I am a 58 year old female who raised and homeschooled my two beautiful daughters in a God fearing purity preaching culture. Today we are all struggling to remove ourselves from the toxicity of the teachings we were indoctrinated in. Removing ourselves is heartbreaking to say the least. We have loved ones that we dearly LOVE that just can't understand us. And I don't fault any of them they too are living and adhering to what they have been taught. We are scared for a multitude of reasons. I am needing help. Eric, is there anyway you can start a platform to take us to a safe place where we can be heard and connected to others who are going through this process? One of your main points in my opinion was not to jump into some other BS. That's OK to be untethered and to not have answers. I thank you for your vulnerability! Brene' Brown would be extremely pleased with your work! I am sending you vibes of strength and peace as you continue your journey. Connie
Just stick to good people, i.e. people who actually do good and love others, without any preaching. And stay away from toxic fighters of "sin" and "sinners".
Watching this right now, Eric. First off, I appreciate the work you’ve done to root out evil. I am a Christian who did not grow up in a Christian home, but my mother was always friendly to things of God, and allowed me to go to Baptist Sunday schools as a boy, so I got saved young and I have been a Baptist since before I ever walked into an IFB church around age 19. I would encourage you to go to the Author and Finisher of our faith. Men will fail us, men constantly fail. The devil has a special interest in churches and in seeing ministries fail. I would just encourage you to one day maybe come back and approach the scripture and fall in love with your God again. Our heavenly father meant what he said when he saved you, and that covenant is forever. I ended up attending Hyles-Anderson, but only for a brief time, and during that time I was a Hyles nut, and now, at age 53, I have a much more realistic understanding of him. But that didn’t change Jesus or his precious promises, or the goodness of God in any way. God saw what you went through, Eric, the abuses, the heartaches, the frustration, and you have to believe me when I tell you it broke his heart more than yours. If I did all these videos like you have, I could imagine having a crisis of Faith myself. That’s why, one day, I am hoping you can come back to Jesus and reacquaint yourself with your first love before men spoiled it The Lord loves you, Eric. I wish you the best.
I'm def. a Christian. When Christ came in, He gave me a whole new perspective on life. I thank the LORD for what He did for me on the cross. He's been so good to me even in the hard times. He's faithful.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, not a follower of some church or denomination. Accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior saved me in every way. I've constantly been let down by churches, but never by God
Amen, there’s no excuse. Satan created‘church’ buildings to deceive people. Remember they are 501C3 buildings, which is own by the government. Acts 7:48 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,” King James Version (KJV)
You sound very feminine a straightforward question are you heterosexual or not. I think it’s a fair question. You never met Jesus to begin with so you weren’t believer an hour there’s no such thing you just don’t know him.
@@Mushroomstops yes! I relate. For me it was impossible to see the perspective of the real reality until after I processed my deconversion, then my eyes were open, everything started making so much sense, then peace happens.
My home is in the grey Stepping out of the box Asking questions that get a look And judgment I make a comfy bed in the grey I weep with my questions And find delight in the wondering What I thought was my foundation Is the very thing that has kept me From myself. Welcome to the grey....I love that sentence, OP. I just might do an art piece and title it with that! I hope you don't mind me borrowing your thought/words. I am not a "Christian" anymore. I still believe in God and Jesus, but I can no longer associate with the whole of Christianity, with where it has been and continues to be. I've found that my identity used to be so wrapped up in religion that I had no CLUE who I was. It's like being a zombie. I kept getting messages that told me my feelings didn't matter and were also deceptive. Then why did God give them to us?? The heart is deceitfully wicked?? What about the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God being IN me? Is it still wicked then?!?! I have towed the line and did everything the church TOLD me to do, including staying in an abusive marriage to a man who claimed to be a Christian and almost killed me, my souls and spirit. God is NOT ok with that!! I have struggled with the "god" of the OT, how abusive that god is and trying to do mental gymnastics to even that god up with the Father God Jesus spoke of. It's INSANITY!! I am on an incredible journey. It's been scary, sad, depressing, angering, joyful, delightful and is now settling into peace. *True* peace. I'm so grateful for this video and everyone's comments ❤
Over 50 years of being born again, about 4 I left due to the same disappointments you have experienced. You know what kept me in the faith? Learning to be still and enter into the presence of The Father. You know…BE still and know I am God…. It’s a learned thing…but very rewarding! Blessings Brother!
When presented with information outside your previous education and experience, you were open to adjusting your outlook instead of dismissing the new data to maintain illusions that were causing tangible harm. That takes real courage, as well as a passion for truth and justice. It will be interesting to see where your journey takes you, no matter where you end up; please feel free to update us from time to time, whenever you reach a new stage along the way. I truly appreciate everything that you do to address issues of abuse. As someone who experienced rape as a child, within a different (non-IFB) cultural context that caused it to be badly handled, what you are doing for victims within the IFB community is so very important. As a species we will probably never be entirely free of abuse, but we can work towards a society where, instead of protecting abusers and organizations, we dedicate ourselves to preventing abuse and offering victims healing and justice. Thank you for the work that you do.
Are you doing okay? I know how hard it is. I am an ex-mormon. I thought I was still a Christian. These days I can't identify with Christians anymore. They portray so much hate. I just wanted to follow the example of Jesus.
I'm also a recent exmormon. Forty-one years in the church as a strong believer. I think mormons do believe in christ but in their own version of him. Same for God. Its been a difficult time for me these last few months. I know what I no longer believe but now I have to figure out what I do believe. I can honestly say right now I don't believe anything. And that scares me because it feels so lonely. The thought of a God who wants to test his children's faith just seems so cruel. Especially since he hasn't really given anything to truly grasp onto.
@@debrawallace4542 Ex-Mormon spent forty-one years in the church as a strong believer. Do you feel like you have wasted 41 years of your life being a Mormon? If I spent 41 years of my life in lies, I would be depressed. I would lose my faith. I would not know what to believe anymore. Where is the truth? Where can I can the truth? Can truth be discovered?
One of the reasons people misrepresent God / are confused about God is the horrible translation errors in our bibles made by clerks of "a certain denomination". They had no clue about God's intend, so made it fit their conviction. Luckely the original line is clearly visible. 1: God created us after His own image and likeness. Gen 1:27. 2: Man fell. That is what you see in this world: lust, greed, selfishness, strange philosophies, sicknesses, corruption, terrorism, death, etc, etc. Genesis 3. 3: God, the spirit of life, manifests fully in Christ, pays the debt for mankinds fall so we can be indwelled again by His Spirit and be transformed back to origin. John 14-17. Pure grace, love, power of God for His creation. Hence the divine healing miracles and casting out of demons His first friend, i and many others experience up to this day! Some examples of these idiotic translation errors. Saved, from the Greek Sozo actually means: made complete, brought back to origin. Eternal life from the Greek Zoë means: life of God, divine life. "You will see Jesus coming on the clouds" actually reads: "You will perceive Jesus from a heavenly perspective"... who He is, what He did, who you are IN Him. "Everyone not found in the book of life will be thrown in the lake of fire" actually reads: "Everything not found in the book of life....". Every lie we believed about God and ourselves will vanish through Jesus's truth. Wrath from the Greek Orge means PASSION. So there is no wrath of God upon mankind. God IS love! Wrath from the Greek Thumos also means PASSION. There goes the "bowls of wrath" poured out by God over humanity... it's "bowls of boisterous PASSION" through Chris that are poured outt!!! Etc, etc, etc, look it up in the Kittel Theological Dictionary or in any Greek/Hebrew Strong's app. It's there. So now we have ignorant preachers parotting the lie that we have to be saved from God's wrath by Jesus (who is God....) and "have to repent or go to hell". Utter nonsense. In stead it is: God restores us through Christ by His own atoning blood sacrifice and indwelling Holy Spirit, from mankind's fall, to His own image and likeness (Christlikeness) because of... passion. For God so loved the world.... God cannot be tempted to do evil.... There is no turning or shifting with Him.... If you don't love you don't know God, for God is love.... The goal of all instruction is... love The Father Himself loves you.... Jesus healing all..... love Jesus raising the dead..... love Jesus casting out demons.... love Jesus controlling nature..... love If wrath would be in God, it would be the tenth fruit of the Spirit.... and it is not! Etc, etc , etc.
Just wanted to let you know, Mr. Skwarczynski, that what you are doing is thoughtful, educational, and very honest. Best wishes to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing. My faith was gradually chipped away. I’ve been lost. The biggest thing for me now if facing the fact that I’ve lost a community. I’ve recently moved and I’m alone. I haven’t found any friends. I’ve even thought about joining a church just for the friendship. I just can’t. I now consider myself agnostic. It’s made me a little lost because so much of my faith defined me. Once again thank you for sharing. This has helped me a lot.
I lost my faith a couple years ago. I'm still dealing with it. I know there will be those atheists out there who would immediately do the high-five thing, I even get it. But I know what it's like when your faith has defined that much of your life, for better or worse, and now you're looking at a world without it. But it can be very fulfilling. I wish you much luck on your journey, brother. Don't be afraid to discover.
Eric - Hear me out. I had a nearly identical thought as where you’ve arrived. One thing to keep in mind: Most “Christians” were raised in Church - they are in the Church, among true believers, but not believers themselves. Like non believer children growing up in Church, their entire family is super involved in Church or Ministry. The first 18 years of their life, they have no choice but to be there. They become adults and sometimes work at Church, or marry a true believer. People who aren’t raised in Church, then get saved and start standing Church - these are usually the demographic of people who live transformed lives. Now, if you look in the Bible, the Apostles still sinned. Paul (The most transformed man in the Bible) says why do I do the thing I hate? I want to do this, but I do that… etc. No one in the Bible lived a Christian life that you may have had built up in your mind (to be without hypocrisy). We all eventually say or do something hypocritical. I got to the point where I was once saying Bye to all these Christian friends I made, I thought I was on my way to being a full blown non believer. I was stuck on “is God super natural , or not?” Am I just brainwashing myself with the Bible & sermons? Or is the Holy Spirit actually living in people. I really needed to know if God was supernatural, or if I’m just the product of people sharing information for thousands of years worth off generations. I asked all my Christian friends to pray for me, cause I couldn’t. I met up with them in person one by one, in hopes they can convince me to stay & continue to believe. The day after meeting with the last friend, I got a haircut at a new barbershop. The Barber was doing all the talking, I was too depressed to engage much. She knew my name was Ken, at some point out of nowhere she said “You should really start going back to Church Ken.” My heart sank, I didn’t tell her anything about having been a Christian & there’s no clues whatsoever that I might be one. No tats, no cross on my neck, nothing. And this it was a very non believer part of California, you are a weirdo if you’re a Christian, super rare to ever met one out & about. She went on to tell me her testimony & at the end really encouraged me to go back to Church. I said nothing. The next day, I was at Walmart & I heard someone say the word “Bibles” just behind me. It was a group of young adults, I was in my early 30’s, I asked if they just said Bibles? We talked, they told me they’re Christians & invited me to their Church. I got one of the dudes numbers, his name’s Axel. I thought that was interesting. Immediately after that, I went to In & Out (a restaurant) the place was packed, there was only one seat available. Like a barstool type seat. I sat down, the guy next to me was eating and watching someone speak on his phone. He told me he’s a Pastor, he just retired today, and the guy speaking is the new Head Pastor of the Church. He then ministered to me for like 20 minutes straight, and that whole message was imploring me to come BACK to Christ. And even how sin had lead me to the non believing path I was on. He also happened to be Korean, I got saved at a small Korean Church that was big on Evangelism, a Korean Pastor shared the Gospel with me and lead me to Christ at 21. So that happened. Then the next day, I went to Chipotle, and just as I was about to eat, I heard someone say “Holy Spirit.” I look to my left, it’s a Man with his Wife and they just got done praying for their food. I liked right at him, he looked at me and greeted me. I asked if he just said Holy Spirit, he confirmed. Then invited me to sit & eat with them. I sat with them, we were talking… I told them how strange it is, I just keep meeting Christians everyday now (From it never ever happening, ever) to every day, back to back. I told them about each instance up to that point so far. They eventually told me what Church they go to. I recognized the name & mentioned I think that’s where the young adults at Walmart I met said they go to, the guy asked what their names were, I said I got the number of one dude, his name’s Axel. The guy paused, and looked me right in the eye and says “That’s my Son.” And then he tells me his name is Axel Senior. Then, the next day. An acquaintance whom I’ve never hung out with one on one. Someone that doesn’t know me like that & I only know at a group setting level, texted me & asked if I would join her at Starbucks where she was studying. I went, we wound up grabbing lunch nextdoor right away. This girl is super Godly, all about God, on fire for Christ. Out of absolutely nowhere, she just talks for like 45 mins straight and tells me how she just came out of her lowest point ever as a Christian, nearly identical circumstances, only she had already passed through where I was currently at. It turned into this amazing testimony of how she went from rock bottom Spirituality, to the coast with God that she’s ever been. I didn’t open up at all, but that really impacted me. I thought about what she said so much. I wanted that so badly. The next day was like Labor Day or something. I pulled up to the Gym at 5AM. I’m parked in front, just about to go inside & it suddenly hit me - God IS Supernatural! God reached me! God talked to me through all these people who are His, people I’ve never met - they super naturally said all the right things, telling me to go back to Church, somehow knowing I was a serious believer who suddenly stopped going to Church & heading on my way out of being a believer and into being secular for the first time in over 10 years. It felt so personal, there’s 8 billion people on the planet, but somehow God knows me & loves me, and cares for me. It felt as though God reached down from Heaven, through the roof of my car & touched my heart right there in that parking lot, in front of the Gym at 5 in the morning. I just started balling! Crying my eyes out. I went running right into the arms of my Loving Father. God LOVES you Eric! Call upon God, tell God you want to believe. Ask all the prayer warriors you know to pray for you. You can run a thousand miles away from God, and it can feel like you’d have to run a thousand miles back in order to come back to God, but all you have to do is turn around, and He’s right there, with arms Wide Open!
Your kind heart always shines thru and I have wondered how you continued to believe…hang in there cause there a a lot of us who just can’t believe anymore💖
I feel like I could talk with you for hours & share a similar story with a wider lens. I grew up as a Preachers kid in a Pentecostal home. Different denomination, same problems. I ended up in a dysfunctional & emotionally abusive marriage which I felt trapped in for 16 years because I was taught that divorce was an unforgivable sin. On my own journey after seeing endless hypocrisy and abuses in the church, I walked away & eventually had the courage to also walk away from my marriage. That freedom opened up a long series of questioning everything that I was indoctrinated with from birth (still am). I've called it "the Unraveling" because when you're no longer under religions fear, you begin to unlearn & it unravels all of what your identity always was. Suddenly you have the freedom to ask yourself - who am I & what do I believe? I've been on this Unraveling journey for 5 years & today hearing this is the first time I've heard something similar to my story. Truth seeking is a difficult journey. Truth telling is 10 times harder because of the backlash, but know this. I think there are tens maybe hundreds of thousands like us who feel very alone & isolated on their journeys. What you're doing matters.
Thank you for being honest about the severe abuse that you have experienced in the church and where you are as a result of that. As an MK that was harmed and surviving an abusive marriage from a man who claimed to be a Christian, as well as pastors who blamed instead of protected, I feel like I understand what you’re saying. The church is a terrifying place for me to be for me in many ways. My personal relationship with God has been very different than that , although I have struggled with that as well at times. My relationship with God was all I had many times in my life and what is still carrying me through. I think there’s a lot of sickness and hypocrisy in the church and it’s a good thing that these things are coming out for all the see.
I predicted this outcome some time ago. It’s not too different from my experience since becoming a cop. When you spend all your time dealing with liars and crooks and evil people, and the “normal” people revile you, pretty soon you lose all faith in humanity. I am a horrifically cynical person now, and my christianity is the only thing that keeps me from total misanthropy. Similar experience for you dealing with the worst of christianity, it was inevitable that your faith would be chipped away. So while I disagree with your conclusion I absolutely have no judgement for you, I see how you got here. I get it.
I appreciate the lack of judgement and the honest pushback. I would say that what I can’t shake is that I didn’t chase down the worst until this past year and a half or so. Up until then, it just kept happening. Over and over. It found me.
"...dealing with the worst of Christianity." "Many will say Lord, didn't I (fill in the blank). And Jesus will say 'depart from me. I never knew you." "The worst of Christianity" are tares in the wheat. They are false and fake. Jesus said they went out from us because they were never part of us." Blessings.
@@setfree2685 the funny thing is christianity is fake and jesus is real. Christianity dragged jesus into their false religion. ACTS 17:11. Im still searching the scriptures for the word Christianity or where jesus says to convert to Christianity.
Much love for you and the message you are getting out. I stumbled on to your channel and am now hooked. I walked away from the IFB Cult 27 years ago. I have seen so many families destroyed, individuals crushed, and faith devastated. I understand the thoughts and feelings you have shared. Just want to encourage to keep doing what you are doing. I see this as a great help to many people.
Like so many here , I have my own horrid story. The people , pride, lies, bitterness sicken my memories. But Jesus has never let me down. Thank you for your work.🙏🏻
Thank you for your honesty and openness. I, personally, have been immensely blessed by your videos and podcasts through my own abusive experience. So glad to hear that you will continue to steadfastly expose the ugliness. Without outlets like this, those experiencing church abuse tend to feel isolated and like no one understands. Thank you for bringing the light. ❤️
Thank you. I am 50 plus years old and I have been in church since a child. I have been in an in between space and knowing I am not alone makes me feel normal. So thank you for being honest. It’s hard to tune out all the faith noise sometimes
I identify as an Agnostic bordering on Buddhist after what my family experienced in the IFB. Pretty much everything that you post about resonates with me and I appreciate you more than you know. It has been cathartic and validating to a degree that I did not know I needed considering I am 47 and left the IFB in my late teens.
My family was in ministry. My grandpa was a pastor. My Dad was a deacon. I grew up in church. Sadly Dad fell away. drugs porn.ect Religion failed me. But God did not. Jesus is amazing. I am more than my upbringing. I am God's beloved daughter. I sense you know how Loved you are! Thank you for sharing your story. Prayed for you today. Pray for me too.
Thank you for sharing, that took a lot of courage and energy. I look forward to your future videos and your passion for the protection of children is evident.
Good dialog, very well said and very relatable. Thank you for addressing this abuse. Spiritual abuse is a very complex journey. It's important to share these stories and let people forage their way through their own journey. No judgment...just perspective.
Thanks for your tireless effort to expose IFB abuse. It requires honesty and bravery. Admitting you're no longer Christian requires the same. I live with that also. Keep on being the amazing, kind, and open person you are. ❤
A true believer has a walk with Jesus and the label of a church doesn't matter. If you say you are no longer a Christian, then the word of God would say you never were. Jesus loves you Eric.
I recently left my faith and I thought I was never going to be ok. I don’t know how I feel about anything either. I long to believe but I legit do not and I can’t force it. Good has come from it and the more I am aware of the toxicity that I came from the more I never want to be apart of it again. I was so blind for so long.
I recently deconstructed and reconstructed. I was where you are about two years ago. Now, I have learned that I can’t walk away from God. He’s done too much. But, church attendance/activity, I just can’t do.
As a humanist, I draw inspiration from and feel sympathy for every human who wrestles with the big questions while holding on to his own values and moral bearing. I have learned much from your channel and appreciate the work you do exposing the abuses of your former community. I wish you peace and joy in your journey on this beautiful planet.
Humanist, atheist same right at least to you just asking. If so the Bible calls you a fool. Psalms 14:1 (KJV) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
@@Cincymale79 We've all been where you are at, we know your thoughts, beliefs and intentions. Changing your core beliefs gives you a complete opposite, 190 degree turn of perspective from what one had as a believer. Most of us who has been where you are at, a cult member, will not waste their time arguing with you because your comments come across as accusatory, know it all person of faith who never intends to open his mind to see the other perspective. You should know, if you are seeking truth, answers and reasoning, you need to come across differently than you do for others to have an open, honest and mutually beneficial conversations where you may learn some things. I don't know you but I do know you hold strong beliefs but are weary like all of us had been before, that same crossroad you sit at now. I know that you are here to seek answers, you are curious but you're using a front to shield your real intention because your core beliefs is playing tricks on your mind causing confusion making you respond in the fashion you were conditioned to. It's okay to question some or all of what you were told was "truth". We all were lied to because the leaders don't wan't to lose members to the truth. They lose power when they lose members of their cult. Their words/lies are designed to keep your mind closed and only focused on the lies for their benefit, not yours. Think about that and take all the time you need.
@@Monipenny1000 you mentioned something about truth. So is the common establishment view that we've been taught in the school system your version of "truth"?
I still consider myself a Christian, but have changed my views a lot in the past year. I'd like to share more with you, but don't feel safe in a public forum. Thank you for your honesty. It is refreshing!
You're doing a great job. You don't need a label. Atheist, agnostic, believer, non-believer. You've asked the right questions in the past. If you would want a spiritual life in the future, you will find it on your own. And if not, the worldly world is not all that bad.
It’s easy for humans to slide from good intentions and service to God to selfish, greedy actions…..On a worship team I realized I could be focused on praising God or I could assume a posture of “hey look at me sing up here everyone!”
I appreciate your honesty, I can imagine how difficult this has been for you. I work within the spiritual abuse realm as well (more focused on the United Pentecostal Church organization) and can completely understand how you would get to this point. It's gut wrenching to hear all these stories (many who privately reach out) and to see all the dishonesty and corruption. I am a Christian, but feel the same about the institutional church as you do. I want nothing to do with it. I've been unchurched for about 14 yrs now and I guess would characterize myself as a "spiritual misfit". lol That's the best label I can come up with. I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your podcast and am thankful you will be continuing your work. It's very valuable.
Question: Did you leave Christianity because there were bad people in the Church and bad churches, or because you don't believe Jesus is God made flesh to rescue man? I watched the whole episode and it seemed entirely focused on the former while never addressing the latter. As many condemn, detest and rebuke the former while affirming the latter, can you please clarify?
Thank you for sharing. Like you, I don’t see myself ever walking into a church again. Like you, the church has damaged my faith as well. For me, this is a hard place to be spiritually. I understand where you are coming from and appreciate the work you do to advocate for victims.
I’m totally going through exactly what you are Eric about the church single handed destroying my faith. I am a former member of Faith Baptist Church in Wildomar, only attended for 3/4 years but did enough damage in that short time to where I’m questioning everything about what I once believed.
Because they arent the Church, all they are is random people picking up Bibles and " teaching you" with no authority or knowledge and they confuse and destroy peoples faith. U may have been brainwashed against Catholicism and Orthodoxy but they are the Church. Check out the Apostolic Church Fathers to begin with, history will show you the truth. God bless
Thank you for your honesty. Ask God your questions instead of deciding what He is like by evaluating those who say stuff about Him. Consider the properties of light and darkness. One cannot be overcome.
I've been watching your videos for the last couple of years. As an ex-JW, I could relate so much with the stories you and your guests shared. I watched this video with tears in my eyes. I'm an atheist, but my heart is heavy - no glee here. This is such a hard, painful journey. But it is necessary. I wish you comfort and joy in your recovery.
Thank you for sharing this. Growing up at FBC Hammond under Hyles and Schaap, my faith started falling apart years ago in college when Schaap was arrested and I've been struggling with it ever since. There is a large part of me that no longer believes in what I was taught, but believes like you in the sense that we don't know what is out there and what the truth is. There is also a part of me that is terrified of not believing because God will kill my entire family as punishment to make me come back to him. The fact that THAT is how I view the God I was raised to believe in just goes to show why so many of us that were raised in the IFB leave. I resonate with what you said about what is a "real Christian". if everyone that does anything inappropriate, wrong, mean, evil, sinful, etc. is not a real Christian then where are the real Christians? You can't praise and revere a person as a man of God and then just use the "they aren't really with us" excuse when they mess up. I do know a couple of people who are Christians that are good people, but considering the thousands of Christians I grew up with, I should know more than 5-8 people who could be considered "real Christians" (and it's sad that for me that just means non-judgmental and kind). Thank you for making this video! I absolutely love your show and have since the beginning. Thank you for giving a voice to those of us who have suffered at the hands of evil men!
The Bible says that there will be a great falling away. Elijah, at one point felt like he was the only Christian, so it's not a new thing. Having a relationship with God doesn't rely on even ONE other person. And to separate cult and culture from truth, just take the Bible on its own, without anyone else defining or interpreting it for you. And don't just read special verses or certain Books. Listen to the audio Bible in entirety, with thought, prayer, and comparing Scripture with Scripture. I am confident that if you are WILLING for God to be true and every man a liar, you will. Let God be true, and every man a liar. The Bible says that.
Hi Alissa - I pastor a little church half a world away from Indiana, but spent my younger years among IFB's also. I don't know if this will help, but Christians often use the word "Cult" as a pejorative term, but what that word means depends on who you are talking to. However, the definition I usually give our people is that cultism is the belief that acceptance with God is in the group. "God accepts me because I am a ___________" Of course no IFB would ever say that out loud, but all too often, it is effectively how they function. I say all this because there is only one reason why God accepts anyone, and that is because they are justified before Him through personal faith in Jesus Christ - Romans 5:1 It is so sad to read of the turmoil you still feel, when it was not you, but the cult of Hyles and those like him whose relationship with God is seriously to be questioned. Lord, set this dear woman free and restore to her the joy of walking with you.
@@paulmackinnon9936 There is a bigger cult that united all other cults. It's the cult of Trump, something that the overwhelming majority of Evangelicals have fallen for, something that the Evangelicals are unlikely to recover from. Another litmus test of Evangelicals is a test on love for their neighbor. The majority of Evangelicals have completely failed that test. Those that didn't fail are no longer Evangelicals.
As a friend I want to submit a thought to you: in Genesis 6 the earth got so corrupt God only saved 8 people Everyone everyone on earth was corrupt except for Noah & Family Did Noah turn against God?
I mean, it’s possible. We don’t know why Noah chose to get wasted after the flood, but it could be because of the traumatizing experience of listening to all the men, women, children, & animals screaming for their lives outside the ark & then being on such a vessel to ponder the fact that you & your family are the only ones left on earth & have to repopulate everything & everyone else you’ve ever known is dead & what he had just opened the door & let more people in or tried harder to reach a few more instead of just building a giant boat & then the big question.... if god is so almighty & powerful & can do anything merely by speaking it into existence, why not speak the evil out of everyone? Why not let the children be saved? Why didn’t god just snap his fingers & give everyone a second chance at redemption?......... I’m not saying this is exactly what was going through Noah’s head or if that’s why he chose to get drunk enough to be completely out of his senses, but my bigger point is that pointing to an act of mass genocide on god’s part is not a good way to get someone to come back to a faith they’ve released themselves from.
This is an oft-repeated but silly response. I *was* a Christian. I believed with all of my being in the person of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of Scripture. Now I do not. You can claim a Christian does not become a non-Christian, but my existence proves otherwise.
Christians become non-Christians all the time. People can accept and believe in the Bible for years and later stop believing it for a number of reasons. That thought makes some Christians uncomfortable, but it 100% happens.
I am a Christian. I am still a fan of yours. I will continue to listen to you. Your work is important. Real Christians will love God and love people regardless of their belief system. Take care of yourself.
There is so much that I could say about my experience with the IFB. But I know one thing, no man from the IFB died for me on that old rugged cross. It was Christ who died for me. That’s why I walked away from it. Two words that you’ll never hear in the IFB, false convert. Which I was for nearly 39 years.
I'm currently within that grey area, and you've literally stolen the words Outta my mouth. I completely understand what you feel, and it's been a terrible journey. I was a devout Christian willing to live and die for God, and I marvel today at how many bigoted beliefs I subscribed to. I'm happy and so comfortable at where I'm now. Alas, people think that they'll find me having affairs and drinking in bars because I no longer associate with Christianity. For me ethics, principles, and social work for the underprivileged is what matters most now- things that protestants are not very interested in here (india).
I’m so sorry for your decision. I definitely don’t want to be one of those Christians to be toxic. I have been in a dark place a few times where I have almost lost my faith in the Faith. If Jesus didn’t rescue me from that darkness, I’d be in the same place.
There is light at the other end of the tunnel. Deconstruction hurts and often takes years, but it opens up the true beauty of living, the invaluable worth of human relationships and connection.
Why gaslight? He made a decision to leave a toxic religion at its core. He’s only gaining here. The core beliefs of christianity are extremely toxic and not at all rooted in love.
Eric, thank you for honesty. I had a similar experience. But it did scar me. People need healed from all their demons, not get a platform to perpetuate abuse. I always like your show and appreciate your demeanor.
You have such a pure heart. I think you are a spiritual person because of that. I think that agnostics can be more spiritual than many religious people because often they are so sincerely searching for answers. I so appreciate you and your channel. Thank you.
Sounds to me that your "faith" has always been sincere but misplaced. Faith in Christ is quite different. Your are disappointed, disenchanted because you were never "born again," you were attracted to a way of life and a type of people, then you found out they were just people and sinners. My advice to you would be to seek a relationship with the Lord Jesus. Remember this world and everything in it is slated for destruction. The body of flesh will be destroyed, and all things will be made new one day in Christ as was intended in the beginning. You are holding on too tightly to this world. The Lord Jesus will deal with these people and justice will prevail. .....for eternity.
You’re being honest. So important! Keep thinking about things, it’s a journey. You may change your mind later. Praying for you. I haven’t attended church for the last 8 years but I’m still praying and thinking.
Given the really bad things Eric has seen in a very short period of time, a crisis of faith is not surprising. I have seen two cases of abuse in two different churches over about 30 years. Incredibly, they were handled well. Law enforcement immediately called, church members informed, victims supported, etc. A rock for me was my Dad, who became a Christian in his 30's and was a radically changed person. I watched how he lived and how he died 5 years ago. As a person with training in psychology, I know belief and faith are complex. It is intellectual, spiritual, emotional, cultural and experience shapes it. Eric is in some ways experiencing what some abuse counselors do. Schools, churches, youth sports, etc. all take on a dark cloud and the counselor can suffer secondary trauma by being around the traumatized. Those called to help often pay a heavy price.
I hope you’ll take a moment to read this. Theist is Greek it means a belief . Atheist is Greek it means no belief. I am an atheist, because I haven’t seen or heard, sufficient evidence to support the god proposition . That’s it nothing more it’s not a worldview .
I think I've said this before, but I support you. You've got this. I'm cheering you on as you live your own life free of control. Wishing you nothing the best on your journey. And, I'm on a similiar journey, so yeah, you know... You're not alone. If ever you need a listening ear, my inbox is open. Keep up the good work!
This man is no longer a Christian because he turned to the devil and now does the work of the devil being an accuser of the Brethren. That’s the truth.
So, the brethren are abusers? Whose brethren are they? I think I know what Jesus would say to them. "You are of your father, the devil.", as He said to other fakes.
I hope you find all the answers you are looking for in your own time. I hope your not offended, but I’ll be praying for you. Thank you for all the work you have done to expose abuse.
WOW Eric... XChristian and MK, Bob Jones University grad, Catholic for ten yrs, homeschooled, homechurch, two of my children were SA by an elder and my spouse at the time kept that information from me. I found out by accident AFTER the man in question went to jail for a separate incident. I can't attend church anymore bc I get anxiety attacks and even tho I'm not a believer it has left a significant hole.
Thank you for your sincerity, I grew up in the IFB, experienced abuse of every form imaginable, have traveled throughout the country, even to IFB in Mexico and experienced the same almost no matter which IFB church. Went through this same process of wondering what is the truth, is it even possible to know? Living in the gray zone for a while, lost as having been Baptist all my life was my identity... What I can say is that there is an absolute truth, truth by its very essence is singular, but it must be sought after earnestly in order to be found... I began asking the questions: what did the first Christians believe from the first few centuries after Christ, what did they write and teach? What faith has been constant for 2000 years, that you can go to any century after Christ and find? the IFB has only been around for 100 years, and is an American phenomenon, yet was there something that was a universal faith, tested through time and found to be true? Keep up your quest for truth, and while this may be a gray time for you, if you are open, earnest, humble, honest you will arrive to the truth, God bless you!
Me too Eric, it’s hard but the truth. These last two years have allowed me to finally walk away.your podcast has helped me process the religious trauma I endured (sexual abuse and gay conversion therapy) I guess Me coming out of the closet last month was the final straw, in this long breakup. Thank you for sharing. I’m sending positive vibes your way !!!
@Preacher Boys After you hurl, seek out Jesus and His treatment of the voiceless. I'm praying it will some day restore your faith in Him despite "Christians".
Thank you for your explanation. I’ve been watching your videos for awhile now. I grew up in a strict Hyles IFB church. I’ve seen first hand all the lying and “internal politics” of the church. It had made me question my faith multiple times in my adult life. Still not sure what I believe now.
Thank God for ppl like you. This I don’t get: you’ve lost your faith in Christianity and your church? Maybe it’s a language or culture thing - I’m European - but what about Jesus Christ? Our faith is in Jesus, right? Not in people. When the fruit of the people is rotten, that means those people are NOT the body of Christ. They are not His Church. I have a feeling you’d enjoy Tim Mackie’s podcast “My Strange Bible”. Take care, brother. God bless you and keep you.
I think the problem is more so that the Bible & Christianity as a whole is harmful. There is so much required in regards to belief & ideology that is cruel, disgusting, evil, etc., and when you start to really take an honest hard look at what Christianity & religion in general breeds, Jesus is not a loving god. No loving god would intentionally create a species of people knowing they are flawed & will not follow the game of life chess they created in the first place. No loving god would set up this game without giving the rest of the players an equal advantage & all the know how to have an equal chance at a winning outcome. And then allow said people to “fail” at something intentionally set up with the only outcome as failure in the first place & then punish them & all of their descendants to live awful lives with a gamble of an afterlife. No loving god would then proceed to make the most horrendous place ever to send people who just happen to not believe properly on earth so they need to spend eternity in freakin hell....... no loving god would command genocide. No loving god would condone slavery, spousal & child abuse, & sanctioned murder as correct & acceptable, righteous even. This is why people leave. This is why people don’t believe in Jesus & release themselves from a faith that demands beliefs in appalling stories justified & condoned by false apologetics. This is why people leave “the faith” & realize Jesus is a story & not a good loving deity.
You simplify it quite well. You are 100% correct. Thanks for embarrassing us Americans. "The foundation of God stands sure: The Lord knows those who are his." It has nothing to do with people, good or bad. Of course, it is a great joy to fellowship with other true believers, but if that fellowship disappoints, the foundation remains. As you say, "It is our faith in Jesus." The blood of Jesus is not affected by hypocrites.
I’ve been in this area for a long time. It’s so difficult to understand where we are at, like my entire life was made up of IFB and after leaving that I didn’t know where to go. Then the more I studied and handled my personal trauma from when I was involved in the church, it just became more and more difficult. It’s frustrating because like my heart Wants me to be a Christian but at the same time my brain is like “never again”. So much is broken and even when people say “focus on the message not the messenger” we are told to obey those who are giving the message. Idk what to tell you man. I support you regardless of your belief just know you’re not alone in this, and honestly I’m in the uhhhh idk what I am area…. 🤷🏼♀️
Being a Christian means I have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not about religions or denominations or the people within them. Jesus did not let you down, Eric. Don't give up on Him. He is being abused by the very same people you have been exposing. Do not allow the abusers to turn you against the lover of your soul, who is Himself a victim of abuse. His life was all about enduring abuse and culminated in the worst kind of abuse: His crucifixion. But this He did on your behalf and mine. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus proclaimed that there would be MANY who would falsely claim to be His followers. He warns us about wolves in sheep's clothing. What are wolves, but abusers of sheep? Finally, I want to say with all the love of the Lord in my heart, that if you ever truly trusted Christ, you are still a CHRISTIAN; for though you say you are denouncing Christianity, the Lord will not denounce YOU; for he hath said, I will NEVER leave thee, nor forsake thee. So, if you ever did truly trust Him, He is still with you now. If not, then trust Him now. He is the ultimate example of one who was a constant victim of abuse. Yet He went through it willingly. I am praying for you.
Thank you for sharing. I pray every person exposes the evil inside the church walls. Christians need to be better and deal with their sins severely, myself included. Leaders especially need to be held accountable for misleading and hurting their congregants. Videos like this are important for Christians to live like they've been taught in scripture and what happens when we don't. Thank you, seriously for your courage.
Thank you for your story. I am currently questioning my beliefs and who I am. I truly loved my faith and wanting to do for others. Now I wonder if it was all false. I was only seeing what I wanted to see. This is a journey we all have to walk on our own.
I think more and more people are in the same “untethered” place that you are, myself included. Personally I found it scary at first but it does open a world of learning new ideas and exploring spirituality in ways I wouldn’t have approached before. Thanks for sharing your story. It does help others to feel they aren’t alone living in they grey. Well put.
@@Cincymale79 Both Hyles, Schaap and many others proved that you can be "great men of god" and still be worldly and fleshly. You are wanting to be "worldly and fleshly" but you haven't figured out if following Jack and Dave Hyles, Schaap and other leaders is the way to go since they have been exposed. At least free thinkers, atheists, agnostics, etc., all know what the real "sins" are. Rape and all manor of molestations are the most vile and wicked of all sins. Somthing your leaders that you follow don't recognize as sins and certainly have never preached against these wicked detestable evils. You know why? Because they were culpable and would never point the fingers at themselves since preaching against what they are guilty of doing would do just that.
Just found your videos while I was searching for IFB stuff. Preacher of a IFB pastor and now a pastor of a church. (not IFB) but appreciated your stuff. Can't really blame you for your stand. I had to go through this and decide my faith years ago. I've spoke with pastor's you know and have done videos on. I read "I fired God" and loved her opinion and story. I wish the fruit was better...we have been more interested in building churches rather than people. It shows. May your journey and that of others bring healing as we expose the modern day Pharisees that abuse and curse God's name by their actions. Blessings.
I believe the problem is that people put their faith in other people instead of in God’s Word. The Bible alone will change people. I found when I stopped listening to the minister at the church we went to for 30 years and where people did their 2 hours at church a week and then forgot about it until the next week and actually read the Bible over and over again on my own, I found God and my heart changed. I hear the Spirit and life is SO much different than it was before.
I believe we live in the days of strong delusion. I don't think any organized church system is Christian. I think we are living in a time when you must find your own way.
Hey Eric. Thanks for being open about this. I can totally see how you got here. It makes me so sad to hear all the personal betrayals you have experienced in the church. I am also really struggling with Church environments so this move would not be a leap for me either. Maybe I'll still be there one day, but as of now, I'm still hung up on all that I have seen and know from my past experiences with God and I can't overlook those. But as for feeling like seeing all the bad fruit, yeah, I get it. Especially in the realm of the work you are trying to do here. Man, it's really disgusting and disheartening. I hope you're ok if I pray for you. This is a tough place and a hard journey you're on and I'm in your corner.
Appreciate it - and I think it's good to be aware of our own experiences affecting our disposition toward beliefs. I think moving slowly has been good for me.
This is rough to share so I'm glad you are sharing your story. I suggest you check out Rhett & Link's deconstruction videos. They did follow up ones too and they were very helpful for me on my own deconstruction. I think you'd appreciate their experience.
After listening thoroughly to you expressing your heart- my heart, goes out to you! I too, have seen and been through many of the situations you ve talked about- I have seen my family, especially a large in law family,… be devastated and scattered , due to these kind of situations. My husband & I have been heartbroken and even churchkess at times, due to this. However, I would just encourage you to continue to keep the faith , in our awesome Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ. The book of Isiah does explain that this will happen and this leaders have an AWFUL lot to give an account for- People still need the Lord- and I do believe He’s coming back soon , so am burdened that others will see Him Face to face as well- love & prayers to you & yours!!
Eric. I have empathy for you. In the early 70s in the 80s i was working in an IFB church. I ran their sound and had a small recording studio. This was a hyper Hyles church. For the first few years I bought in but realized that something was terribly wrong. I actually was running sound at a Hyles revival meeting. He was loud I had to turn him down and he yelled at me in front of almost a thousand people to keep my hands off the controls... and I was a new Christian and very humiliated. Many other stories but I do have empathy. Ejecting the IBF and much of the American church is understandable/ But please do not eject Christ.....they are not the same thing. I'll keep you in prayer. I'm sure what you have been doing in the past years has had to be incredibly hard. Here is some Irony. Even though the pastor discouraged me from producing music and studio production I did not let it discourage me. In fact in that small studio in an IBF church I produced DC Talks first album (Toby Mac) and did a solo album for Mike Tait who is now in News Boys and have been making records ever since. I'm glad Jack Hyles never found out! Be praying for you brother.
Thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate how you’ve said many times that those of us who were into it 1000% are the ones that were hurt the most. Growing up IFBC, I learned I was a horrible sinner, and had no worth without throwing myself on the mercy of god… that he loved me but I was so evil he had to murder his son to give me the chance to avoid an eternity of literal physical torture. I heard that message from toddlerhood. Three services a week, Bible classes in my Christian school… revivals, prophecy conferences… it was my entire existence. I never felt like I was good enough…. That somehow I should be able to be this happy model Christian but could never quite make it… couldn’t discipline myself to daily devotions, couldn’t be the perfect wife and mother… I suffered severe depression. I’m almost 60 and it’s only been in the last 12 years or so that I’ve been able to break free from all those spiritual gymnastics to see it wasn’t me…. It was the indoctrination and the false doctrines being spouted by patriarchal, hypocritical mouths that got personal gain from them. I don’t believe in god anymore… I don’t fear eternal damnation, I enjoy nature and the scientific principles that hold the universe together. I have finally found some contentment in my life by giving up the idea that I need to be anything other than who I am or that there is eternal damnation waiting for me because I just couldn’t measure up. Every episode of your podcast helps open my eyes more to the harm that I experienced.
Hope it all works out for you in the end, woman. But all you described has nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And your foolish mistake is to malign God with accusations based on the words and behavior of people who never knew Him. What does all that have to do with God?
My work as a healthcare chaplain in mental health brings me in touch with the worst and very occasionally the best of churches and belief groups. Faith does keep me going at times and other times I rant. Coming from traditional kirk of Scotland into the ethos of the Iona community in my 20s is what I feel helped me. I know many of my nursing peers who are reconstructing or have found they are done with it. We have to be true to where we are at. Just be you
Hello Eric, Its 4:15 A.M. in Midville,Ga. This is the first time listening to you. I'm 61 and been in the Independant Baptist Church for all of my church going life. It really made me sad and hurt listening to your story. I myself have seen so much corruption in the church among leaders, but what I realized a long time ago was that you cannot put your faith and trust in man. If you do they will fail you at some point every time. One pastor I had when he resigned the church, I stood before the alter and cried because I loved him and his family so much. Then at his home the next day or so while helping him pack I found out how wicked of a man and his wife really were. I stayed in church and have gone through many similar things since, but I realized they are some very sincere and godly people in church, not perfect but truly love God and want to do what's right. I will not bash you, but I will be praying for you. Ask God to protect your mind from wicked influences as you do this podcast. The more you hear of negative things about the church will make it hard to see the good. It is real my friend and I believe deep down you know it is, but there are so many bad people in leadership positions that it's hard to see sometimes. Please don't give up on God. He really loves you and his son did die for you and me. Ricky Anderson Sr.
There may be comfort in the church, but there is nothing good there, because even the many good people in it continue to support its corrupt behavior, because that's all they know.
I have watched your show from the beginning and I agree with most of the content. However none of your videos turned me from “biblical” Christianity. How is it that you turned against biblical Christianity and I didn’t? Did you follow the independent Baptist movement or did you follow Jesus? I’m not criticizing you and you were right you have no need to owe anybody anything. I’m just asking out of curiosity. How is it that these things can turn you against Christ?
I can say Amen coven my name is Kurt and I will shave in Southwest Detroit a number of churches I belong to which were all independent fundamental Baptist Churches some of the pastors wound up being in my opinion out-and-out Crooks dishonest people but it's not these people that saved me
I sent that prematurely sorry as I was saying it's not these pastors that showed me it was Jesus Christ and is Jesus Christ and they will face him when they die so called pastors have done people wrong but my savior Jesus Christ has never done me wrong he's been faithful to me I'm saddened to hear that your ex faith has been destroyed unfortunately it seems his faith in Jesus was destroyed when it wasn't the fault of Jesus Christ what was the fault of the pastor's they're the ones to blame not Jesus
Some of us are also fighting for victims. Keep going. The lack of accountability in churches can be partially fixed maybe in a presbyterian church, but a good one that speaks against toxic and abusive church cultures. To ground our morality we need God, ontologically (because abuse is not subjectively wrong but objectively wrong). I'm a fundamental baptist in Ecuador. He moves me to fight for victims. He wants churches to do what you are doing. Keep fighting the fight but don't leave the source. Take your time but keep thinking about this while you keep fighting.
My heart hurts for you😢For real. I hear your heart and I am grateful for your heart and your truth. Keep seeking the truth and it/He God will show up. I was always trained by the Father to seek Him because people and institutions will always let you down. Praying for you man. ❤
I am so sorry for your hurt. People will always disappoint us. Our faith belongs in the Father and not in those who claim to love Him. I encourage you to keep asking questions. Thank you for your authenticity and living out what you had hoped to see from those who have hurt you. Praying for you and all of us who have been hurt and abused by those in church leadership.
I think you are brave for being honest. Faith can be a struggle. You can still promote positive Christian figures without being a Christian. I love your content. Take time and find your own discovery.
Wow… Eric, my friend, sorry to hear that but totally understand….For me the struggle is so so may churches and believers such into this QAnon and Trump garbage. That has seriously replaced the Gospel for so many it absolutely sickens me. So do understand
I completely understand. Sometimes I feel the same way. I was not only raised in church, I was raised by a minister ( not Baptist) and the hypocrisy and hatred I saw first hand in the churches he served destroyed my belief in Organized Christianity. Now I struggle with Christianity all together but I feel like I'm betraying my family just by saying that.
@@PreacherBoys no, and I truly admire your courage to say openly that you no longer believe, I'm not ready for that yet. Part of me wants to believe. My entire family life was centered around serving God. My summers were spent at church camp, either as a camper or as a counselor. Every summer until I turned 18 and went to college ( at a Christian university) Even where we lived was dictated by where the church ( in our denomination ministers are moved quite frequently by the conference in which they serve)decided to send us, it is all I've ever known. I'm 43 yrs old and Today is the first time I've ever questioned Christianity out loud. ANYWAY, sorry to take up so much of your comment section. Thanks for showing me I'm not alone in my thoughts.
You have to separate your reliance on people from your reliance on God. Find Him on your own, for yourself, in HIS Word. Let God be true and every man a liar.
I've been in that gray area of "I don't know" for several years now. So I totally understand how you feel. I've just seen SO much of the toxic side of Christianity that I can't label myself as a Christian. It's just a hard thing to navigate, and I don't know that I will ever be able to label myself "atheist"?
I was in that gray area for several years, still a believer/Christian. I stopped going to church for about 10 years after the last cult I attended for a year. Then I started going to another church for about a year or so. I stopped going when I started to question my beliefs. I understand the gray area well however it wasn't the most painful part of my journey, deconstructing was. I didn't label myself an atheist until 6 months to a year after I was fully deconverted. During that period of time, I considered myself a free thinker because that was what it toook for me to go through the deconversion process. I still consider myself a free thinker. Anyway, we don't need labels, we just need to be comfortable on whatever path we are on, discomfort will force you to do something about it which is either work to deconstruct the entire belief system we had or reconstruct it to make your new belief one that feels right for you.
I feel for you brother. I respect you for just being transparent about the way you feel and I respect your journey and think it's a result of what we've been given in the West unfortunately.
Congratulations! I am so proud of you that you spoke your truth to all of us you didn’t hide and that takes a lot of courage. My church is the redwood forest. I live in it, create in it, & ……. I could leave you a long story but it’s late so Ta ta for now.
Christ, Himself is the true core of Christianity and He is NOT rotten to the core. That is really what you said. You are rejecting Christ on the basis of what fallen and no doubt some really wicked people have done. Some of these people may or may not be real believers, I have no way of knowing that. A real born-again believer CAN commit heinous and very wicked acts of sin including well, you fill in the blanks. Just about any sin you can think of according to very clear passages of scripture. Can a real Christian commit murder? YES. Rape? YES. Adultery? Oh, you better believe it. Many pastors are no longer pastors because of this very thing and quite a few should never pastor another church and should get out of the pulpit right now. Btw, I am in no way excusing what some Christians or false professors have done, not in the least. I don't believe Eric that you have ever been born again by faith in Christ. That is really the one and only question you should be asking yourself. No person ever comes to Christ and truly gets born again and then one day decides they don't believe in God anymore. You nor anyone else will ever convince me of that. When were you born again? How did you get born again? What happened to you AFTER you were born again? Christ is the true and living God who died on the cross for our sins. We are only saved when we admit our sinfulness to God and believe fully in our hearts that Christ shed His innocent blood on the cross for our sins and rose again bodily from the dead. God so loved you Eric that He became a man through the virgin birth and lived a perfect, sinless life and shed the blood of the innocent Lamb of God for YOUR SINS and mine. Faith alone in Him saves you. Men will disappoint, but your focus should always be on Christ. He is PURE and HOLY to the CORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@adamthiry868 Ok, maybe I got a little carried away with the exclamation marks. Although what I said may not be ordained of God it is from His divine revelation to man, the Bible. What I said about Jesus being absolutely pure and holy is what the Bible teaches very clearly about Him. He wasn't just a good man or even a great teacher primarily. He was literally God in a human body. He was born of a virgin and lived a perfect sinless life and at about the age of 33 He was falsely accused, brutally beaten, scourged, mocked, and finally crucified for our sins. Faith in His death, burial, and resurrection is the one and only thing that saves us from what we really deserve which is an eternity in hell.
@@randyd9805 we don’t deserve eternity in hell. No one does. That’s unjust. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. There is no man alive that has been so evil that he deserves INFINITE torture in the lake of fire. Even Hitler had more mercy on the Jews than “god” will have on the “lost”. Hitler eventually killed the Jews he captured. According to Christian people, god will fry them endlessly forever without end. God could have made the world any myriad of ways. He chose to bring about the world the way it is-fully knowing what man would choose to do(or directing man to do depending on if you subscribe to Calvinist theology or not). He is the one that decided to create man KNOWING FULL WELL that the majority(according to the Bible) would be tortured forever.
@@Nohair1611 God said this just for people like you. " There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." In fact, He stated it twice in case you didn't get it the first time. You are using your extremely limited human reasoning and imposing your extremely foolish thoughts that you made up in your own mind and then imposing them on the God of the universe which clearly you don't truly believe in. You fully reject virtually everything that God says about man in the Bible. You then impose your own thoughts over God's word. That WILL NOT work out well for you in the end. You in fact will be one of those in eternal torment because you refuse to believe in the great sacrifice that God made for your eternal salvation. This is not a matter of how bad or good each human being since Adam & Eve has been. Some have been monstrously evil like Hitler or Stalin, yet you say they don't deserve hell. You say, that the person who murders, steals, commits repeated adultery, pedophilia, kidnapping, or any other evil you can name, does not merit the lake of fire. Well, you just may find out the hard way just how wrong you really are. I don't want that for you, but unless you kneel before Jesus Christ now and trust Him alone as your Savior then you will kneel before Him one day in the future, but it will be too late then. He shed His blood on the cross for your sins. The brutality of His crucifixion should make any sensible person reconsider their concept of hell. Jesus Christ Himself mentions hell more than any other single person in the entire Bible and He makes it pretty clear it's not a good place to go to AND THAT IT'S A REAL PLACE OF REAL TORMENT.. You most assuredly are headed there. I suggest you repent, and rethink your position because it is completely fallacious and unscriptural. God has concluded that all men have sinned against Him and therefore we are under the condemnation of a perfectly Holy and righteous God. You don't have to be as big a sinner as Hitler or a serial killer to go to hell. All you have to do is reject the salvation freely offered to you by the grace of God through Jesus Christ who was in fact God in a human body, born of a virgin and therefore without sin.. He shed His innocent blood after living a perfect life to make it possible for the descendants of Adam to gain eternal life by faith in Him. That is the one and only condition. Don't trust in yourself or your own good works, but trust in what God has said about His Son who gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins and then rose again from the dead.. Btw, nothing I've said here is just my own thoughts. I can back up every statement with repeated statements of scripture. Read Romans, the 4 gospels, Galatians, Revelation. You simply have made up what you believe. Your eternal destination is at stake. A good place to start. bible.timelesstruths.org/John+1
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I am a 58 year old female who raised and homeschooled my two beautiful daughters in a God fearing purity preaching culture. Today we are all struggling to remove ourselves from the toxicity of the teachings we were indoctrinated in. Removing ourselves is heartbreaking to say the least. We have loved ones that we dearly LOVE that just can't understand us. And I don't fault any of them they too are living and adhering to what they have been taught.
We are scared for a multitude of reasons. I am needing help. Eric, is there anyway you can start a platform to take us to a safe place where we can be heard and connected to others who are going through this process? One of your main points in my opinion was not to jump into some other BS. That's OK to be untethered and to not have answers.
I thank you for your vulnerability! Brene' Brown would be extremely pleased with your work!
I am sending you vibes of strength and peace as you continue your journey.
Connie
Just stick to good people, i.e. people who actually do good and love others, without any preaching. And stay away from toxic fighters of "sin" and "sinners".
Where is the toxicity in homeschooling?
@@ezbody There are no "good people".
Watching this right now, Eric. First off, I appreciate the work you’ve done to root out evil. I am a Christian who did not grow up in a Christian home, but my mother was always friendly to things of God, and allowed me to go to Baptist Sunday schools as a boy, so I got saved young and I have been a Baptist since before I ever walked into an IFB church around age 19. I would encourage you to go to the Author and Finisher of our faith. Men will fail us, men constantly fail. The devil has a special interest in churches and in seeing ministries fail. I would just encourage you to one day maybe come back and approach the scripture and fall in love with your God again. Our heavenly father meant what he said when he saved you, and that covenant is forever. I ended up attending Hyles-Anderson, but only for a brief time, and during that time I was a Hyles nut, and now, at age 53, I have a much more realistic understanding of him. But that didn’t change Jesus or his precious promises, or the goodness of God in any way. God saw what you went through, Eric, the abuses, the heartaches, the frustration, and you have to believe me when I tell you it broke his heart more than yours. If I did all these videos like you have, I could imagine having a crisis of Faith myself. That’s why, one day, I am hoping you can come back to Jesus and reacquaint yourself with your first love before men spoiled it The Lord loves you, Eric. I wish you the best.
God not real. It's imaginary
I'm def. a Christian. When Christ came in, He gave me a whole new perspective on life. I thank the LORD for what He did for me on the cross. He's been so good to me even in the hard times. He's faithful.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, not a follower of some church or denomination. Accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior saved me in every way. I've constantly been let down by churches, but never by God
How would you know if you were let down by God? What would it theoretically look like?
God not real. It's imaginary
Amen, there’s no excuse. Satan created‘church’ buildings to deceive people. Remember they are 501C3 buildings, which is own by the government.
Acts 7:48
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,”
King James Version (KJV)
You sound very feminine a straightforward question are you heterosexual or not. I think it’s a fair question. You never met Jesus to begin with so you weren’t believer an hour there’s no such thing you just don’t know him.
I have been let down by churches an preachers but like you never by God
It hurts to lose something that defined you for so long but I walked the same path and I can tell you, it gets better. Welcome to the grey area.
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Yes. After years of deconstructing I’m starting to get some relief from my angst. I didn’t know if I ever would. Peace everybody. ☮️
@@Mushroomstops yes! I relate. For me it was impossible to see the perspective of the real reality until after I processed my deconversion, then my eyes were open, everything started making so much sense, then peace happens.
My home is in the grey
Stepping out of the box
Asking questions that get a look
And judgment
I make a comfy bed in the grey
I weep with my questions
And find delight in the wondering
What I thought was my foundation
Is the very thing that has kept me
From myself.
Welcome to the grey....I love that sentence, OP.
I just might do an art piece and title it with that! I hope you don't mind me borrowing your thought/words.
I am not a "Christian" anymore. I still believe in God and Jesus, but I can no longer associate with the whole of Christianity, with where it has been and continues to be.
I've found that my identity used to be so wrapped up in religion that I had no CLUE who I was. It's like being a zombie. I kept getting messages that told me my feelings didn't matter and were also deceptive. Then why did God give them to us?? The heart is deceitfully wicked?? What about the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God being IN me? Is it still wicked then?!?!
I have towed the line and did everything the church TOLD me to do, including staying in an abusive marriage to a man who claimed to be a Christian and almost killed me, my souls and spirit. God is NOT ok with that!! I have struggled with the "god" of the OT, how abusive that god is and trying to do mental gymnastics to even that god up with the Father God Jesus spoke of. It's INSANITY!!
I am on an incredible journey. It's been scary, sad, depressing, angering, joyful, delightful and is now settling into peace. *True* peace.
I'm so grateful for this video and everyone's comments ❤
It takes guts to put this out there. I went through this myself, lost my faith, but I have it back now.
Appreciate that
People will let you down including so called Christians and pastors but God has never let me down. I remain a Christian.
Over 50 years of being born again, about 4 I left due to the same disappointments you have experienced. You know what kept me in the faith? Learning to be still and enter into the presence of The Father. You know…BE still and know I am God…. It’s a learned thing…but very rewarding! Blessings Brother!
When presented with information outside your previous education and experience, you were open to adjusting your outlook instead of dismissing the new data to maintain illusions that were causing tangible harm. That takes real courage, as well as a passion for truth and justice. It will be interesting to see where your journey takes you, no matter where you end up; please feel free to update us from time to time, whenever you reach a new stage along the way.
I truly appreciate everything that you do to address issues of abuse. As someone who experienced rape as a child, within a different (non-IFB) cultural context that caused it to be badly handled, what you are doing for victims within the IFB community is so very important. As a species we will probably never be entirely free of abuse, but we can work towards a society where, instead of protecting abusers and organizations, we dedicate ourselves to preventing abuse and offering victims healing and justice. Thank you for the work that you do.
Are you doing okay? I know how hard it is. I am an ex-mormon. I thought I was still a Christian. These days I can't identify with Christians anymore. They portray so much hate. I just wanted to follow the example of Jesus.
Mormons aren't christian
@@Cincymale79 they claimed to be. But I agree with you.
I'm also a recent exmormon. Forty-one years in the church as a strong believer. I think mormons do believe in christ but in their own version of him. Same for God. Its been a difficult time for me these last few months. I know what I no longer believe but now I have to figure out what I do believe. I can honestly say right now I don't believe anything. And that scares me because it feels so lonely. The thought of a God who wants to test his children's faith just seems so cruel. Especially since he hasn't really given anything to truly grasp onto.
@@debrawallace4542 Ex-Mormon spent forty-one years in the church as a strong believer.
Do you feel like you have wasted 41 years of your life being a Mormon? If I spent 41 years of my life in lies, I would be depressed. I would lose my faith. I would not know what to believe anymore. Where is the truth? Where can I can the truth? Can truth be discovered?
One of the reasons people misrepresent God / are confused about God is the horrible translation errors in our bibles made by clerks of "a certain denomination".
They had no clue about God's intend, so made it fit their conviction.
Luckely the original line is clearly visible.
1: God created us after His own image and likeness. Gen 1:27.
2: Man fell. That is what you see in this world: lust, greed, selfishness, strange philosophies, sicknesses, corruption, terrorism, death, etc, etc. Genesis 3.
3: God, the spirit of life, manifests fully in Christ, pays the debt for mankinds fall so we can be indwelled again by His Spirit and be transformed back to origin. John 14-17.
Pure grace, love, power of God for His creation.
Hence the divine healing miracles and casting out of demons His first friend, i and many others experience up to this day!
Some examples of these idiotic translation errors.
Saved, from the Greek Sozo actually means: made complete, brought back to origin.
Eternal life from the Greek Zoë means: life of God, divine life.
"You will see Jesus coming on the clouds" actually reads: "You will perceive Jesus from a heavenly perspective"... who He is, what He did, who you are IN Him.
"Everyone not found in the book of life will be thrown in the lake of fire" actually reads: "Everything not found in the book of life....". Every lie we believed about God and ourselves will vanish through Jesus's truth.
Wrath from the Greek Orge means PASSION. So there is no wrath of God upon mankind. God IS love!
Wrath from the Greek Thumos also means PASSION. There goes the "bowls of wrath" poured out by God over humanity... it's "bowls of boisterous PASSION" through Chris that are poured outt!!!
Etc, etc, etc, look it up in the Kittel Theological Dictionary or in any Greek/Hebrew Strong's app. It's there.
So now we have ignorant preachers parotting the lie that we have to be saved from God's wrath by Jesus (who is God....) and "have to repent or go to hell". Utter nonsense.
In stead it is: God restores us through Christ by His own atoning blood sacrifice and indwelling Holy Spirit, from mankind's fall, to His own image and likeness (Christlikeness) because of... passion.
For God so loved the world....
God cannot be tempted to do evil....
There is no turning or shifting with Him....
If you don't love you don't know God, for God is love....
The goal of all instruction is... love
The Father Himself loves you....
Jesus healing all..... love
Jesus raising the dead..... love
Jesus casting out demons.... love
Jesus controlling nature..... love
If wrath would be in God, it would be the tenth fruit of the Spirit.... and it is not!
Etc, etc , etc.
Just wanted to let you know, Mr. Skwarczynski, that what you are doing is thoughtful, educational, and very honest. Best wishes to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing. My faith was gradually chipped away. I’ve been lost. The biggest thing for me now if facing the fact that I’ve lost a community. I’ve recently moved and I’m alone. I haven’t found any friends. I’ve even thought about joining a church just for the friendship. I just can’t. I now consider myself agnostic. It’s made me a little lost because so much of my faith defined me. Once again thank you for sharing. This has helped me a lot.
I lost my faith a couple years ago. I'm still dealing with it. I know there will be those atheists out there who would immediately do the high-five thing, I even get it. But I know what it's like when your faith has defined that much of your life, for better or worse, and now you're looking at a world without it. But it can be very fulfilling. I wish you much luck on your journey, brother. Don't be afraid to discover.
Eric - Hear me out. I had a nearly identical thought as where you’ve arrived. One thing to keep in mind: Most “Christians” were raised in Church - they are in the Church, among true believers, but not believers themselves. Like non believer children growing up in Church, their entire family is super involved in Church or Ministry. The first 18 years of their life, they have no choice but to be there. They become adults and sometimes work at Church, or marry a true believer. People who aren’t raised in Church, then get saved and start standing Church - these are usually the demographic of people who live transformed lives. Now, if you look in the Bible, the Apostles still sinned. Paul (The most transformed man in the Bible) says why do I do the thing I hate? I want to do this, but I do that… etc. No one in the Bible lived a Christian life that you may have had built up in your mind (to be without hypocrisy). We all eventually say or do something hypocritical. I got to the point where I was once saying Bye to all these Christian friends I made, I thought I was on my way to being a full blown non believer. I was stuck on “is God super natural , or not?” Am I just brainwashing myself with the Bible & sermons? Or is the Holy Spirit actually living in people. I really needed to know if God was supernatural, or if I’m just the product of people sharing information for thousands of years worth off generations. I asked all my Christian friends to pray for me, cause I couldn’t. I met up with them in person one by one, in hopes they can convince me to stay & continue to believe. The day after meeting with the last friend, I got a haircut at a new barbershop. The Barber was doing all the talking, I was too depressed to engage much. She knew my name was Ken, at some point out of nowhere she said “You should really start going back to Church Ken.” My heart sank, I didn’t tell her anything about having been a Christian & there’s no clues whatsoever that I might be one. No tats, no cross on my neck, nothing. And this it was a very non believer part of California, you are a weirdo if you’re a Christian, super rare to ever met one out & about. She went on to tell me her testimony & at the end really encouraged me to go back to Church. I said nothing. The next day, I was at Walmart & I heard someone say the word “Bibles” just behind me. It was a group of young adults, I was in my early 30’s, I asked if they just said Bibles? We talked, they told me they’re Christians & invited me to their Church. I got one of the dudes numbers, his name’s Axel. I thought that was interesting. Immediately after that, I went to In & Out (a restaurant) the place was packed, there was only one seat available. Like a barstool type seat. I sat down, the guy next to me was eating and watching someone speak on his phone. He told me he’s a Pastor, he just retired today, and the guy speaking is the new Head Pastor of the Church. He then ministered to me for like 20 minutes straight, and that whole message was imploring me to come BACK to Christ. And even how sin had lead me to the non believing path I was on. He also happened to be Korean, I got saved at a small Korean Church that was big on Evangelism, a Korean Pastor shared the Gospel with me and lead me to Christ at 21. So that happened. Then the next day, I went to Chipotle, and just as I was about to eat, I heard someone say “Holy Spirit.” I look to my left, it’s a Man with his Wife and they just got done praying for their food. I liked right at him, he looked at me and greeted me. I asked if he just said Holy Spirit, he confirmed. Then invited me to sit & eat with them. I sat with them, we were talking… I told them how strange it is, I just keep meeting Christians everyday now (From it never ever happening, ever) to every day, back to back. I told them about each instance up to that point so far. They eventually told me what Church they go to. I recognized the name & mentioned I think that’s where the young adults at Walmart I met said they go to, the guy asked what their names were, I said I got the number of one dude, his name’s Axel. The guy paused, and looked me right in the eye and says “That’s my Son.” And then he tells me his name is Axel Senior. Then, the next day. An acquaintance whom I’ve never hung out with one on one. Someone that doesn’t know me like that & I only know at a group setting level, texted me & asked if I would join her at Starbucks where she was studying. I went, we wound up grabbing lunch nextdoor right away. This girl is super Godly, all about God, on fire for Christ. Out of absolutely nowhere, she just talks for like 45 mins straight and tells me how she just came out of her lowest point ever as a Christian, nearly identical circumstances, only she had already passed through where I was currently at. It turned into this amazing testimony of how she went from rock bottom Spirituality, to the coast with God that she’s ever been. I didn’t open up at all, but that really impacted me. I thought about what she said so much. I wanted that so badly. The next day was like Labor Day or something. I pulled up to the Gym at 5AM. I’m parked in front, just about to go inside & it suddenly hit me - God IS Supernatural! God reached me! God talked to me through all these people who are His, people I’ve never met - they super naturally said all the right things, telling me to go back to Church, somehow knowing I was a serious believer who suddenly stopped going to Church & heading on my way out of being a believer and into being secular for the first time in over 10 years. It felt so personal, there’s 8 billion people on the planet, but somehow God knows me & loves me, and cares for me. It felt as though God reached down from Heaven, through the roof of my car & touched my heart right there in that parking lot, in front of the Gym at 5 in the morning. I just started balling! Crying my eyes out. I went running right into the arms of my Loving Father. God LOVES you Eric! Call upon God, tell God you want to believe. Ask all the prayer warriors you know to pray for you. You can run a thousand miles away from God, and it can feel like you’d have to run a thousand miles back in order to come back to God, but all you have to do is turn around, and He’s right there, with arms Wide Open!
Your kind heart always shines thru and I have wondered how you continued to believe…hang in there cause there a a lot of us who just can’t believe anymore💖
I feel like I could talk with you for hours & share a similar story with a wider lens. I grew up as a Preachers kid in a Pentecostal home. Different denomination, same problems. I ended up in a dysfunctional & emotionally abusive marriage which I felt trapped in for 16 years because I was taught that divorce was an unforgivable sin. On my own journey after seeing endless hypocrisy and abuses in the church, I walked away & eventually had the courage to also walk away from my marriage. That freedom opened up a long series of questioning everything that I was indoctrinated with from birth (still am). I've called it "the Unraveling" because when you're no longer under religions fear, you begin to unlearn & it unravels all of what your identity always was. Suddenly you have the freedom to ask yourself - who am I & what do I believe? I've been on this Unraveling journey for 5 years & today hearing this is the first time I've heard something similar to my story. Truth seeking is a difficult journey. Truth telling is 10 times harder because of the backlash, but know this. I think there are tens maybe hundreds of thousands like us who feel very alone & isolated on their journeys. What you're doing matters.
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Similar story here. I thankfully found the exception to the rule in Pentecostal churches and found healing there.
Thank you for being honest about the severe abuse that you have experienced in the church and where you are as a result of that. As an MK that was harmed and surviving an abusive marriage from a man who claimed to be a Christian, as well as pastors who blamed instead of protected, I feel like I understand what you’re saying. The church is a terrifying place for me to be for me in many ways. My personal relationship with God has been very different than that , although I have struggled with that as well at times. My relationship with God was all I had many times in my life and what is still carrying me through. I think there’s a lot of sickness and hypocrisy in the church and it’s a good thing that these things are coming out for all the see.
I predicted this outcome some time ago. It’s not too different from my experience since becoming a cop. When you spend all your time dealing with liars and crooks and evil people, and the “normal” people revile you, pretty soon you lose all faith in humanity. I am a horrifically cynical person now, and my christianity is the only thing that keeps me from total misanthropy.
Similar experience for you dealing with the worst of christianity, it was inevitable that your faith would be chipped away.
So while I disagree with your conclusion I absolutely have no judgement for you, I see how you got here. I get it.
I appreciate the lack of judgement and the honest pushback. I would say that what I can’t shake is that I didn’t chase down the worst until this past year and a half or so.
Up until then, it just kept happening. Over and over. It found me.
"...dealing with the worst of Christianity." "Many will say Lord, didn't I (fill in the blank). And Jesus will say 'depart from me. I never knew you." "The worst of Christianity" are tares in the wheat. They are false and fake. Jesus said they went out from us because they were never part of us." Blessings.
@@setfree2685 the funny thing is christianity is fake and jesus is real. Christianity dragged jesus into their false religion. ACTS 17:11. Im still searching the scriptures for the word Christianity or where jesus says to convert to Christianity.
Much love for you and the message you are getting out. I stumbled on to your channel and am now hooked. I walked away from the IFB Cult 27 years ago. I have seen so many families destroyed, individuals crushed, and faith devastated. I understand the thoughts and feelings you have shared. Just want to encourage to keep doing what you are doing. I see this as a great help to many people.
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Like so many here , I have my own horrid story.
The people , pride, lies, bitterness sicken my memories. But Jesus has never let me down.
Thank you for your work.🙏🏻
Thank you for your honesty and openness. I, personally, have been immensely blessed by your videos and podcasts through my own abusive experience. So glad to hear that you will continue to steadfastly expose the ugliness. Without outlets like this, those experiencing church abuse tend to feel isolated and like no one understands. Thank you for bringing the light. ❤️
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Thank you. I am 50 plus years old and I have been in church since a child. I have been in an in between space and knowing I am not alone makes me feel normal. So thank you for being honest. It’s hard to tune out all the faith noise sometimes
I identify as an Agnostic bordering on Buddhist after what my family experienced in the IFB. Pretty much everything that you post about resonates with me and I appreciate you more than you know. It has been cathartic and validating to a degree that I did not know I needed considering I am 47 and left the IFB in my late teens.
Man let men down. Jesus Christ never fails
@@Cincymale79
You're welcome to your faith. But God and Jesus, if they were truly divine, failed innumerable children and women.
My family was in ministry. My grandpa was a pastor. My Dad was a deacon. I grew up in church. Sadly Dad fell away. drugs porn.ect
Religion failed me. But God did not. Jesus is amazing. I am more than my upbringing. I am God's beloved daughter. I sense you know how Loved you are! Thank you for sharing your story. Prayed for you today. Pray for me too.
Going to ‘church’ is not mentioned in the KJV. All ‘church’ buildings are 501C3 government buildings. Acts 7:48.
Praise God sister! :) And pray for Eric's repntance
Thank you for sharing, that took a lot of courage and energy.
I look forward to your future videos and your passion for the protection of children is evident.
Good dialog, very well said and very relatable. Thank you for addressing this abuse. Spiritual abuse is a very complex journey. It's important to share these stories and let people forage their way through their own journey. No judgment...just perspective.
Thanks for your tireless effort to expose IFB abuse. It requires honesty and bravery. Admitting you're no longer Christian requires the same. I live with that also. Keep on being the amazing, kind, and open person you are. ❤
Eric, I am so sorry for your experience. Please keep speaking, sharing your heart and this will light your way!!! Thank you!
I lost my friends and church. It will always hurt but reality is better.
A true believer has a walk with Jesus and the label of a church doesn't matter.
If you say you are no longer a Christian, then the word of God would say you never were.
Jesus loves you Eric.
I recently left my faith and I thought I was never going to be ok. I don’t know how I feel about anything either. I long to believe but I legit do not and I can’t force it. Good has come from it and the more I am aware of the toxicity that I came from the more I never want to be apart of it again. I was so blind for so long.
Mersh. Your words are heartbreaking. Please know that it’s all going to be okay.
I feel your words. I'm right where you are.
I recently deconstructed and reconstructed. I was where you are about two years ago. Now, I have learned that I can’t walk away from God. He’s done too much. But, church attendance/activity, I just can’t do.
As a humanist, I draw inspiration from and feel sympathy for every human who wrestles with the big questions while holding on to his own values and moral bearing. I have learned much from your channel and appreciate the work you do exposing the abuses of your former community. I wish you peace and joy in your journey on this beautiful planet.
Humanist, atheist same right at least to you just asking. If so the Bible calls you a fool.
Psalms 14:1 (KJV) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
@@Cincymale79 We've all been where you are at, we know your thoughts, beliefs and intentions. Changing your core beliefs gives you a complete opposite, 190 degree turn of perspective from what one had as a believer. Most of us who has been where you are at, a cult member, will not waste their time arguing with you because your comments come across as accusatory, know it all person of faith who never intends to open his mind to see the other perspective.
You should know, if you are seeking truth, answers and reasoning, you need to come across differently than you do for others to have an open, honest and mutually beneficial conversations where you may learn some things. I don't know you but I do know you hold strong beliefs but are weary like all of us had been before, that same crossroad you sit at now.
I know that you are here to seek answers, you are curious but you're using a front to shield your real intention because your core beliefs is playing tricks on your mind causing confusion making you respond in the fashion you were conditioned to. It's okay to question some or all of what you were told was "truth". We all were lied to because the leaders don't wan't to lose members to the truth. They lose power when they lose members of their cult. Their words/lies are designed to keep your mind closed and only focused on the lies for their benefit, not yours. Think about that and take all the time you need.
@@Monipenny1000 you mentioned something about truth. So is the common establishment view that we've been taught in the school system your version of "truth"?
I still consider myself a Christian, but have changed my views a lot in the past year. I'd like to share more with you, but don't feel safe in a public forum. Thank you for your honesty. It is refreshing!
You're doing a great job. You don't need a label. Atheist, agnostic, believer, non-believer. You've asked the right questions in the past. If you would want a spiritual life in the future, you will find it on your own. And if not, the worldly world is not all that bad.
Thank you for exposing the IFB for who they truly are
Who they are are men like all of us
It’s easy for humans to slide from good intentions and service to God to selfish, greedy actions…..On a worship team I realized I could be focused on praising God or I could assume a posture of “hey look at me sing up here everyone!”
I appreciate your honesty, I can imagine how difficult this has been for you. I work within the spiritual abuse realm as well (more focused on the United Pentecostal Church organization) and can completely understand how you would get to this point. It's gut wrenching to hear all these stories (many who privately reach out) and to see all the dishonesty and corruption. I am a Christian, but feel the same about the institutional church as you do. I want nothing to do with it. I've been unchurched for about 14 yrs now and I guess would characterize myself as a "spiritual misfit". lol That's the best label I can come up with. I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your podcast and am thankful you will be continuing your work. It's very valuable.
ruclips.net/video/OoxNyNWFvZw/видео.html
Question:
Did you leave Christianity because there were bad people in the Church and bad churches, or because you don't believe Jesus is God made flesh to rescue man?
I watched the whole episode and it seemed entirely focused on the former while never addressing the latter. As many condemn, detest and rebuke the former while affirming the latter, can you please clarify?
Great question!
Same question.
Same question
Sounds like the former. "I quit going to the gym because of out of shape people there."
If Christ is not found In Christians or churches what is one to think
Thank you for sharing. Like you, I don’t see myself ever walking into a church again. Like you, the church has damaged my faith as well. For me, this is a hard place to be spiritually. I understand where you are coming from and appreciate the work you do to advocate for victims.
I’m totally going through exactly what you are Eric about the church single handed destroying my faith. I am a former member of Faith Baptist Church in Wildomar, only attended for 3/4 years but did enough damage in that short time to where I’m questioning everything about what I once believed.
Because they arent the Church, all they are is random people picking up Bibles and " teaching you" with no authority or knowledge and they confuse and destroy peoples faith. U may have been brainwashed against Catholicism and Orthodoxy but they are the Church. Check out the Apostolic Church Fathers to begin with, history will show you the truth. God bless
Because they arent Churchs and have no authority or knowledge to teach anyone. Hope this vid might help point you toward the truth. God bless
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Thank you for your honesty. Ask God your questions instead of deciding what He is like by evaluating those who say stuff about Him. Consider the properties of light and darkness. One cannot be overcome.
I've been watching your videos for the last couple of years. As an ex-JW, I could relate so much with the stories you and your guests shared. I watched this video with tears in my eyes. I'm an atheist, but my heart is heavy - no glee here. This is such a hard, painful journey. But it is necessary. I wish you comfort and joy in your recovery.
Thank you for sharing this. Growing up at FBC Hammond under Hyles and Schaap, my faith started falling apart years ago in college when Schaap was arrested and I've been struggling with it ever since. There is a large part of me that no longer believes in what I was taught, but believes like you in the sense that we don't know what is out there and what the truth is.
There is also a part of me that is terrified of not believing because God will kill my entire family as punishment to make me come back to him. The fact that THAT is how I view the God I was raised to believe in just goes to show why so many of us that were raised in the IFB leave.
I resonate with what you said about what is a "real Christian". if everyone that does anything inappropriate, wrong, mean, evil, sinful, etc. is not a real Christian then where are the real Christians? You can't praise and revere a person as a man of God and then just use the "they aren't really with us" excuse when they mess up. I do know a couple of people who are Christians that are good people, but considering the thousands of Christians I grew up with, I should know more than 5-8 people who could be considered "real Christians" (and it's sad that for me that just means non-judgmental and kind).
Thank you for making this video! I absolutely love your show and have since the beginning. Thank you for giving a voice to those of us who have suffered at the hands of evil men!
The Bible says that there will be a great falling away. Elijah, at one point felt like he was the only Christian, so it's not a new thing. Having a relationship with God doesn't rely on even ONE other person. And to separate cult and culture from truth, just take the Bible on its own, without anyone else defining or interpreting it for you. And don't just read special verses or certain Books. Listen to the audio Bible in entirety, with thought, prayer, and comparing Scripture with Scripture. I am confident that if you are WILLING for God to be true and every man a liar, you will. Let God be true, and every man a liar. The Bible says that.
Hi Alissa - I pastor a little church half a world away from Indiana, but spent my younger years among IFB's also. I don't know if this will help, but Christians often use the word "Cult" as a pejorative term, but what that word means depends on who you are talking to. However, the definition I usually give our people is that cultism is the belief that acceptance with God is in the group. "God accepts me because I am a ___________" Of course no IFB would ever say that out loud, but all too often, it is effectively how they function. I say all this because there is only one reason why God accepts anyone, and that is because they are justified before Him through personal faith in Jesus Christ - Romans 5:1 It is so sad to read of the turmoil you still feel, when it was not you, but the cult of Hyles and those like him whose relationship with God is seriously to be questioned. Lord, set this dear woman free and restore to her the joy of walking with you.
@@paulmackinnon9936
There is a bigger cult that united all other cults. It's the cult of Trump, something that the overwhelming majority of Evangelicals have fallen for, something that the Evangelicals are unlikely to recover from.
Another litmus test of Evangelicals is a test on love for their neighbor. The majority of Evangelicals have completely failed that test. Those that didn't fail are no longer Evangelicals.
As a friend I want to submit a thought to you: in Genesis 6 the earth got so corrupt God only saved 8 people
Everyone everyone on earth was corrupt except for Noah & Family
Did Noah turn against God?
I mean, it’s possible. We don’t know why Noah chose to get wasted after the flood, but it could be because of the traumatizing experience of listening to all the men, women, children, & animals screaming for their lives outside the ark & then being on such a vessel to ponder the fact that you & your family are the only ones left on earth & have to repopulate everything & everyone else you’ve ever known is dead & what he had just opened the door & let more people in or tried harder to reach a few more instead of just building a giant boat & then the big question.... if god is so almighty & powerful & can do anything merely by speaking it into existence, why not speak the evil out of everyone? Why not let the children be saved? Why didn’t god just snap his fingers & give everyone a second chance at redemption?.........
I’m not saying this is exactly what was going through Noah’s head or if that’s why he chose to get drunk enough to be completely out of his senses, but my bigger point is that pointing to an act of mass genocide on god’s part is not a good way to get someone to come back to a faith they’ve released themselves from.
I don’t have to know his story. But if you believe the Bible, a Christian does not become a non-Christian.
This is an oft-repeated but silly response.
I *was* a Christian.
I believed with all of my being in the person of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of Scripture.
Now I do not.
You can claim a Christian does not become a non-Christian, but my existence proves otherwise.
Christians become non-Christians all the time. People can accept and believe in the Bible for years and later stop believing it for a number of reasons. That thought makes some Christians uncomfortable, but it 100% happens.
I am a Christian. I am still a fan of yours. I will continue to listen to you. Your work is important. Real Christians will love God and love people regardless of their belief system. Take care of yourself.
There is so much that I could say about my experience with the IFB. But I know one thing, no man from the IFB died for me on that old rugged cross. It was Christ who died for me. That’s why I walked away from it. Two words that you’ll never hear in the IFB, false convert. Which I was for nearly 39 years.
I'm currently within that grey area, and you've literally stolen the words Outta my mouth. I completely understand what you feel, and it's been a terrible journey. I was a devout Christian willing to live and die for God, and I marvel today at how many bigoted beliefs I subscribed to. I'm happy and so comfortable at where I'm now. Alas, people think that they'll find me having affairs and drinking in bars because I no longer associate with Christianity. For me ethics, principles, and social work for the underprivileged is what matters most now- things that protestants are not very interested in here (india).
I’m so sorry for your decision. I definitely don’t want to be one of those Christians to be toxic. I have been in a dark place a few times where I have almost lost my faith in the Faith. If Jesus didn’t rescue me from that darkness, I’d be in the same place.
There is light at the other end of the tunnel. Deconstruction hurts and often takes years, but it opens up the true beauty of living, the invaluable worth of human relationships and connection.
Why gaslight? He made a decision to leave a toxic religion at its core. He’s only gaining here. The core beliefs of christianity are extremely toxic and not at all rooted in love.
Eric, thank you for honesty. I had a similar experience. But it did scar me. People need healed from all their demons, not get a platform to perpetuate abuse. I always like your show and appreciate your demeanor.
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You have such a pure heart. I think you are a spiritual person because of that. I think that agnostics can be more spiritual than many religious people because often they are so sincerely searching for answers. I so appreciate you and your channel. Thank you.
Sounds to me that your "faith" has always been sincere but misplaced.
Faith in Christ is quite different. Your are disappointed, disenchanted because you were never "born again," you were attracted to a way of life and a type of people, then you found out they were just people and sinners.
My advice to you would be to seek a relationship with the Lord Jesus. Remember this world and everything in it is slated for destruction. The body of flesh will be destroyed, and all things will be made new one day in Christ as was intended in the beginning.
You are holding on too tightly to this world. The Lord Jesus will deal with these people and justice will prevail. .....for eternity.
You’re being honest. So important! Keep thinking about things, it’s a journey. You may change your mind later. Praying for you. I haven’t attended church for the last 8 years but I’m still praying and thinking.
I’ll give you the simple answering key and say you got 15 minutes. He never was a Christian he didn’t meet Messiah and the vowel addresses.
@@Americanpatriot-zo2tk Have you met Jesus?
Given the really bad things Eric has seen in a very short period of time, a crisis of faith is not surprising. I have seen two cases of abuse in two different churches over about 30 years. Incredibly, they were handled well. Law enforcement immediately called, church members informed, victims supported, etc. A rock for me was my Dad, who became a Christian in his 30's and was a radically changed person. I watched how he lived and how he died 5 years ago. As a person with training in psychology, I know belief and faith are complex. It is intellectual, spiritual, emotional, cultural and experience shapes it. Eric is in some ways experiencing what some abuse counselors do. Schools, churches, youth sports, etc. all take on a dark cloud and the counselor can suffer secondary trauma by being around the traumatized. Those called to help often pay a heavy price.
Keep looking….there are wonderful christian communities out there!
I hope you’ll take a moment to read this.
Theist is Greek it means a belief .
Atheist is Greek it means no belief.
I am an atheist, because I haven’t seen or heard, sufficient evidence to support the god proposition .
That’s it nothing more it’s not a worldview .
I think I've said this before, but I support you. You've got this. I'm cheering you on as you live your own life free of control. Wishing you nothing the best on your journey. And, I'm on a similiar journey, so yeah, you know... You're not alone. If ever you need a listening ear, my inbox is open. Keep up the good work!
Praying for you Eric, God will reveal to you him self not religion but Jesus Christ.. you have been such blessing for me.
This man is no longer a Christian because he turned to the devil and now does the work of the devil being an accuser of the Brethren. That’s the truth.
So, the brethren are abusers? Whose brethren are they? I think I know what Jesus would say to them. "You are of your father, the devil.", as He said to other fakes.
I hope you find all the answers you are looking for in your own time. I hope your not offended, but I’ll be praying for you. Thank you for all the work you have done to expose abuse.
Forgiveness is a part of being a christian!
WOW Eric... XChristian and MK, Bob Jones University grad, Catholic for ten yrs, homeschooled, homechurch, two of my children were SA by an elder and my spouse at the time kept that information from me. I found out by accident AFTER the man in question went to jail for a separate incident. I can't attend church anymore bc I get anxiety attacks and even tho I'm not a believer it has left a significant hole.
Thank you for your honesty & calm defense of survivors like me.
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Thank you for your sincerity, I grew up in the IFB, experienced abuse of every form imaginable, have traveled throughout the country, even to IFB in Mexico and experienced the same almost no matter which IFB church. Went through this same process of wondering what is the truth, is it even possible to know? Living in the gray zone for a while, lost as having been Baptist all my life was my identity... What I can say is that there is an absolute truth, truth by its very essence is singular, but it must be sought after earnestly in order to be found... I began asking the questions: what did the first Christians believe from the first few centuries after Christ, what did they write and teach? What faith has been constant for 2000 years, that you can go to any century after Christ and find? the IFB has only been around for 100 years, and is an American phenomenon, yet was there something that was a universal faith, tested through time and found to be true? Keep up your quest for truth, and while this may be a gray time for you, if you are open, earnest, humble, honest you will arrive to the truth, God bless you!
Me too Eric, it’s hard but the truth. These last two years have allowed me to finally walk away.your podcast has helped me process the religious trauma I endured (sexual abuse and gay conversion therapy) I guess Me coming out of the closet last month was the final straw, in this long breakup. Thank you for sharing. I’m sending positive vibes your way !!!
Good luck man. Deconstruction is hard but I have found it worth it
Amen!
“I am untethered.” I like that. Thanks for sharing.
You bet. I alternate between liking the sense of being untethered and also wanting to hurl
@Preacher Boys It's OK to hurl. The subject you had to engage with is hurl worthy
@Preacher Boys After you hurl, seek out Jesus and His treatment of the voiceless. I'm praying it will some day restore your faith in Him despite "Christians".
Thank you for your explanation. I’ve been watching your videos for awhile now. I grew up in a strict Hyles IFB church. I’ve seen first hand all the lying and “internal politics” of the church. It had made me question my faith multiple times in my adult life.
Still not sure what I believe now.
Thank God for ppl like you.
This I don’t get: you’ve lost your faith in Christianity and your church? Maybe it’s a language or culture thing - I’m European - but what about Jesus Christ? Our faith is in Jesus, right? Not in people.
When the fruit of the people is rotten, that means those people are NOT the body of Christ. They are not His Church.
I have a feeling you’d enjoy Tim Mackie’s podcast “My Strange Bible”.
Take care, brother. God bless you and keep you.
He never used any scripture to help anyone. Did he really help or did he hurt the cause of Christ more. Just saying
I think the problem is more so that the Bible & Christianity as a whole is harmful. There is so much required in regards to belief & ideology that is cruel, disgusting, evil, etc., and when you start to really take an honest hard look at what Christianity & religion in general breeds, Jesus is not a loving god. No loving god would intentionally create a species of people knowing they are flawed & will not follow the game of life chess they created in the first place. No loving god would set up this game without giving the rest of the players an equal advantage & all the know how to have an equal chance at a winning outcome. And then allow said people to “fail” at something intentionally set up with the only outcome as failure in the first place & then punish them & all of their descendants to live awful lives with a gamble of an afterlife. No loving god would then proceed to make the most horrendous place ever to send people who just happen to not believe properly on earth so they need to spend eternity in freakin hell.......
no loving god would command genocide.
No loving god would condone slavery, spousal & child abuse, & sanctioned murder as correct & acceptable, righteous even.
This is why people leave. This is why people don’t believe in Jesus & release themselves from a faith that demands beliefs in appalling stories justified & condoned by false apologetics. This is why people leave “the faith” & realize Jesus is a story & not a good loving deity.
You simplify it quite well. You are 100% correct. Thanks for embarrassing us Americans. "The foundation of God stands sure: The Lord knows those who are his." It has nothing to do with people, good or bad. Of course, it is a great joy to fellowship with other true believers, but if that fellowship disappoints, the foundation remains. As you say, "It is our faith in Jesus." The blood of Jesus is not affected by hypocrites.
I’ve been in this area for a long time. It’s so difficult to understand where we are at, like my entire life was made up of IFB and after leaving that I didn’t know where to go. Then the more I studied and handled my personal trauma from when I was involved in the church, it just became more and more difficult. It’s frustrating because like my heart Wants me to be a Christian but at the same time my brain is like “never again”. So much is broken and even when people say “focus on the message not the messenger” we are told to obey those who are giving the message. Idk what to tell you man. I support you regardless of your belief just know you’re not alone in this, and honestly I’m in the uhhhh idk what I am area…. 🤷🏼♀️
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Being a Christian means I have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not about religions or denominations or the people within them. Jesus did not let you down, Eric. Don't give up on Him. He is being abused by the very same people you have been exposing. Do not allow the abusers to turn you against the lover of your soul, who is Himself a victim of abuse. His life was all about enduring abuse and culminated in the worst kind of abuse: His crucifixion. But this He did on your behalf and mine. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus proclaimed that there would be MANY who would falsely claim to be His followers. He warns us about wolves in sheep's clothing. What are wolves, but abusers of sheep? Finally, I want to say with all the love of the Lord in my heart, that if you ever truly trusted Christ, you are still a CHRISTIAN; for though you say you are denouncing Christianity, the Lord will not denounce YOU; for he hath said, I will NEVER leave thee, nor forsake thee. So, if you ever did truly trust Him, He is still with you now. If not, then trust Him now. He is the ultimate example of one who was a constant victim of abuse. Yet He went through it willingly. I am praying for you.
Thank you for sharing. I pray every person exposes the evil inside the church walls. Christians need to be better and deal with their sins severely, myself included. Leaders especially need to be held accountable for misleading and hurting their congregants.
Videos like this are important for Christians to live like they've been taught in scripture and what happens when we don't. Thank you, seriously for your courage.
Thank you for your story. I am currently questioning my beliefs and who I am. I truly loved my faith and wanting to do for others. Now I wonder if it was all false. I was only seeing what I wanted to see. This is a journey we all have to walk on our own.
I think more and more people are in the same “untethered” place that you are, myself included. Personally I found it scary at first but it does open a world of learning new ideas and exploring spirituality in ways I wouldn’t have approached before. Thanks for sharing your story. It does help others to feel they aren’t alone living in they grey. Well put.
This isn't Bible and if your saved you know it. You are wanting to be worldly and fleshly.
@@Cincymale79 Both Hyles, Schaap and many others proved that you can be "great men of god" and still be worldly and fleshly. You are wanting to be "worldly and fleshly" but you haven't figured out if following Jack and Dave Hyles, Schaap and other leaders is the way to go since they have been exposed. At least free thinkers, atheists, agnostics, etc., all know what the real "sins" are. Rape and all manor of molestations are the most vile and wicked of all sins. Somthing your leaders that you follow don't recognize as sins and certainly have never preached against these wicked detestable evils. You know why? Because they were culpable and would never point the fingers at themselves since preaching against what they are guilty of doing would do just that.
Just found your videos while I was searching for IFB stuff. Preacher of a IFB pastor and now a pastor of a church. (not IFB) but appreciated your stuff. Can't really blame you for your stand. I had to go through this and decide my faith years ago. I've spoke with pastor's you know and have done videos on. I read "I fired God" and loved her opinion and story. I wish the fruit was better...we have been more interested in building churches rather than people. It shows. May your journey and that of others bring healing as we expose the modern day Pharisees that abuse and curse God's name by their actions. Blessings.
I believe the problem is that people put their faith in other people instead of in God’s Word. The Bible alone will change people. I found when I stopped listening to the minister at the church we went to for 30 years and where people did their 2 hours at church a week and then forgot about it until the next week and actually read the Bible over and over again on my own, I found God and my heart changed. I hear the Spirit and life is SO much different than it was before.
AMEN!!! The church does destroy lives! I was raised by a Pentecostal preacher
I believe we live in the days of strong delusion. I don't think any organized church system is Christian. I think we are living in a time when you must find your own way.
Hey Eric. Thanks for being open about this. I can totally see how you got here. It makes me so sad to hear all the personal betrayals you have experienced in the church. I am also really struggling with Church environments so this move would not be a leap for me either. Maybe I'll still be there one day, but as of now, I'm still hung up on all that I have seen and know from my past experiences with God and I can't overlook those. But as for feeling like seeing all the bad fruit, yeah, I get it. Especially in the realm of the work you are trying to do here. Man, it's really disgusting and disheartening. I hope you're ok if I pray for you. This is a tough place and a hard journey you're on and I'm in your corner.
Appreciate it - and I think it's good to be aware of our own experiences affecting our disposition toward beliefs. I think moving slowly has been good for me.
This is rough to share so I'm glad you are sharing your story. I suggest you check out Rhett & Link's deconstruction videos. They did follow up ones too and they were very helpful for me on my own deconstruction. I think you'd appreciate their experience.
After listening thoroughly to you expressing your heart- my heart, goes out to you! I too, have seen and been through many of the situations you ve talked about- I have seen my family, especially a large in law family,… be devastated and scattered , due to these kind of situations. My husband & I have been heartbroken and even churchkess at times, due to this. However, I would just encourage you to continue to keep the faith , in our awesome Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ. The book of Isiah does explain that this will happen and this leaders have an AWFUL lot to give an account for-
People still need the Lord- and I do believe He’s coming back soon , so am burdened that others will see Him
Face to face as well- love & prayers to you & yours!!
Eric. I have empathy for you. In the early 70s in the 80s i was working in an IFB church. I ran their sound and had a small recording studio. This was a hyper Hyles church. For the first few years I bought in but realized that something was terribly wrong. I actually was running sound at a Hyles revival meeting. He was loud I had to turn him down and he yelled at me in front of almost a thousand people to keep my hands off the controls... and I was a new Christian and very humiliated. Many other stories but I do have empathy. Ejecting the IBF and much of the American church is understandable/ But please do not eject Christ.....they are not the same thing. I'll keep you in prayer. I'm sure what you have been doing in the past years has had to be incredibly hard. Here is some Irony. Even though the pastor discouraged me from producing music and studio production I did not let it discourage me. In fact in that small studio in an IBF church I produced DC Talks first album (Toby Mac) and did a solo album for Mike Tait who is now in News Boys and have been making records ever since. I'm glad Jack Hyles never found out! Be praying for you brother.
Thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate how you’ve said many times that those of us who were into it 1000% are the ones that were hurt the most. Growing up IFBC, I learned I was a horrible sinner, and had no worth without throwing myself on the mercy of god… that he loved me but I was so evil he had to murder his son to give me the chance to avoid an eternity of literal physical torture. I heard that message from toddlerhood. Three services a week, Bible classes in my Christian school… revivals, prophecy conferences… it was my entire existence. I never felt like I was good enough…. That somehow I should be able to be this happy model Christian but could never quite make it… couldn’t discipline myself to daily devotions, couldn’t be the perfect wife and mother… I suffered severe depression. I’m almost 60 and it’s only been in the last 12 years or so that I’ve been able to break free from all those spiritual gymnastics to see it wasn’t me…. It was the indoctrination and the false doctrines being spouted by patriarchal, hypocritical mouths that got personal gain from them. I don’t believe in god anymore… I don’t fear eternal damnation, I enjoy nature and the scientific principles that hold the universe together. I have finally found some contentment in my life by giving up the idea that I need to be anything other than who I am or that there is eternal damnation waiting for me because I just couldn’t measure up. Every episode of your podcast helps open my eyes more to the harm that I experienced.
Hope it all works out for you in the end, woman. But all you described has nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And your foolish mistake is to malign God with accusations based on the words and behavior of people who never knew Him. What does all that have to do with God?
My work as a healthcare chaplain in mental health brings me in touch with the worst and very occasionally the best of churches and belief groups. Faith does keep me going at times and other times I rant. Coming from traditional kirk of Scotland into the ethos of the Iona community in my 20s is what I feel helped me. I know many of my nursing peers who are reconstructing or have found they are done with it. We have to be true to where we are at. Just be you
Hello Eric, Its 4:15 A.M. in Midville,Ga. This is the first time listening to you. I'm 61 and been in the Independant Baptist Church for all of my church going life. It really made me sad and hurt listening to your story. I myself have seen so much corruption in the church among leaders, but what I realized a long time ago was that you cannot put your faith and trust in man. If you do they will fail you at some point every time. One pastor I had when he resigned the church, I stood before the alter and cried because I loved him and his family so much. Then at his home the next day or so while helping him pack I found out how wicked of a man and his wife really were. I stayed in church and have gone through many similar things since, but I realized they are some very sincere and godly people in church, not perfect but truly love God and want to do what's right. I will not bash you, but I will be praying for you. Ask God to protect your mind from wicked influences as you do this podcast. The more you hear of negative things about the church will make it hard to see the good. It is real my friend and I believe deep down you know it is, but there are so many bad people in leadership positions that it's hard to see sometimes. Please don't give up on God. He really loves you and his son did die for you and me.
Ricky Anderson Sr.
There may be comfort in the church, but there is nothing good there, because even the many good people in it continue to support its corrupt behavior, because that's all they know.
I have watched your show from the beginning and I agree with most of the content. However none of your videos turned me from “biblical” Christianity. How is it that you turned against biblical Christianity and I didn’t?
Did you follow the independent Baptist movement or did you follow Jesus?
I’m not criticizing you and you were right you have no need to owe anybody anything. I’m just asking out of curiosity. How is it that these things can turn you against Christ?
I can say Amen coven my name is Kurt and I will shave in Southwest Detroit a number of churches I belong to which were all independent fundamental Baptist Churches some of the pastors wound up being in my opinion out-and-out Crooks dishonest people but it's not these people that saved me
I sent that prematurely sorry as I was saying it's not these pastors that showed me it was Jesus Christ and is Jesus Christ and they will face him when they die so called pastors have done people wrong but my savior Jesus Christ has never done me wrong he's been faithful to me I'm saddened to hear that your ex faith has been destroyed unfortunately it seems his faith in Jesus was destroyed when it wasn't the fault of Jesus Christ what was the fault of the pastor's they're the ones to blame not Jesus
I'm sorry the name should have read Eric
Some of us are also fighting for victims. Keep going. The lack of accountability in churches can be partially fixed maybe in a presbyterian church, but a good one that speaks against toxic and abusive church cultures. To ground our morality we need God, ontologically (because abuse is not subjectively wrong but objectively wrong). I'm a fundamental baptist in Ecuador. He moves me to fight for victims. He wants churches to do what you are doing. Keep fighting the fight but don't leave the source. Take your time but keep thinking about this while you keep fighting.
My heart hurts for you😢For real. I hear your heart and I am grateful for your heart and your truth. Keep seeking the truth and it/He God will show up. I was always trained by the Father to seek Him because people and institutions will always let you down. Praying for you man. ❤
I am so sorry for your hurt. People will always disappoint us. Our faith belongs in the Father and not in those who claim to love Him. I encourage you to keep asking questions. Thank you for your authenticity and living out what you had hoped to see from those who have hurt you. Praying for you and all of us who have been hurt and abused by those in church leadership.
I think you are brave for being honest. Faith can be a struggle. You can still promote positive Christian figures without being a Christian. I love your content. Take time and find your own discovery.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thank you for speaking truth, even when it's far from easy.
Wow… Eric, my friend, sorry to hear that but totally understand….For me the struggle is so so may churches and believers such into this QAnon and Trump garbage. That has seriously replaced the Gospel for so many it absolutely sickens me. So do understand
Trump has replaced God - you are correct
I completely understand. Sometimes I feel the same way. I was not only raised in church, I was raised by a minister ( not Baptist) and the hypocrisy and hatred I saw first hand in the churches he served destroyed my belief in Organized Christianity. Now I struggle with Christianity all together but I feel like I'm betraying my family just by saying that.
I mean, understandable - it's linked to everything - family, politics, spirituality, sense of self. Not easy to explore.
@@PreacherBoys no, and I truly admire your courage to say openly that you no longer believe, I'm not ready for that yet. Part of me wants to believe. My entire family life was centered around serving God. My summers were spent at church camp, either as a camper or as a counselor. Every summer until I turned 18 and went to college ( at a Christian university) Even where we lived was dictated by where the church ( in our denomination ministers are moved quite frequently by the conference in which they serve)decided to send us, it is all I've ever known. I'm 43 yrs old and Today is the first time I've ever questioned Christianity out loud. ANYWAY, sorry to take up so much of your comment section. Thanks for showing me I'm not alone in my thoughts.
You have to separate your reliance on people from your reliance on God. Find Him on your own, for yourself, in HIS Word. Let God be true and every man a liar.
don't go after your feelings!
I've been in that gray area of "I don't know" for several years now. So I totally understand how you feel. I've just seen SO much of the toxic side of Christianity that I can't label myself as a Christian. It's just a hard thing to navigate, and I don't know that I will ever be able to label myself "atheist"?
Same. Avoiding labels best I can.
I was in that gray area for several years, still a believer/Christian. I stopped going to church for about 10 years after the last cult I attended for a year. Then I started going to another church for about a year or so. I stopped going when I started to question my beliefs. I understand the gray area well however it wasn't the most painful part of my journey, deconstructing was. I didn't label myself an atheist until 6 months to a year after I was fully deconverted. During that period of time, I considered myself a free thinker because that was what it toook for me to go through the deconversion process. I still consider myself a free thinker. Anyway, we don't need labels, we just need to be comfortable on whatever path we are on, discomfort will force you to do something about it which is either work to deconstruct the entire belief system we had or reconstruct it to make your new belief one that feels right for you.
I feel for you brother. I respect you for just being transparent about the way you feel and I respect your journey and think it's a result of what we've been given in the West unfortunately.
Congratulations! I am so proud of you that you spoke your truth to all of us you didn’t hide and that takes a lot of courage.
My church is the redwood forest. I live in it, create in it, & ……. I could leave you a long story but it’s late so Ta ta for now.
There is a saying….don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!……Jesus is still Jesus!
Christ, Himself is the true core of Christianity and He is NOT rotten to the core. That is really what you said. You are rejecting Christ on the basis of what fallen and no doubt some really wicked people have done. Some of these people may or may not be real believers, I have no way of knowing that. A real born-again believer CAN commit heinous and very wicked acts of sin including well, you fill in the blanks. Just about any sin you can think of according to very clear passages of scripture. Can a real Christian commit murder? YES. Rape? YES. Adultery? Oh, you better believe it. Many pastors are no longer pastors because of this very thing and quite a few should never pastor another church and should get out of the pulpit right now. Btw, I am in no way excusing what some Christians or false professors have done, not in the least.
I don't believe Eric that you have ever been born again by faith in Christ. That is really the one and only question you should be asking yourself. No person ever comes to Christ and truly gets born again and then one day decides they don't believe in God anymore. You nor anyone else will ever convince me of that. When were you born again? How did you get born again? What happened to you AFTER you were born again? Christ is the true and living God who died on the cross for our sins. We are only saved when we admit our sinfulness to God and believe fully in our hearts that Christ shed His innocent blood on the cross for our sins and rose again bodily from the dead. God so loved you Eric that He became a man through the virgin birth and lived a perfect, sinless life and shed the blood of the innocent Lamb of God for YOUR SINS and mine. Faith alone in Him saves you. Men will disappoint, but your focus should always be on Christ. He is PURE and HOLY to the CORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man with all those exclamation marks your comment must be ordained of god lol
@@adamthiry868 Ok, maybe I got a little carried away with the exclamation marks. Although what I said may not be ordained of God it is from His divine revelation to man, the Bible. What I said about Jesus being absolutely pure and holy is what the Bible teaches very clearly about Him. He wasn't just a good man or even a great teacher primarily. He was literally God in a human body. He was born of a virgin and lived a perfect sinless life and at about the age of 33 He was falsely accused, brutally beaten, scourged, mocked, and finally crucified for our sins. Faith in His death, burial, and resurrection is the one and only thing that saves us from what we really deserve which is an eternity in hell.
@@randyd9805 we don’t deserve eternity in hell. No one does. That’s unjust. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
There is no man alive that has been so evil that he deserves INFINITE torture in the lake of fire. Even Hitler had more mercy on the Jews than “god” will have on the “lost”. Hitler eventually killed the Jews he captured. According to Christian people, god will fry them endlessly forever without end.
God could have made the world any myriad of ways. He chose to bring about the world the way it is-fully knowing what man would choose to do(or directing man to do depending on if you subscribe to Calvinist theology or not). He is the one that decided to create man KNOWING FULL WELL that the majority(according to the Bible) would be tortured forever.
@@Nohair1611 God said this just for people like you. " There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." In fact, He stated it twice in case you didn't get it the first time. You are using your extremely limited human reasoning and imposing your extremely foolish thoughts that you made up in your own mind and then imposing them on the God of the universe which clearly you don't truly believe in. You fully reject virtually everything that God says about man in the Bible. You then impose your own thoughts over God's word. That WILL NOT work out well for you in the end. You in fact will be one of those in eternal torment because you refuse to believe in the great sacrifice that God made for your eternal salvation.
This is not a matter of how bad or good each human being since Adam & Eve has been. Some have been monstrously evil like Hitler or Stalin, yet you say they don't deserve hell. You say, that the person who murders, steals, commits repeated adultery, pedophilia, kidnapping, or any other evil you can name, does not merit the lake of fire. Well, you just may find out the hard way just how wrong you really are. I don't want that for you, but unless you kneel before Jesus Christ now and trust Him alone as your Savior then you will kneel before Him one day in the future, but it will be too late then. He shed His blood on the cross for your sins. The brutality of His crucifixion should make any sensible person reconsider their concept of hell. Jesus Christ Himself mentions hell more than any other single person in the entire Bible and He makes it pretty clear it's not a good place to go to AND THAT IT'S A REAL PLACE OF REAL TORMENT.. You most assuredly are headed there. I suggest you repent, and rethink your position because it is completely fallacious and unscriptural.
God has concluded that all men have sinned against Him and therefore we are under the condemnation of a perfectly Holy and righteous God. You don't have to be as big a sinner as Hitler or a serial killer to go to hell. All you have to do is reject the salvation freely offered to you by the grace of God through Jesus Christ who was in fact God in a human body, born of a virgin and therefore without sin.. He shed His innocent blood after living a perfect life to make it possible for the descendants of Adam to gain eternal life by faith in Him. That is the one and only condition. Don't trust in yourself or your own good works, but trust in what God has said about His Son who gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins and then rose again from the dead.. Btw, nothing I've said here is just my own thoughts. I can back up every statement with repeated statements of scripture. Read Romans, the 4 gospels, Galatians, Revelation. You simply have made up what you believe. Your eternal destination is at stake. A good place to start. bible.timelesstruths.org/John+1