Complaint Review: Liberty Chruch - Marietta Georgia

The definition of a cult is relative.  When a church stalks and harasses people and "comes after" people, even to their church, work place, and home, especially someone who has told them time and again to leave them alone, this is a cult.  That person that that they have done that to is me.  Churches follow Jesus, go after Jesus, and have a relationship with Jesus, and this shows in how they treat people.  Cults follow people, go after people, target people in uncomfortable ways, and try to force themselves on people.  I want nothing to do with this church, I have left over a decade ago.  Liberty Cult: If this post causes you to come anywhere near me, I will call the police or my lawyer! 

My wife and I were members there in 2007. I asked a question that the pastor could not answer, not from the Bible and not from his own personal experience or opinion (he didn't even venture a guess)! Once it was revealed that I had basically "put egg on his face", we were kicked out of the church. Since then, my wife and I have attended a church where the pastor actually PREACHES from the HOLY BIBLE about BIBLICAL doctrine!

Although a literal 95% of our relatives will no longer speak to us, in a lame and utterly wicked attempt to humilate us and excommunicate us from our own family, never-the-less we are fortunate to not be part of Liberty Church cult any longer. Thank God Almighty for deliverence from those kooky "mini-Hitlers" who would be Lord of our Lives, if we allowed them to do so vs. allowing the Bible to be the final authority on all matters of faith and practice.

Heed the warning! Stay away from kooky charismatic cults. Remember: the Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Book! -- Let God be true, but every man a liar! Romans 3:4 

Any questions: write to Mark at ---  [email protected]

My wife and I are former members of Liberty Church in Georgia. In fact, my wife's family, with the only exception of her parents, that live close to that church ALL attend there as leaders of one fashion or another. 

In 2007, the Head Pastor published his version of what the "core values" of church should be; it was entirely absurd. (It would have been funny, if it had been a joke...). After reviewing only the first out of about 30+ core values, I had a question about Jesus Christ and the Bible that no-one else at the church could answer. (I emailed  my brother-in-law, my cousins-in-law, and the pastor over a collective 15 times with the same question --- not ONE OF THEM, not even the PASTOR, could answer the question. Not one of them even ATTEMPTED to answer the question via email -- yet, it was their "suggestion" to "email the pastor with the question"!

Utter - spiritual - nonsense!

In fact, my then-pregnant wife and I were (politely but clearly) asked to leave the church. When I presented this situation to my brother-in-law, at first he was outraged and righteously indignant. 

But, OHHH HOW HIS TUNE CHANGED within only ONE WEEK, where he attempted to confront me and my wife with our "mental issues". (Disclaimer: I have never been, nor am I now, under the care of any licensed psychiatrist, NOR HAVE I EVER NEEDED ANY SUCH CARE -- BECAUSE I AM NOT MENTALLY ILL, nor have I EVER BEEN so.)

In short, after many attempts by the cult members of Liberty cult to assimilate me back into their way of thinking, and then after finally realizing that the jig was up and I saw through their lies, their deception, their conceit, and their arrogance, THEN MY IN-LAWS - with the only exceptions of my wife, and my parents-in-law - ALL rejected and excommunicated me AND MY WIFE, their flesh-and-blood relative.

* Once I realized that Liberty Cult actually did me a favor by "firing me from my job" so to speak and also convincing my in-laws to stay away from me and my wife, once that happened -- I decided to go to a church that has a PREACHER who actually KNOWS the HOLY BIBLE that he PREACHES FROM! Therefore, we only go to churches that preach the Bible, as it is written, as you find it, as it is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice!

DEAR READER: Heed the warning! Take it to heart! Stay away from these kooky charismatic cult facist mini-Hitler junior psychologists, who feign Christianity in a lame and utterly wicked attempt to rule and ruin your spiritual life and your walk with God. -- Let God be true, but EVERY MAN a liar! (Romans 3:4, King James Bible)

If you have ANY QUESTIONS about what I have written, you may email me at MARK -- EMAIL

[email protected]     

Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 

I wrote the last comment in a hurry, so I wanted to add to it more carefully.

The church is not a building, that's true.  But I am where I am supposed to worship, it's in a building, and he has let me know that this is fine as well.   I commend you for your relationship with Jesus and hope for your sake that you are in a fellowship that you enjoy, with other Christians.  From your email, it doesn't really say whether you're in fellowship or not.  What God has revealed to me is that he wants 2013 to be the year that's all about Jesus.   I am thankful that you are close to Jesus and know that joy of that!

I wrote the last comment in a hurry, so I wanted to add to it more carefully.

The church is not a building, that's true.  But I am where I am supposed to worship, it's in a building, and he has let me know that this is fine as well.   I commend you for your relationship with Jesus and hope for your sake that you are in a fellowship that you enjoy, with other Christians.  From your email, it doesn't really say whether you're in fellowship or not.  What God has revealed to me is that he wants 2013 to be the year that's all about Jesus.   I am thankful that you are close to Jesus and know that joy of that!

I wrote the last comment in a hurry, so I wanted to add to it more carefully.

The church is not a building, that's true.  But I am where I am supposed to worship, it's in a building, and he has let me know that this is fine as well.   I commend you for your relationship with Jesus and hope for your sake that you are in a fellowship that you enjoy, with other Christians.  From your email, it doesn't really say whether you're in fellowship or not.  What God has revealed to me is that he wants 2013 to be the year that's all about Jesus.   I am thankful that you are close to Jesus and know that joy of that!

It is sad to hear of one more person not attending "church" because of their experience at Liberty Church.  I also stopped attending church for several years after leaving Liberty Church.  The Bible says to not forsake assembling together with other believers.  Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with him is Central to the Christian faith.  I have heard of a conference on the Holy Spirit where the name of Jesus was not mentioned once.  

We need fellowship with other believers to grow in our faith.  In the history of the Protestant Christian Church, the early leaders left the Catholic church because of legalism, strict control, and having to be obedient to papal authority.  Liberty Church reminds me of a Charismatic Catholic Church where legalism is breeding judgementalism and where God's grace instead of breeding freedom is being used as a license to abuse people, such as myself.   I hope that you will pray and find yourself another fellowship of beievers to be a part of.       

David

I, too went to Liberty for six years, but we left when God revealed to us that Church is not a place you go,it a body of Christ. It's not built by human hands, according to the Bible. Being a Christian means you have a relationship with Him, and your Church family is the fellowship of believers that's part of the body. In the NT, you don't see a pastor because Jesus is the head. People met in their homes and shared all they have. If you want to know more, read Acts. I've been out of "church" for five years, and my walk with the Lord has never been stronger.

After much prayer, I have realized that these kinds of reports don't solve anything.  It's best to go to the person that you have a problem with at a church and talk with them or go to the pastor, or go to Pastor Garlington in Pittsburg, who oversees this church.   

I am sure that Liberty Church's intentions are not to come off like a cult.  Perhaps they could do a survey of people that they know have ill feelings towards any of the members or towards their church in general.   When they humbly look at the results, then they could pray as to how they could best apologize or communicate with these folks, and also pray about how to remedy how they may come off to people.  

On the positive side, Liberty Church has some fine folks that attend there.  Many people credit their salvation to that church.  Liberty Church has radically helped people where nobody or no other church would have helped them that much, i.e. biblical, financial, and counseling assistance.  They have helped change many people's lives for the better. 

If you have a problem with Liberty Church and you don't attend there, just pray for them.  I am sure that Liberty is praying for you!  

God Bless!    

They are a Cult!  Everyone that has left or been asked to leave should consider themselves blessed!  You'll be a whole lot happier if you stay away from this weird, controlling, creepy bunch of crazy Christian creeps! 

My husband's ex-wife started going to Liberty Church and taking his/our kids there. In the short year or so that she has been going she has gotten crazy. She now withholds visitation from us because they will miss church on Saturday if they come to see us and she thinks that God's "law" is above a court ordered visitation schedule. I guess she forgot that verse in Romans. 

The camp the kids went to through the church failed to call us when our daughter's back went completely out and she could hardly walk. Apparently laying on of hands would cure that and the "jealousy demon" that she had in her. She also did not eat for the entire week she was there or drink and they did not call us thinking there may be some thing wrong. I had to take her to the ER twice in one day for her back and dehydration when she got    back from camp... her "Godly" mother wanted nothing to do with her and thought the church did nothing wrong.

EVERYTHING she writes about on FB is about God... writing a verse here or there...great, but this is overkill. It's like they have brainwashed her and the kids into thinking that the ONLY thing they should ever think about is God and that praying long enough and hard enough for hours on end will fix ANYTHING.

I kept thinking that this church sounded kind of like a cult and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one.

Dear David,

I was so sorry to hear about your traumatic experience involving Liberty Church.  I left Liberty Church around 2004, many years ago, and am a member of another church in the Atlanta area.  If I could be of assistance to you in the future, and you would just like someone to listen to you tell your story about this, I am familiar with that church and Lynda Grodd and I will not be judgmental of you, but hopefully kind and understanding.  I hate to see anyone stop being a Christian because of a bad experience, person, or even a Christian person.  People always fail us, but Jesus never does!  I hate to see your life without His saving grace, presence, and love, in it - just to name a few benefits of being a Christian.  My phone number is (770)499-2401.   Love and Prayers, Mary 

David,

I am really sorry that your experience with Liberty Church has caused you to not want to be a Christian anymore.  I left Liberty Church around 2003-2004, can't even remember when, but it was a very long time ago.  I would be glad to just listen to your story and hopefully kindly help you to resolve it.  I hate to see any person or even Christian person be the reason that you are no longer a Christian.  Please call me at (770)499-2401 if you ever read this comment or if I can be of any assistance to you.  You can also email me at [email protected]    

David,

I am really sorry that your experience with Liberty Church has caused you to not want to be a Christian anymore.  I left Liberty Church around 2003-2004, can't even remember when, but it was a very long time ago.  I would be glad to just listen to your story and hopefully kindly help you to resolve it.  I hate to see any person or even Christian person be the reason that you are no longer a Christian.  Please call me at (770)499-2401 if you ever read this comment or if I can be of any assistance to you.  You can also email me at [email protected]    

A VERY SIMILAR THING HAPPENED TO A COUSIN OF MINE WHO WENT TO WORK FOR A NEWSPAPER IN ANOTHER STATE.

SHE LOST HER JOB AT THE NEWSPAPER AND A MEMBER OF A CULTIC CHARISMATIC CHURCH CALLED BELIEVER'S OUTREACH CAME AND OFFERED HER A PLACE TO STAY WITH ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN OF THE CHURCH. THIS WHITE WOMAN WENT WAY OVERBOARD WITH THIS RELIGIOUS FANATICISM AND HAD DIVORCED HER HUSBAND OF MORE THAN 20 YEARS WHO OWNED A SUCCESSFUL AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP  BECAUSE SHE WOULD ONLY HAVE SEX WITH JESUS CHRIST OR ONE OF HIS APPOINTED MINISTERS!.

SHE HAD JUST BOUGHT A TRAILER AND NEEDED SOMEONE TO CLEAN IT AND COOK FOR HER AND BE A DOMESTIC SERVANT IN GENERAL. SO MY COUSIN DECIDED TO TAKE THE JOB UNTIL SHE GOT HER FINAL PAYCHECK FROM THE NEWSPAPER AND GET BACK TO TEXAS.

IT WAS 24-HOURS OF NON-STOP CHRISTIAN MUSIC RECORDINGS, RADIO AND TV PROGRAMMING THERE LIKE LOUDSPEAKERS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLEEP WHEN PEOPLE FROM THE CHURCH WOULD COME FOR BIBLE STUDY AND BABBLE AWAY "IN TONGUES."

THIS WOMAN DECLARED THAT SHE WAS A NEW MAN IN CHRIST AND BECAME "SISTER MOTHER HOLINESS." SHE WOULD LITERALLY PRAY WITHOUT CEASING AS COMMANDED IN THE SCRIPTURE AND PRAYED IN BABBLE BABBLE LANGUAGE KNOWN AS "PRAYING IN TONGUES." SHE WOULD FALL ON THE FLOOR WHILE WATCHING  CHRISTIAN TV AND SAY SHE HAD BEEN "SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT." GROTESQUE.

GOING TO THE CHURCH WAS LIKE GOING TO A ZOO WHERE MANY PEOPLE WERE DOING MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WOULD BABBLE WEIRDNESS AND ANOTHER WHO LOOKED LIKE A BOWLING PIN-SHAPE WITH A BUTCH l*****n HAIRCUT WOULD ALWAYS "INTERPRET" WHAT THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN SAID. AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A PROPHESY OR "WORD OF KNOWLEDGE." IF YOU PAID HER SOME MONEY, SHE WOULD GIVE YOU A PSYCHIC READING  THAT WAS ALMOST ALWAYS DEAD ON.

ONE GUY WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO SELL BIBLES THAT WERE YOUR KEYS TO HEAVEN.  ANOTHER HAWKED HEALING OIL FROM THE HOLY LAND WHICH WAS JUST OLIVE OIL REPACKAGED.

THERE WERE OTHER CON MEN IN THE CHURCH, THE MINISTER OF MUSIC OFFERED TO SELL HER AN OVERSIZE LID OF MARIJUANA AND HAD OTHER DRUGS AVAILABLE TO GET YOU HIGH AND HAPPY AND RIGHT WITH GOD.  A RELIGIOUS DRUG DEALER!

MY COUSIN SAID SHE WAS TERRIFIED BUT SOON ACCEPTED THE NUTTINESS OF IT ALL AND WAS COUNTING THE WEEK SHE HAD TO GO.

THE CHURCH WAS A STOREFRONT WITH A MALE AND FEMALE PASTOR. SHE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY PAUL COMMANDED TWO TO GO AND THOSE WERE ALWAYS MALE WHEN THE CHARISMATIC CHURCH ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE A MALE AND FEMALE INSTEAD.

SHE LEARNED THAT IT WAS FORBIDDEN FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BE SAD. THEY HAD TO BE HAPPY ALL OF THE TIME AND IF THEY WEREN'T, THEY WERE DEMON POSSESSED AND HAD TO BE EXORCISED OR HAVE A "DELIVERANCE SESSION "WHERE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO BEAT THAT DEVIL OUT OF THEM AND SCREAM IT OUT AND DO WHATEVER IT TOOK UNTIL  THE DEVIL WAS GONE.

PEOPLE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TITHE 10 PERCENT BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH. IF YOU DID NOT GIVE EVERY CENT THAT YOU DID NOT NEED FOR FOOD, RENT AND GROCERIES AND UTILITIES AND CAR EXPENSE, YOU WERE GOING TO GO TO HELL AND HELL WAS A VERY HOT AND LONELY AND SCARY PLACE.

SO THE STANDARD FIVE GALLON WHITE PLASTIC SLOP BUCKETS USED TO FEED HOGS WITH WERE PRESSED INTO SERVICE AND PASSED AROUND UNTIL THEY WERE OVERFLOWING AND WHEN THE PEOPLE RAN OUT OF MONEY, THEY WERE TOLD TO GIVE THEIR JEWELRY ( WHICH WAS FORBIDDEN BY THEIR CHURCH ANYWAY) AND CAR TITLES OR RENT HOUSE DEEDS AND WHATEVER THEY HAD UNTIL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE.

THERE WAS LOUD, BLARING HYPNOTIC CHRISTIAN GOSPEL STYLE MUSIC THAT SHE SAID DEADENED ALL THOUGHT. BUT SHE GAVE NOTHING. SHE SAID SHE WAS ALREADY SERVING A SERVANT OF THE LORD AND THEY WERE OK WITH THAT. THEY HAD MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WHO PATROLLED THE STREETS IN TOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BELIEVERS WENT STRAIGHT HOME AND DID NOT SPEND THEIR MONEY EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CHURCH APPROVED BUSINESSES. PEOPLE WHO DID NOT TOW THE LINE WERE DISFELLOWSHIPPED AND SHUNNED.

IT WAS RUMORED THAT WORSE THAN THAT HAD HAPPENED.

THE MAN THAT SISTER MOTHER HOLINESS WAS IN LOVE WITH WAS A CHURCH MUSICIAN AND HE WAS AN OBVIOUS GAY GUY IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER MAN BUT HE TOOK THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS SHE SENT HIM AS LOVE GIFTS AND ALL OF THE EXPENSIVE THINGS THAT SHE BOUGHT FOR HIM AND DECLINED HER ADVANCES IN THAT HE HAD TO STAY CHASTE IN ORDER TO OFFER MUSIC TO GOD.

SISTER MOTHER HOLINESS  SAID THAT CARNAL AND PHYSICAL LOVE FAILED AND DISAPPOINTED BUT THE LOVE OF JESUS WAS WITH YOU ALWAYS.

MY COUSIN JUST CONTINUED TO CLEAN AND SWEEP AND DO LAUNDRY AND WATCH THE ZOO AT THE CHURCH.

THEY STILL TOOK UP AS MANY COLLECTIONS BUT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD GET EVEN MORE MONEY AND SAVE ON UTILITIES IF THEY STARTED HAVING MEETINGS IN THE PRIVATE HOMES OF THE CONGREGATION MEMBERS.

FINALLY, THE DAY BEFORE NY COUSIN GOT HER FINAL PAYCHECK, THERE WAS A CIRCLE OF BELIEVERS WHO GATHERED AROUND MY COUSIN IN THE TRAILER HOME OF SISTER MOTHER HOLINESS AND TOLD MY COUSIN SHE HAD BEEN SEEN FROWNING AND NOT EXHIBITING THE LOVE OF GOD BY ALWAYS PRAYING AND ALWAYS SMILING. SHE HAD EVEN BEEN SEEN TALKING WITH SOMEONE NOT FROM THE  CHURCH AND SHE WAS DISFELLOWSHIPPED.

SHE WAS ALSO CONDEMNED AS A BRIDE OF SATAN, AND SHE NEEDED TO GIVE UP ALL HER MONEY TO THE CHURCH.

SISTER MOTHER HOLINESS ROLLED HER EYES, STARTED BABBLING WILDLY AND SCREAMED "IT'S MOVING DAY!"

FORTUNATELY MY COUSIN NEVER UNPACKED AND STILL HAD HER CAR. SHE SLEPT ON THE NEWSPAPER PARKING LOT,COLLECTED HER CHECK AND CASHED IT AND SHE WAS GONE.

SHE AND MY OTHER COUSIN WHO MARRIED THE MAN WHO HAD CONVERTED TO THIS CHARISMATIC NONSENSE HAD A LOT TO COMPARE NOTES ABOUT I AM SURE.

THESE CHURCHES SEEM TO PREY ON WOMEN.

MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH ARE VERY IMPULSIVE AND THEIR HELP CANNOT BE COUNTED ON. YOU CAN NOT DEPEND ON THEM OR TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD. THEY LIKE TO SAY THEY LIE AND DOUBLEDEAL AND STEAL FROM ALL OF THOSE WHO DO NOT ATTEND THEIR CHURCH.

THEY CLAIM TO BE LEAD BY THE SPIRIT. THAT MEANS THEY WILL USE THE "HOLY GHOST" TO RATIONALIZE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY DAMNED WELL FEEL LIKE DOING. ALL OF THEIR PERSONALITY, ALL OF THEIR ACTIONS THEY HIDE BEHIND A RELIGIOUS FACADE. HOW FAKE, HOW HYPOCRITICAL AND HOW TYPICAL.

YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS AND THEY HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR PEOPLE JUST LIKE THEM. YOU WERE NOT JUST LIKE THEM AND SO THEY GAVE YOU THE BOOT. I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE WHO VENTURED INTO COMMUNITIES LIKE THE FAITH OUTREACH FOURSQUARE GOSPEL BUNCH JUST DISAPPEARING AND NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THEY WENT AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AND NOBODY MUCH CARES.

YOU GOT OFF LIGHT HERE.

THESE PEOPLE ARE WEIRD HYPOCRITES WHO ARE IN THIS JUST FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH REASONS. IT IS ALL ABOUT THEM AND THEY CAN PRETEND TO BE SO HAPPY AND UP ALL THE TIME AND GOODY-GOODY AND LOVING EVERYONE BUT DO SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY THINK NOBODY WHO MATTERS IS WATCHING THEM.

THEY WILL TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO GIVE AND STILL WANT MORE.

THEY DID YOU A FAVOR BECAUSE YOU FOUND OUT THAT THE CHARISMATIC PATH THEY CLAIMED WOULD GET YOU TO GOD DID NOT WORK FOR YOU.

DON'T GIVE UP ON GOD.

JUST GIVE UP ON THE FANATICS WHO CLAIM  TO DO GREAT WORKS IN HIS NAME!

Oh goodness; I feel your pain.  Believe me, I was in a situation very similar to yours many years back.  Please don't turn away from God; don't let a few bad apples spoil an entire bunch.  I kicked the notion around about walking away from my faith in Christ but ended up running even harder for Him.  Christ wouldn't want you to allow these clowns to inhibit your faith in Him.

Yes; that prostitute did demonstrate God's true love for us, to you.  Please pray for her salvation.  I deeply despise Christians like that also.  My best advise is to find a small, non-denominational church.  That is where I began to rebuild my walk and it payed off, big time! I'll be praying for you!