The Man and Me
"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."
"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."
-Thomas Jefferson-
The first time I actually saw the man, I was in my early 30s and newly married. My wife and I were attending a church service together where we personally knew the pastor who was delivering the sermon. This was his first ministry job and we were there to cheer him on. He had just preached a great sermon and was coming in for a landing. It was time for the "altar call" at the very end, when I noticed THE MAN appear out of nowhere.
This young pastor, who was so full of passion and zeal for reaching hurting people, suddenly began showing signs of inner conflict. It was brief. Perhaps only ten seconds in all. Unless you really knew this pastor you, would have missed it. Because of
our relationship with him, we immediately saw the battle for control and then, without warning, THE MAN took over. Our friend, the pastor, was nowhere to be found and the man closed the service. He gave the salvation invitation and then presented a broader invitation for people who needed to pray regarding the topic of the sermon. He did it in such a manipulative way that everyone in the building was afraid to NOT come forward. It was hard to watch.
Within a very short time, the front of the building was filled with people crying out to God and praying together. At the first window of opportunity, my wife and I made a break for it and before we knew it, were cruising I-17, trying to get home in time for the Survivor Finale.
Later that night, after the anger and fury over Richard Hatch winning the million dollars subsided, my wife sleeping soundly, I was lying awake replaying in my mind that final part of the church service. Seeing the man for the first time, I was perplexed and a bit discouraged. I didn't understand where he came from. I secretly wondered if my pastor friend wasn't lying awake at the very same time kicking himself for letting the man take over. I made a promise to myself in that bedroom over a decade ago. I promised that I would never allow the man to do to me what I had seen him do to my friend.
Though I had never personally met the man, I had already decided that I did not like him. I knew then that I would someday hold the same ministry position as my friend, and until that time came, I was prepared to do whatever it took to keep to that promise.
Over the next three years, I watched the man show up at every service my friend preached and do the exact same thing I had witnessed the first night. He came earlier and earlier each week until he finally took over my friend's position entirely. It was difficult to watch, because by this time, I had developed a hatred for the man. I had not yet met him personally, and that was fine with me. Sadly, my relationship with my friend had pretty much dissolved into nothing. I could no longer look him in the eye because I had lost so much respect. It was beyond my comprehension how he could just sit back and allow this to happen. He didn't seem to offer any resistance to the man. I eventually ended the relationship completely.
I did not know at that time that in less than a year, I would be formally introduced to the man myself when I was hired as a pastor at the same church.
Meeting the man
I had seen enough of him over the years to know what he was like. I knew what he did and how he thought. That is why I was unsurprised when I was preaching my first sermon and he showed up trying to take over. I knew he was coming, and that first night, I stuck to my guns. He left in a huff and made a comment to me about how my ministry career will be "short lived."
I remember driving home after that experience wondering how long I could continue to resist. I even considered the possibility that he might be right. Perhaps I was being rebellious and merely refusing to acknowledge his point of view. I had about eight other pastors on staff at my church that I was friends with and every one of them believed in the 
man. The man controlled their entire ministries and they were all happy. They all love him. Several of them even came to me in love and understanding and tried to reason with me in order to get me to open up to the man. They warned me of the dangers of resisting. Maybe it was just me. Maybe I was the problem and the man was really there for my benefit.
Still, I had seen the man hurt too many people. I'd watched him cause too much destruction to change mid-stream. In bed that night, I re-committed myself to my former promise to never allow him into my ministry. If holding to that meant my ministry career would be short lived, so be it.
Needless to say, he didn't stop.
One time I preached a sermon about how tithing was not a New Testament concept. My congregation went from their usual weekly offering of nearly $3,000 to a measly $700. The man used to meet me alone in my office late at night and try to convince me to go back to the people and tell them I was wrong. He showed me on paper that I would be out of business in six months if I didn't listen.
Another time a bunch of my people who were usually in service every single week, were not attending as consistently. The man brought it to my attention and said it was because of the freedom I was giving them in my sermons. He tried to get me to drop little statements when I was preaching that would make them feel guilty and obligate them to show up. I remember him dropping words like "faithful" and "committed" in my head when I was preaching. It was difficult to keep my wits about me and not accidentally say what he wanted me to say. I had to speak slower and weigh every single word before allowing it to leave, because the man was standing right next to me trying to confuse me.
The man showed up in my office when I was writing a sermon hoping to give his two cents' worth. I hated every one of his ideas, and he couldn't stand mine. He would always try to get me to mention him in the sermon as though he and I were friends. I could see that people were becoming more and more suspicious of him and I think he knew it. When I refused to do what he wanted, he would remind me that my paycheck comes from him and I would eventually be without one if I didn't start giving him more respect. This was a common occurrence.
I think the worst thing he did was when he went to my family members and won them over. He convinced them that I was being totally rebellious because I wouldn't listen to him. My family started pleading with me to accept the man and promote him. They confronted me on my attitude and accused me of just trying to stir up controversy. I came from a long line of preachers who all knew and loved the man. My grandfather, my uncles, my cousins, and even my sister and brother-in-law, were in the ministry and they all got along with the man. They told me it wasn't the man, it was me. I was the one with the problem.
I did not know that the promise I made to myself about not giving in to him would some day cost me my family relationships. One by one, every one of them separated themselves from me because of my unwillingness to submit to the man. This was perhaps the most devious thing he did to me over the last decade. It was also the most difficult time in my life. It caused me to question everything I thought I knew.
I discovered what ticks him off more than anything in the world: GRACE. He cannot sit still during a grace message. Something happens deep within him that is almost scary to watch. It's like he is controlled by a combination of anger and fear. I always got the feeling that the very sound of grace threatened the man's existence, and his reaction confirmed that. He also had spies sent to my group when I preached. They would report any use of grace back to the authorities.
I was surprised at how much control he exuded over the people. Even when he was abusive and downright hurtful, it seemed that people would overlook it and continue to support him. So many folks sounded like the typical battered wife who makes ridiculous excuses for her husband and tries to convince the world that he really loves her and is a great guy. It was as though he had drugged them with something that would make them follow him like lifeless zombies. He also had them in so much fear that they were terrified to speak a word against him in public. It reminded me of the KGB in Russia.
I was also surprised by how often the people would openly trade in their freedom in exchange for a quick fling with the man. When given the choice; a surprising number of people chose the man over freedom. It was as if they despised him and loved him at the same time. They could not find any inspiration in the world of freedom. They felt they needed the man standing over them with threats of hell and damnation in order for them to get motivated. When the man was no longer there, they found themselves idly doing nothing.
Eventually the man made good on his promise to me. He did everything he could to get me out of the position I was in as Pastor. After gaining the love and adoration of my extended family, he began launching attacks on my immediate family. He got people in our church to exclude my wife from conversations and activities. He even threatened to turn my own children against me if I didn't hand over the reins to my ministry. After four years of this constant battle, I finally resigned.
Ministering to The Man
I honestly felt that if I separated myself from the church and the man, I could concoct a plan to help the man change his ways. I knew he had problems, but rather than just expose him or complain about him, I figured I could help. It seemed like the Christian thing to do at the time. Besides, everyone I knew was telling me that I was wrong to talk badly about him without first trying to help him think differently.
I met a group of friends who had left their church because of the man, just as I did. They had a weekly meeting in their home and they invited me to come for a visit one week. I was more than happy to attend. I thought perhaps I would meet some friends who understood what I went through with the man in the church I had resigned from.
The meeting started out great. It seemed that everyone in the room knew about and hated the man. They talked openly about all he had done to them before they left their church. I felt right at home for the first time in years. About five minutes into the meeting however, I looked up and was astonished and completely taken aback by what I saw. Sitting right
there among them, in a cheap disguise, was THE MAN! I couldn't believe my eyes. No one recognized him, but I would know that guy anywhere. I immediately lunged forward and tore off his disguise, exposing him to everyone in the room. To my absolute dismay, these people didn't thank me at all. They didn't react like I would have expected. In fact, their reaction was more towards me than the man. They were furious with me, and demanded that I leave and not return.
One of them called me at home later that night and explained that they all knew it was the man, but they felt it was okay that he attended because he was wearing a disguise. They promised me that he behaved in their meetings, and he didn't try to take control. They wanted him there because they were trying to minister to him and help rehabilitate him. They considered him their personal project. She told me that I had been a little too harsh and I needed to give him another chance. Rather than just abandon him forever, they had decided to take the high road and reach out to him.
The more people I met outside the church, the more I began to open myself to the concept of rehabilitating the man. It made sense because the man clearly had a huge influence on the church. If we could successfully change the man for the better, we would also be affecting millions of people who have suffered abuse by the man. The effects of this could reach around the world and back. For the next year, I spent every waking hour trying to come up with a model of behavior that we could present to the man. Perhaps we could teach him to focus on helping people instead of using them. Maybe we could take some of his power away but still give him a role in the church. Our goal was to help him understand things like grace and forgiveness. I would soon find this dream and goal to be a dead end road.
After discovering that was impossible, I began to go through the Bible line by line in an effort to separate the teachings that the man came up with from the actual teachings of Scripture. It was a tangled mess. He had successfully woven his ideas into almost every principle and concept of the Bible, and strangely, I noticed a common denominator in the overall message the man was promoting. What I found literally made me gasp in disbelief.
Discovering the essence of "The Man"
Today, almost five years later, I see the man with completely different eyes. As I observe the modern day "church system," I am beginning to see things that I did not expect when I first departed five years ago. Believe it or not, I've always tried to maintain a middle-ground position concerning the man. I've been as careful as I could, to not become a sour-faced church-basher because of what he did to me. It wasn't church that did these things, it was the man. In fact, I've been more unprejudiced and tolerant towards him since I left church than many of my Free Believer counterparts out there in cyber world.
I've stated publicly that I think there are many wonderful Pastors with sincere hearts who are not out to control and manipulate the people in their church. Pastors who have made it their personal goal to encourage others into a life of freedom and relationship with the Father. Pastors who have set aside the man for the most part in an effort to focus more on the people in their congregation. I still stand by that statement just as strongly, and because I know these pastors exist, I have been long-suffering towards the man and have refrained from launching bloody attacks. I was careful not to lob a grenade at him and take the chance of hurting one of the hostages he had in his grip.
The last five years of my life have been like an unfolding murder mystery where the character I expected but wasn't sure about has turned out to be the evil master-mind behind it all. The further away I move from the man as a Free Believer; the clearer my vision becomes. As I grow in the wild, and my eyes continue to sharpen, I find myself becoming less and less tolerant of him because I now see his essence. Bit by bit, little by little, I am discovering truths about the man that have brought me to the point of believingthat the man is not only an unfortunate hindrance to the saints and needs fixing or rehabilitating, but that he is in fact the mortal enemy of all believers! Rather than receiving a revelation from God about how to fix the man's behavioral problem and salvage his position in God's church, I got the revelation that the man did NOT come from God, but straight from HELL!
There is no chance that the man will become saved in this lifetime or any other. Trying to reason with him and encourage change is not only a losing battle, but it's a complete waste of time. He will never change. In fact, there is not one single piece of him that is open to it because his entire essence is bent upon destruction. This is not a statement made out of bitterness. What I am telling you is absolutely true. No amount of gentle talk and loving patience will change the man because he isn't interested in either. He's been faking it all along. He has fooled people for almost 2000 years, making them believe that his intentions are to benefit the body of Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth because:
"The Man" is a devout atheist.
When I began to identify the teachings that came straight from "The System that runs Church," I found that not only were they NOT found in the Bible, but they were completely opposite from the words of Scripture. The man's teachings are easy to identify because the heart of all of them is self-serving. They are teachings that ensure the man's future at any cost. I've found that this is the one common denominator to all teachings that were created by the system.
The pattern to these false teachings is pretty much the same every time. God is made to look terrible and relationally-repulsive. If you don't please Him, however, you'll go to hell. The man steps in and convinces you that serving and supporting the man is the same as serving God. Now you need the man to keep you out of hell and away from God at the same time.
It' s the perfect crime. Kidnap a child, convince him that his father gave you permission to do so. Make him think you love him and then slowly turn him against his father. Before you know it, you don't even have to lock the cage. You can take the cuffs off and open the door wide, and the kid will choose to stay with you. Where else is he going to go? The only thing you have to worry about is the possibility that the boy's father may someday find him and prove to him that he's been lied to. If that ever happens, you're toast.
Almost every practice or ritual we have been taught in church is based on the man's unbelief in God and his constant self-preservation. This is precisely why Christians in this generation are so confused. Their pastor clearly teaches about God, but the system that their pastor serves is atheistic. It is almost impossible to recognize when you're in the thick of it, but once you separate yourself from it and put some distance between yourself and your religion, it becomes embarrassingly obvious.
Evidence of atheism
The system proudly preaches that we need to step in and "disciple" new believers. Christianity has even coined the term, "The discipleship movement." It is based on this generation's belief that it is our job to walk with and disciple new Christians. Think about this for a moment. This has happened because today's Christians simply do not believe in Jesus. Rather than make disciples of Christ; we make them our disciples because there is something inside of us that just intuitively knows that they won't grow if we don't step in and do things ourselves. That "intuition" is unbelief. Suggesting that we simply turn people over to Christ sounds idealistic. To even mention the idea is considered unrealistic and fanciful.
The man teaches us that the "main way" we hear God's voice is through reading the Bible. This is an atheist's way of turning something that is invisible and spiritual into something physical. It's interesting that the Bible never once makes this claim about itself. This little "saying" was created because the man is physical and incapable of spiritual communication. For the man to survive in the Christian religion, the very definition of spirituality must be altered and reformed into something a bit more concrete. That way, divine inspiration could be claimed by anyone with a Bible and a set of reading glasses. People who claim to have heard from God on their own, aside from their Bible, are skeptically frowned upon and sometimes even excommunicated altogether. If you really sit and think deeply about this teaching, you'll see that it came about because the man doesn't believe there really is a God.
This is also why the man teaches people that God speaks through the Pastor's sermon. What we are really saying is, "If you've heard us, you've heard God." In other words, look no further. It is not by accident that the majority of Christians have been trained to go to a paid staff Pastor in order to hear from God. Though the man would almost certainly not admit to such training, he cannot argue against the results. This is a disturbing and accurate description of the man's offspring in this generation. In fact, in many Christian circles, I've found that "spiritual maturity" is defined by a person's willingness to question or doubt their own ability to hear God's voice, while at the same time, having complete confidence in their Pastor's ability. Spiritual growth is gauged in the man's house by how much trust is put in the man and how little trust you put in yourself.
The man not only gets us to second guess our ability to hear from God, but he also convinces us to question our ability to even hear from ourselves! From the moment we enter the man's home, he requires us to forfeit any and all traces of self-confidence. I call this the stupefaction-doctrine. Amazingly he has successfully convinced an entire generation of institutional offspring to believe that they are nothing more than stupid, simpleminded, idiotic, scatterbrained, asinine, pea-brained, dense, dimwitted, ignorant idiots. We're made to feel like our personal intelligence lies somewhere on the scale between a fichus tree and a rock.
What is even more astonishing is that he has somehow convinced people to stand up and proudly proclaim their incompetence to the world! Those who do this in the most prolific manner are applauded and hailed as our leaders. This is another sign of "spiritual maturity" in the man's house. If we openly talk about how easily deceived and led astray we are, and how we can't trust ourselves as far as we can throw ourselves, we are praised and lifted up as a spiritual example to all. The baffling irony is that in the very next breath, we proudly proclaim that we are "children of God." This is either irrefutable proof that God was loaded on LSD when He created us or that He just doesn't exist at all. Our belief in these lies and the teachings themselves are evidence that "the system" that runs and controls the institution of church is inherently atheist.
This fact becomes glaringly obvious every time we have a big fundraiser for our next building. We flat-out manipulate people for money by promising them prosperity and healing, or by using fear and condemnation. Once the carnal and terrified have pledged their life away, we rejoice and
say, "Look what the Lord has done." The "Pledge Drive" alone is rooted in UNBELIEF. Seriously, if the man really believed in God, why would he do a pledge drive and pry the money out of the people?
The Man's God Complex
Unbelief exposes itself in many ways, but perhaps its most common and telling manifestation is when someone actually begins to believe that they are God. This is simply not possible unless you first believe that there is not another. This characteristic 
is unmistakably woven into the essence of the system that rules church. The man unashamedly calls himself the body of Christ, and he even refers to his building as the house of God. He has hijacked nearly every Christian custom in an attempt to divert all focus and attention to himself. To speak against the man is to speak against God Himself!
Over and over, I watch the man publicly proclaim his divinity and each time I am astounded at how readily people buy into it. I have family members who don't even think I'm a Christian any more because I quit going to the man's house every Sunday. The man has taught them that he is God and in their hearts they now believe it. He has fooled them into looking to him to supply all their needs. He 's successfully convinced an entire generation of his offspring of this terrible lie. Sadly, many people who attend his church actually came because they were sold on the idea of him rather than God. When the truth of God's heart is revealed to these people they are repelled because it goes against the heart of the man. It was the man they wanted from the beginning.
Unbelievably, the man has taught millions of people that he is, "The body of Christ." Anytime any scripture refers to "the body," the man has psychologically inserted himself into that role in the minds of the people. A term that so beautifully refers to believers everywhere, has now been stolen away by the man. Now the average Christian is taught that if they don't attend the man's services, they are "outside the body." How in the world has this happened?
Things that only God Himself is responsible for have been hijacked by the man and are now distributed as the man sees fit. Things like "spiritual food" that Christians need in order to survive, are now considered to be the sole responsibility of the man to distribute according to his wisdom. The man has taught the people that if they don't go to his house; they don't eat. This is the number one thing I hear from Christians of this generation. "I go to get fed," "Who will feed me if I don't go to church?" These statements are spoken without the slightest check in people's spirit, because the man has convinced them that he and he alone is their provider. In fact, they can't even pick up a spiritual fork and bring it to their own mouths any more. The man does it all while they sit there in their pews drooling and snorting like helpless infants.
The man warns us that we'll starve to death if we ever leave him. He tells us stories about others who left, and were reduced to skin and bones in a matter of weeks. Repentant runaways stand before us and testify about the world of famine that exists beyond the man's property line. They tell dreadful tales about the guy who foolishly attempted to handle a fork on his own, only to jab himself straight in the eyeball and nearly lose his vision forever. They plead with us not to try this at home. Just leave the spiritual feeding to the man.
They lovingly explain to us that because of our inner nature of ignorance and stupidity, we are quite likely to mistake a bowl of rusty razor blades for oatmeal, or a can of ignited gasoline for a glass of milk. What would we do then? There's no point even risking it because we're just too stupid. Being as dimwitted and simpleminded as the man has taught us we are, we would almost certainly be deceived by the first heretical teaching that came along. Why take a chance on accidentally selling mama's last cow to an evil stranger for a handful of magic beans? If you love mama, you'll just shut up and stay in church.
Since I left the institutional church almost five years ago, I have had no less than 300 sincere people sternly caution me concerning the dangerous position in which I've placed myself and my family. They'll ask me who my "covering" is, because in their minds, the only valid covering in all the world is the man. When I tell them that the man refused 
tocover me so I asked God to do the job and He agreed, they shake with anger. I can literally see them burning in their hearts at me! Entire ministries have blackballed me because I wasn't under the covering of the man. Incredibly these people went from thinking I was IN danger without the man's covering to believing that I was A danger. Believe me when I tell you that the man has convinced today's Christians that he and he alone is God Almighty, and the overwhelming majority of them have bought into it hook, line, and sinker!
Even our worship to the Father has been confiscated and put under the man's authority. Christians today have been bred to believe that they must go to church to worship. Think about that one and consider the ramifications for just a moment. This underlying message that comes from the man is evidence of a God-complex and further evidence of a heart of unbelief that there even is a God.
I can almost audibly hear the sound of people reading these words and saying to themselves, "That's not true of me and my church. They have always taught us that worship is a lifestyle and we can do it every day." I said the man was an atheist, not a stupid atheist. He's like the abusive husband who pronounces the words "I love you" and then beats the hell out of his bride. Now her heart tells her he hates her, but in her head, she can never rightfully say he doesn't love her because he told her he did. For every 100 Christians who tell me that they don't need their church to worship God, about 95 NEVER worship Him unless they are in church. Our heart knows the truth, but our head believes the man.
The man believes he is God so much that he even directs all Christian giving unto himself and he does so without any regard for consequence. Giving means one thing to the system of church. It means give to the man. Every single Bible verse that has anything to do with giving is cleverly altered. Pastors twist verses that are clearly about giving to the poor, the hungry, the widows, the fatherless or the homeless, and when they're finished, it means GIVE TO THE MAN. Amazingly, the people scurry for their pocketbooks and race to oblige him. In fact he flat out declares publicly that when you give to the man you're giving to God Himself. What more proof do we need?
The man has made God the boogie man so that we would never have intimacy with God and leave the man. As long as we are afraid of God, but still need Him for heaven, we will need the IC to keep us in line with mindless and heartless rituals to just meet the mark to go to heaven. The grace message causes people to stand on their own and love him. Once that happens, people no longer need things like accountability to keep them in line. Grace threatens the very existence of the man and he knows it.
For many, learning to live life without the man is a difficult process. His superstitions have been drilled into their heads for years. Most people sincerely wonder if they can even survive apart from the man and an amazing number of folks find themselves running back to him the moment they feel insecure. They've been programmed to do exactly that. One of the reasons why I started the Free Believers Network is to provide a place where refugees can heal and learn to live apart from him. This is very much like a battered wives' shelter and your success depends on your resolve to live without the man.
Darin Hufford
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Just awesome :-D Such a beautiful way of putting the man into the spotlight, so we can see him for what he is; wretched.
It's so frustrating that so many set in the pews week after week and never learn about the unbelievable love the Father has for them and how that love manifested itself in all that His Grace has given us. This is the "Good News" that will change their lives. Instead they get meaningless sermons they can't even remember 24 hours later, or Bible studies that never teach how to study for themselves. I believe most people in the IC suffer from "battered Christian syndrome". Even though they are bound and gagged by tradition, starved from the truth, abducted from the love of the Father and abused by false teaching, they keep going back because they have been convinced they will “die” if they don’t. It’s time for an intervention. That's what you are doing, one person at a time.
That's exactly right Randy. I really appreciate the way you put it. Very good wording. I think you said it better then I did:)
Well done. The man IS the enemy. I would rather poke out my own eye..than look upon the man for 1 second. I would rather tear off my own arm..than to link arms with the man on ANY issue. I have left the abusive man and I will never look back for fear I will turn into stale salt..that can add no flavor to my life or anyone else's. I would rather enter the Kingdom with 1 eye and no arm..it is better than sleeping with the man. Harsh? You better believe it. The man comes to steal,Kill and destroy our relationship with the Father and is no laughing matter. Beware the man, he leavens the whole lump and turns us into just another brick in the wall.
I really enjoyed the way that so many abstract concepts about church behavior are rolled up into "The Man". I can hang my hat on that. It has substance and I can begin to get an idea of the personality behind a lot of dysfunctional concepts. Thanks for taking the time and effort to present ideas in novel and challenging ways.
Sounds about right.Just remember though even if we know all mysteries and don't have love we ain't nothing! Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love Lennon/McCartney
Darin, so nice to read someone's words who has "met" and hates the man! When my husband and I "left the ministry" the things that were said to us were hard to even believe. All the "who is your covering" questions, the "where are you tithing" questions, the "why are you wasting your pastoral gifting" questions, and on and on ad nauseum. It felt like The Man was invisible to everyone but us, and we just could not understand how they could not see him! It gave new life to Jesus' words "Let him who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Some people just don't have "ears" and talking is a waste of time. But for those that do, words like yours can bring so much life. I pray you will never grow weary of shouting out the truth that is setting captives free.
I have run into this same man @ my place of employment. In fact @ every job outside of the IC this same man is there. That tells me that in both places I must work to earn. Since becoming a free believer from the IC system, I'm also seeing how this helps me @ my job and with relationships. I used to hang on to people and concepts that were literally killing me. Thinking I was being 'christian' for taking such abuse! Instead of being real I opted for 'nice'. Learning to love myself as the REAL MAN says to do has not been easy. I've had to trust myself and obey the voice inside that says don't suck up! It's a whole nother world out here. Sometimes lonely but only when I look for love and acceptance in the wrong places. Thanks, Darin, for another eye, mind and heart opener :)
Holy cow, Darin, you cut right to the quick here. In a good way! It is mind boggling what I'm seeing as the layers are peeled away. Like the Wizard of Oz - "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" Thank you... God is really showing me some stuff through you and after years of feeling so stupid and useless in IC, I'm feeling privileged that I have ears to hear this.
I gave up ever changing the man some months ago, and now I just stay away from him. For years I tried to change him into a new man, but the old just shows up time and time again. I used to lose sleep at night over him. My wife and I used to discuss him constantly. Now, I rest much better and my wife and I talk about more enjoyable things. Not speaking metaphorically, do you find that some folks take on this "essence of the man"? I've known and "been discipled" by men who would fall on their sword for the man, so much so that they almost seem to be the man, or at least they perpetuate his existence. I had to not only distance myself from the man, but from his people too.
Also, I like the government quotes at the beginning of this post. For a long time now I've been struck by the parallels between the US government and the IC. What would happen if we let both broken systems fail and got back to the basics of living free? Forget government bailouts and stimulus packages. Stop trying church revivals and revolutions.
Chris, have you ever seen the movie about Jim Jones? He had several guys around him who enforced his every command. I've met people like that. Believe me when I tell you that 9 out of 10 pastors I worked with were enforcers on behalf of the man. They openly admitted to me that they had only one agenda and that was to follow, serve and promote "The man".
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST AWESOME ARTICULATION I HAVE EVER HEARD! FROM A FELLOW WRITER, YOU DESERVE A PRIZE FOR THIS ONE! WAY TO PUT IT ON THE TABLE DARIN! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
I just watched a clip from The James Jones Movie on youtube and I never realized that the people referred to him as Dad. I thought it was a little odd, but didn't think anything of it at the time, but 3 women staff members of the "church" I use to attend would refer to the senior pastor as Dad as well. These were women who are well in their 30's and 40's. Something's telling me, that's not normal.
oops, I mean Jim Jones.
...what Josh said. So perfectly articulated.
Thanks so much Josh and Jana. You guys are so nice. It means a lot coming from you.
Darin, This is simply awesome. Sigh...how I, too, "heard" the man speak, and even typed his notes, letters, and sermons, both at the church you pastored at, and at another job. It was so hard on my heart to serve the man's own interests, when the Holy Spirit within me clearly told me whose words I was hearing/typing. As well, (I think you know), "the man" manifested himself in my own life as "Ed," as well as many other names. Yes. "The man" is Evil. Period. Thank goodness Papa, Son and Holy Spirit woke me up to the reality of his identity. I am glad you have not and continue not to give in to "the man," Darin. Keep it up brother! Continue to speak Jesus...Grace and Love. ~Amy :) http://amyiswalkinginthespirit.blogspot.com
Darin, I've newly entered "the wild" and have wept in relief after finding this site and pouring over your blogs for the past 4 or 5 days. I recall just before our exodus muttering to my husband......I've walked through university halls and construction sites, corporate settings dominated with chauvinist world views and held positions far out of my depth all successfully by God's grace but, never has my self-esteem been so ravagely mutilated as it was by "THE MAN". Like the battered women of the late 70's and early 80's I too am breaking the silence with regard to the abuse I experienced in the name of "The Man's Religion".
....Words can't express my gratitude to you for your bold courage but know the remnant is growing and more and more are being called to shout the truth from the rooftops in effort to be active participant is the Kingdom of Christ and "setting the captives free"
My own experience has me pondering specializing in Strategic Intervention Therapy and / or Thought Reform Counselling and other "exit counselling" techniques to offer to those wandering aimlessly in the post trauma of The Man experience.
I was listening to this sermon on tithing, because I was curious, and I have to say, I believe that The Man is indeed pure evil. This guy started off saying how it was tithing that kept God from allowing the devil to devour you, not praying, not fasting, but only tithing. He went on to say that tithing is part of the covenant you have with God, a contract between you and God and not to be broken. Then the creep, sorry but he is, told this story of a widow, who could barely fed her family but she managed to give $6 dollars a week to the church, and the pastor of the parish told his jr pastor to tell the woman that they didn't need her tithe, but when he regretfully(his words)told the lady, she said "You are trying to take away the last thing that gives me dignity and meaning." What a snake.
Dana, that is a popular set of scriptures the man likes to use. Unfortunately it is a whole story that I have never heard preached in it's entirety. If the whole chapter is read and even into the next chapter Jesus was NOT HAPPY about what was going on behind those temple walls. One of the things he said was that those behind the temple walls loved to devour widows houses. After that conversation he then looked over to the widow and commented on her giving. There is a theme to whole chapter. Going on further the disciples began pointing out the beauty of the temple and Jesus states "yes, look!" I will tear them down and rebuild them in 3 days. That doesn't sound like a happy camper to me. The man loves to take a few scriptures to make money while the truth lay buried under the lie.
Man, just like watching a movie, I was hoping that your story ended with the man getting it in the end or getting saved. I'll keep my preference to myself. But the movie didn't end this way...for now. What an experience. btw, I don't recall you writing such a long message before. Did anything happen recently that conjured this text or was it just something you had tucked away?
I began the adventure of knowing Christ telling the man and others I got born again, I didn’t have a lobotomy. Under extreme pressure I eventually converted and submitted to the man’s lobotomy procedure. You’ll just have to trust me…it’s a death by default procedure that results in not knowing “how to” be loved and live loved as a child of God. Thanks Darin. What a great article exposing the man. For any like me who may have submitted to the man’s lobotomy [religion], I’m living proof the love of God will eventually result in a reverse lobotomy. And you will become free to know Christ in a way you never learned in religious Christianity. Yippee!
What is so shocking to realize isn't that there is tyranny and the 'survival of the fitist'in the world, we expect that, it is to realize that the same Tyrant who enslaves people on the job, in governments, abusive marriages, etc...reigns so powerfully in the religious systems that we are taught from childhood to seek refuge when we need protection from...the Wolfman! Thanks once again Darin.
Was it The Man who convinced Eve not to believe in God in the Garden? Does anyone else think it was The Man that tempted Jesus in the wilderness, promising him a big ministry if he played ball, and ultimately killed Him because He didn't? Is he the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world? Could it be that he's the one who promises the world to all who obey him? Money, power, flocks, ministries, etc? The adversary is anyone or anything opposed to God. I don't believe the devil is a single being. That would mean he's omniscient. I don’t think so. We know he's spirit, which means he operate through anyone and anything, at any time if he's allowed. Darin resisted The Man and he fled. The Man is just looking more and more like "you know who" to me.
WOW, this post is extremely lucid and descriptive. This is a great way to articulate this. I never thought of how atheistic all this is but your are right. What you are describing here in a word is witchcraft.
Darin, My former pastor said that he wouldn't let anything jeopardize HIS (not God's) ministry and the only part of Jesus we have today is in the Bible. In the same vein, I believe that the Bible has become the god of Fundamentalists.
Yes John you are so right. I agree totally. Have you read my article in the "articles" section called "Christians and the Bible?" I think you'll relate to it.
Brian, sorry it took so long to respond:) Yea, I usually don't write so long winded articles and I originally planned on this being a 3 part series, but something in me just decided to post it all at once. This has been in me for several weeks now and I really wanted to describe what I feel about the spirit of IC government in a way that people could really see and understand. I think the biggest revelation to me was that "the system" is not fixable. (at least that's my opinion). That's really the whole purpose of writing this. I wanted to get that point across to all those who are trying to rehabilitate it.
I was reading an article the other day commenting on Alexis de Tocqueville’s, Democracy in America. It is the cessation of free will to bureaucratic control as the ends of democracy in America. Very fascinating. As I pondered these depressing thoughts, I found myself thinking there was no hope of governing man. But just as quickly as that thought came, so did the thought that there is only one that can rightly and righteously govern man. God is that one. I think it was an old video of Milton Friedman I was watching recently where he said, I paraphrase, we have flawed systems which humans think we need governing, so we empower flawed humans to govern those flawed systems. Does that make sense? Or as he said to Phil Donahue, where do you finds these angles that should govern us?
Thanks Darin! Simply amazing! You said it all! I am saddened in thinking of my good friends who don't see 'the man' after being in the IC for so long. How come they don't? I don't understand...
Technicolor, I think a lot of people ONLY saw The Man. I think it was all about the man to begin with. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that only those who have a heart after God will see the difference. The others have a heart after The Man. Does that make sense?
Yes, it makes sense. It has to be that, otherwise it doesn't make sense. Now, my friends were first catholics and sensed a lot of evil with the catholic religion. Then they left and became evangelicals to the point that they don't consider catholics christians. So, how can they see the evil in catholicism but not in pentecostalism, evangelism, etc? In my opinion, as far as 'the man' goes is the same regardless the particular doctrine.
Yes, I agree with that. It sounds like your friends clearly see the man and they judge whether someone is going to heaven or hell based on the accent of the man they serve. Sounds like they just like the pentecostal man better than the catholic man. They're both the same, only the pentecostal man dresses down while the Catholic man dresses up:)
It sounds like I am my own worst enemy, right? Isnt that what this "story" is saying? So am I the only one wondering who the man is?
Doodski it's not saying you are your own worst enemy. It's not about you. The article states who The Man is over and over. The Man is the "system of Church" or the "Man made government" we set up around our meetings that takes on a life of it's own. This is why I used the Thomas Jefferson quotes in the beginning. "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."
I believe most of what you say is in general correct. There are those brothers in the Lord who do Pastor without all this. You need to show that part as well. And oh yes they are not a financial institution as most of our churches are today.
I did talk about those Pastors Phil!! You must have missed it. It's the second paragraph under the heading "Discovering the essence of "The Man"....................So......... does that mean that now you believe that ALL of what I said is correct? :)
Hi. Very good article. In my view it only has two weaknesses: 1. The atheist theory. It seems that 'the man' knows God exists and feels the tension and fear emanating from being at odds with Him. After all, even the devils believe and tremble. 'The man' knows his enemy is real and the anger that drives him comes from the ubiquitous fear of his folly being exposed. His anger and control manipulation is driven by frustration. He is frustrated by his powerlessness to bear the fruit that identifies the genuine Christian, of which he claims to be exemplary.
2. The place of Scripture. Concerning the statement that the Bible is not the main way to hear God consider your own path. What standard did you use to test 'the man' and the IC? You sought the words of Scripture: "..I began to go through the Bible line by line in an effort to separate the teachings that the man came up with from the actual teachings of Scripture...I found that not only were they NOT found in the Bible, but they were completely opposite from the words of Scripture." Why did you do this? Why does it matter? Why capitalize the word Scripture? 2 Pet 1:16-21: The Scripture is even more certain and trustworthy than the transfiguration experience(!) Lk 1:1-4, 1 Jn 5:13 The Scriptural account is written that we may know the Truth and the Life for certain.
I think you Misunderstood a few things. I wasn't saying that "The Man" is the Devil. You seem to be describing Satan here. Also, just because I challenged the teaching that the Bible is the main way we hear God speak, that doesn't mean that I am in any way devaluing or minimizing the spiritual authenticity of scripture. YES scripture IS certain and trustworthy. YES the Scriptural account was written that we may know the truth and life. That however does not say or even imply that Scriptures purpose is to be a "walkie talkie" between God and man on a daily basis. I made a simple statement that the Bible doesn't say it's purpose is for us to hear God's voice through it every day. That's not the same as me saying I don't believe in Scripture.
i think this is exactly what phoenix first has done
Hey, Darin and folks. What a good (and challenging)perspective on one of the strongholds that most of us face. I waould like to add one more place that we sometimes overlook when addressing "the man." It is summed up in a comment that Wayne Jacobsen made in his Transition series. He said, "If you're reacting to it (IC,) then you're still owned by it." I know many Christians who have been "out of the traditional church" for many years who are still "owned" by "the man." Some have built their identity on being OC, but seem to be unable to move into freedom. This just speaks of the deception and subtle manipulation that the enemy uses against God's folks. I'm so glad that you (and others) are addressing some of thes issues and trying to expose the underlying lies of the enemy.
Grover I think that's an excellent point. I remember a point in time when someone I met at the grocery store was telling me the latest update about the Church I used to pastor at and I remember it meaning about as much to me as when I hear that "Staples" is having an office sale or "PetCo" is selling two goldfish for the price of one. I knew then that it was over and I was healed from "the mans" assault on me.
Sounds to me like THE MAN is just another description of the demonic beings, the lords of the darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12), against which the people of Christ were supposed to overcome rather than bow down to and make traditions of the things they teach. Neil Girrard paidionbooks.org
Man, you're reading my blog aren't you?? Funny, how your words here so align with things Papa's been showing me. Great read... and couldn't be more true!
Great job as usual Darin! Love the pics too!! - Aimz
You're the man Darin, you're the man!
Wow! That was good. Nice job.
Sheeesh!!! Ya went an' did it again! Wonderful expose' on THE MAN Darin! Wonderful...!
wow. thanks Silas. I appreciate you.
Wow! Just Wow! Thank you Darin for being so clearheaded and honest again. Never quite heard it this simple. Reminds me of one of my best friends who is a pastor. We got along so well until I told him that I was taking time from all the church activities to refresh and then I made a mistake asking him where in the NT does it require christians to tithe. Things got cold very quickly between us. When I asked why the change he even mentioned that his ministry is his focus now and he needs to make sure it is protected... I pray that one day he will look over his shoulder and tell The Man to go to hell but I know it will be a while, if ever.
Thanks Alison. You're a sweetheart. I know how you feel about your friend. It's like standing by watching someone kidnap someone you love and there is nothing you can do about it.
I enjoy reading the articles but to be honest sometimes this stuff scares me. I am still 50/50 on everything you say. There is apart of me that can clearly see the truth in 90% of the things you said here but I can't help to wonder if all of you have not just figured out a way to not Go to church and not pay tithes and not feel guilty!! Church is boring, Paying tithes is not fun either. Sometimes it really does look like people are searching for a way to not feel guilty about not doing it. The church as the institution you are right is pretty much irrelevant but if what you say is right, the answer is to abandon the whole system?
The system was created by man - not God. Trust me Alexander, not going to church or paying tithes is not even an issue for most of the people here. They don't need anyone to convince them that those things are silly, worthless and completely unscriptural. Most of the people on this site are well beyond that. Most people on this site have indeed abandoned the "system." They had to in order to go deeper with God and know HIm for real.
How like battered wives we are! Excellent link there! I remember my last day to enter the church building of my long time church home. When I heard condemnation coming from the pulpit and then an admission that he actually didnt hear "the teaching", but was sure how wrong it must of been, (i wonder who's teaching that was,,,hmmm) that was it for me. Never looked back. I've visited churches since my move across the big pond...but thanks to you Darin, I just can't sit still anymore. I can't watch people sitting there while the opposite of love is being taught. I look around at the faces and wonder how many people feel uneasy inside but are afraid of showing it. Thanks for bringing me out of the muck and mire. Keep going! I'm with you all the way.
Thanks beautiful girl. I'll never forget the first day I met you. Yours is a story I'll tell for years to come. Can't wait to see you again next month:)
Just one point of contention, Darin. I think you're a little too easy on the man. I don't think the man is atheistic at all. I think he knows quite well that God exists, and HATES him.
FAR OUT! This has put into words what I have been thinking and coming to the conclusion of for years! Thank-you for sharing!
Whew! What's left to say? There are so many parallells between church and government and I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that they are virtually one in the same! If we do not begin to take back and declare our freedom, it will be snatched from us. The IC has so depersonalized and demoralized and DESENSATIZED us that we have become the proverbial "frog in the pot" sitting on our padded chairs, wearing phony smiles, eyes glazing over as we nod our heads up and down, agreeing with the man who's boiling us alive. I have been away from the man for years now, but as so many of you have shared, I have tried to find common ground with the man. Because the man is diametrically opposed to Christ, this comradery is a virtual impossibility. What fellowship has light with darkness?
PS...Darin, some of your posts make me think you must be cousin to the Apostle Paul! He wasn't one to mince words, either! :)
Al - Good point. :) Thanks man.
Megan thanks so much for the nice words. It's great to find out that you were right all along isn't it?
Becky, that's very nice of you. I love Paul and how he thought. i agree with you that our government and the church paralell each other. I think America is in the exact same position as IC Christians are. We are about to lose everything and never be free again, and people are sitting around blind as bats. God help us.
Darin, I know you will condemn this comment I make (and probably your 'following' will also have a good dig at me for it)- but I cannot read such a hurtful article and not say anything. I was at that same church for a while, so I know the man & the church you refer to. He is actually a good man - not the hell-sent demon you make him out to be. What stands out clearly to me in this article is that you have been hurt and this is your way of dealing with it. The attack you have against all churches saddens me. With the Freedom comes Responsibility. If you take a realistic look at your article, you will see a lot of The Man in your own ministry/network - people all patting you on the back after each article and afraid to oppose you.
Darin, the instruction to teach and disciple others came from Jesus, not the System (as you state). Note the part in the BIBLE below saying: ...TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you... Matt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The GRACE that God extends to us was bought at the HIGHEST PRICE - the life and Blood of His Son that was shed for us on the Cross. When we accept Him as our Savior, we partake of His Grace, but are also commanded to forsake our old ways and be obedient to His teachings. It costs us too ! (but its worth it!!) In Luke 14:27-31, Jesus says: Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him.
I recently heard someone say, 'we are fellow travellers on this journey together towards eternity. Lets encourage and help one another along the way.' Whilst I agree that many churches have 'lost the plot' and are self-seeking, you cannot throw away the fact that many are also sincere in their intentions to help you on your journey and give guidance to those who want to the our Saviour, but might not know where to start. Don't trash every church, just because one church hurt you. (I know you have a lot to say about the term 'church' - in this context I refer to a group of believers who get together in a building or house or wherever - to worship & enjoy their Saviour with others who feel the same way, and to encourage one another).
I recently heard someone say, 'we are fellow travellers on this journey together towards eternity. Lets encourage and help one another along the way.' Whilst I agree that many churches have 'lost the plot' and are self-seeking, you cannot throw away the fact that many are also sincere in their intentions to help you on your journey and give guidance to those who want to know our Saviour, but might not know where to start. Don't trash every church, just because one church hurt you. (I know you have a lot to say about the term 'church' - in this context I refer to a group of believers who get together in a building or house or wherever - to worship & enjoy their Saviour with others who feel the same way, and to encourage one another).
Thanks Darin, your heart for the hurting and provision of a place for them to come and challenge preconcieved notions of church is awesome. Keep living for God. Robert, is he attacking the church or institutional religion, the church is people and as can be seen from this article Darins heart is to be there for the hurting. Jesus saved hs harshest words for the pharisees, brood of vipers, why because he Loved people and hated the damage that institutionalised religion causes. Is the man demonoic, not necessarily its the nature of the beast, why would the devil/evil spirits get involved when the man is doing a great job on his own, the devil/evil spirits are more likely to move in when people leave the man. Jesus loves people, motives matter the most, may God continue to bless you Darin
Thanks Paul - I'm glad you can see this.
Robert, you do NOT know the person I’m speaking of in this article. You have never once met him. Anytime I give an illustration involving someone I knew in the past, I change most of the details so that the actual person will never be identified. At what point did I make this person out to look like a “hell-sent demon?” Not once. What supposedly stands out clearly to you, isn't true at all. In fact, you couldn’t be more wrong. I WASN’T HURT BY THE CHURCH. Bitterness is a quick response to anyone who has anything negative to say about the institutional church. A good friend of mine put it this way: "The free person in Christ and the rebellious will always look the same to those who labor under religious obligation, because both ignore the conventions that govern men."
The fact that you think I have an “attack against all Churches” serves as proof that you are completely blinded to the heart of what I’m doing. Your eyes and heart are so centered on protecting the apple of your eye (the institution) that you are incapable of seeing anything else. This article is NOT about church Robert, It’s about man’s governing system. You missed it because you were so busy protecting “church.”--- People are supposed to become disciples of CHRIST Robert, NOT disciples of US. The correct translation to that verse is found in the Contemporary English Version (CEV) were it says, “Go to the people of all nations and make them MY disciples." That is the point the article is making, but you clearly missed it.
You comment that I “trash every church” is unfounded. I’m not sure where you got that from. You must have made it up Robert because it wasn’t in this or any other article I’ve written on this site. In fact, I state the exact opposite, numerous times throughout this site. --- I think what bothers me about your position Robert is that you are either completely blind to how deeply people are being hurt by the system of “church,” or you just don’t give a damn. You love your institution more than you do the people it hurts. I’m here trying desperately trying to protect the PEOPLE and you’re here desperately trying to protect the INSTITUTION. That’s terrible Robert.
If we were talking about a Walmart who treated it’s employees badly, using fear tactics and deceptive manipulation to get people to work harder, you would be the first person to stand up for the people and fight for their rights. You wouldn’t even hesitate to point out the evil of the managements practices. You would encourage every single person to walk off the job and never come back. But because you have it in your heart that this system of church is equal to God Himself, you have a blind allegiance to it that clearly takes precedence over the people it destroys. Robert, you don’t have to have been hurt by the “church” in order to see how destructive it is to human beings. You just have to love people more than you do the system. Sadly, you clearly don’t.
Your concern is for the system and not the people. I’m not upset because the institution of church hurt ME; I’m upset because the institution of church hurt others. --- I’ve always felt that you were a nice guy Robert. I think you're a great guy in fact! Until PEOPLE are the objects of your affections, you will NEVER EVER understand one single article I write. They will always appear to you as bitter and rebellious. You’ll always think that I’m writing out of hurt or revenge. When you love people more than you do your religion, you will suddenly see what I’m talking about.
Darin, Wow, thanks so much for this enlightening article. My family and I just left the IC about 3 and a half months ago. It has been a wonderful time learning about my Father's love for me. The last year or so I would get a sick feeling every time I had to go into the IC. I would struggle to go in and want to turn around and go home. My son actually bought me "The Shack" in June just after we left the IC and it was the best book I hae ever read. Also read "And So You Don't Want to go to Church Anymore" and "He Loves Me". I am going through the stage where my wires are being untangles by my Father and I am just sitting still while he untangles them. Thanks for enlightening my mind even more today. I am so content letting my Father love me and loving others. Wow HE is Awesome!
That's so exciting Angelina. I know the path you speak of. It's the greatest thing in the world to get this. All very good books by the way.
I grew up in church. Never missing a Sunday. And feeling guilty if I did. I go to church most Sundays still, but feel a sense of sadness every time I go. I'm missing something.....Thanks for not being afraid to question and make us think for ourselves. Cindy
12 yrs ago the man(pastor) and I had an emotional affair at our church. He was an untreated sex addict.I was an untreated sexual abuse survivor. My husband watched as the man seduced me for two yrs while "intercessory prayer" went on. Any other husband would have stepped in. Not mine, he needed the man too much. Eventually I was removed from ministry and sent to therapy. Thank God. In therapy I learned about the man. Very cool therapist. For 10 yrs I traveled the back side of the desert looking for a place where God lived. My husband is still with the man. I can't go there.He can't leave. It has almost destroyed our marriage. It has cost me everything to walk with Jesus. 12 yrs of 12 step recovery and Jesus have taught me that if it smells and looks like bullshit it is. don't print pleas
bp, sounds like you know about this first hand. I respect the fact that you walked away. You sound like an amazing person. Isn't it amazing how the man can almost hypnotize people to do things that are totally unnatural? I'm glad you got away. Good for you!!!
Thanks Darin..but most of all thanks be to God! I cried as I read about the man..because I too know him too well. Having been in abusive marriages literally ..and then the relationship with the "church" and the put downs that I hadn't attended and having the pastors tell me they were astounded i hadn't dried up!!! (Honestly I have sensed God not allowing me to attend church..as it has been a heart cry to as the "false " teaching says God is only there".I never understood..I have thought God was everywhere so I could never totally believe that statement) i too understand about God --it seemed to me as I got to know God He took on being a Father of lies instead of the God of love. It has been a journey of years ...but God is being so good to me as now I 'see' it was His love for me.
Thanks Bonne:-)