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My favorite part of you & Jill’s story is that you still follow God. While you were having to be in these situations God still revealed himself to y’all and made your eyes be open to the truth of Jesus Christ. You had every opportunity to go in the other direction, but you still chose Jesus. I think that’s the beauty of your story. Loving the Lord and speaking God’s truth to others.
Joseph Smith, in Mormonism, has been my Bill Gothard. So much of your story resonates with me. I was raised in a polygamist family with 20 kids and later joined mainstream Mormonism where there was no polygamy, but still they believed the same Joseph smith was a true prophet of God. It messed with me so much. I left a year ago and have found true freedom and love from the real Christ. The pain from healing is so real though. There are so many sheep in wolves clothing. The leaders come across as so sweet and nice, yet have deceived so many. You have made me feel less alone. Thank you for your voice!❤
Seeing this comment brings me joy . I was born and raised in Utah for 10 years where my parents were Home Missionaries meaning we served in the US . Our work was ministering to Mormons as they chose to leave the LDS church . I’m so thankful God opened your eyes to the truth .
Wow! Love to hear your story and so thankful to God that you were able to leave those false teachings and come to the true Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Jill’s testimony is evident of true, genuine forgiveness. There was so much wrong done to her. Her father exploited her, on camera and behind closed doors. And still, her father seems to judge her harshly. I hope one day soon, he will ask for her forgiveness and start to repair the relationship.
I grew up in the IFB- different beast but similar trauma. It takes a very long time to be okay again and be able to think for yourself because you’ve been so shamed and belittled for even a simple question. However, without the forgiveness it’s hard to get to the other side of the journey.
Not that it matters, but this is Jinger in this video pod cast. Both Jinger and Jill left the cult and wrote books. The other sister Jana is 29 still ives with the parents under the rule of father, Joy Anna married super young (bore three children quickly four pregnancys one late loss) a very domineering husband who rules over her like her father. Sad the brothers are deaf mutes as they are under monetary control of the father. The younger girls at home think names Josie, Johanna, Jennifer and one more are minors who are prisoners to the beliefs of parents. Since they are homeschooled and have limited outside influence they do not know any different.
@@mruggier0Jana is 33 years old and all her younger siblings are old enough to care for themselves. She’s been helping her adult siblings with projects and thriving. It’s not even confirmed if she even still lives in the Duggar household or not. I’m sure Jana is doing just fine.
Joy Ana has a CZcams channel. She and her husband seem completely fine and have a loving relationship. I don’t know where you gather that her husband is domineering. She speaks highly of her sisters (Jill and Jinger) and visits them.
Jinger, when you commented that you were grateful to the people who did share their stories on Shiny Happy People I hope you were referring to Jill. She has been very brave.
@@dearleah7299 no. You were talking to me. And I stand by what I said. I HOPE, not demand, that she is grateful to Jill. They are sisters and life is too short not to value family
Thanks for your comments on this. Because you have come out of this with faith intact, it is important to stay clear of the messages that throw out true Christianity with the teachings of cult leaders who use the Bible to deceive. So happy for you and your sisters who have broken free with faith intact.
I grew up with conservative Christian parents, but we weren't IBLP. We knew people in the IBLP. It was so extreme. The sad thing to me is many completely left the faith because their upbringing was so rigid. Instead of Gothard pointing many to Christ, many walked away. As Christians we definitely have right and wrong issues, but the IBLP was too controlling in families. Thank you for sharing Jinger.
I have friends who left the LDS church & no longer believe in God. I respect that 100%. I'm just sad that they followed what they thought was God for a long time only to realize how toxic it is. I hope they can see who Christ really is.
"No matter who you are sitting under always have an open Bible..." - Jinger This is a very wise advice! Stay in your prayer closet and have your Bibles open!
The point was to expose the IBLP not solve everyone’s issues surrounding it. It did just what it was meant to do. So I disagree that it should have had some kind of ending.
@@angellicawentworth971 I agree and I don't really feel as though Jinger is truly "Free Indeed" I feel she has moved from one cult religion to another although l less constrictive. Daddy Jim Bob always makes his kids put out videos like this or to show a perfect happy family through his other children doing damage control. Jinger to an extent is still under his thumb. That's my opinion.
Finally, someone said it! I agree. She just didn't want to look like the asshole. Where Jill is actually speaking out against IBLP and the harmful practices.
I deconstructed and still love the teachings of Jesus so Christian Atheism is where I'm at. My logic is that there is no way the world was created in 7 days but that doesn't negate the loving message of love, unity and inclusion that the story of Jesus teaches us.
Great job!!! Jeremy you’re a great interviewer!!! Jinger, I’ve been watching you for years and I must say you have handled things so well. I’m just so proud. 🤗
As a participant in Shiny Happy People, specifically the one shouted out by Jeremy about sharing stories, I found this video to be a very in depth review of Jinger's book.
Maybe that’s kinder than an honest review of SHP? I couldn’t even watch the entire thing. I do think she could have said her entire message in this video in one or two sentences.
It’s admirable and encouraging to hear you, Jinger and Jeremy speak well and honestly about the stories coning out. Thank you for using wisdom and grace.
I 100% agree with you Jinger. I watched the docu-series and I agree that some of it was true. But really left people without hope which made me VERY sad. I so desperately wanted to sit down with those people and say, “don’t let Bill Gothard turn you away from Jesus! He lied about who Jesus is, there is so much more and better things to Jesus than what Bill Gothard proclaimed! Forget Bill and give Jesus a real chance!”
Spot on, spot on!! I’ve always enjoyed y’all, but the more I get to “know” y’all through these vlogs, the more I love y’all as a couple lol. Y’all are a true class act. I couldn’t agree more.
I really appreciate your take on this. Coming from a legalistic background I had a hard time watching the series and stopped after the first episode because it seemed like a bunch of hurt people sharing their hurt while exposing it all- with no truth and grace to be shared. It was hard for me to get through because I knew it was the kind of documentary I feel some people thrive on. They wanted to see exposure to “prove” their ideas of Christianity being bad and the “cult” everyone swears your family was part of. But as always you came in and reviewed this with class, grace and a wise point of view. Thank you.
I watched the docuseries. I'm so glad you posted this response. I'm also thankful for my father taking us out of a church that was going down the bill gothard rabbit hole
Jinger, I admire how well spoken you are. I feel like listening to you, one wouldn’t sense any type of bias because you do so well of keeping your bias out of things.
My opinion of Gothard is that he was legalistic. My mom took me to his seminars when I was a preteen, and I can remember how it shaped her. She was also legalistic back then. We also were southern Baptists and the combo can lead one to be legalistic and performant. It can definitely be damaging. My mom took me because of her fear of the direction I was heading. She was concerned because of the people I was hanging around. So I have so much grace for her because she was acting out of fear. Later, she left the Baptist Church and went to Bible Churches and even a Messianic temple for years. I've struggled with legalism as well. But thank goodness God gave us His word, which breaks the chains of legalism.
Good job, Jinger. And I know you are supportive of Jill for sharing on there as well. And Amy. Between your book and Jill's book, there's a bunch of songs that come to mind. I hope you and Jill are talking about it and continuing to support each other
Listening to you makes me so grateful for my Pastor. I loved your book and it brought me closer to the teachings of scripture. I was beginning my journey back to Christ just as your book came out and because of you I began re-reading scripture with new eyes and heart. Thank you Jinger, thank you so much.
Totally agree with everything you're saying here. As a sister in Christ and somebody who cares, I strongly urge you to look into John MacArthur and ACBC counseling. It's not as blatant and well known as Bill Gothard's teachings, but some of it sounds very similar. I say this as someone who is so cautious to bash teachers like him. I had a lot of respect for him and I was not looking for a problem. I was horrified.
People think Jinger has broken free from dogmatic and cult like Christian Churches where in fact her and her husband have just subscribed to another dogmatic leader and Christian cult. They just look less outlandish and live in a cool and liberal city. In reality, their leader preaches a lot of hate towards other Christian groups and anyone that goes against his views. Nothing has fundamentally changed at all.
Bless you dear sweet lady. I cannot imagine what it was like for you to watch a docuseries about your own family. I have head about "Shiny Happy People" but did not care to watch it. I grew up watching your family on tv and I have grown to love all of you. I am so proud of you and all of your siblings. Much love and prayers.
The documentary was deep. I pray that the entire Duggar family broke free from IBLP cult. I always enjoyed watching 19 Kids & counting. Praying for the family!
I hope you are right too but it is extremely difficult for someone raised in a cult to see it and get out. The cult victims often times are forced to pick between pretending to be in the cult so they can keep their friends and family or get out and become shunned by these people. It really is awful.
I totally get Jinger's point about being concerned there wouldn't be any help for the victims at the end of the doc. I haven't seen it, but it seems many docs like it do well at exposing the abuse but unfortunately also exploit the victims without offering any real help for them. It's a "movie" for the viewers but it's real life for the victims participating in the doc.
I wish that 20 years ago when I left my fundamentalist religion I had heard this. You were on point that we need a direction to go to next especially when dealing with religious trauma. It has taken over 20 years to come back to God and I still find myself having difficulty seeing God for who he really is, can barely say the name Jesus and absolutely cant walk into any church. It still tears me up because i was called to ministry and was so involved, and when I left I had to figure out how to live outside it and walked away from God because I thought He failed me and wasn’t real. Now I know it was man’s interpretation of God not God. Grateful though even in my still struggle I still somehow believe that God is faithful and even though I walked away from religious harm and control God never walked away from me even when I thought I hated Him.
Hunger, I really appreciate your book because for the last 20 years I’ve been disentangling my own beliefs from the cult teaching I was raised with from the truth I read in the Bible. Although I wasn’t part of the IBLP group, as you’ve said there are plenty of misguided people out there. For the last 16 or so years I’ve been ‘going it alone’ because I didn’t trust getting involved with another Church. I studied on my own, but found that I was missing fellowship. Thank you for bringing your experiences into the open and letting the rest us know we’re not alone.
Sorry this happened to you. I am in a somewhat similar situation, not bc of teachings but bc of the actions of many so called Christians I was associated with in a particular family situation, where they literally dropped me like a hot potato. So I have ptsd now when I go to a Church where I know any of the people.
This was such a breath of fresh air! I am heartsick to see so many people respond to their exposure to a bad version of Christianity by deconstructing their faith entirely. I feel that the documentary presumed that this was the only realistic response to IBLP (deconstruction), as if any form of Christianity was toxic. Thank you for taking the care and time to show another option, that it’s possible to still have a relationship with God on the other side of rejecting false teachings.
Thanks for sharing with the rest of us how you felt about the documentary. I watched it and agree with you that Mr. Gothard was not doing what God wanted him to do. Nor was he speaking with a humble heart that God wants us to have. Blessings and Merry Christmas
Hi J&J. Good short discussion. I’m coming out from Catholicism and it is definitely not an easy process either. We didn’t experience the same teaching From a man like gothard but we were definitely not taught the true word and the story of the Bible the way I’m finding it’s to be taught. Here I am a grown woman learning to read and understand the Bible and it’s hard. I think the generation that had enough of gothard come from a generation of people who are not just followers but want to know the whys as well as truths and as a whole society becomes more and more skeptical and want to know and learn and not just follow because it’s what you were blindly taught and dare not question. These are imo as I still have so much to learn
I think it’s incredibly brave to speak up to help others x you obviously have a pure, beautiful heart x I wish only the best for you and your family xo 😘 ❤
You know sweet Jinger, we all say Christ uses all things for His good. That is so so true. Sadly, I truly believe that if this whole thing with Josh hadn't come about I don't think this stuff would have been exposed!
I think it would have been exposed eventually, especially since some of the kids have steered away from iblp. But they've also steered away from the control of their dad, especially.
I sometimes wonder what Josh's life would have been like if he had been truly repentant and had actually turned to the Lord after his 1st incident when he was 14 years old!!
I watched it when it first came out and have a terrible memory for what I watch, but I feel like I remember thinking how sad it was that some of the folks are atheists now. There were also points where I felt the documentary made Christianity in general sound terrible. You guys are right, though. The producers are not believers, so we can't expect them to encourage those who are. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I greatly respect how your husband Jeremy explained the justice of christ and how being truly forgiven means you are willing to accept the consequences of your actions. He is very smart and articulate. ❤😊😊
Great interview. Respectful and I agre in yhe first few minutes to why not yo do it. But youre right that we don't want people to just walk away from Christianity all together from IBLP and the special.
I made a brief comment earlier but I had to add this. I have to admit that before you, Jinger and your sister Jill spoke and wrote about IBLP, I really didn’t know much about this “cult” which most everyone now knows it to be. After listening to you and Jeremy talking about it in this blog this afternoon and having already watched Shiny Happy People, I was listening to “The Bible in a Year just a few minutes ago and James chapter 3 came up in the discussion. How appropriate it fits into this discussion. Those who choose to teach will be held to a higher standing while teaching the truth and those who lie through teaching the truth. Just thought it was amazing that this came up in the bible discussion today after listening to you both on this particular topic. Thanks again for sharing.
I appreciate this ❤ I kept Jesus in a closet for so many years because of being hurt within the church and I am just honestly so grateful that He is so incredibly good and loves me enough to keep on pursuing me. He is our redemption, not religion. I was recently asked, "what religion are you?", my response came out so naturally for the first time ever. "I believe in my bible from cover to cover. It's all God's word and I identify as a Christian, christ follower, child of God." Thank you for being so open. One last comment, The devil will weave a thread of truth into a lie and make it seem so real and convincing, so it is hard and you have a discerning spirit constantly.
I grew up in a church adjacent to Gothards’s Institute in some teaching, physical location and personal connections. Some of the people within his org attended our church but kept at a distance. For example their children did not participate in Sunday school classes or youth group. Your book and this documentary gave me a clearer picture to what was going on and sort of relieved that how we felt was happening was wrong. My family was definitely impacted by this but thankfully my parents did not get sucked in and we survived with our faith in Jesus still intact. What bothered me about the documentary was that I did not see any faithful Christians featured and saying what Gothard taught is NOT true Biblical Christianity. It seemed to conflate all Christianity into this cultish behavior and teaching just as you pointed out the way they showed belief in creation. I really appreciated your book and how you built back up your faith in God and his Word. Disentangling is spot on!
I really enjoyed this video and the book! The fact that you gave encouragement in hope post these experiences is what will bring fruit for Christ. Keep trusting Christ and pray your ministry as a family will thrive because Christ loves us soooo much 🇨🇦 ❤
I hate to be the bearer of bad news… but Jim Bob has basically disowned any kid that left IBLP. It’s a dangerous misogynistic religious faction- and that is why these atrocities happen. He will never leave.
As a minister of the gospel, you are correct to advise people to know God's Word for themselves. There are a lot of false preachers and as the Word says they will be judged more harshly. Homeschool is a last alternative for some. It should not be, you guys turned out Amazing! I loved watching your family over the years. God Bless
I attended IBLP seminars as a teenager, and as a young adult, newly married. The teaching did influence our parenting, and is probably the reason we have eight children. We did not get caught up in the Homeschool curriculum put out by Bill Gothard, although we did homeschool our children. A number of years ago when things started coming out about Bill Gothard, I was truly shocked. I am so glad that quite a number of the Duggar children have gotten out from under all of that and discovered what true faith in Christ is. As I sit here in my living room, I can see Character Sketch books on my bookshelf.
I was raised catholic but around the time I had my two children I went through about 4 years I was mad at god. As a new mom I struggled with the idea of god allowing so much destruction. With a few years of maturity I was able to see that god wasn’t letting me down I was. This was a huge milestone for me in accountability. It is easy to blame others for deceiving you but at some point you have to take responsibility for your actions. Children are innocent little people though who can’t advocate for themselves and that’s where you see the severing from anyone who will try to force you to see the truth. I believe that is the greatest sin of all. These people preached death and destruction if you don’t do exactly what I say when God was a teaching man who would want you to go out and learn everything you need to learn and I will always be here to welcome you home. No death and destruction. He will be there for everyone good or bad no matter what. That is the message of God.
I was raised pentecost , and I understand the Duggers of religion. I am very fond of the Bates , and the Duggers . Been watching them many years, and now watching them as adults, and there families. I truly enjoy them , and there beautiful families. I can relate to the old teachings of religion. Amen that we know the truth in are time . We still have to be careful of preaching and teaching. God is love , and I love him . I believe he died on the cross for our sins. Thank you, and Godbless you
Jinger, I read your book and loved it. I'm glad you are speaking up about the way you were taught religion. I never understood the way your parents minds work.
I appreciate you Ginger for doing this because the world will look for ways to discredit Christianity altogether, it's a tactic of the enemy. The Lord would want to work the good out of the situation and bring Healing. I think you should talk more about that.
I had the same thought that the conclusion was lacking, and ended with a leftist viewpoint that I expected Amazon would do with Jill's story. Like you said, you have no control over where a public company will edit and take the story. I am glad Jill told her story in video, I heard things that I had heard from my parents and church in my childhood, and it prompted me to ask my parents about it. They absolutely had been to some of the bill got hard conferences back in the 70's and mo. still has a handbook somewhere. Fortunately their church didn't fully embrace the movement and I did not experience the damage your family has. Thanks for sharing your story, and I can't wait to read your book as well.
Right on Jinger! I saw the documentary. And at the end it's sad to see those broken people who put there trust in man instead of God! Now it's like they have no hope. Nobody has pointed them back to Jesus who is the Healer the Redeemer their Saviour! The Light of this world! We've all been thru stuff. And at the end of the day no matter what anyone has gone thru Jesus is the answer.!
Thanks for sharing. I hope I get to read your book soon. I didn’t grow up in IBLP but I did grow up conservative baptist and I designated with some of the ideals that they talked about in shiny happy people and made me really sad in my spirit that different religions really believe certain things to be good for you that I find I have trauma associated with. I now own my faith and my personal relationship with Christ much like you and I hope people understand the difference between being a true Christian and religious Christianity
Karen, girl I have had many of the same experiences!! Mine wasn't in my church buy I had gone to a conservative Bapt College! Many of my friends were left so screwed up in our thinking and it took years for us to get our relationship with Christ back on track! It's all about the relationship we have not or religion. It stated in the garden, satan telling them they could be their own God. We have tried ever since. Grace scares people! They want to be in control and the more they do the more they try to control all those around them! Not Jesus! Think about all of the rules the Jewish leaders had put on their people to remain in contol!!!
Me three! I was raised strict Baptist. I have been in therapy for a long time. Hardest part for me, is I ❤ my family but most are still in religion. My father, Poppy, is still a minister in this religion. I am in therapy. I am their only child to be in this religion, I have not been member for many years but would still occasionally end up at one of the churches. I pray that we all find peace and happiness in our lives.
Loved hearing your perspective after watching it myself. I wasn’t surprised when all of Christianity, IBLP, and lifestyle things like traditional roles or homeschooling were lumped together. As you said, it was produced from a non-believing stand point so we really couldn’t expect them to see the difference between what is Biblical versus legalism or down right sin.
You must have watched a Shiny Happy People documentary that was different than the one what I watched. The documentary I watched was about the IBLP cult and not an attack on Christianity or Bible or “sin.” Christians need to accept that there are MANY bad cults, like the IBLP, that hide under the Christianity mask that destroy people and families. Cults like that need to be called out and reported on. Instead of seeing it as an attack on the Bible or Christianity or whatever, Christians should rally around to help destroy these cults as they reflect badly on Christianity. Cults like the IBLP, Mormonism, Scientology, etc. are exactly why many people are leaving Christianity for good. So instead of seeing these documentaries as an attack on Christianity, see it for what it is….an attack on a cult that gives Christianity a bad name and causes many, many people to turn their backs on Christianity.
Jeremy's body language? Crossed arms so often and so TIGHTLY! portray classic psychological withholding of true thoughts and emotion and truthful feelings... textbook! Wow.
As Christian’s, everything we do should state and recognize the suffering and pain and sin in this broken world, but also and always to point all to Christ. Lifting up problems and sin without lifting higher the Answer is a waste of sharing in the first place. Everyone who suffers seeks answers to their pain and suffering. And we as Christian have the Answer! He has rescued us from pain and suffering why shouldn’t we point others to that ultimate relief!? Amen Jinger. Preach the gospel! It’s all of humanities hope.
Forgive me if I'm missing something, but a lot of Becoming Free Indeed from what I hear is mainly tiptoeing as opposed to calling out the insanity as it is. Jill also didn't sign an NDA, otherwise we never would've known the truth.
I came out of Mormonism several years ago and became a born again Christian. I absolutely loved watching your family over the years, and seeing you kids all grow up and start families of your own. The enemy hated your family and waited for some sort of failure. My heart broke for your whole family as fleshly failures became public and the enemy became gleeful about "exposing" your family. That said, I absolutely loved your book. My heart broke at the understanding of the things I didn't know that were going on, but as a Christian who understands the sinful nature of man, as well as the damage of cult like teachings,I wasn't shocked. What stood out most was your desire to point people to a proper view of Christ and the way you honored your parents, flaws and all. It was the RIGHT way. That documentary was awful! The pain of the terrible teachings was evident and understandable, but it mocked and dishonored, and it left me feeling dirty after watching it. It had a worldly distastefulness that played into the enemy's hands and gave them exactly what they have wanted for years. I wondered at the damage this has done between family members, rather than shine a light of Biblical truths that could bring truth to light and correction to flawed thinking and teachings. I know God can work through and bring absolute healing and restoration to your family, and I pray that it does come in time.
I enjoyed the documentary and Jinger’s book. I love that she had the power and choice to choose how to tell her story. She could say yes and no. I absolutely understand why she wanted to control the narrative. She’s absolutely right that it could have been edited wrong. Very inspired by Jinger and also her sister Jill, who found the right decision, for her, was to be involved with the documentary.
Jinger I love that you want to focus on the redemption of Christ. You and Jeremy seem so gracious and grounded in the truth rather than bitterness and anger over it all.
Deconstruction doesn’t mean forgetting God. It’s dismantling the system of believes that a group or institution taught you so you can reconnect with God, or not… because this is what I found beautiful, that God made us free to choose to have faith or not.
Something not brought up I would love to hear your perspective on. It's not about just speaking truth. The Bible says "Speak the truth in love" Eph 4:15 Personally yes I also admire telling their stories it is hard., however, I don't think Shiny Happy People spoke the truth in love at all. God calls all to repentance and like Saul who became Paul would welcome Bill Gothard and the other leaders if they turn to Him and wants them too. I admire you for speaking your truth in love in a way that leads all back to the light of Christ!!
Jeremy, you said what I couldn't find the words to say. I am a Bible believer, and I felt almost personally attacked by some of the comments in shiny happy people. I believe in creation, and I don't want to be lumped in with Gothard's crazy teachings because I believe in Christ's teachings, and they shouldn't overlap, but the documentary overlapped the beliefs.
This was always your Story and Yours only to share when/if desired with Maintaining Control of the Who, What, Where, When and Why. I am grateful for the Family built with Your Husband and precious Children: Survivor with God's Mercy, Love and Grace💯‼️ deb in J&JNation, SC😇♥️ 12/11/2023☃️🛷🎁🎄
We have to do a better job of allowing people to speak to their experiences and feelings without have to say whether they are right or wrong. And this doesn’t have anything to do with J&J’s comments as much as just a general statement and reply to some comments here. This is where they are and how they feel. You don’t need to correct them or criticize. Just let it be.
Religion has been a tool to control the masses. If you think there is a higher being that is watching you and you have to be accountable to then you will behave in a certain way. You can still be a nice person and not follow any religion.I'm glad you managed to break free of the cult you grew up in. I have a lot of respect for you women who broke free and made lives for yourself. It was wrong what your Dad did too earning all that money off you all and not paying you for being the main part of the show. I am so glad you are free now x
I was sad when I heard the people on the show saying they gave up on God because of what a fallible man was teaching. They threw out the baby with the bath water. Because of this man's evil teachings and behavior so many have lost faith and I pray that God sends someone their way to bring them back. Maybe that was your book. ❤
My favorite part of you & Jill’s story is that you still follow God. While you were having to be in these situations God still revealed himself to y’all and made your eyes be open to the truth of Jesus Christ. You had every opportunity to go in the other direction, but you still chose Jesus. I think that’s the beauty of your story. Loving the Lord and speaking God’s truth to others.
Amen.
Joseph Smith, in Mormonism, has been my Bill Gothard. So much of your story resonates with me. I was raised in a polygamist family with 20 kids and later joined mainstream Mormonism where there was no polygamy, but still they believed the same Joseph smith was a true prophet of God. It messed with me so much. I left a year ago and have found true freedom and love from the real Christ. The pain from
healing is so real though. There are so many sheep in wolves clothing. The leaders come across as so sweet and nice, yet have deceived so many. You have made me feel less alone. Thank you for your voice!❤
Seeing this comment brings me joy . I was born and raised in Utah for 10 years where my parents were Home Missionaries meaning we served in the US . Our work was ministering to Mormons as they chose to leave the LDS church . I’m so thankful God opened your eyes to the truth .
Exmo here too and I agree ❤
Wow! Love to hear your story and so thankful to God that you were able to leave those false teachings and come to the true Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
ExIFB - happy to see the now adults trying to sort out their minds on their own time and in the way in which they need.
Amen, only Jesus!
Jill’s testimony is evident of true, genuine forgiveness. There was so much wrong done to her. Her father exploited her, on camera and behind closed doors. And still, her father seems to judge her harshly. I hope one day soon, he will ask for her forgiveness and start to repair the relationship.
I hope same here!.
I grew up in the IFB- different beast but similar trauma. It takes a very long time to be okay again and be able to think for yourself because you’ve been so shamed and belittled for even a simple question. However, without the forgiveness it’s hard to get to the other side of the journey.
Not that it matters, but this is Jinger in this video pod cast. Both Jinger and Jill left the cult and wrote books. The other sister Jana is 29 still ives with the parents under the rule of father, Joy Anna married super young (bore three children quickly four pregnancys one late loss) a very domineering husband who rules over her like her father. Sad the brothers are deaf mutes as they are under monetary control of the father. The younger girls at home think names Josie, Johanna, Jennifer and one more are minors who are prisoners to the beliefs of parents. Since they are homeschooled and have limited outside influence they do not know any different.
@@mruggier0Jana is 33 years old and all her younger siblings are old enough to care for themselves. She’s been helping her adult siblings with projects and thriving. It’s not even confirmed if she even still lives in the Duggar household or not.
I’m sure Jana is doing just fine.
Joy Ana has a CZcams channel. She and her husband seem completely fine and have a loving relationship. I don’t know where you gather that her husband is domineering. She speaks highly of her sisters (Jill and Jinger) and visits them.
Thankyou for this.
I'm an X jehovahs witness I get it.
Saved by Jesus took a long time getting here
God bless
Jinger, when you commented that you were grateful to the people who did share their stories on Shiny Happy People I hope you were referring to Jill. She has been very brave.
It’s not your place to tell her who to be grateful to.
'i Hope' isn't telling someone what to do. It's a hope. @@dearleah7299
She didn’t tell her anything. She said I hope you were referring to Jill. As do I. I also HOPE that. Which is completely different than your comment.
@@Tracylyn42 I wasn’t talking to you
@@dearleah7299 no. You were talking to me. And I stand by what I said. I HOPE, not demand, that she is grateful to Jill. They are sisters and life is too short not to value family
Thanks for your comments on this. Because you have come out of this with faith intact, it is important to stay clear of the messages that throw out true Christianity with the teachings of cult leaders who use the Bible to deceive. So happy for you and your sisters who have broken free with faith intact.
Unfortunately, Jinger has just transferred to another dogmatic leader. Not much has changed.
Fully agree. ❤
I would love to hear Jeremy’s point of view on IBLP and what his thoughts were while courting and learning more about it.
She talked about it in her book.
They have talked about this in some interviews and I think in their vlog too.
Read her book. She discusses that specifically and how he handled it in detail.
I’ve read her book and saw the other interviews but it was short and simple. I would love to see just him and his views in more depth.
I grew up with conservative Christian parents, but we weren't IBLP. We knew people in the IBLP. It was so extreme. The sad thing to me is many completely left the faith because their upbringing was so rigid. Instead of Gothard pointing many to Christ, many walked away. As Christians we definitely have right and wrong issues, but the IBLP was too controlling in families. Thank you for sharing Jinger.
I have friends who left the LDS church & no longer believe in God. I respect that 100%. I'm just sad that they followed what they thought was God for a long time only to realize how toxic it is. I hope they can see who Christ really is.
"No matter who you are sitting under always have an open Bible..." - Jinger
This is a very wise advice! Stay in your prayer closet and have your Bibles open!
It’s refreshing to see Jinger beginning to think for herself. It’s a long road and process ♥️
The point was to expose the IBLP not solve everyone’s issues surrounding it. It did just what it was meant to do. So I disagree that it should have had some kind of ending.
I agree!
I agree. I think this video is mainly damage control and less about the victims.
And I think as long as something like the IBLP continues, there's no nicely wrapped ending with a bow on top.
@@angellicawentworth971 I agree and I don't really feel as though Jinger is truly "Free Indeed" I feel she has moved from one cult religion to another although l less constrictive. Daddy Jim Bob always makes his kids put out videos like this or to show a perfect happy family through his other children doing damage control. Jinger to an extent is still under his thumb. That's my opinion.
Finally, someone said it! I agree. She just didn't want to look like the asshole. Where Jill is actually speaking out against IBLP and the harmful practices.
I deconstructed and still love the teachings of Jesus so Christian Atheism is where I'm at. My logic is that there is no way the world was created in 7 days but that doesn't negate the loving message of love, unity and inclusion that the story of Jesus teaches us.
Great job!!! Jeremy you’re a great interviewer!!! Jinger, I’ve been watching you for years and I must say you have handled things so well. I’m just so proud. 🤗
As a participant in Shiny Happy People, specifically the one shouted out by Jeremy about sharing stories, I found this video to be a very in depth review of Jinger's book.
I agree 1,000 percent
lol
Maybe that’s kinder than an honest review of SHP? I couldn’t even watch the entire thing. I do think she could have said her entire message in this video in one or two sentences.
I think its smart to be in charge about how your words are being used.
It’s admirable and encouraging to hear you, Jinger and Jeremy speak well and honestly about the stories coning out. Thank you for using wisdom and grace.
I listened to your book on audible and I really enjoyed it! Thank you for writing it! It really calmed my heart. ♥️
I 100% agree with you Jinger. I watched the docu-series and I agree that some of it was true. But really left people without hope which made me VERY sad. I so desperately wanted to sit down with those people and say, “don’t let Bill Gothard turn you away from Jesus! He lied about who Jesus is, there is so much more and better things to Jesus than what Bill Gothard proclaimed! Forget Bill and give Jesus a real chance!”
Great perspective. Im glad you shared.
Spot on, spot on!! I’ve always enjoyed y’all, but the more I get to “know” y’all through these vlogs, the more I love y’all as a couple lol. Y’all are a true class act.
I couldn’t agree more.
Proud of jill and amy to speak their truth!!
I agree
Then go tell that to them on their social media🙄
I really appreciate your take on this. Coming from a legalistic background I had a hard time watching the series and stopped after the first episode because it seemed like a bunch of hurt people sharing their hurt while exposing it all- with no truth and grace to be shared. It was hard for me to get through because I knew it was the kind of documentary I feel some people thrive on. They wanted to see exposure to “prove” their ideas of Christianity being bad and the “cult” everyone swears your family was part of. But as always you came in and reviewed this with class, grace and a wise point of view. Thank you.
I watched the docuseries. I'm so glad you posted this response. I'm also thankful for my father taking us out of a church that was going down the bill gothard rabbit hole
Read the Bible prior to following any teachings, if it doesn’t line up with what you’ve read and understood, reject! Bless you and your family!
Totally agree. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you Jinger for sharing your story with the redemptive quality of Jesus.
Jinger, I admire how well spoken you are. I feel like listening to you, one wouldn’t sense any type of bias because you do so well of keeping your bias out of things.
My opinion of Gothard is that he was legalistic. My mom took me to his seminars when I was a preteen, and I can remember how it shaped her. She was also legalistic back then. We also were southern Baptists and the combo can lead one to be legalistic and performant. It can definitely be damaging. My mom took me because of her fear of the direction I was heading. She was concerned because of the people I was hanging around. So I have so much grace for her because she was acting out of fear. Later, she left the Baptist Church and went to Bible Churches and even a Messianic temple for years. I've struggled with legalism as well. But thank goodness God gave us His word, which breaks the chains of legalism.
Good job, Jinger. And I know you are supportive of Jill for sharing on there as well. And Amy. Between your book and Jill's book, there's a bunch of songs that come to mind. I hope you and Jill are talking about it and continuing to support each other
Listening to you makes me so grateful for my Pastor. I loved your book and it brought me closer to the teachings of scripture. I was beginning my journey back to Christ just as your book came out and because of you I began re-reading scripture with new eyes and heart. Thank you Jinger, thank you so much.
yes yes yes! This interview is spot on. Well-done!
“You wanted to show the beauty of Christ and his goodness…” Amen!
Thank you for sharing J & J! ❤
Totally agree with everything you're saying here.
As a sister in Christ and somebody who cares, I strongly urge you to look into John MacArthur and ACBC counseling. It's not as blatant and well known as Bill Gothard's teachings, but some of it sounds very similar.
I say this as someone who is so cautious to bash teachers like him.
I had a lot of respect for him and I was not looking for a problem.
I was horrified.
People think Jinger has broken free from dogmatic and cult like Christian Churches where in fact her and her husband have just subscribed to another dogmatic leader and Christian cult. They just look less outlandish and live in a cool and liberal city. In reality, their leader preaches a lot of hate towards other Christian groups and anyone that goes against his views. Nothing has fundamentally changed at all.
Bless you dear sweet lady. I cannot imagine what it was like for you to watch a docuseries about your own family. I have head about "Shiny Happy People" but did not care to watch it. I grew up watching your family on tv and I have grown to love all of you. I am so proud of you and all of your siblings. Much love and prayers.
The documentary was deep. I pray that the entire Duggar family broke free from IBLP cult. I always enjoyed watching 19 Kids & counting. Praying for the family!
I hope you are right too but it is extremely difficult for someone raised in a cult to see it and get out. The cult victims often times are forced to pick between pretending to be in the cult so they can keep their friends and family or get out and become shunned by these people. It really is awful.
I totally get Jinger's point about being concerned there wouldn't be any help for the victims at the end of the doc. I haven't seen it, but it seems many docs like it do well at exposing the abuse but unfortunately also exploit the victims without offering any real help for them. It's a "movie" for the viewers but it's real life for the victims participating in the doc.
Did she offer help for victims in her book?
I think writing the book was her way of helping people
I love see you live your life the way you want,the happiness the freedom ❤❤
I wish that 20 years ago when I left my fundamentalist religion I had heard this. You were on point that we need a direction to go to next especially when dealing with religious trauma. It has taken over 20 years to come back to God and I still find myself having difficulty seeing God for who he really is, can barely say the name Jesus and absolutely cant walk into any church. It still tears me up because i was called to ministry and was so involved, and when I left I had to figure out how to live outside it and walked away from God because I thought He failed me and wasn’t real. Now I know it was man’s interpretation of God not God. Grateful though even in my still struggle I still somehow believe that God is faithful and even though I walked away from religious harm and control God never walked away from me even when I thought I hated Him.
Thanks for sharing your perspective!
Thank you, Jinger, for making this video! It’s been good to hear your take on the documentary! Soli Deo Gloria 💕
Hunger, I really appreciate your book because for the last 20 years I’ve been disentangling my own beliefs from the cult teaching I was raised with from the truth I read in the Bible. Although I wasn’t part of the IBLP group, as you’ve said there are plenty of misguided people out there. For the last 16 or so years I’ve been ‘going it alone’ because I didn’t trust getting involved with another Church. I studied on my own, but found that I was missing fellowship. Thank you for bringing your experiences into the open and letting the rest us know we’re not alone.
Sorry this happened to you. I am in a somewhat similar situation, not bc of teachings but bc of the actions of many so called Christians I was associated with in a particular family situation, where they literally dropped me like a hot potato. So I have ptsd now when I go to a Church where I know any of the people.
I totally agree Jinger. It’s like what do I do now there was no discussion about how to disentangle and How to find a relationship with God
God has given you true wisdom Jinger.
This was such a breath of fresh air! I am heartsick to see so many people respond to their exposure to a bad version of Christianity by deconstructing their faith entirely. I feel that the documentary presumed that this was the only realistic response to IBLP (deconstruction), as if any form of Christianity was toxic.
Thank you for taking the care and time to show another option, that it’s possible to still have a relationship with God on the other side of rejecting false teachings.
Thanks for sharing with the rest of us how you felt about the documentary. I watched it and agree with you that Mr. Gothard was not doing what God wanted him to do. Nor was he speaking with a humble heart that God wants us to have. Blessings and Merry Christmas
Hi J&J. Good short discussion. I’m coming out from Catholicism and it is definitely not an easy process either. We didn’t experience the same teaching From a man like gothard but we were definitely not taught the true word and the story of the Bible the way I’m finding it’s to be taught. Here I am a grown woman learning to read and understand the Bible and it’s hard. I think the generation that had enough of gothard come from a generation of people who are not just followers but want to know the whys as well as truths and as a whole society becomes more and more skeptical and want to know and learn and not just follow because it’s what you were blindly taught and dare not question. These are imo as I still have so much to learn
I think it’s incredibly brave to speak up to help others x you obviously have a pure, beautiful heart x I wish only the best for you and your family xo 😘 ❤
You know sweet Jinger, we all say Christ uses all things for His good. That is so so true. Sadly, I truly believe that if this whole thing with Josh hadn't come about I don't think this stuff would have been exposed!
I think it would have been exposed eventually, especially since some of the kids have steered away from iblp. But they've also steered away from the control of their dad, especially.
I sometimes wonder what Josh's life would have been like if he had been truly repentant and had actually turned to the Lord after his 1st incident when he was 14 years old!!
This is awesome. I watched the doc series also, and this is an excellent evaluation of it.
I really admire you and your family. Good for you. I have your book
I watched it when it first came out and have a terrible memory for what I watch, but I feel like I remember thinking how sad it was that some of the folks are atheists now. There were also points where I felt the documentary made Christianity in general sound terrible. You guys are right, though. The producers are not believers, so we can't expect them to encourage those who are. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Yall bounce off each other really well. Thank you for the chat!
I greatly respect how your husband Jeremy explained the justice of christ and how being truly forgiven means you are willing to accept the consequences of your actions. He is very smart and articulate. ❤😊😊
Great interview. Respectful and I agre in yhe first few minutes to why not yo do it. But youre right that we don't want people to just walk away from Christianity all together from IBLP and the special.
Love your hair girl!!!
I made a brief comment earlier but I had to add this. I have to admit that before you, Jinger and your sister Jill spoke and wrote about IBLP, I really didn’t know much about this “cult” which most everyone now knows it to be. After listening to you and Jeremy talking about it in this blog this afternoon and having already watched Shiny Happy People, I was listening to “The Bible in a Year just a few minutes ago and James chapter 3 came up in the discussion. How appropriate it fits into this discussion. Those who choose to teach will be held to a higher standing while teaching the truth and those who lie through teaching the truth. Just thought it was amazing that this came up in the bible discussion today after listening to you both on this particular topic. Thanks again for sharing.
I appreciate this ❤
I kept Jesus in a closet for so many years because of being hurt within the church and I am just honestly so grateful that He is so incredibly good and loves me enough to keep on pursuing me. He is our redemption, not religion.
I was recently asked, "what religion are you?", my response came out so naturally for the first time ever. "I believe in my bible from cover to cover. It's all God's word and I identify as a Christian, christ follower, child of God."
Thank you for being so open.
One last comment,
The devil will weave a thread of truth into a lie and make it seem so real and convincing, so it is hard and you have a discerning spirit constantly.
I grew up in a church adjacent to Gothards’s Institute in some teaching, physical location and personal connections. Some of the people within his org attended our church but kept at a distance. For example their children did not participate in Sunday school classes or youth group. Your book and this documentary gave me a clearer picture to what was going on and sort of relieved that how we felt was happening was wrong. My family was definitely impacted by this but thankfully my parents did not get sucked in and we survived with our faith in Jesus still intact. What bothered me about the documentary was that I did not see any faithful Christians featured and saying what Gothard taught is NOT true Biblical Christianity. It seemed to conflate all Christianity into this cultish behavior and teaching just as you pointed out the way they showed belief in creation. I really appreciated your book and how you built back up your faith in God and his Word. Disentangling is spot on!
I really enjoyed this video and the book! The fact that you gave encouragement in hope post these experiences is what will bring fruit for Christ. Keep trusting Christ and pray your ministry as a family will thrive because Christ loves us soooo much 🇨🇦 ❤
I hate to be the bearer of bad news… but Jim Bob has basically disowned any kid that left IBLP. It’s a dangerous misogynistic religious faction- and that is why these atrocities happen. He will never leave.
Very interesting to hear reactions on this documentary ❤
As a minister of the gospel, you are correct to advise people to know God's Word for themselves. There are a lot of false preachers and as the Word says they will be judged more harshly. Homeschool is a last alternative for some. It should not be, you guys turned out Amazing! I loved watching your family over the years.
God Bless
I attended IBLP seminars as a teenager, and as a young adult, newly married. The teaching did influence our parenting, and is probably the reason we have eight children. We did not get caught up in the Homeschool curriculum put out by Bill Gothard, although we did homeschool our children. A number of years ago when things started coming out about Bill Gothard, I was truly shocked. I am so glad that quite a number of the Duggar children have gotten out from under all of that and discovered what true faith in Christ is. As I sit here in my living room, I can see Character Sketch books on my bookshelf.
I was raised catholic but around the time I had my two children I went through about 4 years I was mad at god. As a new mom I struggled with the idea of god allowing so much destruction. With a few years of maturity I was able to see that god wasn’t letting me down I was. This was a huge milestone for me in accountability. It is easy to blame others for deceiving you but at some point you have to take responsibility for your actions. Children are innocent little people though who can’t advocate for themselves and that’s where you see the severing from anyone who will try to force you to see the truth. I believe that is the greatest sin of all. These people preached death and destruction if you don’t do exactly what I say when God was a teaching man who would want you to go out and learn everything you need to learn and I will always be here to welcome you home. No death and destruction. He will be there for everyone good or bad no matter what. That is the message of God.
I LOVE this format!!
I was raised pentecost , and I understand the Duggers of religion. I am very fond of the Bates , and the Duggers . Been watching them many years, and now watching them as adults, and there families. I truly enjoy them , and there beautiful families. I can relate to the old teachings of religion. Amen that we know the truth in are time . We still have to be careful of preaching and teaching. God is love , and I love him . I believe he died on the cross for our sins. Thank you, and Godbless you
Shiny Happy People was a real eye opener.
I really enjoy listening to both of you’ll / Ginger love your hair
I was going to mention her hair, it looks really pretty in this video.
Wow, Ginger is a warm season! She looks so good in that color!
I totally agree the best idea was to tell your story your way
I really enjoyed watching this! Great interview
Jinger, I read your book and loved it. I'm glad you are speaking up about the way you were taught religion. I never understood the way your parents minds work.
So so wise Jinger-you are correct. Don’t give someone else the power to misuse your words.
I appreciate you Ginger for doing this because the world will look for ways to discredit Christianity altogether, it's a tactic of the enemy. The Lord would want to work the good out of the situation and bring Healing. I think you should talk more about that.
Yes! Having an open Bible!
Here from Florida 🌴 ☀️
I had the same thought that the conclusion was lacking, and ended with a leftist viewpoint that I expected Amazon would do with Jill's story. Like you said, you have no control over where a public company will edit and take the story. I am glad Jill told her story in video, I heard things that I had heard from my parents and church in my childhood, and it prompted me to ask my parents about it. They absolutely had been to some of the bill got hard conferences back in the 70's and mo. still has a handbook somewhere. Fortunately their church didn't fully embrace the movement and I did not experience the damage your family has. Thanks for sharing your story, and I can't wait to read your book as well.
Right on Jinger! I saw the documentary. And at the end it's sad to see those broken people who put there trust in man instead of God! Now it's like they have no hope. Nobody has pointed them back to Jesus who is the Healer the Redeemer their Saviour! The Light of this world! We've all been thru stuff. And at the end of the day no matter what anyone has gone thru Jesus is the answer.!
Thanks for sharing. I hope I get to read your book soon. I didn’t grow up in IBLP but I did grow up conservative baptist and I designated with some of the ideals that they talked about in shiny happy people and made me really sad in my spirit that different religions really believe certain things to be good for you that I find I have trauma associated with. I now own my faith and my personal relationship with Christ much like you and I hope people understand the difference between being a true Christian and religious Christianity
Karen, girl I have had many of the same experiences!! Mine wasn't in my church buy I had gone to a conservative Bapt College! Many of my friends were left so screwed up in our thinking and it took years for us to get our relationship with Christ back on track! It's all about the relationship we have not or religion. It stated in the garden, satan telling them they could be their own God. We have tried ever since. Grace scares people! They want to be in control and the more they do the more they try to control all those around them! Not Jesus! Think about all of the rules the Jewish leaders had put on their people to remain in contol!!!
Me three! I was raised strict Baptist. I have been in therapy for a long time. Hardest part for me, is I ❤ my family but most are still in religion. My father, Poppy, is still a minister in this religion. I am in therapy. I am their only child to be in this religion, I have not been member for many years but would still occasionally end up at one of the churches. I pray that we all find peace and happiness in our lives.
GOD IS SO GOOG. Glad that you are now free indeed jinger.
Loved hearing your perspective after watching it myself. I wasn’t surprised when all of Christianity, IBLP, and lifestyle things like traditional roles or homeschooling were lumped together. As you said, it was produced from a non-believing stand point so we really couldn’t expect them to see the difference between what is Biblical versus legalism or down right sin.
You must have watched a Shiny Happy People documentary that was different than the one what I watched. The documentary I watched was about the IBLP cult and not an attack on Christianity or Bible or “sin.” Christians need to accept that there are MANY bad cults, like the IBLP, that hide under the Christianity mask that destroy people and families. Cults like that need to be called out and reported on. Instead of seeing it as an attack on the Bible or Christianity or whatever, Christians should rally around to help destroy these cults as they reflect badly on Christianity. Cults like the IBLP, Mormonism, Scientology, etc. are exactly why many people are leaving Christianity for good. So instead of seeing these documentaries as an attack on Christianity, see it for what it is….an attack on a cult that gives Christianity a bad name and causes many, many people to turn their backs on Christianity.
Jeremy's body language? Crossed arms so often and so TIGHTLY! portray classic psychological withholding of true thoughts and emotion and truthful feelings... textbook! Wow.
As Christian’s, everything we do should state and recognize the suffering and pain and sin in this broken world, but also and always to point all to Christ. Lifting up problems and sin without lifting higher the Answer is a waste of sharing in the first place. Everyone who suffers seeks answers to their pain and suffering. And we as Christian have the Answer! He has rescued us from pain and suffering why shouldn’t we point others to that ultimate relief!? Amen Jinger. Preach the gospel! It’s all of humanities hope.
Thank you for this video the teachings of the iblp are very dangerous
Forgive me if I'm missing something, but a lot of Becoming Free Indeed from what I hear is mainly tiptoeing as opposed to calling out the insanity as it is. Jill also didn't sign an NDA, otherwise we never would've known the truth.
“From what I hear”. Did you read it? Perhaps read and then draw your own conclusions.
Her book wasn’t a tell all about her family, it was about her spiritual journey and finding truth within the Bible vs the IBLP teachings.
I came out of Mormonism several years ago and became a born again Christian. I absolutely loved watching your family over the years, and seeing you kids all grow up and start families of your own. The enemy hated your family and waited for some sort of failure. My heart broke for your whole family as fleshly failures became public and the enemy became gleeful about "exposing" your family. That said, I absolutely loved your book. My heart broke at the understanding of the things I didn't know that were going on, but as a Christian who understands the sinful nature of man, as well as the damage of cult like teachings,I wasn't shocked. What stood out most was your desire to point people to a proper view of Christ and the way you honored your parents, flaws and all. It was the RIGHT way. That documentary was awful! The pain of the terrible teachings was evident and understandable, but it mocked and dishonored, and it left me feeling dirty after watching it. It had a worldly distastefulness that played into the enemy's hands and gave them exactly what they have wanted for years. I wondered at the damage this has done between family members, rather than shine a light of Biblical truths that could bring truth to light and correction to flawed thinking and teachings. I know God can work through and bring absolute healing and restoration to your family, and I pray that it does come in time.
This was good. Thank you
I watched Shiny Happy People. I think your synopsis was totally on point! Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻🤗
I enjoyed the documentary and Jinger’s book.
I love that she had the power and choice to choose how to tell her story. She could say yes and no. I absolutely understand why she wanted to control the narrative.
She’s absolutely right that it could have been edited wrong. Very inspired by Jinger and also her sister Jill, who found the right decision, for her, was to be involved with the documentary.
I wasn’t raised in a “high demand” religion, but hearing the story of those who have had helped me in deconstructing and reconstructing my own faith.
Well done!
Jinger I love that you want to focus on the redemption of Christ. You and Jeremy seem so gracious and grounded in the truth rather than bitterness and anger over it all.
Hi from Parker, Colorado!
Hello from Oklahoma.
Deconstruction doesn’t mean forgetting God. It’s dismantling the system of believes that a group or institution taught you so you can reconnect with God, or not… because this is what I found beautiful, that God made us free to choose to have faith or not.
Something not brought up I would love to hear your perspective on. It's not about just speaking truth. The Bible says "Speak the truth in love" Eph 4:15 Personally yes I also admire telling their stories it is hard., however, I don't think Shiny Happy People spoke the truth in love at all. God calls all to repentance and like Saul who became Paul would welcome Bill Gothard and the other leaders if they turn to Him and wants them too. I admire you for speaking your truth in love in a way that leads all back to the light of Christ!!
Jinger, I think that you made the right decision and for the right reasons.
Jeremy, you said what I couldn't find the words to say. I am a Bible believer, and I felt almost personally attacked by some of the comments in shiny happy people. I believe in creation, and I don't want to be lumped in with Gothard's crazy teachings because I believe in Christ's teachings, and they shouldn't overlap, but the documentary overlapped the beliefs.
This was always your Story and Yours only to share when/if desired with Maintaining Control of the Who, What, Where, When and Why. I am grateful for the Family built with Your Husband and precious Children: Survivor with God's Mercy, Love and Grace💯‼️ deb in J&JNation, SC😇♥️ 12/11/2023☃️🛷🎁🎄
We have to do a better job of allowing people to speak to their experiences and feelings without have to say whether they are right or wrong. And this doesn’t have anything to do with J&J’s comments as much as just a general statement and reply to some comments here. This is where they are and how they feel. You don’t need to correct them or criticize. Just let it be.
Religion has been a tool to control the masses. If you think there is a higher being that is watching you and you have to be accountable to then you will behave in a certain way. You can still be a nice person and not follow any religion.I'm glad you managed to break free of the cult you grew up in. I have a lot of respect for you women who broke free and made lives for yourself. It was wrong what your Dad did too earning all that money off you all and not paying you for being the main part of the show. I am so glad you are free now x
I was sad when I heard the people on the show saying they gave up on God because of what a fallible man was teaching. They threw out the baby with the bath water. Because of this man's evil teachings and behavior so many have lost faith and I pray that God sends someone their way to bring them back. Maybe that was your book. ❤