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Jim McCrory

Breaking Free, Staying Free

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Tuesday, 15 July 2025, 16:28

Breaking Free, Staying Free

It’s a familiar journey for many. You finally walk away from a high-control religion or a rigid belief system, breathing in the air of freedom—only to find yourself tangled up in something strikingly similar. Different name, same grip. That space left behind, once governed by rules and certainty, can feel so vast and disorienting that you reach for something—anything—to fill it. And often, that something becomes another leader, another group, another cause.

The truth is, it’s not just about identity. It’s about our deep human need for connection, and sometimes, the comfort of letting someone else decide what’s right.

But there’s a darker side to some of these communities. They wear the cloak of godliness, speak of agape—the highest form of love—but behind the warm smiles and scriptural affirmations, their mission is clear: recruitment, numbers, allegiance. Real care gets lost beneath performance. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. People lured in by promises of healing and fellowship, only to become pawns in someone else's spiritual campaign.

I began my own faith journey at 23—not searching for a system or a new set of rules, but for something real. I was done with shallow friendships and tired answers. I turned to God, not through human voices, but through scripture. What I found wasn’t control, but comfort—not the heavy hand of expectation, but the steady heart of grace.

The Bible warns us about misplaced reliance. The Israelites wanted a king, someone tangible to follow (1 Samuel 8:4–9). Despite God’s caution, they begged for human leadership—and suffered the consequences. It’s a cautionary tale that echoes today: even well-meaning leaders will falter when we place our ultimate trust in them.

Leadership itself isn’t wrong; it can be a gift. But when it becomes a substitute for God—when agendas take precedence over love—we slip into a cycle of spiritual disappointment. Jesus saw this too. In Matthew 23, He denounced the Pharisees for their performative righteousness. Their love was transactional, their unity conditional. I’ve felt that shift—the cold shoulder when you stop conforming, the fading warmth when you start asking questions.

That’s not agape. That’s not the love of Christ.

God’s love doesn’t hinge on obedience to human systems. It’s personal, liberating, unconditional. It’s the love that meets us where we are, not where someone thinks we should be. Psalm 118:8–9 reminds us, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” That speaks straight to the heart of it.

We’re all looking for belonging. But true belonging doesn’t come from becoming someone else’s project—it comes from knowing that we’re loved simply because we exist. Jesus didn’t come to form empires or hierarchies; He came to free us. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). That’s the promise. Not membership, not compliance—freedom.

So for those standing at the edge, unsure of what comes next, my encouragement is simple: don’t rush to replace one system with another. Don’t fall for love that’s really just control in disguise. Turn to God. Let His Word guide you. Proverbs 3:5–6 invites us to trust Him with everything—He’ll direct our paths with gentleness and truth.

Christian freedom doesn’t come from finding the perfect group. It comes from walking daily with the One who knows you fully and loves you deeply. No strings. No performance. Just grace.

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