Christians who believe the Bible do actually believe in heaven, hell, and eternal salvation. We do oppose homosexual activity and transgender ideology—not because we hate anyone, but because the Bible says so. We distrust public schools because they’ve started embracing ideas that oppose biblical morality. None of this makes Christianity a cult, much less a threat of “psychological harm.”

Does the gospel of Jesus Christ pose a serious risk of “psychological harm,” such that a court must protect an 11-year-old girl from going to a church that preaches directly from the Bible?

Strange as it may seem, a federal judge in Maine made a ruling suggesting as much in December 2024.

The case revolves around the custody of Ava (now 12), the daughter of Emily Bickford and Matthew Bradeen, who had never married. Bickford later started attending Calvary Chapel in Portland. Bradeen objects to his daughter joining her.

Calvary Chapel, you see, teaches the Bible “verse by verse, chapter by chapter.” The pastor actually believes in God, Jesus, heaven, and hell, and takes salvation seriously. Oh, horrors!

As Maine District Court Judge Jennifer Nofsinger notes, Bradeen was horrified to discover that Ava heard sermons “about warfare, fallen angels, and eternal suffering.” The church—imagine this—“teaches that people can only be saved by meeting God on God’s terms.” (Tellingly, the order actually lowercases the name of God throughout.)

It’s as though Bradeen and Nofsinger had discovered Christianity for the very first time—and didn’t like what they saw.

But the church wasn’t out to lunch during this process. When the pastor learned about the custody dispute, he prayed about it in Ava’s presence, asking God to protect her from the schemes of the “enemy.” The judge interpreted this as demonizing Ava’s father and therefore threatening psychological harm.

While Nofsinger acknowledged that “there is nothing to suggest that [Bickford] intends to harm Ava or is intentionally trying to place her at risk,” she nevertheless concluded that “there is a compelling state interest in protecting Ava from immediate and substantial psychological harm.”

The judge gave Ava’s father responsibility over “whether Ava attends any services, gatherings, or events associated with Calvary Chapel”; whether she can see the church’s material; and whether she associates—or even communicates—with any of the church’s members other than Ava’s own mother.

Judicial Overreach

It’s not your imagination: This ruling is extreme. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel and Bickford’s attorney, told The Daily Signal that Bickford “is considered a fit parent,” and she faces “no allegations of abuse or neglect.”

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