Confession Time

[Natalie]

Okay, so I have a confession to make.

I grew up being taught the virtues of what was FBC Hammond and HAC. I even considered going to HAC, but even as an uber-fundy, knew the college was too strict for me.

I had friends who went to HAC, and when they came home, they were talking and dressing just like Jack Hyles. This fascinated and disturbed me all at the same time.

When I left fundyland, I found out about Hyles affair and the pattern of crimes that came from students from HAC. Then, I began to see more and more how a lot of the students from there were carbon copies of Hyles or Schaap. How much of a cult, this place truly was.

Then, I became fascinated by it. Much like I was fascinated with Bonnie and Clyde. Not in a celebrated way, but more in a intrigued way.

The more I've been an outside student of the place, the more I wondered how these adults who willingly follow this ministry, do so.... so loyally, without stopping to think for their own mental well-being, and not seeing how royally screwed up it all was.

When people from that ministry come on here and talk about their experiences, I read intently. As a former fundy, I can see how they could have followed and trusted these people, but the more I am on the outside, I am amazed by how much they (and myself, at one time) followed and trusted these people.

And, now this. I feel sorry for the followers. Their world is crumbling as I write this. It's going to be a long road of anger, sadness, and confusion.

I pray that they will realize that God and that "ministry" are two very different things. I hope they find the true God. The graceful God. The God who truly loves them... unconditionally.

Until then, I will keep reading. There's no telling in what direction things will head. Some people say HAC can't survive. We'll see. I wonder if the students will try to emulate the new pastor. I wonder what changes will happen. Will they wise up and revamp the church and school? Who knows. Hopefully.

But we shall see.

[elfdream]

I understand what you are saying. After the victim and her family I feel sorry for those people. Some of them are going to defend him no matter what but there will be those who are about to feel their world crumble. Grief, anger, depression...its all about to hit the fan for them.

I'm more from the BJ side of things but we had Jack Hyles things around our house. Books and the Sword of the Lord which carried a lot of his sermons. When I was at BJ we often heard talk of how much stricter Hyles Anderson was than Bob Jones and to be honest I couldn't imagine such a thing but I see now that it was possible.

Their world is changing. I hope they are ready for it.

[Natalie]

I remember my sister going to youth conference there and just coming home and telling me how wonderful it all was. I really wanted to go... so bad.

I remember when the Bob Gray thing went down. He was my favorite preacher at the time. I cried, hard. I couldn't believe what I was reading and what he confessed to. It was like someone had died.

BUT, it was just what I needed to get out. I'm not glad for the hurt, but I am glad for the enlightenment it brought.

[Ricardo]

"Their world is changing."

I wish.

I grieve the fact that every time I go back to visit an IFB church, not only do I find them just as I left them, but possibly even more isolated from reality than when I was there.

Many of us in this site have gone through many stages in our journey out of Fundamentalism and toward God.

It is HARD WORK!

It is so much easier to sit back and be told what to believe than it is to go out and look for it yourself.

We know, from our own experience, that we cannot really convert anyone. That is God's job.

We also know, from our own experience that we cannot really pull people out of the IFB. That is a revolution that needs to be born from within.

The IFB churches will survive this scandal and any other ones to come. Why? Because we are creatures of habit. Most of us stayed in our churches for years longer than we should have, simply because it was more uncomfortable to try to think for ourselves than it was to have someone else think for us.

Schaap will be replaced. There may be a few new safeguards placed regarding counseling, perhaps a bit more oversight.

But the overarching model of a "Man of God" telling the congregation what to believe will continue for generations to come.

[sigh]

[Natalie]

Ricardo, I believe your predictions are spot on. Sadly.

[Scorpio]

I have to agree with Ricardo. Maybe some will flee but this will only isolate the majority of IFBers even more.

I remember listening on-line to my old pastor talk about the Tina Anderson case. In a nutshell his take was somethings didn't go right, she got bitter and isn't really a Christian anymore.

SFL - circling the wagons

[Natalie]

Scorpio, so I'm reading along on the FF this morning and saw an all-too-familiar avatar.

[Scorpio]

(08-01-2012 11:03 AM)Natalie Wrote:  Scorpio, so I'm reading along on the FF this morning and saw an all-too-familiar avatar.

It ain't me. Seriously. It's not.

Maybe I should take legal action.

[elfdream]

I was speaking to their individual world view as changing, not fundamentalism as a whole. That will be with us forever in one form or another.

[Presbygirl]

Perhaps the need for belonging is what keeps people in cults like the IFB. People feel strength in numbers, and it's powerful to be a part of a large group that proclaims that they are right about, well, everything! So, being an individual who is fighting a giant is a very lonely place to be. Even the deacon who outed him isn't lonely like this girl. He has plenty of brethren who "have his back." My heart is broken for this girl who has been emotionally devoured and preyed upon by a fiend. Whatever the situation, HE is at fault. She probably wanted to belong and be accepted. That's what makes it so sick. He knew she was weak and hurting and he went in for the kill.