Unfeigned Christianity

Asher Witmer
  • 4.5 (33)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Becoming Christians who are theologically anchored, emotionally healthy, and loving others well.

  1. Bill Johnson, People Pleasing & the Emotional Health of Leaders

    2D AGO

    Bill Johnson, People Pleasing & the Emotional Health of Leaders

    By now you've likely heard about what's been coming out around Bethel Church in Redding, California — Sean Bowles, the cover-up, the repentance service, Bill Johnson's public comments. Mike Winger and others have done significant work exposing the timeline and the failure of leadership. I'm not here to re-litigate all of that. I'm here to talk about the one thing I haven't heard anyone name — and the thing that stood out most when I watched Bill Johnson's portion of the repentance service. Bill Johnson is a people pleaser. And people pleasing is not a neutral personality trait. It is an emotionally unhealthy state. And when you pair it with the kind of authority Bill Johnson holds — and the theological frameworks around apostleship and honor that discourage confrontation — it becomes genuinely dangerous. In this solo episode, I walk through Bill Johnson's comments carefully and try to name what's being revealed. Not as a takedown. Not as a theological victory lap. But as a mirror — because the same emotional unhealth that let a leader like Bill Johnson look the other way while a predator operated under his platform is the same unhealth that shows up, quieter and less publicized, in every church community and every one of us. The episode also covers: Why "I didn't want to believe it" is a warning sign, not an excuse The crucial difference between mercy and people pleasing What Biblical confession and repentance actually require How the NAR theology of apostleship and honor creates conditions for cover-up What sweeping, non-specific apologies do and don't accomplish And the honest question Asher sits with at the end: what do I do when someone points something out to me? This episode will challenge you. But it's not meant to give you something to say about Bill Johnson. It's meant to give you something to do about yourself. Chapters 02:30 — What this episode is and isn't 06:00 — Background on the Bethel/Shawn Bolz situation 12:00 — Who else has covered this well (Mike Winger, Ruslan KD, Remnant Radio, etc.) 18:00 — Walking through Bill Johnson's comments from the repentance service 26:00 — "He didn't want to believe it" — why that's telling 33:00 — This isn't about gifting. Something else is going on. 38:00 — People pleasing vs. genuine care for wholeness 44:00 — What mercy actually requires (and what Jesus actually did) 50:00 — The theology of apostleship and honor in NAR 56:00 — Sweeping apologies and what they reveal 1:02:00 — The question we all need to sit with

    1h 24m
  2. Making Disciples Who Actually Reproduce | Brian Dye

    MAR 4

    Making Disciples Who Actually Reproduce | Brian Dye

    Brian Dye grew up in one of Chicago's more impoverished neighborhoods — Puerto Rican and African-American community, a mentally ill mom, an alcoholic dad, and a grandmother who was the spiritual anchor of the whole family. What changed the trajectory of his life wasn't a conference, a program, or a church event. It was a carpenter named Paul Terry who wasn't paid to do ministry — but who kept showing up on Saturdays to paint houses, move furniture, and bring a kid named Brian along for the ride. That's the heartbeat of everything Brian has built since. Brian is the founder of Legacy Disciple, a Chicago-based discipleship ministry that runs annual conferences in 5 cities, reaches 400 kids a year in Chicago's neighborhoods, and is launching Legacy University — accessible online Bible courses for everyday disciples and small groups. In this episode, I get to talk with Brian about: Why Jesus called us to make disciples, not find them — and why that distinction matters more than we think The Hebrew educational context that helps explain why Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors nobody else wanted The orphanage vs. family model of church — and why one keeps people dependent while the other releases them His practical 3-year discipleship framework: formal Bible study + informal life-sharing with 3-4 people at a time Why discipleship doesn't mean adding things to your schedule — it means inviting people into your schedule His 20-year relationship with Preston Perry and what the early, unglamorous years of that looked like What he's building with Legacy Disciple now and where the conferences are going in 2025 If you've been in ministry long enough to feel the gap between what discipleship sounds like in sermons and what it actually looks like on a Tuesday morning — this conversation will give you something real to hold onto. Read the full blog post and show notes here Learn more about Legacy Disciple at legacydisciple.org. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Discipleship and Legacy Disciple 02:41 The Call to Make Disciples 04:34 Brian Dye's Background and Cultural Context 07:36 The Role of Mentorship in Discipleship 10:26 The Importance of Community in Faith 16:31 The Impact of Personal Relationships in Faith 19:22 Jesus' Model of Discipleship 25:21 The Challenge of Long-term Discipleship 31:20 The Need for Depth Over Numbers 40:59 The Importance of Proximity in Discipleship 43:52 Incorporating Life Rhythms into Discipleship 47:35 Vulnerability in the Discipleship Process 53:39 Legacy Conferences and Community Engagement

    1h 1m
  3. What 10 Years of Teaching Underserved Kids Taught My Sister About the Gospel | Carita Witmer

    FEB 25

    What 10 Years of Teaching Underserved Kids Taught My Sister About the Gospel | Carita Witmer

    Carita Witmer has been teaching elementary school in Lancaster City, PA for 10 years. Her school serves a student body that's 50% non-white — kids from immigrant families, unchurched homes, and backgrounds very different from the predominantly white Anabaptist staff that teaches them. She didn't arrive with a polished framework for cross-cultural discipleship. She arrived with a love for kids, a desire to serve the underserved, and a willingness to keep learning. In this episode, I sit down with my oldest sister to talk about: Her winding road into teaching (including a few false starts and one embarrassing sibling story) What it actually looks like to build trust and mutual respect across culture and ethnicity Why she's become more hesitant to demand eye contact from students What teaching in a public school taught her about what Christian education offers that secular SEL curriculum doesn't The quiet privilege most of us don't notice we carry And why she's become more and more convinced that "we all need Jesus" applies just as much — maybe more — to the church kids This isn't a high-energy interview with a platform-building influencer. It's a conversation with a faithful, thoughtful woman who has spent a decade doing the quiet, unglamorous work of discipleship in a classroom.  Read the full blog post and show notes here. Chapters 02:52 Carita's Journey into Teaching 09:43 Early Teaching Experiences 14:05 Transition to Pennsylvania and Way of Jesus Academy 21:49 Understanding Student Diversity 25:11 Fostering Respect and Kindness in the Classroom 37:07 Building Trust with Diverse Families 41:10 The Role of Faith in Education 48:21 The Importance of Community Support 52:18 The Journey of Personal Growth in Teaching

    56 min
  4. What’s Really Happening in Minneapolis? A Firsthand Conversation

    FEB 18

    What’s Really Happening in Minneapolis? A Firsthand Conversation

    It’s easy to react to headlines. It’s harder to listen. In this episode, I talk with my cousin Sonya, who lives and works in Minneapolis, about the recent ICE activity and what it looks like from someone actually there. We discuss immigration enforcement, fear within immigrant communities, how local churches are responding, and how Christians can navigate these conversations without living in an echo chamber. This isn’t about outrage. It’s about proximity. If we want to love others well, we have to understand their lived experience. Also, if you would like to help provide rent support for people affected by the activity, you can do so through this GoFundMe campaign. Grace and peace. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context of Minneapolis Events 04:49 Sonya's Journey to Minneapolis and Counseling Career 07:48 Life in Minneapolis: Community and Environment 10:43 Involvement with Immigrant Families and Community Support 13:39 Understanding ICE Activities and Community Impact 16:36 Personal Stories and Experiences with Detention 19:45 Legal and Ethical Concerns Surrounding ICE Operations 22:32 Fear and Anxiety Among Immigrant Families 34:06 Understanding the Hostility of Immigration 35:41 Demographics of Immigrants in Minnesota 37:29 Fraud Cases and ICE Presence in Minneapolis 42:05 Protests and Community Response to ICE 45:58 Christian Community's Involvement and Support 50:37 Misconceptions About Immigrants 52:32 The Human Rights Crisis and Community Support 57:17 Ways to Help Immigrants in Minneapolis

    1h 4m
  5. 7 Dangerous Teachings Shaping the Church Today

    FEB 14

    7 Dangerous Teachings Shaping the Church Today

    Some teachings sound biblical. They use Scripture. They feel familiar. They often come from trusted voices. But when you look closely… they aren’t rooted in Jesus as revealed through the Scriptures. In this episode, I walk through seven dangerous teachings quietly shaping the church right now—from Christian nationalism and Zionism to the Jezebel spirit, same-sex marriage, head coverings, racial myths, and how we address habitual sin. (You can read the article version here.) This is not about policing pastors. It’s not about hunting heresy. It’s about becoming theologically anchored. Because anything that distracts us from becoming like Jesus— even if it sounds spiritual— is dangerous. Grace and peace. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Unfeigned Christianity 02:19 The Importance of Theological Anchoring 09:45 Seven Dangerous Teachings in the Church 10:33 The United States as a Christian Nation 22:02 The Head Covering and Submission 29:12 Accountability to Christ 29:15 The Curse of Ham Myth 34:40 Consequences of the Curse of Ham Myth 36:45 The Jezebel Spirit 48:00 Understanding Rebellion and Authority

    1h 18m
  6. Why I Almost Quit—and Why I’m Beginning Again

    JAN 21

    Why I Almost Quit—and Why I’m Beginning Again

    I almost quit. After a long season of health challenges, burnout, and disillusionment, I came close to walking away from writing, podcasting, and this work altogether. In this episode, I share what brought me to that edge—and what pulled me back. This episode marks a reset for Unfeigned Christianity as we begin 2026. We talk about why the church desperately needs to be theologically anchored, why emotional health is essential for discipleship, and how we are often being formed more by media and politics than by the way of Jesus. This isn’t a polished manifesto. It’s an honest conversation. If you’re longing for a faith that is grounded, emotionally healthy, and capable of loving others well—this journey is for you. *You can read the written version of this episode here.  Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back and Personal Updates 01:18 Introducing Zara Aurielle 02:47 Reflecting on the Past Year 04:40 Upcoming Interviews and Themes 09:06 The Importance of Theological Anchoring 17:54 The Need for Emotional Health 27:10 Loving and Discipling Others Well If you’re tired of shallow faith, reactive Christianity, or pretending everything is fine—this space is for you. Join the email list Become a member  Subscribe for upcoming interviews and teaching Grace and peace.

    46 min
  7. You Weren’t Meant to Heal Alone: The Live Free Mentorship Journey

    11/25/2025

    You Weren’t Meant to Heal Alone: The Live Free Mentorship Journey

    After Rewiring Desire, one question remains: Can I really change—and can I do it alone? In this episode, Asher shares an important announcement: enrollment is now open for the Live Free Mentorship Community—a 5-month guided journey toward sexual and spiritual wholeness. This isn’t another accountability group. It’s a safe, grace-filled space to process your story, rewire old patterns, and experience the connection your heart was made for. You’ll learn: Why isolation keeps you stuck What makes Live Free different What’s included inside the mentorship A special Black Friday offer for early members You don’t need to be perfect to begin—just willing. Join the community: https://www.asherwitmer.com/the-live-free-mentorship-community/

    3 min
  8. From Escape to Connection: How to Heal Porn Patterns (Biblical + Practical)

    11/22/2025

    From Escape to Connection: How to Heal Porn Patterns (Biblical + Practical)

    Freedom isn’t about a flawless record. It’s about connection in the moment of pain. In Part 3, we get practical: unblending from Exile/Manager/Firefighter, using simple daily practices to calm your nervous system, and building secure attachment with God and safe people. Learn why willpower fails, how neuroplasticity helps, and how to turn relapse into relationship—so your automatic response becomes “I’m hurting → I connect.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healing and Rewiring Desire 00:48 Understanding Internal Parts and Their Roles 02:20 Identifying the Root Causes of Pain 03:37 Neuroscience of Healing and Rewiring the Brain 05:18 Setbacks and the Journey to Wholeness 06:10 Community and Support in the Healing Process Resources & updates: Join the email list for the next Live Free Mentorship Community cohort: asherwitmer.com/subscribe The “F” Word

    8 min
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About

Becoming Christians who are theologically anchored, emotionally healthy, and loving others well.

Information

  • Creator
    Asher Witmer
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Asher Witmer
  • Show Website
    Unfeigned Christianity

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