I’ve
watched that video dozens and dozens of times, making sure I got Ryan’s quotes
right. To hear my pastor blaspheme
the Lord so readily, to see his face contort in disgust when he mentioned the
name of God, unable to even form words…something is so very wrong with that.
Online, I
read comment after comment on that video, at least two from women who described
themselves as witches, one asking if she could possibly feel comfortable at
Eastlake. I read, broken, as church staff assured her that they weren't so
concerned with "belief" as they were in an "embodied
life". (Even after reading more about this phrase, I still can't wrap my
mind around its meaning.) I read comments from people who currently attend
Eastlake, saying they lean towards new age spirituality and have fit right in
there...
I'd like to say here that I do believe all people should be welcome in God’s
house. We were all created in God’s image, and then He gave us free will to
accept or reject Him. I don't think humans rejecting God makes them any less loved
by Him. He still made them, and He still longs for relationship with them, to
adopt them back into His family as His children through the holy sacrifice of
Jesus Christ. Only then do we become Children of God and rightful heirs to His
kingdom. It’s why He gives us so many chances to receive
His gift.
But while I
believe all people should be welcome in His house, I do not think all people
should feel comfortable there. One cannot be a witch and also serve
Jesus Christ. Witches (and anyone else who worship other gods) should be
welcomed into God's house with open arms by His people, and then encouraged to
seek Him through His Word and the Holy Spirit so that He can do the healing and
changing of their hearts. Eastlake used to be a place "to find and follow Jesus", but now staff members say that even if people have no idea who Jesus is, but they love others more, then Eastlake's mission is successful.
Honestly, I
am angry often, these days. Learning things like this, and watching as my former church continues to lead people astray is overwhelming. To keep from sinking into bitterness, I have to remind myself over and over that Ryan is not the enemy. Eastlake
is not the enemy. When I picture the faces of the beautiful people there that I
care for, who are unknowingly carrying out this mission of darkness
while calling it love, it feels unthinkable. But the Bible tells us that our
battle is not against other people. We are the instruments that good and evil spirits use to help carry out each of their missions. Two very different missions.
Like me, you may be asking yourself, how in the heck did this happen? At one time, Eastlake was a
thriving church of God, bringing in hundreds of new people a week, lowering the
shame level so all would feel comfortable coming to the feet of Jesus. Maybe it
was immaturity, maybe it was arrogance – maybe both – that made the leadership
stop feeling the need to ask God for protection. Somehow, as church leaders, they
didn’t anticipate
that they’d be targeted by the enemy, when they were initially doing so much
good for God. And it left them and their entire church – my family included –
susceptible to attack from Satan. And attack he has.
I've read
Scripture after Scripture, in what Eastlake now teaches is little more than an ancient library,
that describes in terrifying detail the things I see going on right now at the church
I called home.
At Eastlake, Jesus is no longer the point. They prefer the term "Ultimate Reality," "Universe," and "Eternal Source" (amongst other New Age terms) when referring to God, instead of "God" or "The Father", like Jesus taught us to do.
Now the man who many consider to be their Christian pastor is telling people that there is no hell and to do what feels right while on Earth, because what we do doesn’t matter beyond this world.
On Instagram, I’ve seen him refer to his wife as a witch. Best case scenario is he’s joking, but any leader who follows God would know this is not a joking matter and is incredibly inappropriate. So, knowing this, my options are to a) conclude he is no longer a man of God or b) believe him. Neither of these is a healthy choice when talking about your Christ-following pastor.
His catchy phrase “Life is a gift, and love is the point” has just enough truth to pass as such, but when you remove the Giver of the gift of life, and start worshipping His gift instead, that’s a big problem.
Now the man who many consider to be their Christian pastor is telling people that there is no hell and to do what feels right while on Earth, because what we do doesn’t matter beyond this world.
On Instagram, I’ve seen him refer to his wife as a witch. Best case scenario is he’s joking, but any leader who follows God would know this is not a joking matter and is incredibly inappropriate. So, knowing this, my options are to a) conclude he is no longer a man of God or b) believe him. Neither of these is a healthy choice when talking about your Christ-following pastor.
His catchy phrase “Life is a gift, and love is the point” has just enough truth to pass as such, but when you remove the Giver of the gift of life, and start worshipping His gift instead, that’s a big problem.
In his blog he repeatedly disrespects Almighty God by refusing to use His name,
or calling him "god", adding a sarcastic nickname or blaming the
world's atrocities on the "SuperBeing God" (his words). In his flowery prose he weaves
confusing messages that quote the occasional Scripture while at the same time defaming God. He
shares his experiences of meditation, of seeing an elk spirit guide who supposedly gives
him peace. He practices Hinduism through yoga, which is itself a deeply dark, religious practice and has proven time and again to open people up to demonic spirits. (That might make you angry...but please research this topic further.) This is no longer a pastor who leans into and loves the Lord, yet he
himself claims to be love, that Love is his religion.
The Bible
says God. Is. Love. "Anyone who does not love God does not know God,
because God is love."
With this pastor’s far-reaching influence, it’s maddening to watch him being celebrated while he's dragging
people along on his warped and very personal spiritual journey, claiming all the while to be in search of the truth. According
to the Word of God, the Creator, and true source of love...there is only one
Truth. But my former pastor has chosen to believe that it’s a lie, and yet still touts his community as Christian. Or not. It doesn't matter, because he doesn't know or care.
Numerous friends who've left Eastlake have recently had sit-downs with different staff members. Through these conversations, I've learned that some staff have admitted to believing that Jesus is "a" way to God, but not "the Way". They preach about religious freedom, claiming there are many paths to God. Yet John 14:6 tells us, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
When one staffer was asked why the church still claims to be Christian despite rejecting the essential teachings of Jesus, the response was, “So what, who cares?” and that Christianity needs to change. Other answers included Eastlake not being a Bible-believing church, and that belief is just not important (and these are the least scary answers).
When one staffer was asked why the church still claims to be Christian despite rejecting the essential teachings of Jesus, the response was, “So what, who cares?” and that Christianity needs to change. Other answers included Eastlake not being a Bible-believing church, and that belief is just not important (and these are the least scary answers).
I've heard of staff members engaging in witchcraft by using crystals and sacred stones. I have seen Instagram accounts of mediums
who are followed by church staff and spouses.
During my research for this post, I've watched endless videos on the occult and experiences with different sects of spirituality that lead far from God. I was especially moved by the testimony of a young man who was deeply involved in the New Age movement for years, describing the things he was doing, many of which have been introduced at Eastlake as new, enlightened ways to experience truth. I also watched this same guy renounce the New Age as false, and explain how that entire spiritual movement is rooted in evil.
To say this has all been incredibly painful is an understatement.
I need a
breather, and I imagine you do, too.
Last post (for now) tomorrow…
Xoxo.
