If you've been burned by the church, this episode is for you.
Church hurt isn't rare, it isn't new, and it isn't evidence that something is uniquely broken in you. From prophetic words that never came to pass, to pastors who weaponized loyalty language, to leadership boards that protected predators instead of people, church hurt and spiritual abuse happen. Many believers are left sitting on the edges of the body of Christ, quietly debating whether walking back through those doors is even worth it.
What makes this moment different is that people are no longer just recognizing these patterns at the national level. They're seeing them in their own local churches: the same cover-ups, the same gaslighting, the same spiritual abuse dressed up in theological language. And the question they're asking isn't just "what went wrong?" It's "how do I ever trust again?"
In this episode, Joshua Lewis gives you the theological grounding to stop blaming yourself, the cultural and structural markers to help you spot a healthy church before you're two years deep in another painful situation, and the practical steps to walk back in - slowly, wisely, and without getting burned again.
If you or someone you love is theologically homeless right now or wondering how to find a healthy church, this one is worth your full attention.
0:00 – Introduction
0:15 – Church Hurt Narrative
5:24 – Disillusionment Defined
6:13 – Leadership Failures Normalized
10:12 – Enemy's Isolation Tactic
12:14 – Head vs. Heart Tension
13:27 – Nine Marks Overview
20:09 – Cultural Markers (Krueger)
27:28 – Finding a Healthy Church
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
📖Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever https://a.co/d/01cz5F9t
📖Bully Pulpit by Michael Kruger https://a.co/d/081hfOmw
🌐9Marks Ministry: www.9marks.org
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