First of all, I want to be clear that I get what is being communicated over at No Longer Quivering. I understand the anger directed at spiritual abuse and the passion to rescue women and children who have been hidden targets of abuse in their homes and churches. I am uncomfortable with the sweeping generalizations about “quiverful” families (they’d hate me – I’ve got seven too many), but there’s definitely a stench in Denmark. I’m glad they are raising awareness, where it is warranted, of an insidious evil disguised as holiness and righteousness. It’s disgusting. It should make us all want to vomit. That’s the truth. That’s reality. I think it’s a mistake to try to do this without God.

Vyckie Garrison’s Escape from Duggerville story is stale news, but back when it broke, I was embroiled in my own escape story and couldn’t write up a response on my blog (check out this one though.) While I could relate to some of what Vyckie wrote and empathize with her angst, I was not in danger of rejecting the One who had rescued me. (Whenever I listen to Sara Bareilles’s song, Eden, I think of this article.)

I have to begin by making it clear that I’m not anti-Dugger (that poor family – but what do you expect when all that you stand for is commercialized for the entire world to see?) I’m just having fun playing off the title of Garrison’s article. So take a chill pill if you need one. And click away if that doesn’t work. I’m also not against what they stand for, if you mean Family and God. My “escape” (if you want to call it that – I’m still living in my home with all my kids, gerbils, cockatiels and dog, and I love it here) and Garrison’s escape are similar in some ways and different in others. I have a large family, and I support large families. I also support small families. I support the freedom for people to have whatever sized family they decide to have. That’s their business, not mine.

And the God part is what this article is about.

I don’t want to share specifics about my situation in public, but I do want to share why my faith in Christ wasn’t altered, but rather strengthened, through what I experienced in my marriage.

“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6: 63-69

First of all, I want to be clear that I get what is being communicated over at No Longer Quivering. I understand the anger directed at spiritual abuse and the passion to rescue women and children who have been hidden targets of abuse in their homes and churches. I am uncomfortable with the sweeping generalizations about “quiverful” families (they’d hate me – I’ve got seven too many), but there’s definitely a stench in Denmark. I’m glad they are raising awareness, where it is warranted, of an insidious evil disguised as holiness and righteousness. It’s disgusting. It should make us all want to vomit. That’s the truth. That’s reality.

I think it’s a mistake to try to do this without God.

He’s the Author of reality. The opposite of reality is insanity (I know, because I breathed the air of Insane World for a long time). So there’s God and Reality (Truth) and then there’s Satan and Insanity (lies). Anything done to right wrongs without including Reality is just exchanging one type of insanity for another.

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