Rethinking Faith: What to Say, the Church in Dark Times, and Enjoying Winter Again

This month let's question how and when to speak truth that will be heard, ponder "The Church in Dark Times" by Mike Cosper, and explore ways I've learned to love winter again.

Rethinking Faith: January 2025

Welcome to the January issue of Rethinking Faith. This month we will ask questions about when to speaking truth, ponder Mike Cosper’s new book, The Church in Dark Times, and explore ways I’ve learned to love winter again. Thanks for being here!

How Much Do I Say and When?

I have tried very hard to stay out of politics in all of my writings over the years. Mostly I’ve kept quiet because I don’t fit neatly into any one camp or side. In our polarized world, I don’t want to alienate anyone who might need encouragement in their faith journey. I don’t think that national politics can save us the way some people do, and I’m not willing to get all worked up about things that I cannot change. I’d rather focus on my own little life and sphere of influence. I’d rather tell people about the real Jesus.

Photo by Joshua Sukoff

That said, I’m pretty sure people from my cult days are taking over our country. And the everyday people—who’ve never been in a cult—have no idea what is happening or who they actually put into power. How can I stay quiet about that? But how do I talk in a way that will reach people and not alienate them? These are the questions on my heart today.

Kristin Du Mez

wrote a Substack post yesterday that shook me and made me realize how shockingly serious this is. If you’ve never read her book, Jesus and John Wayne, it’s time to pick up a copy. Du Mez meticulously connects the dots and explains the strange relationship between conservative evangelical Christians and the quest for political power.

Pete Hegseth's America

Certain people affiliated with my cult (Bill Gothard’s IBLP) and others like them have been playing a long game for years. I remember when they started Patrick Henry College in 2000. The goal was to raise up conservative, “godly” men who would become politicians and businessmen so we could take over the country. At least that’s how I remember it as a nineteen year old.

This is not really about politics to me, although politics is involved. It’s about power dynamics and a religious ideology that is pretending to be Christian while preying on people’s fears. I’ve lived in this world, and I don’t want to go back. I understand the bondage of moralism, the oppression of being a woman in Christian patriarchy, and the burden of living in fear of those who are different. It is trippy to me that I escaped my cult only to have it appear that my cult is taking over the country.

The only thing that gives me hope is that I know this system doesn’t actually work. It tries to, but it usually implodes. I’ve watched two churches implode. I’ve watched families implode. Even Bill Gothard’s IBLP finally imploded. People eventually see through the smokescreen and become disillusioned. I hope that when enough people who aren’t brainwashed see the consequences of the system they’ve created, they will stand up and say something so that this whole mess will implode too.

I’m not going to become a political commentator—that’s just not me. I’m still going to focus on truth about Jesus, God, and the relationship He has offered to us because of His amazing love. But sometimes I might not be able to stay quiet. Red flashing lights will be pounding in my head and heart and I’ll have to speak up. Because I know, and because I care too much to stay silent.

If you want to get the full picture of why I’m concerned, research Doug Wilson from Moscow, Idaho. Du Mez mentions him in both her book Jesus and John Wayne and the article I posted. Here is a link to a group who has already done a bunch of the work for you.

“An ideology (and moreover its leader) can consume any and all contradictory facts in its iron jaws, twisting them to support the underlying premise.” ~ Mike Cosper, “The Church in Dark Times

Mike Cosper

’s book, The Church in Dark Times: Understanding and Resisting the Evil that Seduced the Evangelical Movement, ties in perfectly with the things I’m questioning because of it’s focus on ideology. It’s not an easy read and I’m only about half way through, but it is necessary for the world we are living in.

Cosper pairs his thoughts about the evangelical movement with the writings of historian and philosopher Hannah Arendt. Arendt was Jewish by ethnicity, and born in Germany between the world wars. She immigrated to the United States in 1941 where she remained for the rest of her life. Arendt is best known for her writings about totalitarianism.

As Cosper explained the concept of ideology as a story focused on a simple answer that weaves the past, present, and future together, I was fascinated. I heard words I’d said as a young, youth-pastor’s wife before I rethought most of my beliefs. You are going to change the world. This common and grandiose thought is familiar to evangelical youth rallies and conferences. But we aren’t actually going to change the world. No one has ever been able to change the world. Jesus will change it when he returns, but until then, this is the cry of a false ideology.

Ideology is rampant in our modern world on every side of the spectrum. It offers simple explanations to complex and nuanced situations. It pretends to have secret knowledge that ties everything neatly together. Ideology is the basis of conspiracy theories.

“Ideology is seductive precisely because it offers us a vision of spiritual and ecclesial life unbounded by the experiences of failure, spiritual formation, and suffering. “Success” is comprehensible and achievable—just so long as we remain ruthlessly committed to the core idea, the theory of everything. We can reach our city, change the world, or even make one million disciples because the numbers (and the iron logic) never lie.”

Mike Cosper, The Church in Dark Times

You can order Mike’s book here.

"How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!" ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson

For the past few years I’ve been working at learning to love winter again. It’s taken many prayers and a definite shift in attitude. I noticed probably four or five years ago that I was struggling in the winter. It was cold and dark, and my heart felt a bit cold and dark too. Seasonal depression is a real thing and those of us who live in places like Michigan—where the sun disappears for weeks or months at a time—are especially susceptible. We weren’t planning on leaving Michigan with its six months of winter any time soon, so I knew that the change would have to be within me.

I started by embracing the Norwegian concept of hygge. I collected piles of fuzzy blankets, lit candles, used twinkle lights, and drank gallons of tea. I was intentionally conscious about feeling the briskness of the cold air on my face when I bundled up and went outside. Slowly things began to change.

Last year we only had a couple weeks of real snow, but each time I went down to the river behind our house to explore “Narnia” and make reels about it. It was fun, but I wasn’t sure if my inner peace was due to changing or to the fact that winter was shorter than normal.

Wintery river with snow coating the trees - Christy Lynne Wood

This year has been colder, snowier, and more wintery than I’ve seen in a while. And I’m crazy about it. I took a solo trip over the weekend to a tiny house in the woods where I snowshoed for the first time. I ended up going out three times while I was there even though it was ten degrees not counting windchill one of the days. I’ve taken my kids cross country skiing for the first time. All because I wanted to.

Yesterday I took my husband on a tromp along the river in the snow. I’ve discovered that the secret is to walk at a pace where my heart starts to pound and I get a little sweaty. Once I can feel the burn in my legs and I’m gulping in winter air, I stop. As I take deep, cold breaths, pause to let my heart settle, and gaze around me, I suddenly feel incredibly alive! It’s like a cold plunge into Lake Superior in the summer time, and it’s kind of addicting.

I think I might be in love with winter because I can’t wait to get back out there again. Little miracles from God are amazing.

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As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or comments. You can find me on Threads, Instagram, Facebook, in the Substack app, and on my website. I’d love to connect with you on any of these places!

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