless,(New Hope Press) and Gilead Now (WestBow Press) and Behind the Curtain (Tate Publishing) as well as The Dance of the Addition. (Tate)

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 Debbie Vanderslice.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case

of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of

The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

844-686-9607

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible,

English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a

division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy

Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©

1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by

permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3185-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3186-9 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 11/05/2020

2 Chronicles 33:16a He also restored

the altar of the Lord…"(ESV)

Hook: The Altar (Overcoming Abuse by the Church) takes a metaphoric parallel look at why God despises authoritative leadership abuse within the church and compares this abuse to the key Biblical text where Jesus drove out the money lenders for raping, or abusing, those trying to get to the altar, or God.

DEDICATION

To all those who have been abused physically, sexually,

emotionally or spiritually. I know your pain and

struggles. May we seek God during our darkest days

And to Hannah Banana. Stop growing up!!!

To Sherry and Leigh Anne

I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you two.

For giving me hope again

To Lisa, Ginny, Kay

and Kathy and Ann. You guys rock!

And Quincy for believing in me!!!!!!!!!!!!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 - THE INTRUDER WITHIN

Chapter 1:   The Devil is an Angel Too

This opening chapter creatively invites readers to look at how musician, Julie Miller, poetically illustrates how Satan is an angel too according to God’s Word. By drawing upon evil the author then openly portrays that evil is often disguised as light according to the Bible. This beginning chapter uses modern day examples to highlight a Garden of Eden dilemma: Evil is many times disguised and the church is no exception.

Chapter 2:   Money, Sex, and Power

This chapter zeroes in on three often-overlooked reality based facets of society that somehow are mistakenly thought to be taboo within the church. The author draws the parallel modern day example of how positional power is as relevant today within the church for its’ leaders as it was in the day of Christ. Readers will identify with the ‘hoop jumping’ that many times is encouraged by church leaders before one is deemed worthy of serving.

Chapter 3:   The Point of Penetration

By setting up this chapter through the previous chapters and the progression of sin, evil, and unlimited and unaccountable power and position, the author then is able to take readers to the ultimate crime by the church; rape at the altar. Readers will overwhelmingly identify either figuratively and/or literally as the author then uses the act of rape itself, the methods common by the rapist, and the feelings associated with the point.

Chapter 4:   Alone With Chains

Because abuse by the church is many times swept under the rug, this chapter comforts readers in the fact that isolation is a very real thing. Because of the specific methods by the rapist, readers who have been abused go through a ultimately acceptance. Much like Kubler-Ross’s stages of grief, the author keys in on the isolation readers feel after having sought out a place of safety, the church, only to then find themselves thinking, no one will ever believe this happened to me.

Chapter 5:   Desperate Measures

and Sliding Scales

This final chapter in part one brings to the forefront the pain readers feel when they have been raped, or abused, by the church. The author bridges the gap between part one and part two by exposing the intruder within the church and the desperate and bold courage it takes to finally step out of the shame of what happened and expose what lies within the church. By using the visual example of weights and measures Biblically to modern day ‘injustices,’ the author give readers what they want to hear