Here we see the emptiness of carnal knowledge on full display. Captain Cassidy is also a victim of false Christianity. She even married a pastor. Now she spends her days writing semi-snarky articles about how much there isn't a real God. Science does not pierce any truths of the bible. Any micro-scientific issues are in agreement with the bible and any macro ones are merely theories from men who do not want there to be a God. Perhaps the saddest statement is "lots of things help people change their lives, not just one version of God." To Cassidy and probably Sampson, Christianity was about "changing your life." They believe this because they were taught this in the purpose driven paradigm. This is what happens when you change the name of the unsaved to the unchurched. It has a real lasting damage. If I want to change my life I can get a hundred self-help books but there is only one Savior and Captain Cassidy and Marty Sampson never met Him. That beloved is a tragedy. All she is left with is salad bar theology. She likes the love and forgiveness but not so much the rules.
"In a way, he's quite right. Christians rarely talk about all the ways that their religion fails to live up to its various claims and promises (and yes, threats). I mean, they talk. Really, all they do is freakin' talk, at least when they're not trying to rip people's rights and liberties away. They just don't talk about anything real or useful to folks with big questions. Such folks won't settle for words, words, words. A long time ago, I noticed Christians' affection for a weird sort of defanged, neutralized, tamed form of doubt. Most of today's apologetics dreck runs along these lines. These works bash valid questions around with the crude tools available in the Christian toolbox, smear any people who don't buy into the excuses on offer, copiously threaten their consumers with Hell, and then declare victory. Christian leaders offer workshops, sermons, and Bible studies claiming to dispel their warped version of defanged doubt. Then, they announce they've defeated doubt with it. Why, any Christian who needs to resolve their doubts can check out these resolutions for doubt, and then they won't doubt anymore! And if Christians ever run into someone expressing doubt, all they must do shove a book or video at the doubter, and presto! They'll be convinced! Hooray Team Jesus!" -- Captain Cassidy
The first point speaks to the hyper-involvement in this world by the false church through the NAR seven mountain mandate. You can turn a blind eye to what Cassidy is saying here but this is how the church is viewed by those int the world. That they are just trying to take away people's rights and liberties. Save your pre-canned talking points because they do not line up with scripture and the role of the church. The second area touched on here is the sense of competition the church promulgates with the world. I remember watching Ray Comfort once challenge and atheist to a debate saying he would not use the bible and once they got into it, the scriptures came out. The Christian side looked very untrustworthy and petty. First of all, saying the bible is our defense is perfectly acceptable but if you are going to claim to not use it then don't use it! Cassidy is right that churchianity has boiled all problems down to a new video series. I remember the first men's group I ever attended. The series we were starting that week was on holiness, taught to us by a 70-year-old man. That is just tone deaf.
"I am becoming more and more convinced that the only way for someone to remain Christian is to avoid caring what reality has to say about it. And millions upon millions of decent-hearted Christians do exactly that. They don't douse themselves in olive oil and pray for magical healing; instead, they go to the doctor. Nor do they avoid purchasing insurance rather than trusting angels to keep them out of car accidents--or for their god to Rapture them away before death. They marry for love and compatibility rather than asking imaginary friends in the sky for advice. They wouldn't dream of entrusting their children's upbringing to authoritarian asshats with child-abuse fetishes. Even if they believe that the Bible has anything authoritative to say about anything, they live solidly in the real world. These Christians don't care what the Bible says about stoning people to death, slavery, genocide, and all that. The version of Jesus they carry around in their heads doesn't look like the Bible's version, but perhaps they love him all the more because of it." -- Captain Cassidy
About half-way through this piece Captain Cassidy seemed to have forgotten she was writing about Marty Sampson. Her pain came to the forefront and it is just as important as Marty's. We are supposed to be salt and light to a dying world. How sad is it that folks who spend any prolonged time within our walls can come out so jaded. To not understand that God provided doctors and medical knowledge. To openly mock God as an imaginary friend. She does however point out the rank hypocrisy found in the apostate church today. That the people inside the walls live solidly in the real world regardless of what the bible says. Cassidy paints a brutal picture of how the church is viewed from the world's perspective and imagine if she is just 10% correct. How badly we have missed the mark beloved because surely it is far more than 10%. Cassidy and Harris and Sampson all left Christianity and thought nothing about taking a swipe at Jesus on the way out. I have seen the reaction of the complex as these matters have taken their course. The Larry Tomczak and Michael Brown's of the world do not understand that Sampson is nothing more than the latest victim. As was Harris and Gungor. A victim of the apostate church they lead.
Let us not lose sight of the fact that Marty Sampson called Hillsong home. Hillsong is one of the vilest false teaching centers on the planet. Is it any wonder there are not Marty Sampsons leaving there every day feeling just as poorly? The bible says that narrow is the way to life and few are those who find it. It says that heaven rejoices when only one sinner repents. It says many will stand before Christ on the Day of Judgment and say, "Lord Lord, did we not perform mighty miracles in your name?" And perhaps bringing a smile to the visages of Captain Cassidy and Marty Sampson, Jesus will say away from me, for I never knew you. Those smiles will quickly fade when they realize they too must stand before Him to give account. Utterly betrayed by those who claimed they were the church and those who were seemingly too powerless to stop it.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- August 13, 2019
