Cultish: Tactics of Manipulators w/ Michael Foster, Pt 1

[@ApologiaStudios]

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[@JovannaandFriends]

This speaks to survivors of domestic violence as well. Thank you for this, so much.

[@jessitabonita]

As an only child of a broken "family of origin" with an adulterous Roman Catholic mom and a lackadaisical-and-easily-angered dad who's now on fire for the LDS Mormon "church," I have to thank you for the correction on not to see my fellow church members as replacements for them. Though I know God's adopted us into His family of believers and will never leave me nor forsake me, it is wrong to expect or place a burden on a fellow believer to be that perfect "Ephesians 5 dad" or perfect "Titus 2 mom" to me. It's easy for me to hope and pray for my parents' salvation by God's grace to open their eyes to the biblical Jesus, and I have a grieving heart ready to forgive them on how their sins destroyed our family and hope for miraculous restoration, but find it really difficult to battle a feeling of brokenness or bitterness and find it easier to withdraw from the both of them... Since I'm states away anyway. 😞

[@Kelts2341]

I hear you. My family of origin is broken and most of them are still in the LDS Mormon “church” as well and it is extremely painful to try to have relationships with them sometimes, so I get that the temptation to bitterness can be strong. I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone, and to encourage you to share the gospel with them however & whenever you can. They are lost and need to be saved from their sins too. I try to keep a balanced view and not fall into last-days alarmism… and at the same it does seem like time may be very short.

[@morningstaraccord]

If I may suggest a book that was so instructive for me, in fact God recently used it to heal me from long held bitterness due to a family schism. Though the temptation to bitterness may still arise as a result of a fresh wound, I finally understand that if I take that pain to the Lord immediately, it does not have time to sprout into bitterness. It does not have time to supplant the comfort God has assured us is ours if we focus on Him. In my own life (not referring to you) I found that I had made pain an idol and identity and that I attended to that "clay statue" far more than I attended the Lord. By His grace, I repented. And healed. The family situation remains about the same, but I can now prayerfully navigate it in love and temperance which, I assure you, is not my normal way. From what you describe, it sounds like you navigate your situation in grace and love, and I am heartened by your patient strength. But anyway, it's a short book. The author is Jim Wilson, the father, or grandfather, of Pastor Doug Wilson - not sure which. "How to Be Free from Bitterness". It's on Kindle also. God bless you.

[@michaelking1091]

This should have more views for how great this content is and how many subs you have. I’m not going to lie, I recently relapsed into kratom and pot. I did a lot of the things you guys discussed to hide my addiction. I covet prayers that the grace of God may keep and so I don’t hurt anyone who’s invested time and love into me anymore

[@transparentzwindows]

That's wonderrul that you care that way. The hardest, (and I'd say greatest) maneuver is to confess truth at the expense of ones status. Check out my vid over at Chief of Sinners channel called The Problem With Christians, (pic of a character from Fargo). All the best!

[@transparentzwindows]

Here's a link, (not sure it'll stay but...) kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnrclKlmZ7Rmjs0

[@Anonymous-km5pj]

God bless you and yours, love from Canada

[@michaelking1091]

@@transparentzwindows this is very well produced and well thought out for someone with one subscriber. Now two

[@michaelking1091]

@@Anonymous-km5pj thank you very much for your kind words

[@transparentzwindows]

Glad Foster's around exploring the mechanics and speaking into these things. What I've realized is that the 9th commandment isn't taken seriously in our society or churches. Lying is a cheap energy, force multiplier, (like oil or weapon) that externalizes burdens onto our neighbors. If you're willing to lie about little things, you'll lie about bigger things. Quick confession, quick repentance, mindfulness, restraint etc are ALL way more important than actualizing yourself. Love Walter Martin. His book The New Cults was helpful in my leaving The Way International. Keep up the good work!

[@jasonyeleyReformedFaith]

I’m so looking forward to the episode on SDA. Thank you for bringing all this information to people.

[@BethyTank]

This was fantastic! The way you all are articulating these issues is just so helpful. Can’t wait for the next episode!!

[@hanichay1163]

Exactly right that people who have centered their lives and every decision they ever made in a cultish false church become very wary of any church when they finally get out. So sad and hard.

[@systemrevolt7309]

Fantastic episode, looking forward to the next one. The book “It’s good to be a man” should be owned by anyone in authority.

[@slatham8616]

My copy is going to be delivered in two days - can't wait!

[@sabrinagilmusic]

wow, that’s a whole library right there

[@matthewzmarzley]

This was good stuff Appreciated the discussion

[@mrstaleycl]

Great video/comments: one clarification Patriarchy doesn’t describe gender roles so it’s not a replacement for the concept of complementarianism. He seemed to say this tongue in cheek/joking a bit so I took it that way, but saying ‘Im patriarchal’ captures nicely the idea of what men are called to, but it doesn’t capture adequately what women are called to. So patriachy vs. complementarian isn’t a real position/argument. I’d say that ‘I’m a complementarian that believes men are called to be good patriarchs.’ It’s not just because it’s a nicer word. Patriarchy is captured in the idea of authority within complementarianism with respect to men. Unless he believes that women should not vote, work outside the home, be managers at work with male direct reports (a principal at a school with male teachers would be forbidden but maybe okay at an all girl school for example) then I guess you would call that a patriarchal position on the proper sense. In which case it would be better for him to not equivocate those positions and actually make that case.

[@aceblade]

19:06 - Michael Foster talks about getting emails from people where they "pour their heart out" and ask for help. He says with these instances "there's a lot of potential to let it go to your head and take advantage of people". Can anyone clarify what he's referring to in terms of taking advantage of these people? I can't relate.

[@mercys1412]

When people open their hearts, minds and lives to others, it can put them in a vulnerable position for others to use their weaknesses or that information against them. People are selfish and wicked so we need to be wise with whom we share and how much info we share. People can easily exploit us otherwise.

[@aceblade]

@@mercys1412 I understand the perspective of the one sharing. It’s Michael Foster’s perspective that eludes me.

[@thisisfoster]

@@aceblade Mercy S nailed what I was saying.

[@Pnutbutajelityme]

I grew up in the Shepherding movement “Christian cult”. I’m surprised how quickly it’s faded from Christian circles being recognized. Seems like Christian cults are on repeat a lot of the time.

[@Catholic77Viking]

Great Episode!

[@ashtonparker5581]

First off I will say that there was lots of great things discussed in the episode! Lots of great advice was given. However, I want to pushback a bit of the "Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast". I have seen a lot of criticism for "it's lack of giving answers on what we should do." The podcast itself never ever says it's trying to give advice. It says time and time again it is about "letting the people who were hurt tell their stories." It is meant to be sharing history and facts as it happened. I also don't get where all of claims of the podcast promoting the anti-patriarchy is coming from. It never once comes and out says anything about when men lead society it is bad. It does talk about how bad toxic masculinity is, which I believe is a counterfeit of the real thing that you guys often talk about. Maybe this is an area where we will disagree on with the podcast. But I respect you guys and your difference in opinion on it. The main thing is we point people to Christ and the freedom found in following him and not to Pastors and "their vision".

[@ambroseboscozeal4christ218]

appreciate Your Content🇺🇸

[@WasLostButNowAmFound]

Give me more!

[@redbull83910]

I wish I could articulate this as well as he does. Bad theology hurts people.

[@goodnewsfromgod7967]

Please pray for Malaysian churches. We need the Gospel preached, not anecdotes and man's propaganda.

[@eyes4truth264]

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need NOT that any MAN TEACH YOU you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is NO LIE , and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. EVERYONE NEED TO READ Ezekiel 34 .......10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I AM against the shepherds EARS 2 HEAR ANYONE????

[@BibleSamurai]

he called them whinny victims....smh

[@gregthomas82]

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

[@Spirits_And_Swords]

I have a question. If we are created in God's image, why do animals also have conscience? What does it mean to be created in God's image? Also do animals have morality, because I have seen some animals carrying other types of animals. Some animals carry emotions.

[@RightlyDividingToday]

👍

[@Spirits_And_Swords]

@@RightlyDividingToday ?

[@RightlyDividingToday]

@@Spirits_And_Swords Thumbs up to your most excellent question. Seems like no one else has responded, which saddens me. BTW did you see my detailed answer I posted to your question a couple of days ago? Somehow someone seems to have deleted it. Let me know if u had a chance to read it before it was deleted 🤔

[@Spirits_And_Swords]

@@RightlyDividingToday I left it to read it later, but when I returned it was gone.

[@RightlyDividingToday]

@@Spirits_And_Swords I wonder if I repost my previous reply, they will delete it. I'm not familiar with the mechanism for viewers to report a response to get it deleted, or if the channel moderators are the ones that do the deleting.

[@denisesmeesh]

I have listened to Apologia for awhile. But will no longer. Your guest is problematic. And you shouldn’t have to be told why but I will anyways. This man believes it’s “probably biblically ok to beat your wife since slave and wife are interchangeable in scripture”. It’s from his book he wrote. If you don’t see issue with this, I question your true intentions here.

[@conantheseptuagenarian3824]

when people talk about cults i think they generally mean someone who doesn't take seriously enough the newtonian worldview.

[@hannahmcmillan5712]

At minute 44...basically manipulators are beta. Jordan Peterson has made similar observations too. So interesting.

[@jolindaflanigan3729]

Do Mandela effect

[@jesuslovesyou1497]

Jesus love you, he died on the cross for you, accept him as your lord and savior he can change everything. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16) But you must repent too. From that time Jesus went about preaching and saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin, for the kingdom of heaven is near. (Matthew 4:17):

[@Bowiebonolennon1982]

So... do you like X-files?

[@elliesambrook5929]

Being a man dosnt = Iam a good family head. So many women prefer single freedom to dictatorship

[@mikezeke7041]

I didn’t realize Foster was crec 😄

[@mickjones6237]

Real men have beards

[@christianuniversalist]

The irony of Calvinists talking about the dangers of cults. LOL.

[@kookpatrol7490]

CLIFF HANGER

[@basedghostcoasttocoast]

Beards aren't real 😂