This book de-allegorizes Edwards' earlier thoughts depicted in his bestseller A Tale of Three Kings. Both books deal with life under unjust authority—an experience that almost everyone goes through at some point in time. The "devastated Christian" of the title is someone that has been "sold a bill of goods" by becoming committed to an unhealthy Christian movement, one where the leader demands more than he gives, and seeks to make overreaching decisions about believers' personal lives. Sadly, this is not uncommon, since no one has unlocked the key to instantaneous sanctification (though many have tried).
Many Christians go through this experience of disillusionment coming out of their youth. After spending a few years serving a thriving church movement, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we ripen enough to spot the weaknesses in our leaders. What do you do when you see weakness in your leaders? When should the weakness be a red flag that you are in a truly unhealthy church?
Edwards' counsel is to look for a few keys which I believe are quite telling:
- "Specialism": "We are the move of God in this generation."
- "Unity": If anyone doesn't meet with us, they are damaging Christian unity.
- "Covering": Decisions have to be approved by the elders. After all, every believer needs "covering."
In the course of the book, Edwards also tackles the idea of following a "New Testament pattern"—an idea fraught with danger when divorced from its cultural context and taken to extremes.
In the last chapter, Edwards gives concrete counsel to his "devastated Christian," most of which resonates with his advice in A Tale of Three Kings:
1. Broadcasting bitter experiences with everyone you meet is an unhealthy way of seeking release. It would be better to seek not to dishonor Christ by bashing those who have served him in an unhealthy way.
Edwards has right motives here in advising discretion; however, as other reviewers have pointed out, survivors of significant abuse need to find significant outlets to better understand their pain. He only lightly touches on this—
2. Christian counseling is healthy for those who have undergone significant or long-lasting psychological abuse.
3. Don't give up on structured Christianity. For all the weaknesses, there is a lot of good to be found.
4. Don't surround yourself with bitter people. Try to find some positivity.
5. Finally, "You are going to have to start believing. You are going to have to believe that there are movements born of God. You are going to have to trust Christians and [Christian] workers again." (p. 44)
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