Re: Who else has been hurt by Radiant Life Church in Sacramento?
Date: August 14, 2008 06:35AM
I don't plan on slandering anyone.... that is why I am stating my real name. My family went to Radiant Life Church, Sacramento for 3 years. I was "discipled", "prayer counseled", I served in children’s church, and I also helped lead a small group called "242" at my house. I have never had direct contact with Tony Cunningham so I cannot give any statements on that subject. ( although I have my opinions on his sermons )
What I can say is that I love the Lord with all my heart!!! I am so grateful for His divine direction and I can honestly say that if you truly ask God for His Wisdom, He is faithful and will give it you.
While attending the above mentioned church activities and "on fire" (I really was hungry and thirsty for the Lord) I opened my Bible and the scriptures literally came to life for me. I was growing in prophetics, God was healing me from my past and giving me a new life. I was growing in discernment and I got to witness supernatural things happen in front of my eyes. I had NO PLANS of ever leaving Radiant Life! I loved this church like I loved The Lord Jesus.
While digging through the Word and going over my notes from discipleship one day, God began to reveal to me that I wasn't being taught the truth. Again and again and again I would find a scripture in the Bible that directly proved the teaching to be wrong.
However... being in the state of mind I was in, I though I MUST be wrong. I mean, the whole 3 years I was at RLC I was taught that I truly don't know anything about God and I can't trust my own relationship with God so I have to ask those who are in authority over me for direction. So I brought this up at my next discipleship meeting. I asked my discipler to please pray for me because I don't know what is going on. I wanted to believe so badly what I was being taught! I told her to just tell me I was wrong and I will totally believe her and trust the Lord that is in her. So, that's exactly what I did.
I went months and months of struggling in my spirit, telling no one but my husband. I felt like a total failure. The Bible that spoke to my very core was still speaking to me, but it wasn't matching up with the teachings from my VERY BEST FRIENDS.
I was told that even if God tells me to do something, I need to do what my human authority (pastors, discipler, and mature Christians) tell me to do and God will still bless me. I will still be in obedience if I disobey Him because I will be obeying the "authority" God has placed over me. If I don't obey my human authority then I am walking in disobedience, even if it is contrary to the Word of God.
I believed this to be divine teaching. I believed this with all of my heart. I tried my hardest NOT to bring up things that I was struggling with to ANYONE! I knew they would think I was disobedient. I was trying soooo hard not to be disobedient.
While out to dinner with just my discipler the subject came up one more time. I mentioned some of things that I was struggling with and I asked if they were true. I was rebuked by her. She said, "I would never question Pastor Tony like this. How dare you question me? You don't know how to submit. You do not submit to my authority, so I can no longer disciple you."
I tried to continue to go to RLC after this, but was truly disconnected from ALL of my friends. I was no longer on the "inside". I was an outsider. NO ONE ever reached out to me or contacted me. It was like I was put on a “black list”.
Here are some things that I have witnessed and done myself:
1. People Worshiping People
2. Promoting Drunkenness (not on the pulpit though, I guess it's only behind the scenes)
3. Sexual Sin
4. Manipulation
5. Control
6. Distorted Doctrine
7. Alienation from Family Members
8. Back Biting
9. Gossip
10. Slander
11. Tongues Shmounges! Which is what Pastor Tony preaches on the pulpit? Be careful that is a divine language which edifies!!!
Anyway, I feel bad that I have taken a lot of your time. I tried to be brief, but it's kind of hard to express into words how hurt I was. When I left RLC I was so scared. I was taught that they were my divine covering. I thought that when I left, God was not going to bless me and that I was going to be an open target for Satan and that he would have power over me. It took weeks for me to hear God say, "I am your Authority. I am your Covering. Anyone who tries to place their selves above Me, I will bring down. You do not need a human mediator between us. Jesus is Our Mediator, not man."
I have found a church that I attend that has sound doctrine. I have a hard time trusting people and what they say, but I am working on that with God’s Help.
I hope this helps communicate without being angry, although it is hard to communicate manipulation. It is such a silent and sneaky spirit to uncover.