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Have you ever walked into a church service and felt the contagious energy of a concert but lacked the presence of God? That unsettled feeling might be your spiritual discernment kicking in.

The line between authentic faith and manufactured religious experiences has never been blurrier. Today's episode tackles what many believers secretly struggle with: discerning between genuine encounters with God and the emotional manipulation that often masquerades as spirituality in modern church culture.

Through a candid personal story about a church where "Hillsong met Coachella," we examine how charismatic personalities, motivational one-liners, and high-production services can sometimes overshadow biblical truth. The dangerous infiltration of "New Thought" philosophy—what one theologian describes as "the positive thinking movement with Jesus as its mascot"—has subtly transformed some church experiences from faith in Jesus to faith in vibes and hype.

We don't just identify the problem; we provide practical biblical guidance for evaluating your spiritual environment. Using passages from Luke 9, Exodus 20, Isaiah 45, and Acts 8, we create a framework for distinguishing between true kingdom ministry and spiritual manipulation. For those in unhealthy church situations, we outline concrete steps from Matthew 18 for addressing concerns gracefully or, when necessary, finding a healthier community without abandoning faith altogether.

Whether you're questioning aspects of your church experience, recovering from spiritual abuse, or simply want to ground your faith in authentic truth rather than emotional highs, this episode offers both validation and direction. The gospel doesn't need flash to transform lives—just truth delivered with love.

Ready for faith that sustains beyond Sunday's emotional high? Subscribe now and join our growing community of believers pursuing depth over hype, and bring a friend who's tired of spiritual soundbites to next week's episode on the top 10 most misused Bible verses.

If you're recovering from a cult or spiritual abuse, you don’t have to do it alone.

Here are some Christian-based resources to help:

• Melissa Dougherty Podcast — Solid podcast to better understand New Thought in the church
• The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse — Johnson & VanVonderen
• Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse — Lisa Oakley 
• Mike Winger (YouTube) — Theologically solid and biblically faithful

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