Berean Holiness

Would you be interested in working for Berean Holiness? We’re hiring!

• Job Title: Advancement Coordinator
• Part time, 20 hrs a week
• Hybrid position (remote with some travel)

Our mission is to support people through the process of leaving hyper fundamentalism/cult-like churches and rebuilding their faith. It’s our goal to provide our content and resources at no cost to those we serve—that’s why an Advancement Coordinator is so important.

This role will include event coordination, fundraising, donor development, nonprofit administration, database management, and public speaking.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong administrative skills
• Experience in nonprofits/fundraising
• Share our nonprofit’s values and mission
• Ability to commute to Joplin, MO for meetings

For more information check out: bereanholiness.com/jobs/

If you share our passion to support believers leaving cultish groups and you have strong interpersonal and administration skills, please apply today!

If you know someone who may be interested, thank you for passing this information along.

2 months ago | [YT] | 10

Berean Holiness

“I viewed God as un-pleasable. Despite my constant striving to do what I thought pleased Him, it was never enough. There was always another hoop to jump through, another level to try to attain, and more check boxes to try to mark. It was exhausting at best and not attainable. I couldn't believe that a God that loves me so much and wants a relationship with me would make it so hard to earn my salvation and stay in right standing with Him.”

—Danyelle

•••

I viewed God as someone who was just waiting for me to screw up so he could bring the big hammer of discipline down on me. I hated the extra-biblical requirements but thought that since they were necessary to get to heaven it must just be a ‘me’ problem. After spending 48 years trying to be ‘good enough’ for God I've only recently come to a better understanding of my standing as a child of God.”

—Kayle

•••

“I remember feeling like I could never be good enough in the sight of God. I always wondered how anyone could be prayed up enough to make it to heaven. Since leaving, I’ve learned about God’s grace and seeking Jesus out of love, not only to go to heaven”

—Anonymous

•••

“Hyper-fundamentalism convinced me that ‘holy’ dressing distinguished me as a superior believer. Further, I was convinced that following a certain person's teachings placed me among the truest Christians on earth -- ‘the Bride’ eligible for the Rapture (all other ‘nominal’ Christians were ‘cannon fodder’). I've always thought that freedom in Christ is supposed to feel free, but I felt so bound by the supposedly Scriptural standards I was submitting to. In His mercy, God revealed to me that salvation comes by faith in Jesus alone. I now realize that what we wear does not make or break our walk with God. Hyper-fundamentalism is a Jesus-plus gospel, largely based on external works. That is not the true Gospel of the Bible.”

—Jaydee

•••

We’re so grateful for everyone who took time to share how hyper fundamentalism impacted your understanding of the gospel! Your experiences are informing our content, including the upcoming debate on this topic (2/10/25). If you missed our annual survey but would still like to answer this question for us prior to the debate, you can do so via the form in the comments. Audience questions for the debaters are also still being accepted.

2 months ago | [YT] | 9

Berean Holiness

In churches where it’s expected that spiritually mature people will follow especially strict “Holiness standards,” there will always be spiritually immature people who start following those exact same, extra-strict outward standards, thinking they’ve found a shortcut to maturity.

It’s especially unfortunate when they’re promoted into church ministry as if this is true, while seasoned Christians of the church—ones who walk in integrity and meet the biblical standards for leadership (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)—are passed over for differences as insignificant as wearing a wedding ring.

These backwards priorities make it such that it’s just a matter of time until someone in leadership—someone who had no business being there in the first place—does something untoward, putting the entire church at risk of a scandal or split.

2 months ago | [YT] | 15

Berean Holiness

To provide a fair case against pants, I will quote a full article from the Holiness Handbook. I will quote it entirely in red with my responses in black. This is a fairly in-depth argument and it ends with the thinly veiled threat that if you disagree with the author of the Holiness Handbook, you have a significant likelihood of going to hell. That represents a pretty high level of confidence on the part of the author that his view is unassailable, so we’ll see if his argument stands up to a biblical cross-examination…

bereanholiness.com/can-women-wear-pants/

2 months ago | [YT] | 8

Berean Holiness

“I just want to make it…”

“Pray for me that I’ll make it…”

“I hope I make it…”

Anxious saints.

May God speak peace to the anxious saint, the one hoping she’s lived holy enough, unsure what holiness is.

She’s lived long enough to see “the standard” change time and time again, and she’s followed them all—wearing pantyhose and giving up high heels, wearing her hair up and giving up maxi skirts, wearing long sleeves and giving up wedding rings.

And every time standards were added, she heard,

“Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?”

“You wouldn’t want to miss heaven over that, would you?”

And so she kept quiet and complied.

And every time standards were taken away, she heard, well, nothing. Because we don’t acknowledge that.

She wonders now, did her children leave faith because she was too hard on them? Or did they leave faith because she wasn’t strict enough? Maybe it’s her fault for letting them go bowling when the evangelist said it was worldly. But, then again, doesn’t he go bowling now?

It’s hard to know anything for sure.

She always said, “I’d rather make heaven by a mile than miss it by an inch,” but just how to make that mile is hard to say anymore.

She wonders if she should’ve kept wearing her hair up. She wonders if she messed up by wearing maxi skirts. Was it compromise? No one even knows those standards these days.

“Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

What is holiness? How much holiness? Was staying away from makeup and amusement parks enough?

She regrets watching TV while alone in the hospital. Is she spotted by the world now? But why would God be upset by the gospel station?

Confusion.
Doubt.
Unanswered questions.
Fear.

“Pray for me that I’ll make it…”

“I hope I’ll make it…”

God have mercy on the anxious saints.

Comfort them, and let them find peace. Not in their holiness, but in yours.

•••

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1–2)

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace… For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Ephesians 2:13–14, 18)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

2 months ago | [YT] | 15

Berean Holiness

If you believe that, after you die, your life will be evaluated in judgment to see if you’ve lived holy enough to make heaven, you don’t understand the gospel.

Romans 1:16–6:23; Galatians 1:6–5:25

2 months ago | [YT] | 14

Berean Holiness

The more we discuss imputation of Christ’s righteousness, the more people tell us they’ve never heard of the concept and are struggling to grasp it. We hope this sermon will help! Studying Romans 3:1–6:23 is also highly recommended.

https://youtu.be/U4z1Y2cFTXo

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Berean Holiness

I have never heard a sermon that undermines the righteousness of Christ imputed to us more than the sermon I listened to this afternoon.

Preached in 1991 by Rev. Bennie Sutherland, it’s been preserved and shared in the Holiness movement that Nathan and I (Natalie) grew up in for over 30 years. (In fact, I remember, as a teenager, listening to these 1990s sermons on my MP3 player while walking my dog.)

The subject is the parable of the wedding garment, Matthew 22:1–14.

First, as a refresher of the traditional interpretation of this parable, here is a simple summary from Got Questions:

•••

“The matter of the wedding garment is instructive. It would be a gross insult to the king to refuse to wear the garment provided to the guests. The man who was caught wearing his old clothing learned what an offense it was as he was removed from the celebration. This was Jesus’ way of teaching the inadequacy of self-righteousness. From the very beginning, God has provided a “covering” for our sin. To insist on covering ourselves is to be clad in ‘filthy rags’ (Isaiah 64:6)…

“In the book of Revelation, we see those in heaven wearing ‘white robes’ (Revelation 7:9), and we learn that the whiteness of the robes is due to their being washed in the blood of the Lamb (verse 14). We trust in God’s righteousness, not our own (Philippians 3:9).

“Just as the king provided wedding garments for his guests, God provides salvation for mankind. Our wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ, and unless we have it, we will miss the wedding feast. When the religions of the world are stripped down to their basic tenets, we either find man working his way toward God, or we find the cross of Christ. The cross is the only way to salvation (John 14:6).”

—Got Questions, “What is the meaning of the Parable of the Wedding Feast?”

•••

Now in sharp contrast, here is the Holiness Pentecostal interpretation of this parable:

“But don’t forget, my friend, before you leave earth, you had better be in possession of a wedding garment. In Revelation chapter 19, it said it was granted to her, for the fine linen, white, was the righteousness of the saints. This is one wedding garment, my friend, that you make up while you are on earth. God has gave you ample time, ample time, to come up with a wedding garment. Year after year we have waited for His coming. We’re nearer now to the coming of the Lord than we’ve ever been. Have you a wedding garment, my friend?…

“Do you have a wedding garment? Do you know where you’re going? Do you know what it’s going to take to get there? Do you know the Lord’s coming after His Church? But wait just a minute, before you start off to the journey towards heaven, take one last look at your life, my friend, is your life worthy of it being called a wedding garment?…

“It may take us a while to make it. The better it is, the longer it’s going to take. When you just come and get saved, you may have an outline of a wedding garment, but you don’t have a wedding garment, sir. You don’t have a wedding garment, ma’am. What you’ve got is a mere sketch of what you’ve got to have…

“You know God declares to us, it is Holiness or hell. There’s no arguing with it. If we believed it less we could go out and join these liberal churches, and not have to live so strenuous. But we’ve heard the message and we know, it’s Holiness or hell! You gotta be right to make it! You gotta be white to make it! You just can’t play around and make it!…

“I’m a’tellin’ you the Lord’s going to come and somebody’s going to be sorry! Somebody is going to be sorry. Sorry they didn’t take time to make their wedding garment. Sorry they didn’t take time to do right. Sorry they didn’t take time to fix it.

“Outside the gates are dogs, viscous dogs, bite and gnaw and gnash with their teeth. Where, oh pilgrim, is your garment? Is it well with your soul? Have you checked it out lately? Are you close to having it done? Only perfect will pass. Only perfect will pass… When He looks at you in that position will He say, ‘Take him away?’ If He was to come tonight and look over this corner you would be absolutely speechless if He said, ‘Take him away’ ‘Me, Lord? I’ve been saved 27 years. Me, Lord?’”

—Rev. Bennie Sutherland, 1991

•••

Make your wedding garment.

Come up with your wedding garment.

You only have a sketch of it at salvation.

Is your life worthy of being your wedding garment?

Only perfect will pass.

With preaching like this, it’s no wonder people leaving hyper fundamentalism say they never understood the gospel…

#AnotherGospel

4 months ago | [YT] | 17

Berean Holiness

We don’t work for our holiness.
We work from His holiness.

We will never do enough to earn a right standing before God; our good works will never make us holy.

We have a right standing with God only because Jesus Christ is our Savior. Upon salvation, Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto us. We are clothed in His holiness. It’s all through Him, not of our own merit. (Romans 3:19–31, 2 Timothy 1:8–10, Ephesians 2:1–22)

By grace.
Through faith.
In Christ alone.

And now, as redeemed children of God, we are no longer slaves to sin! Neither do we bear the impossible burden of being perfect in and of ourselves and our own efforts. (Romans 6:1–23; 7:7–25)

The Spirit of God is in us, changing us, transforming us, molding us into Christ’s image. We abide in Him and progressively become more and more like Him. As we mature and grow in Christ, we do the good works He has called us to. (Titus 3:3–8, Ephesians 2:10)

Because of our relationship with Christ, because of His holiness working through us, we bear the fruit of righteousness that, when dead in our sin, we never could’ve produced on our own. (John 15:1–17)

We don’t work for our holiness.
We work from His holiness.

#DisentanglingFaith
#BiblicalHoliness

4 months ago | [YT] | 20

Berean Holiness

Today was expected to be a very stressful day, but because of you, it’s a day to celebrate.

It’s the last day of our year-end fundraiser, one that’s crucial to our plans for 2025, especially the next big step of opening a new position. We needed to raise over $20,000 (seemingly impossible). For comparison, our goal in 2023 was $1,500.

Fundraising/development is primarily my responsibility, and coincidentally, my son was due the day this fundraiser started (10/31/24). As all parents of newborns and postpartum moms would know, that’s not ideal timing.

By today, 12/31/24, I expected to be very stressed, since Berean Holiness would be way behind on fundraising goals.

But that’s not the case at all.

Since 10/31/24, $13,162.14 has been donated by ~100 of you; almost half being new donors. Your gifts were then doubled and tripled maxing out $12,250 of matching gifts. After that, an additional $5,000 gift was received.

All totaled, $30,412.14 was given to Berean Holiness in just 2 months, all towards the goal of building a bridge out of hyper fundamentalism and into the gospel of grace. It’s not the number in and of itself that amazes me, it’s what it represents:

~100 people who are tired of seeing cultish behavior and false teachings harm the Body of Christ

~100 people who care enough to come together and do something, to give sacrificially

~100 people who trust Berean Holiness to make an impact in this underserved need, who are with us in this mission

That’s incredible. Your partnership is appreciated by myself, our team, and board, more than you’ll ever know.

Most of all, we’re grateful to God. He’s the one who’s ultimately behind these efforts. He is using His body, you and I, to bring light into the darkness. I am privileged to get to be part of this trailblazing work, and it’s an honor to get to do it with you. Thank you so much for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers as we embark on 2025. I’m excited to see what God has in store for us!

—Natalie

#DisentanglingFaith
donorbox.org/bereanholiness

4 months ago | [YT] | 16