Thank you for sharing. Though I was not part of this cult directly there was a trickle down effect to our Indy Baptist churches, still is. It is so disturbing. I have found freedom in abiding in Jesus Christ ( and have a few tattoos to prove it 😆).
I really appreciate this post. I also have left the Evangelical fundamental cultish pastor-husband and community. I recently told someone I found more of Jesus outside the church then I found within its walls. It’s a sad thing to say. one of the books that was very eye-opening for me is called “the sin of certainty,” by Peter Enns. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your journey. It will be helpful to many people.
Yes I think that we like to be in control of our own destiny - and that’s what cult like Christianity offers us. It’s that seductive combination of the certainty that we are on God’s good side, and the power of knowing our actions can provoke the responses we want from Him. It’s a dangerous thread that you can find woven in so many expressions of Christianity these days, and it’s such a malicious lie.
Yes, I have traveled through childhood Catholicism--not bad, but impersonal Jesus--to conservative evangelicalism--personal Jesus surrounded by cultural constraints--to mainstream Protestant--personal Jesus but not enough mystics--to a mix of mystical Orthodox-Catholic-Protestant, which feels about as close as I'll get this side of eternity. Always a dance.
“It’s awfully hard for me to watch normal people accept and celebrate damaging ideology from my cult days. It was hard in 2004 and it’s equally hard twenty years later.”
I resonated with this. I’ve had people tell me I’m “still bitter” when I can’t hang with legalists, or when I call for accountability. But you don’t find freedom from captivity only to encourage others to admire your captors.
What you write is timely. I had a discussion with some of the staff at my church this week about how legalism is still alive and well, and seems to be staging a bit of a comeback lately. If we don’t talk about what it is, and why it’s dangerous, who will?
I think this is a brilliant piece, and it encapsulates very eloquently the same sort of things that I would like to have said. Thank you for expressing what you have, how you have.
When my late wifw started watching the Duggar TV series, I was still in deconstruction, and I could see it for what it was. She thought them endearing but also thought that their 'style' wasn't her thing, but I could see straight through to the legalism and suppressed humanity. Unusual, really, becasuse normally she was the one who spotted things like that, not me! She had a much greater wisdom than I have.
I had a thought this morning. I am currently looking after a (recent) widow of my late wife's age; we meet up every couple of weeks and we refresh each other's spirits. We had worked together for nearly 30 years before our respective retirements from our profession, so we know each other very well. I haven't yet asked her about her faith though; I believe she has one but I tend not to talk about that sort of thing anyway. Reason I mention this is because I have had to think carefully about how I would describe my faith should she ask me about it. Also, how to describe Jesus to people who have only seen Him through the filthy lens of organised religion, no matter what form it's in (of course, some forms are worse than others, as you and I both know!)
My answer to my question is unconventional. For me, music has always been my maiin medium, or at least until I started writing. But face-to-face, it's music. And for me, should my friend ask about my faith, I would let her have a collection of Don Francisco music and explain it that way. Most of Don's songs minister love and gentleness, a lack of condemnation, and emphasise the love and gentleness of Jesus. To use one of his song titles, 'Only Love is Spoken Here'. And I think that is how I'm going to approach it. Just an idea at the moment, and of course the subject might not crop up, but as our friendship develops I suppose it will do at some point. And so I am prepared. :D
Thanks again for yet another excellent post, Christy. I really appreciate you and Josh and what you have exemplified together in your journey over the last few years. One day, when we stand before Him,, you will realise how many people you have helped with what you are doing. <tears up>
Thank you, Tony! I’m always so encouraged by your comments. And I love how you are already mentally preparing for a gentle faith conversation with your friend should it arise. 😊 So very good!
Thank you for sharing. Though I was not part of this cult directly there was a trickle down effect to our Indy Baptist churches, still is. It is so disturbing. I have found freedom in abiding in Jesus Christ ( and have a few tattoos to prove it 😆).
You are welcome! Yes, definitely a trickle down effect. So glad you found freedom!
Good article Christy.
Thanks! 😊
I really appreciate this post. I also have left the Evangelical fundamental cultish pastor-husband and community. I recently told someone I found more of Jesus outside the church then I found within its walls. It’s a sad thing to say. one of the books that was very eye-opening for me is called “the sin of certainty,” by Peter Enns. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your journey. It will be helpful to many people.
Thanks for reading and for letting me know that this post was encouraging.
Yes I think that we like to be in control of our own destiny - and that’s what cult like Christianity offers us. It’s that seductive combination of the certainty that we are on God’s good side, and the power of knowing our actions can provoke the responses we want from Him. It’s a dangerous thread that you can find woven in so many expressions of Christianity these days, and it’s such a malicious lie.
“It’s a dangerous thread that you can find woven in so many expressions of Christianity these days, and it’s such a malicious lie.”
This!! ⬆️⬆️
Yes, I have traveled through childhood Catholicism--not bad, but impersonal Jesus--to conservative evangelicalism--personal Jesus surrounded by cultural constraints--to mainstream Protestant--personal Jesus but not enough mystics--to a mix of mystical Orthodox-Catholic-Protestant, which feels about as close as I'll get this side of eternity. Always a dance.
“It’s awfully hard for me to watch normal people accept and celebrate damaging ideology from my cult days. It was hard in 2004 and it’s equally hard twenty years later.”
I resonated with this. I’ve had people tell me I’m “still bitter” when I can’t hang with legalists, or when I call for accountability. But you don’t find freedom from captivity only to encourage others to admire your captors.
What you write is timely. I had a discussion with some of the staff at my church this week about how legalism is still alive and well, and seems to be staging a bit of a comeback lately. If we don’t talk about what it is, and why it’s dangerous, who will?
“If we don’t talk about what it is, and why it’s dangerous, who will?”
Exactly! Those of us who have lived it and seen/felt the consequences are the ones who should be shouting warnings!
I think this is a brilliant piece, and it encapsulates very eloquently the same sort of things that I would like to have said. Thank you for expressing what you have, how you have.
When my late wifw started watching the Duggar TV series, I was still in deconstruction, and I could see it for what it was. She thought them endearing but also thought that their 'style' wasn't her thing, but I could see straight through to the legalism and suppressed humanity. Unusual, really, becasuse normally she was the one who spotted things like that, not me! She had a much greater wisdom than I have.
I had a thought this morning. I am currently looking after a (recent) widow of my late wife's age; we meet up every couple of weeks and we refresh each other's spirits. We had worked together for nearly 30 years before our respective retirements from our profession, so we know each other very well. I haven't yet asked her about her faith though; I believe she has one but I tend not to talk about that sort of thing anyway. Reason I mention this is because I have had to think carefully about how I would describe my faith should she ask me about it. Also, how to describe Jesus to people who have only seen Him through the filthy lens of organised religion, no matter what form it's in (of course, some forms are worse than others, as you and I both know!)
My answer to my question is unconventional. For me, music has always been my maiin medium, or at least until I started writing. But face-to-face, it's music. And for me, should my friend ask about my faith, I would let her have a collection of Don Francisco music and explain it that way. Most of Don's songs minister love and gentleness, a lack of condemnation, and emphasise the love and gentleness of Jesus. To use one of his song titles, 'Only Love is Spoken Here'. And I think that is how I'm going to approach it. Just an idea at the moment, and of course the subject might not crop up, but as our friendship develops I suppose it will do at some point. And so I am prepared. :D
Thanks again for yet another excellent post, Christy. I really appreciate you and Josh and what you have exemplified together in your journey over the last few years. One day, when we stand before Him,, you will realise how many people you have helped with what you are doing. <tears up>
Thank you, Tony! I’m always so encouraged by your comments. And I love how you are already mentally preparing for a gentle faith conversation with your friend should it arise. 😊 So very good!