Just opened my drafts after 2 years of not logging into this blog and found this scathing review that I had meant to publish years ago. The writer was anonymous, and as most brainwashed people of the IFB cult they will defend everyone and everything until the end of the world, but that does NOT make what happens at these churches/cults and less wrong. I just watched several horrifying episodes of the Dr. Phil show on tv where he interviewed survivors of the Hephzibah house in Indiana, and there was one lady who claimed that everything the survivors was saying was a lie. These survivors were telling their stories with literal tears coursing down their cheeks, with looks of trauma in every eye, and living through some of what they endured I KNOW FOR A FACT that what they are saying is true. But again, there will always be those who are so brainwashed that they can't see through the lies. The following is one such example (and for the record, I'm not writing this blog as someone who lacks objectivity, as someone who is bitter and just writing angry posts, but as someone who traumatized and SURVIVED to tell the story and warm others and possibly help a few escape the cult that I know so well)... ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ( [email protected] ) 2/24/2017 04:27:50 pm: I found your blog and read all of your posts. I must say am disappointed with the lies you are perpetrating. I'll not defend everything that happens at any church, but as someone who is very familiar with the teachings and standards at Falls Baptist Church, I must speak out and say that you are twisting many facts and outright lying at times. I know it may give dramatic effect to your writings, but the gross exaggerations fail to give an accurate picture of what is truly believed and taught. So much written here lacks context. If context and a few missing facts were revealed, the reader would immediately see a very different picture than what you are representing. Falls Baptist isn't a perfect church, and I've been hurt too. But I could say the same about just about every other church and organization I've been a part of in my life—including the non-IFB churches I've attended. Churches are made up of people who, unfortunately, are sinners. Maybe Falls isn't the place for everyone, but to react by redefining God in your own terms so you can justify your preferred lifestyle is a rejection of precious truths found in God's Word. Because God is patient, gracious, and forgiving, much growth and change has taken place in some of the people you refer to...the leadership is much more humble and transparent than the picture painted here. They truly walk with God and desire that others have that real relationship too. I understand the misery you must have felt, because that real relationship and walk with the Lord was lacking in your life, leaving you dry and unable to see things from a spiritual perspective. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."-1 Corinthians 2:14 I do not doubt you *feel* happiness and freedom in your current situation, compared to your previous internal turmoil. The life of a hypocrite (which you seem to advocate) is truly a miserable existence! I do not write so much to direct my comments at you, Sarah...I know much speaking will never convince you. I love you in Christ, as do many others. I can only join them in praying that you will one day be able to acknowledge that deep love. My aim is to warn the readers here to please consider that... -There are always two sides to every story. -People, even leadership, make mistakes (many times with good intentions) and do wrong, but can grow and change. -Someone writing with such deep personal hurt that has festered into bitterness will lack objectivity. -The "freedom" Sarah found is not freedom in Christ or in His will, but rather freedom in oneself: expressing self and pleasing self apart from any true desire to please God and submit to Him. There is no refreshing spiritual vibrancy here! I cannot possibly take the time to dismantle every assertion on this blog, nor do I desire to. But please do not read blindly and accept all as fact that you find here. Even after reading these words again after so many years I am astonished how someone who has also been "hurt by the church" can still stand up and defend such IFB's this way. We all know that abuse DOES happen at these churches, not necessarily sexual abuse (thank god), but spiritual, emotional, and yes, physical abuse. The so called "stories" that I have written here in this blog are not made up, they are not lies, and if they lack context please allow me to fill that in, because I have 10 years of examples that I promise you are not forgotten.
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AuthorCanadian born and raised, I am an independent spirit that has always longed for freedom. I have experienced a lot of contrasting things over the years, and finally now have the courage to write it down. Categories |