Understanding Spiritual Abuse: What it is and How to Respond

EMQ » Oct – Dec 2025 » Volume 61 Issue 4

Reviewed by Kyle E. Rice, PhD student of Intercultural Studies at Biola University and founder of a non-profit ministry for individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.   

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The reality of living in a fallen world gives rise to the human capacity for harm and abuse, leaving individuals with the lasting effects of trauma. For Christians seeking to help others heal from trauma, this task can often feel overwhelming and under-resourced, especially when the trauma comes from within the church.  

Karen Roudkovski addresses the challenging but important issue of spiritual abuse in the book. The book’s aims are to raise awareness and knowledge of the subject, clarify what it entails, examine its harmful effects, and equip readers with practical strategies for treating and preventing it. By fostering a deeper understanding of these dynamics, readers will be better prepared to help those suffering from its profound consequences. 

The book’s strength lies in its comprehensive exploration of spiritual abuse in the first two chapters. These foundational chapters offer a thorough analysis and evaluation of spiritual abuse research and its dynamics, giving the reader a deeper understanding of the problem. Roudkovski’s robust clinical background and voice create a highly academic yet accessible narrative, ensuring that the book caters to academics and those unfamiliar with the subject – a rare balance missing from much of the material on the subject. 

Central to the discussion is that a distinguishing feature of spiritual abuse is the inappropriate use of spiritual power and authority for control or manipulation. Crucially, the author contends that such abuse is not confined to specific religious institutions or particular theological frameworks but can manifest in any context where spirituality is present. She emphasizes the problematic and complex nature of spiritual abuse, asserting that it can often go unnoticed and be varied, including towards ministry leaders.  

The book’s third, fourth, and fifth chapters provide an overview of what spiritually abusive situations can look like, how they manifest, their relationship with control, and the harm they can cause. The last three chapters (chapters 6–8) are encouraging and empowering, offering guidance on assisting individuals who have experienced spiritual abuse. 

This book will appeal to a diverse audience in various counseling and ministerial contexts, particularly those seeking a better understanding of how to help spiritual abuse survivors. The book aims not only to educate but also to be a voice to inspire action within the church. The author even quotes Diane Langberg’s call that trauma is the most significant mission field in the twenty-first century (188). However, the book could have benefitted from even more discourse and research on the necessity for a call to action. Survivors of spiritual abuse are a part of the landscape of the Church’s missional field. Christians need to be moved and prepared to engage with and aid in Christ-centered healing. 

The book is also for those seeking to develop healthy church and ministerial systems. It will equip Christian leaders and missionaries to be aware and proactive in their practices, attitudes, and actions to avoid and safeguard against inadvertently participating in spiritual abuse. Although discussing the realities of spiritual abuse is challenging, the church is not immune, as this book draws attention to.  

For Further Reading

When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion by Laura E. Anderson (Brazos Press, 2023). 

Trauma-Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healers by Charles Kiser and Elaine A. Heath (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2023). 

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EMQ, Volume 61, Issue 4. Copyright © 2025 by Missio Nexus. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from Missio Nexus. Email: [email protected].