When We Were on Fire by Addie Zierman

I am struggling with how to review When We Were on Fire by Addie Zierman. I normally very much enjoy autobiographies or memoirs, but I don't know what to say about this one. Ms. Zierman grew up in a loving Christian home, attended church with her family, had good friends and many opportunities, yet she blames everyone and anyone else for treating her in ways she sees as ungodly. She was never abused or molested, yet she sees herself as a victim, violated and damaged by others in the church. Her growing up years would be considered fairy tale by many, yet she disdains everything that she was taught. She is bitter, critical, and unloving, yet she only sees others as that way, not herself. 

Most of what happened that turns Addie from both God himself and the church is at the hands of a teenage boyfriend. He is legalistic and overreaching, yet he loves God and on some level, loves her too. Later in life she needs extensive counseling to get over this relationship. She also feels rejected when the women in her Bible study don't "see" that she is lonely. She never tells them, but leaves the group when they can't read her mind. She calls herself a cynic and a doubter. I call her a whiner and an exaggerator. I'm sorry that she had hard times, yet who among us doesn't? People are flawed, sinful, they can't always be trusted. That's why we call ourselves Christians. We follow Christ, not other human beings.

If you too, struggle with evangelistic Christianity, then you may enjoy and agree with Addie Zierman's point of view. You might be glad to find out you are not alone in your feelings. If Addie's story helps you work through your own difficulties, then I am glad for you, but reading this memoir was no pleasure for me. I would also warn the reader that it contains quite a bit of swearing, including liberal use of the "f" word.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my fair and honest review.