Christian Truth Ministries

07/31/2026

The difference between what's "displayed" in the pulpit and witnessing or experiencing each one of these first hand is disturbing! But the most troubling thing is the congregation has no clue!

Not every pastor who hurts people looks “toxic.”
Some look faithful. Charismatic. Untouchable.

But when spiritual authority is used to control, silence questions, avoid accountability, and protect an institution over people, that isn’t leadership. It’s harm.

If this list feels familiar, you’re not rebellious. You’re discerning.
Healthy pastors welcome questions, accountability, and truth.

Toxic systems depend on silence.
Which one have you seen most?

07/16/2026

I've been saying this for years!

06/15/2026

When they "silence" you by telling you to "move on" because they know the truth you know is too close to ruining the "image" they've spent 30 years building.

And the saddest part is no one wants to know the truth because believing the facade is easier than discovering the truth that requires a response.

But God knows!

Not every pastor who hurts people looks “toxic.”
Some look faithful. Charismatic. Untouchable.

But when spiritual authority is used to control, silence questions, avoid accountability, and protect an institution over people, that isn’t leadership. It’s harm.

If this list feels familiar, you’re not rebellious. You’re discerning.

Healthy pastors welcome questions, accountability, and truth.
Toxic systems depend on silence.

Which one have you seen most?

06/14/2026

As a former youth pastor and leader of youth adults I can testify to the biggest danger of children's, and even youth, camps are false conversions. One of the most common things I dealt with was those who realized that the "decision" they made when they were younger wasn't genuine. They were typically emotional decisions or pressured guilt trips where there was no real conviction from God. They were usually "led" to repeat a "sinner's prayer" (which is found no where in the Bible) and "told" they were saved.

Even more dangerous is that there are those who never realize that their emotional decision when they were younger was not a genuine conversion.

This is why Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

These verses are among the most ignored verses in ministry today! Pastors and youth & children's leaders will be held accountable!

Can childhood Christian camps cause lasting religious trauma?

For me, the answer is complicated.

I remember the good things. The smell of the lodge. Sweet tea at lunch. Pine trees on the hill. Lake Agnes at sunset. Capture the flag with flour bombs. Kayak races. Friendships. First crushes. Memories that still make me smile.

But I also remember fear.

I remember sermons that were far too intense for children. I remember nervous system dysregulation being labeled as conviction. I remember kids being encouraged to question their salvation and walk forward to "get right with God." I remember counselors who were sincere but completely unequipped to help children process what they were hearing.

I remember the endless warnings about music. Drums were dangerous. Guitars were suspect. Christian contemporary music was treated as compromise. As a teenage musician, I became a project to fix rather than a kid to shepherd.

Looking back, I don't think many adults understood what was happening inside a child's nervous system.

When children are repeatedly exposed to graphic imagery, extreme threats of judgment, and pressure-filled altar calls, they often don't experience conviction. They experience an overwhelm that becomes trauma.

And this can leave scars.

Many of the kids I grew up with have since left Christianity altogether. Not because they hated God, but because the version of faith they were given felt more like fear, shame, and control than good news.

Read More Here: https://davidruybalid.substack.com/p/when-fear-feels-like-faith-mistaking?utm_source=publication-search

06/06/2026

This can't be said enough! I've seen and experienced these exact things! A "pastor" and/or church leaders make decisions based on what would prevent people from leaving or not attending the church. It was always about the numbers. Even if it meant silencing or dismissing someone who had been hurt. As long as the appearance of a successful church was accomplished, that was the goal! And it still is to this day! There's so much people don't know.

But God does!

What if "keeping the peace" is just a churchy way of saying, "don't talk about the abuse"?

One of the most common ways abuse is protected in church spaces is through the language of peace.

"Be the bigger person."
"Don't cause division."
"We need unity."
"Let's move forward."
"Live at peace with everyone."

But biblical peace was never about protecting those who cause harm.
The Hebrew idea of shalom is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of justice, safety, wholeness, and right relationships.

A church can be quiet and still be unsafe.
A church can appear unified while victims are suffering in silence.
A church can call it peace while survivors are carrying the cost.

When someone speaks up about abuse, manipulation, or misconduct, they are not the one disrupting peace.

The person causing harm disrupted peace long before the truth was ever spoken.
Peace without safety isn't peace.

How many times were you told to "keep the peace" when what was really being protected was a person, a leader, or an institution?

06/01/2026

"Sometimes they're celebrated"! When the "church", the congregation, the people, celebrates the man, the "pastor", the "leader" it's no longer the "Church". It's a cult! And if the "pastor" allows the celebration of him, his time, his service, he is not a "Pastor"! He is a cult leader. And he'll play the part very well! Teary-eyed thank yous, "God gets the glory" responses, "I don't want the recognition" while allowing the recognition!

And if the other "leaders" of the "church" celebrate or honor the man, that should be your first sign that he's a cult leader! If he led them properly they wouldn't even think about taking time to celebrate him! They would know that's not who he is and it would not be done!

It's sad to see in today's churches where a man is honored, celebrated, applauded, and recognized! God is no longer God and that man has taken God's place in the hearts, minds and lives of his congregation! It's hard to believe that this really does take place in the "church" building! And even during a "worship" service. But it does happen! And, don't be fooled, stamping "God gets the glory for it all" on it at the end is nothing more than mockery of God!

And as a former staff member I have personally either seen and/or experienced all 8 of these signs. But surprisingly, to this day that "pastor" is praised and celebrated by his congregation!

And the saddest part of it all is, the religious people will defend this man, this cult leader. And those of us who bring him to light will be labeled as the person in the wrong! But isn't that what the religious people did to Jesus? Yes they did!

That's fine! I'll be labeled wrong like Jesus was.

Not every abusive church leader looks abusive.

Sometimes they’re charismatic.
Sometimes they’re “anointed.”
Sometimes they’re celebrated.

Here are 8 Signs of an Abusive Church Leader

If you’ve ever felt confused, silenced, or spiritually small in a church space… this might put language to what you experienced.

Abuse in churches rarely starts with something obvious.
It starts with control disguised as “covering.”
Shame disguised as “conviction.”
Isolation disguised as “loyalty.”

And by the time you realize something is wrong, you’ve been taught that questioning it is rebellion against God.

If this resonates, you’re not crazy.
You’re not bitter.
And you’re not alone.

Healthy leadership produces freedom.
Abusive leadership produces fear.

Let’s stop spiritualizing harm.

11/11/2025

Such great memories of one of our youth group's favorite annual ministry outings! Unfortunately, the 2020 Covid shutdown and the restrictions that took place the next couple of years kept the group from going back through 2022. So this was the last year this particular group was able to go. But the 4 years we went were a true blessing to be a part of!

These were the things that made us proud of our youth group when we were blessed to be their leaders! Their heart and passion for others was always demonstrated throughout the year! They always went above and beyond to give back to to God! And I can't think of a better way to give back than to spend time with the amazing service men and women who gave their all for our freedoms! It was a special time!

May God bless all our veterans!!!

07/06/2025

The results are in!

The recent Church Attendance Survey got a tremendous response! It ran for two weeks on multiple social media platforms and had 170 respondents! After carefully assessing the survey, going over each response and calculating the numbers I'm finally able to share the results.

You'll be able to see the breakdown of ages, gender, those who are believers and non-believers, length of belief, denominations, those who were raised in church, current church attendance, how often church-goers attend, how long it's been since those who have stopped attending have attended and personal church experiences that many had.
I was able to break all the experiences into 5 groups.

1. Those who have not had any negative experiences attending church and are still attending regularly

2. Those who have had negative experiences with church leadership.

3. Those who have had negative experiences with church members.

(Some in these 2 groups have found better experiences at another church. Some have not)

4. Those who have had personal reasons that have affected their church attendance

5. And those who gave no answer

Among all this the one troubling statistic that should open eyes and should NOT be dismissed or ignored is the number of those who no longer attend church regularly! It definitely sends a clear message to our local churches, especially the church leadership, to take a serious look at the changes that need to be made!

And before this is dismissed with "that's not my church" please pray about it! And pray about what you and your leadership can do! Many times we can get so involved "inside the box" that we aren't able to take an honest look "outside of the box" and we fail to see those who have been marginalized by the church and it's leadership.

Please join me in prayer that the Church will have a great awakening and God will truly revive it! And that starts with each church, especially their leadership, taking responsibility for the condition it's in today!

02/24/2025

4 years ago today I sent out a last minute text to ask who could come out to help organize and stack wood for our senior citizens. These guys dropped their plans and showed up to get the job done!

This was the heart of the youth group back then. They cared so much for others they looked for opportunities to serve God through many different ministry projects.

From weekly in depth Bible studies, to fun a activities to many mission projects, this was the most well-rounded, active youth group Union Grove has ever seen!

And God was honored!