Looking for the Real God

Christy finishes her series on things that keep us from God by talking about unbelief. She knows that this is a complicated topic and something that has been used to spiritually abuse people. But Christy also knows that without faith it is impossible to truly know God. She shares from her own life, from Scripture, and contemplates the church culture at large.

Scripture Referenced:
John 3:17-18
Hebrews 11:6
Jeremiah 29:12-14

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The religious Jews thought God was their father. But they argued with God in front of them and wanted to kill Jesus when he challenged their firmly held beliefs. What if we are more like the religious Jews than we are willing to admit?

Christy continues talking about the things that keep us from God this time admitting her own prideful, religious heart. Thanks to some painful church hurt, Christy was broken and humbled to a place where she was willing to listen and learn from others.

It is her sincere desire that Church People everywhere will also lay aside their pride and certainty to humbly seek the Real Jesus.

Related Resources:
If you have questions about how to love the LGBTQI community, this is a great place to start! https://lauriekrieg.com/

Scripture Mentioned:
John 8

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Over the next few weeks Christy explores things that keep us stuck in religion rather than moving into a relationship with the Real God. Today's topic is fear.

Christy contemplates the way the religious Jews missed Jesus while comparing the Jews to modern American Christians. She wonders if we have also created our own version of God in a way that would make us just as threatened if the Real Jesus showed up.

Christy admits that until a few years ago, she was also unknowingly missing Him, stuck in a religious mindset and judging others, while claiming to know Jesus and pointing others to Him.

Scripture Referenced:
John 8
2 Timothy 1:7
1 John 4:18

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Christy tackles the problem of evil. If God is real and good and powerful, then why is there so much evil in the world? This is a good and valid question that must be addressed. Rather than give pat Christianese answers, Christy reminds her listeners of a few important points. She encourages them to wrestle for themselves, reading Scripture, taking the time for the hard questions, and seeking the Real God.

Article Mentioned: A Look at the Problem of Evil https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1969/september-26/look-at-problem-of-evil.html

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Christy honestly shares her heart as she compares the religious leaders of Jesus' day to our Modern American version of the Evangelical Church. Christy encourages her listeners to rethink, wonder, question, doubt, and more than anything look for the Real God. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for being more attached to the tradition of men than the commandment of God. Christy seems a troubling similarity to what is happening today.

Scripture referenced:
Mark 7:8
Mark 12
Matthew 22

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Christy finishes her series on the American Evangelical Church by asking the question why. Why do we seem to come back to this place of religious behaviors? What are we really looking for?

Acknowledging that everyone is attempting to fix a broken world no matter which side of any issue they are on, Christy points her listeners back to Eden. People feel the brokenness because the world is broken. We try to fix the problems through things like politics, religion, social justice, and climate change. But we will never be able to create the Utopia we long for by ourselves. Restoration only comes through Jesus Christ.

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Christy continues to explore the problems within American Evangelical Christianity by discussing the Pharisees and Sadducees. If the Real Jesus was physically here on Earth today, would we miss Him? Would we be uncomfortable or irritated by Him? Maybe even furious like the religious leaders were?

Or like the curious crowds would we be seeking to touch Him and experience His power? Would the truth surprise us?

As we deconstruct and reconstruct our faith, Christy encourages her listeners to avoid sides, lean into their own brokenness, and find the God who spent His time with outcasts and sinners.

Scripture Referenced:
Luke 6

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Christy continues comparing her time with Bill Gothard's Christian cult to the problems within broader American Evangelical Christianity. She looks at how people got sucked into Gothard's teachings and suggests there are three things that make us the most susceptible to false teaching: when we are afraid, when we are ignorant, and when we are isolated.

Related Link for Recovering Grace: A Bill Gothard Generation Shines a Light on the Teachings of IBLP and ATI
https://www.recoveringgrace.org/

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Christy continues to dive into the connections between the Christian Cult she grew up in and the mess we see in American Evangelical Christianity today. As she asks the question, "How?" Christy explores various false ideas that many of us think are Biblical. She tackles Christian Nationalism, what it means to be in the world but not of it, and the seven mountain mandate.

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As Christy continues to ask hard questions regarding Evangelical Christianity and the culture it has created, she looks into the 7 Basic Principles promoted by her Christian cult. What happens when our beliefs are almost true? When they sound biblical but miss the mark?

Christy talks about teaching children at the Basic Seminar despite her own doubts and confusion. She looks into the ways we long to find security through formulas and religion. There is a reason we keep falling for the same Impostor Jesus and the reason is within our own broken hearts.

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