Looking for the Real God

#161 Is it Gossip or Truth Telling? (S8E20)

Christy connects some dots between the teachings of Bill Gothard, founder of IBLP--the Christian cult exposed on Amazon's new documentary Shiny Happy People and Evangelical Christianity. Gothard's teachings on authority (power), obedience (oppression and suppression) and gossip (truth telling) were pretty extreme. But have those teachings trickled into mainstream evangelical Christianity? Or are these things that we broken people naturally struggle with anyway?
Christy tackles the concept of gossip. Often abusive leaders will use the threat of being called a gossip, or of people gossiping, to stop truth from being told and exposed. There is an unfortunate number of stories coming out about power-hungry, narcissistic church leaders who are able to stay in power because people are too afraid to tell the truth. Christy would like to change that dynamic. She would like to see the church become a place where Jesus reigns not a person, where people humbly use their gifts (like truth telling) instead of bossing others around, and where people find healing rather than abuse.
Books referenced:
When Narcissism Comes to Church by Chuck DeGroat
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen
Related Blog Posts:
Pastors, Abuse, and the Church
Healing from Spiritual Abuse

#160 Shiny Happy People - My Response (S8E19)

Christy talks about the new documentary series out on Amazon Prime called Shiny Happy People. The series exposes the cult she grew up in (IBLP) along with its leader, Bill Gothard. The series was harder to watch then Christy thought it would be. It brought up feelings and memories that she wasn't expecting. But Christy is also grateful that the truth is being exposed. Gothard's teachings have infiltrated the mainstream church, homeschooling movement, and even politics. Christy has been feeling this for a while, but it was validating to hear the documentary express the same concerns.
Then there is Christy's book, "Religious Rebels," that comes out on June 15. The timing is ironic. Christy had no idea that Shiny Happy People would be happening, but God did and Christy is excited to see how the book and documentary will work together to set people free from religious ideology and free to begin a relationship with the real Jesus.
Link for Shiny Happy People
Link to preorder Religious Rebels

#159 Pentecost and the Wild Goose (S8E18)

On Pentecost Sunday, Christy explores the Holy Spirit. She wonders why He gets less attention than the other members of the Trinity and is often either ignored or manipulated. Christy reads pieces of her new book, Religious Rebels, coming out June 15th and shares the ways she has encountered the Holy Spirit over the years and just begun to recognize Him.
Christy also shares parts of an article that talk about early Celtic Christians who saw the Holy Spirit as a wild goose, unpredictable, wild and free, giving warnings and drawing us back to God.
Happy Pentecost!
Article Mentioned: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/wild-goose
Preorder Christy's Book Religious Rebels: https://christylynnewood.com/religious-rebels-book/
 

#158 The God who Mothers (S8E17)

This episode was originally planned for Mother's Day, but in the uploading process, Christy accidentally uploaded the wrong audio. So we are trying again this week. Knowing we have a mothering God isn't just something we need on mother's day. It's something we need every day!
Christy acknowledges the pain that many people feel on Mother's Day from loss, heartache, disappointment, and frustration because of our mothers and children, or lack of mothers and children. Then Christy points to the feminine qualities of God as a mother pictured throughout Scripture. God wants to mother us and then in turn develop mothering characteristics within us so that we can mother others.
Scripture Referenced:
Ruth 2:12; Psalm 57:1; Psalm 91:4
Matthew 23:27 & Luke 13:34
Isaiah 49:15 & Isaiah 66:13
1 Thessalonians 2:7 & Galatians 4:19

#157 Rebels with a Cause (S8E16)

As Christy prepares to launch her book, Religious Rebels, she is thinking about the things we might need to rebel against these days. Growing up. rebellion was "as the sin of witchcraft" and highly discouraged and/or condemned. But when you squash rebellion, you also squash questions, exploration, and people seeking for truth.
Christy contemplates the ways Christian industries like the music industry and publishing industry have been absorbed into secular corporations or organizations with sketchy theology. Is there a way to rebel against the system while supporting modern prophets, authors, and musicians who are calling us back to the real Jesus? In our world of technology and connection, she hopes so.

#156 Even More Radical (S8E15)

Christy comments on a podcast episode she listened to with Russell Moore and David Platt. As much as she appreciates David Platt's heart for people to be genuine Christians and live lives that please God, she's always felt hesitant about his approach. 
It is so easy for us as humans to get caught up in religion--in doing things for God, or to please God, or to get something from God. We cannot do enough. No one can give us enough "shoulds." We can never be motivated by guilt or shame enough to actually change on a heart level. We need something bigger than ourselves to actually change.
Christy reminds her listeners of the true and simple gospel and the power it holds to transform us from the inside out.

#155 If We Don’t Reject Lies (S8E14)

Christy explores what can happen when we don't actively reject lies we once believed. During her cult days, Christy taught children's seminars that coincided with Bill Gothard's Basic Seminars for adults. While unboxing some old memory albums, Christy realized that the church she recently attended for the last five years was the same church that hosted Gothard's seminar in 2000. After doing some digging, Christy was unable to find a time when the church actively rejected Gothard's teaching or made a statement that they were wrong to support his ministry.
Why is it important to actively reject lies? Because if you don't they will continue to fester below the surface and affect your life on multiple levels.

#154 Easter Reflections: Reposted (S8E13)

Since Christy is on vacation, she is posting some of her favorite episodes over the years from the Easter season. 
Christy takes time to ponder her love for Jesus and her awe of His death and resurrection. With passion and emotion Christy invites her listeners to lay aside their ideas of God and look at the person of Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh. She celebrates the core of historical orthodox Christianity — the fact that God would sacrifice Himself in our place so that we could be redeemed and brought back into a relationship of oneness with our Creator. Happy Easter! Jesus is risen!

#153 Passover with an Unexpected God: Reposted (S8E12)

Since Christy is on vacation, she is posting some of her favorite episodes over the years from the Easter season. 
Christy looks at the last Passover Jesus celebrated with His disciples. Jesus did not fit the Jews' idea of the Messiah even though the entire Passover meal pointed to Him. Where as humans seek for money, power, and fame, Jesus sought humility, obscurity, poverty, and servanthood. He was not who we expected God to be. But because of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, a new Way has opened, a new Kingdom is at hand, and Restoration has begun!
Scripture Referenced: Matthew 26:17-25 Mark 14:12-16 Luke 22:7-13

#152 What Makes Us Vulnerable to False Teachers (S8E11)

Christy explores the reasons we humans seem to be so quick to fall for false teaching, false prophets, and cults. This world is broken and we feel it. False teachers and cults often promise a short cut to fix the brokenness. They offer identity and purpose. They promise a sense of control. But all the offers and promises are based on lies and can't really satisfy.
Christy encourages her listeners to learn to slog on the muddy trail with Jesus, let Him help them, provide for them, encourage them, and teach them to see the beauty in the brokenness.