The Free Believers Network - Into the Wild

Darin, Brian and Amy Ramos talk about how each of us need to develop our own set of principals and convictions that we live by. Many people use freedom as an excuse to purposefully not control themselves. Freedom is only true freedom when you are the master of your own domain. Finding your personal grove and committing to living in it is one of the main principals of the freedom lifestyle.

Darin interviews author Frank Viola, and the two have a great discussion about how the modern day American Church views Christ. Jesus has become nothing more than a teacher of morality to many Christians today. The actual message of the Gospel has been distorted, and people now spend more time learn ABOUT Jesus, then they do experiencing Him. The days of WWJD bracelets and accountability partners are coming to an end. This generation is calling for something more powerful and real then what they’ve been given. Frank shares great insight and heart in his latest book, “From Eternity to Here.” His heart is to return people to the heart beat of God.

Darin and Aimee talk about how being honest is one of the first areas that a Free Believer get to discover in the wild. Most of us have learned that to survive in institutional Christianity we have to lie to everyone around us. Eventually we begin to lose touch with what the truth about us really is. Being allowed to be open and honest about yourself and your life is key to recovering from IC bondage. There is something so healing about being able to openly expose yourself without fear of judgment.

Darin, Brian and Robert discuss how Christians have been served a puffed up version restoration and healing. Many Christians live in constant guilt and condemnation because their lives and relationships haven’t experienced the healing they were promised by their religion. Because of the unrealistic expectations many of us were raised with, we often hold off on living life until we achieve the healing we were told about. Living in the wild is all about letting everything go and learning to create a new life altogether. All of our institutional ideas of what God will do in our life, are many time nothing more than a marketing ploy to get people to sign on the dotted line and join our religion.

Brian, Darin and Robert Ramos talk about how the Institution has programed us to view relationships from a selfish perspective. We are taught that we connect with people for what WE can get out of the deal. Living in the wild is a process of relearning how to love from and outward perspective. Love is not self-seeking. The experience of love is not when you receive it, but when you give it. Relationships are needed in the Christian life because we need someone to love, not because we need someone to love us.

Darin and Aimee talk about how the transition from institutionalism to living the wild can be a difficult culture shock for Free Believers. Institutionalism tends to have an “answer” or a “belief stance” for everything. When a person enters the wild, they often feel they need to new answers to replace the old answers, but often times we find that there just are no answers at all. Part of being free is not knowing the answers and being content with that. Without extensive doctrine, rules, traditions and structure, we often feel like we are free falling through life, relying wholly on grace to hold us and keep us.

Darin, Brian and Amy Ramos talk about how much "Choice" plays a role in our life. Most people have stopped making choices because they're waiting on God to tell them what to do. Christians in this generation have lost sight of the fact that everything in our life is the result of our choices. Understanding our roll in our life is key to living in the wild.  

Darin, Brian and Robert talk about how Christians have been fed a steady diet of unrealistic expectations when it comes to God and the authentic Christian life. Many of us have been constantly disillusioned by God because of what we’ve been taught to expect. We feel like failures. We feel like we’re doing something wrong or not good enough. Living in the wild is a process of revelation that isn’t about lowering expectations, but about letting them go in an effort to have real relationship.

Darin and Brian talk about how it’s impossible to teach this message to people. This is something people have to get for themselves. Some things are taught, and some things are caught. Those who get it themselves have a strength that teachings could never give them.

Darin and Aimee talk about how the Institutional Christian world has forbidden friendship with members of the opposite sex. Just being alone with someone can bring about judgment from other Christians. The concept of “purity” has been exaggerated and distorted to a point where many of us feel totally uncomfortable even speaking on the phone with someone of another gender. Re-establishing these relationships is key to becoming all you can be in the wild.  

Darin and Brian talk about the amazingly divided response from people over Darin's "Spiritual Warfare" article. What is it that separates those who understand it from those who don't? How is it that some people can find instant freedom while others are immediately angry and in bondage, after reading this article?

Darin talks with his friend Ed Johnson who is a "Free Believer Pastor" in Wisconsin. Ed has a wonderful heart for hurting people and his primary focus is setting people free from religiosity and showing them the love of God.

Darin, Brian and Robert get stuck with the kids, but do a podcast anyway. Need I say more?

Darin and Stacey Robbins talk about our tendency to sometimes over spiritualize things in life. Finding a balance between the spirit and the physical is sometimes difficult when you've come from church thinking. Rediscovering a sense of normalcy is a process in the wild that takes a lot of letting go of old misconceptions.

Darin, Brian and Seth Erickson have a conversation about demons and mental illness. This is a topic that many people have to work through after coming out of the institution. This is a great discussion that simplifies the subject and takes away the fear and superstistion we've been inundated with. Seth Erickson is the guy who designed the cover and layout of "The God's Honest Truth," and he's also the one who created the intro song, "The Journey" that is used for the "Into the Wild" show.