However, the movie also leaves me incredibly sorrowful. I cannot imagine the name of Jesus Christ being used to exploit girls and women. Kind of exemplifies the metaphor of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The movie touches on themes that have been reported on for years on this site: silencing the victims; covering up for the perpetrator; no-cost restoration; grooming victims; and perverting biblical gender roles.
The movie should not surprise me as a long time reader here, yet hearing the stories of the victims from their mouths still breaks my heart.
One comment struck me: This is a paraphrase: “We’re not breaking away from the church; we’re trying to return Christ to the church.”
This is a very powerful and forever timely film. I am glad you posted it here, Michael.
I hope one day we get Christ back into our churches because whatever we have chosen to characterize Him as by word and act is driving people away.
What also sucks is that in the credits, a Harvey Weinstein is thanked. Oh, how I hope it is not the one I am thinking of. If it is, it’s just more proof of the pervasiveness of these wrongs in all levels of our society.
Right before I saw this on social media , I was reading the posts of a young lady who has been abused both by a pastor and the church…and I hope this story gives her the courage to come forth and name names…we have to stand…
Powerful movie. A friend often sends me links to which I reply “I won’t watch anything over 5 minutes,” but I watched this whole thing.
Though it kinda of answers my question, I wonder where the dads (or even moms) are in these stories who in the secular world would show up to either beat down or threaten as such these men?
I’ve long known that you (generic you) can concoct just about anything you want from the Bible.
But this stuff beggars belief. It is my fervent hope that more and more women can escape these totalitarian regimes.
Michael, I am thankful for your ministry and your voice. My wife and I kept our kids close…very close. I didn’t try to shelter them by any means but I did have an extremely strong conviction and inclination to keep them safe. From the first time that I held my daughter in my arms I took it as my one aim in life to keep her and her brother safe and secure and to raise them in the love of Jesus. I am older now and my children are grown. Looking back I can see a handful of things that I would do differently if I could re-do it. I have wondered over the years if maybe I might had been overdoing it in my vigilance. Knowing what I know now I can say categorically that I am extremely thankful to Jesus for what he did in impressing those things upon me. There needs to be an extreme house cleaning in the church and those who do these things and perpetuate them need to be held accountable. It is my firm conviction that anyone that crosses these lines should never, ever hold an office in a church nor be allowed to come within a country mile of a child.
Thank you for the kind words and the stewardship of your family.
I know many young women who were victimized because their fathers allowed it by negligence and by refusing to listen when they were informed of things they should have stopped.
As a father of 3 daughters, this video makes me want to hurt someone. If anyone ever touched one of my kids, I’d probably be spending my life in prison.
Hard to watch. I’m really angry. I’ve dealt with various expressions of abuse of power my entire time in the church, which has been my entire ——- life.
“That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh, no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough” ~Losing My Religion, R.E.M.
For all of those whose stories haven’t been told yet…
Bone chilling! I cannot overstate how powerful and moving the video is.
Yes, it is.
I’m watching a similar story unfold in real time …the playbook never changes.
However, the movie also leaves me incredibly sorrowful. I cannot imagine the name of Jesus Christ being used to exploit girls and women. Kind of exemplifies the metaphor of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The movie touches on themes that have been reported on for years on this site: silencing the victims; covering up for the perpetrator; no-cost restoration; grooming victims; and perverting biblical gender roles.
The movie should not surprise me as a long time reader here, yet hearing the stories of the victims from their mouths still breaks my heart.
One comment struck me: This is a paraphrase: “We’re not breaking away from the church; we’re trying to return Christ to the church.”
“We’re not breaking away from the church; we’re trying to return Christ to the church.”
That…has been the goal from day 1.
We’re farther away now than when I started 20 some years ago…
This is a very powerful and forever timely film. I am glad you posted it here, Michael.
I hope one day we get Christ back into our churches because whatever we have chosen to characterize Him as by word and act is driving people away.
What also sucks is that in the credits, a Harvey Weinstein is thanked. Oh, how I hope it is not the one I am thinking of. If it is, it’s just more proof of the pervasiveness of these wrongs in all levels of our society.
Laura,
I think it’s a different Weinstein.
I wish I had posted it when it came out…we need to see and reckon with what we have seen…
Michael, you still posted it. Thank you for respecting all the folks that have been brave enough to come forward and tell their stories.
Laura,
Right before I saw this on social media , I was reading the posts of a young lady who has been abused both by a pastor and the church…and I hope this story gives her the courage to come forth and name names…we have to stand…
Powerful movie. A friend often sends me links to which I reply “I won’t watch anything over 5 minutes,” but I watched this whole thing.
Though it kinda of answers my question, I wonder where the dads (or even moms) are in these stories who in the secular world would show up to either beat down or threaten as such these men?
I’ve long known that you (generic you) can concoct just about anything you want from the Bible.
But this stuff beggars belief. It is my fervent hope that more and more women can escape these totalitarian regimes.
Michael, I am thankful for your ministry and your voice. My wife and I kept our kids close…very close. I didn’t try to shelter them by any means but I did have an extremely strong conviction and inclination to keep them safe. From the first time that I held my daughter in my arms I took it as my one aim in life to keep her and her brother safe and secure and to raise them in the love of Jesus. I am older now and my children are grown. Looking back I can see a handful of things that I would do differently if I could re-do it. I have wondered over the years if maybe I might had been overdoing it in my vigilance. Knowing what I know now I can say categorically that I am extremely thankful to Jesus for what he did in impressing those things upon me. There needs to be an extreme house cleaning in the church and those who do these things and perpetuate them need to be held accountable. It is my firm conviction that anyone that crosses these lines should never, ever hold an office in a church nor be allowed to come within a country mile of a child.
Uncle Buck,
Thank you for the kind words and the stewardship of your family.
I know many young women who were victimized because their fathers allowed it by negligence and by refusing to listen when they were informed of things they should have stopped.
May your tribe increase…
As a father of 3 daughters, this video makes me want to hurt someone. If anyone ever touched one of my kids, I’d probably be spending my life in prison.
Hard to watch. I’m really angry. I’ve dealt with various expressions of abuse of power my entire time in the church, which has been my entire ——- life.
“That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh, no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough” ~Losing My Religion, R.E.M.