By Linda Anne Smith
This work of fiction will take you to a place where religion becomes cult-like, demanding obedience and sacrifice. It will draw you into a world where a call to join a group called Proclaimers of Christ slowly takes over your life, your family, your time, and your finances. What appears to be a good and righteous calling becomes burdensome, and reckless, and even dangerous. Promises to change the world for the better only lead to isolation. Agreements are broken. And you’re alone. And scared. And eventually, you’re so far in, you can’t get out.
If you say the word “cult,” pictures of groups of people all dressing alike, talking alike, and believing alike come to mind. You think of a dangerous hypnotic man leading sheep-like people into drinking poisonous Kool-Aid. It seems far-fetched and something you could never picture yourself falling for. And yet it happens to people all the time. And maybe it happens to all of us in small ways. Maybe it isn’t that far-fetched.
This book compelled me to think about how groups similar to the Proclaimers of Christ often pop up in religious organizations. Churches demand compliance and assimilation and conformity, and many just follow and stop thinking for themselves. Religious groups dictate obedience and loyalty, and the result is bondage. Matthew 23:4-5 from the Message echoes this: “Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help.” How sad! Instead of helping individuals find their God-given uniqueness, we encumber them with rules. Instead of helping persons hear the voice of God for themselves, we urge them to listen to us. Instead of loving others to God, we make them work for acceptance. I don’t think this is what Jesus had in mind when he said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
The dedication of this book sums all this up very well. It reads, “To all who accompany others toward freedom in Love.” That’s the point: freedom not bondage, love not demands. May we walk with others toward freedom in Love!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
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