A former member of the Deeper Life Bible Church (DLBC) has publicly shared the painful experience that led him to abandon the Christian faith eight years ago. The man, who goes by the handle @JJExclusive1 on X (formerly Twitter), recounted how the church's response during his family's crisis opened his eyes to what he calls "reality."
The Heartbreaking Incident That Shattered Faith
According to his detailed posts, the turning point occurred eight years ago when his mother suffered a severe stroke. In their moment of desperation and need, the family turned to their spiritual leaders in the Deeper Life Bible Church for support and solutions.
He claims that instead of receiving the expected compassion and practical help, they encountered disappointment. The pastors and the church community were not helpful, a situation he describes as being "whined" or taken advantage of. This unpleasant encounter with the clerics and the institution became a catalyst for a profound personal crisis.
From Devotion to Disillusionment
In his own words, shared on the social media platform, @JJExclusive1 stated: "I lost faith in God when my mum became a stroke patient 8yrs ago... my eyes opened to reality and I developed a crazy hatred for christianity. I experienced first hand manipulation from the so-called respected Top men of God."
He emphasized that his departure from faith was not from a place of ignorance. He was born and raised in the Deeper Life church, brought up with deep biblical knowledge, and had even stood on the pulpit to preach the gospel himself. This background makes his disillusionment particularly poignant, stemming from lived experience rather than a lack of understanding.
Reactions to a Shared Trauma
The ex-member's story resonated with many Nigerians online, sparking a flood of reactions. Some users shared similar tales of disappointment with religious institutions during times of personal tragedy.
One user, @BarziniRoth, commented on the prophetic claims of churches, noting: "My own church will always claim they can see the future, they always foresee money to be contributed but never saw I will lose a mother that year. Religion is a big scam."
Others offered a different perspective, urging a separation between faith in God and disappointment in human religious leaders. User @MachiavelliCap1 advised: "Bro the deal is, loose faith in any fraudulent pastor, man of God, priest etc. The truth is they all humans but don't loose trust and faith in God."
A particularly lengthy response came from @equitysociety_, who shared a similar story of losing his mother after prayer and fasting. He recounted how a Reverend Father's sermon during the burial offered a different interpretation of suffering, which eventually led him back to faith.
The conversation highlights a recurring tension in Nigeria's vibrant religious landscape: the conflict between deep-seated faith and the sometimes-fraught relationship with religious institutions and their human leaders. The story of @JJExclusive1 serves as a powerful reminder of how personal trauma can fundamentally alter an individual's spiritual journey.
