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Aerial view of cathedral and park from Saint Patrick's Park-Dublin, Aerial view of historic St. Patrick's Cathedral in the heart of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral, Aerial view of people walking in saint Patrick park, Public park fountain

<figure id="figure-1pkor4z3u8m8blw7mp"><img id="1pkor4z3u8m8blw7mp" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/115979267/photo/orange-highlights-in-a-church-interior-with-cross.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=QsQ3hhN6fAEqjIZPXPWD7nUzr3dYJMf3C7dk_A5lceM=" alt="Orange highlights in a church interior with cross" title="Orange highlights in a church interior with cross" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/115979267/photo/orange-highlights-in-a-church-interior-with-cross.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=QsQ3hhN6fAEqjIZPXPWD7nUzr3dYJMf3C7dk_A5lceM=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Introduction &amp; Disclaimer&nbsp;</h3>The goal of this piece is not to criticize any church, minister, or denomination. I understand that this is a sensitive topic, and as someone raised in the church, I recognize the instinct to defend the modern church system. I firmly believe that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. However, the church must evolve—not through cultural compromise, but by returning to the pure teachings of Christ.&nbsp;This discussion is meant to challenge believers to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus and remain open to continuous learning and growth. Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, must have foresee the challenges the church would face, and like all living things, the church is meant to grow and transform. But the question remains: Are we growing in Christ, or are we merely expanding institutions?&nbsp;How does the Mordern Church mirrors the Israel's Slavery in the Scriptures?&nbsp; <h3>Loss of Freedom &amp; Autonomy&nbsp;</h3>The Israelites in Egypt had no control over their lives. Pharaoh dictated their labor, living conditions, and even sought to control their population (Exodus 1:8-14, 22).&nbsp;Today, many Christian institutions function similarly, imposing strict guidelines on how people should live, what they should believe, and even how they should think. This influence extends into politics, where members are urged—or outright told—who to vote for under the guise of religious duty.&nbsp; The concept of holiness is often weaponized to justify rigid rules on dress, behavior, and lifestyle, reinforcing conformity over conviction. Questioning religious leaders is discouraged, creating an environment where pastors are revered rather than held accountable.&nbsp;Moreover, some churches instill fear by teaching that leaving the faith leads to damnation. Instead of fostering a genuine relationship with God, this creates a system where people remain not out of faith, but out of fear—bound to the institution rather than free in Christ. &nbsp; <h3>Forced Labor&nbsp;</h3><figure id="figure-v1ork35xrm8blyshy"><img id="v1ork35xrm8blyshy" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1764505290/photo/cage-fence-grasp-hand-monochrome-imprisonment.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=XY7AJZhnyKaXxWoSoxKbpCctv8Nq--bnz4CboaOsZIY=" alt="cage, fence, grasp, hand, monochrome, imprisonment" title="cage, fence, grasp, hand, monochrome, imprisonment" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1764505290/photo/cage-fence-grasp-hand-monochrome-imprisonment.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=XY7AJZhnyKaXxWoSoxKbpCctv8Nq--bnz4CboaOsZIY=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The Israelites were forced into backbreaking labor, building cities for Pharaoh with no compensation (Exodus 1:11-14).&nbsp;While modern churches do not enforce physical labor, many religious institutions demand unpaid service in the name of God. Members are expected to give their time, money, and energy to the church—sometimes under manipulative pressure.&nbsp;Serving the church is equated with serving God, but in many cases, believers are actually working to fulfill their pastor’s vision rather than a divine calling. Donations can feel less like acts of faith and more like spiritual obligations, often tied to promises of blessings or warnings of consequences.&nbsp;Service to the church isn’t inherently wrong. The problem arises when manipulation replaces true devotion, turning what should be a joyful offering into coerced labor. &nbsp;<h3>Dehumanization&nbsp;</h3>Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a threat and stripped them of their humanity, reducing them to laborers and even ordering the death of their newborn sons (Exodus 1:16, 22).&nbsp;Some Christian institutions prioritize organizational growth over individual well-being, functioning like corporations rather than communities of faith. Members are treated as replaceable rather than valued as unique individuals.&nbsp; This contradicts the biblical concept of the Body of Christ, where every member plays an essential role (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Jesus modeled a radically different approach:&nbsp;“If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” — Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV)&nbsp;True Christianity values the one just as much as the ninety-nine.&nbsp; <h3>Coercion &amp; Fear&nbsp;</h3>The Egyptian taskmasters beat and oppressed the Israelites when they failed to meet quotas (Exodus 5:14-16). .&nbsp;<figure id="figure-tlbapng9ym8b1fz2z" class=""><img id="tlbapng9ym8b1fz2z" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/68Lb39xwToEVyRB3jK2GiMBneNq9lIbyNca4pcXH1U6jSRWu2Eo7f2aUm2X5pROI.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/68Lb39xwToEVyRB3jK2GiMBneNq9lIbyNca4pcXH1U6jSRWu2Eo7f2aUm2X5pROI.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>While physical violence is rare in modern churches, psychological and emotional coercion is common. Fear of hell, demonic attacks, or divine punishment is used to keep believers in line. Excommunication, public shaming, and social exclusion function as modern punishments for those who question church authority. In some rural part of the world, physical violence (disguised as discipline)is still a common practice.&nbsp;Instead of fostering true faith, these tactics enslave the mind. But Jesus did not come to establish a kingdom of fear—He came to offer grace, freedom,&nbsp;<h3>Slavery was a Business.</h3>The Israelites built the cities of Pithom and Rameses yet received no compensation (Exodus 1:11).&nbsp;Similarly, many churches today operate like businesses, profiting off their members while claiming spiritual authority. Mega-church pastors live in luxury while struggling members are pressured to “sow seeds” in hopes of receiving blessings. The prosperity gospel exploits the poor, teaching that financial giving leads to divine rewards.&nbsp;Many of the departments in the Church actually mimicks business practices.&nbsp;Jesus never demanded money in exchange for miracles or favor. In fact, He rebuked religious leaders who exploited the people (Matthew 23:4, Mark 12:38-40).&nbsp;A biblical parallel is the story of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:18-22. Simon offered money to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, but Peter rebuked him sharply, saying:&nbsp;“May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20, NIV)&nbsp;Yet today, the gifts of God are being sold for profit. Pastors charge for conferences, books, and courses promising “How to Prophesy” or “How to Operate in Healing”—turning ministry into a business. At what point does service turn into exploitation? <h3>Social &amp; Political Control&nbsp;</h3>Religious institutions have long influenced laws, politics, and society, often dictating morality based on doctrine rather than personal faith.&nbsp;The Evangelical Influence on U.S. Politics&nbsp;In modern America, evangelical Christians wield enormous influence over national policies. This became evident with Donald Trump’s presidency, where over 80% of white evangelicals supported him—not necessarily for his moral character, but for his political alignment with their interests. Their primary goals included overturning Roe v. Wade, promoting religious freedom laws favoring Christian institutions, and securing conservative Supreme Court justices.&nbsp;However, this power has extended beyond legislation. The rise of Christian Nationalism seeks to position America as a Christian nation, pushing for laws that align more with church doctrine than democratic principles. Prayer in schools, state-endorsed religious programs, and policies favoring one faith over others all point to a dangerous fusion of church and state.&nbsp; All of these are not inherently a bad thing.&nbsp;When the Church Became the State Religion&nbsp;<figure id="figure-3ezod8jfxwm8bm99s3"><img id="3ezod8jfxwm8bm99s3" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2164813538/photo/american-flag-with-religious-cross-on-church-wall.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=RE5ufVOPw_g5pkjiY1KkKoVmYnb1OALPJiEoyVVYHCs=" alt="American flag with religious cross on church wall" title="American flag with religious cross on church wall" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>The marriage of religion and government is nothing new. In 380 AD, Emperor Theodosius I declared Christianity the official religion of Rome, leading to centuries of forced conversions, persecution of dissenters, and religiously enforced laws.&nbsp;History warns us what happens when faith is weaponized for control. The modern evangelical movement risks repeating this pattern—not seeking true spiritual revival, but political dominance. And what is political control but another form of slavery?&nbsp; <h3>The Self-Sustaining System&nbsp;</h3>The Israelites were enslaved for 400 years because the system of oppression outlived individual rulers. It was bigger than any one Pharaoh—it was self-sustaining. Similarly, the modern church system is not dependent on any one leader. It is upheld by tradition, structure, and institutional frameworks. It starts from the denomination leader, Lead and local pastors, Ministers, Ministry Leaders, Workers etc. Many churches today could continue functioning without Christ, simply because they operate more like corporations than living faith communities.&nbsp; It is a well oiled machine.&nbsp; <h3>Final Thoughts&nbsp;</h3>It is necessary to draw the similarities between what happened in the scriptures and what is going on today. The modern church has done much good, but it is not immune to human corruption and control. Christianity is not about fear, obligation, or blind obedience—it’s about love, grace, and freedom in Christ.&nbsp;“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” — Galatians 5:1 (NIV)&nbsp; We will not look into how God delivered the israelite. We are all familiar with the story. However, delivering Israel from Egypt was the easy part. The real challenge was getting Egypt out of Israel. In the next part, we will explore how hard it was for Egypt to leave Israel. &nbsp;Why was God never able to fully deliver Egypt out of Israel?" &nbsp;

From Shackles to Pews: How The Modern Church Sustains Systems of Control

<figure id="figure-09mpt32l7fm79hrrpt"><img id="09mpt32l7fm79hrrpt" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/176001440/photo/revolution.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=-OQOCP6dqKf6ZKZQrcJTRblDTM6Qu_vm-S3G0NMoH1U=" alt="Revolution" title="Revolution" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/176001440/photo/revolution.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=-OQOCP6dqKf6ZKZQrcJTRblDTM6Qu_vm-S3G0NMoH1U=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>“If slavery was outlawed, why do so many people still live in bondage?”In recent weeks, I’ve been reflecting on one of the most significant events in Scripture—the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. If you’ve spent any time in the church, you're likely familiar with the story of how Israel was enslaved in Egypt. But what does this have to do with the state of the “Modern Church”? I’ll be using the term "Modern Church" frequently because it's crucial to distinguish between what we have now and the church as it was immediately after the resurrection of Jesus.<h3>The Enslavement of Israel: A Brief Overview</h3>Around 1876 BC, Jacob (Israel) and his sons moved to Egypt due to a severe famine (Genesis 46:1-7). Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, had been sold into slavery by his brothers but later rose to power as Pharaoh’s right-hand man. He invited his family to settle in Goshen, a fertile land in Egypt (Genesis 45:9-11). The Israelites prospered and grew in Egypt (Exodus 1:7).After Joseph’s death, a new Pharaoh came to power who “did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). He saw the growing Israelite population as a threat and enslaved them, forcing them into hard labor (Exodus 1:11-14). Pharaoh also ordered the killing of all Hebrew male babies (Exodus 1:15-22).Moses was born during this time, and to escape Pharaoh’s decree, he was placed in a basket on the Nile (Exodus 2:1-10). Later, God called Moses to demand the Israelites' freedom (Exodus 3:1-12), and after Pharaoh’s refusal, God sent the Ten Plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 7-12), culminating in the death of the firstborns. The Israelites were spared by marking their doors with lamb’s blood (Exodus 12:13).Finally, Pharaoh released the Israelites (Exodus 12:31-36), but after changing his mind, pursued them. God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, while Pharaoh’s army drowned (Exodus 14:21-31). The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34), receiving the Ten Commandments and eventually reaching the Promised Land under Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9).<h3>Old Testament vs. New Testament: A Shadow of Jesus Christ</h3>Debates often arise about the historical accuracy of Old Testament stories, but such discussions miss the point. The Old Testament is full of types and shadows pointing to the real subject of Scripture—Jesus Christ. The Bible isn’t just a historical account; it’s the biography of Jesus. And when you read it through that lens, even the stories of Israel’s slavery in Egypt come alive with profound meaning.Did these events happen exactly as written? Perhaps not in every detail. But the message remains clear and powerful: God desires to free His people, not just from physical slavery, but from the deeper bondage of sin and religion.<h3>Slavery and Religion: A Parallel for Today </h3>In Exodus, God commands Pharaoh through Moses: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me” (Exodus 8:1). This isn’t just about the Israelites’ physical liberation; it’s a prophetic symbol of God’s desire to free His people from the bondage of sin and religious systems. Egypt represents oppression and slavery, just as sin binds humanity, keeping us from a true, intimate relationship with God.God’s ultimate goal is freedom—freedom to worship Him in spirit and truth. “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23). It was never about religious perfection, but about intimacy with God. Pharaoh’s hardened heart mirrors the resistance of the flesh and the religious structures that oppose God’s true intent. Jesus speaks to this when He says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).The journey of the Israelites out of Egypt was only the beginning. Despite their deliverance, they continually wished to return to Egypt, where they were enslaved. This is the same pattern we see in the church today. Jesus came 2,000 years ago to set us free from sin and religion, declaring, “It is finished.” But many of us still yearn for the institutions that enslaved us—much like the Israelites longed for Egypt after being freed.<h3>The Church Today: A Reflection of Israel’s Enslavement</h3>Over the centuries, the church has been entangled with worldly political systems and religious institutions that recreate the very bondage Christ died to free us from. We have outsourced our spiritual lives to others, creating a new veil—one that God tore down through the death of Jesus.In future writings, we will explore the parallels between Israel’s enslavement in Egypt and how the modern church continues to be enslaved by religious institutions. The aim is not to criticize any denomination, assembly, or person but to inspire others to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. We are all, in some way, victims of and contributors to the system. The goal is simple: to encourage a personal, intimate connection with Jesus that transcends religious structures and leads to true freedom.

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