The Texas Baptist Crucible

Does the good shepherd break the legs of his sheep? Does the under shepherd have a right or responsibility to do so? Let's talk about this.

Part 1 of my conversation with Levi Robinson. Levi is a blast and it was great reconnecting with him. In part 1 he gives an overall summary of how he got there and how he eventually left, with a lot of fun rabbit trails along the way.

Nothing comes from nothing and therefore everything, every place, comes from some place before. Every effect has a cause. What caused LBT? What shaped it? More importantly, what were the influences that influenced and shaped a Bob Gray Sr.? I give you J. Frank Norris, the grandfather of modern Independent Baptist Fundamentalism.

Anthony Hamilton is our guest today, telling his story, that of growing up at LBT, the manipulation and control tactics he encountered along the way, and how he finally came to leave a few years ago. And how what he was told about life outside didn't actually match what he found when he got out there.

I sort of ramble, talk about the anti-intellectualism of LBT and why the numbers were so important, then make some announcements

Jonathan grew up at LBT and got out as soon as he graduated high school. His is a story of non-conformity, and how the staff at LCA had no idea how to handle that. Jonathan gives some fascinating and timely insight.

A look at giving at LBT and what was expected of members--the philosophy, accountability, practices, etc.

Have you paid up what you owe God, brother? With interest?

Last week Billy Bob gave an overview of his time at LBT, his memories, what it was like to grow up there. That was a fantastic episode and look into life as a kid at LBT in the 90s. But the he ended with an ominous note. "Let's take a break and when we come back we can talk bout the heavy stuff.

WARNING: this is not an easy conversation. What you're about to listen to is a firsthand account of coming home to find out your dad has been arrested for child molestation.

There are quite a few ingredients that go into the Independent Fundamental Baptist stew, and I explain several of them in this episode as we inch toward understanding how a church like LBT could come to be.

Compelling testimony from the oldest son of an infamous member of the Longview Baptist Temple. Billy Bob speaks on growing up sheltered, wishing he were somewhere else, wanting to be like his dad, generally what life was like for a kid growing up in that church...all of it, of course, setting us up for part 2 and what he called "the heavy stuff."