Battle to Destroy Truth by Claris Van Kuiken. Ed. Edwin P. Elliott. (Reformation Educational Foundation, Manassas, VA). ISBN 1-888578-01-7, $15.95, 340pp. Reviewed by Laurie Vanden Heuvel.

While the women in church office debate was raging in the Christian Reformed denomination, another battle was being waged in the Orland Park CRC, Classis Chicago South of the CRC, and the synod of the CRC This struggle centered on the supposedly Christian writings of Madeleine L’Engle whose books can be found on the shelves of many orthodox churches and Christian schools.

Through a reading list brought home by her daughter Lori from the Christian school author, Claris Van Kuiken began reading some non-fiction writings of Madeleine L’Engle which launched Claris into a world of research, response and rebuff, causing her and her family to leave the church and denomination they had loved. Even though she had proved beyond a doubt that L’Engle denies 1) the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, 2) that Jesus’ incarnation is qualitatively unique (uniquely “God with us,” Immanuel), 3) that there will be a final separation between God and some persons as proclaimed in II Thess. 1:9 and 4) that the Bible possesses a unique authority as the final arbiter in all matters of faith and practice, Claris Van Kuiken discovered an unbelievable obstacle course of ecclesiastical justice. She and her supporters were, at times, the objects of ecclesiastical sabotage as well.

This book is a well-documented and powerful presentation of the New Age heresies of author Madeleine L’Engle which Ms. L’Engle clearly expresses in her non-fiction and cleverly shrouds in “sheep’s clothing” in her fiction.

Although the live characters and real events of the story are local in nature, the lessons to be learned are universal. The “wiles” of Satan found in New Age ideas are being carefully camouflaged today, and they are being marketed through many churches and Christian schools (in some cases unknowingly). For that reason this book is MUST reading for every believer, young people, pastors, church leaders, and Christian and public school teachers.