How Free Are You?

I recently finished reading Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT* Rating: 2.75/5 stars

"Jinger Vuolo, the sixth child in the famous Duggar family of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On , recounts how she began to question the unhealthy ideology of her youth and learned to embrace true freedom in Christ. When Jinger Duggar Vuolo was growing up, she was convinced that obeying the rules was the key to success and God's favor. She zealously promoted the Basic Life Principles of Bill Gothard, Jinger, along with three of her sisters, wrote a New York Times bestseller about their religious convictions. She believed this level of commitment would guarantee God's blessing, even though in private she felt constant fear that she wasn't measuring up to the high standards demanded of her. In Becoming Free Indeed , Jinger shares how in her early twenties, a new family member—a brother-in-law who didn't grow up in the same tight-knit conservative circle as Jinger—caused her to examine her beliefs. He was committed to the Bible, but he didn't believe many of the things Jinger had always assumed were true. His influence, along with the help of a pastor named Jeremy Vuolo, caused Jinger to see that her life was built on rules, not God's Word. Jinger committed to studying the Bible—truly understanding it—for the first time. What resulted was an earth-shaking realization: much of what she'd always believed about God, obedience to His Word, and personal holiness wasn't in-line with what the Bible teaches. Now with a renewed faith of personal conviction, Becoming Free Indeed shares what it was like living under the tenants of Bill Gothard, the Biblical truth that changed her perspective, and how she disentangled her faith with her belief in Jesus intact."

Jinger is burdened by her conscience. It seems she is indeed freeing herself from this weight she carries for being a cute and trendy spokesmodel for IBLP and Bill Gothard.

The book is absolutely brim full of Bible passages. So many, that it was hard to stay with the book and her story at times.

The real trick for the reader is to determine if this is an out of the kettle and into the frying pan for Jinger and this book by tossing out Bill Gothard for John MacArthur. Is this an exchange from following one persuasive dude to the next one? The case could definitely be made for this.

This book is very much co-written by someone in Jeremy’s church, and Jinger’s voice does get lost in this man’s religious rhetoric.

What does seem clear is that Jinger is repenting from a few things:

1. She is pretty intent upon righting what she thinks she wronged by writing Growing Up Duggar with her sisters. She regrets and worries about any young lady she may have led astray with those IBLP principles (courting and modest clothing, etc) that she sees now is a bunch of malarkey.

2. To tell those Florida women prison inmates that she counseled when she was 15 that she probably got it a little wrong for them.

3. To urge anyone that is deconstructing their Christian faith based on her actions should consider disentangling it instead.

Social influencing comes in many different forms. There is a lot of money to be made when you are an “IT” girl. Jinger indeed has the secret sauce to IT-dom.

She has those good looks enhanced by a little California blonde in her hair. She has that cute little figure that eludes many new mamas. Her voice is soft. There is a magnetism to all of this. If I only do what Jinger says will I have all of the things Jinger has?

So, my friends, here is the real danger. Is Jinger stumping for John MacArthur, or is Jeremy getting ready to graduate and start his own church and she is pushing the new and improved model?

Money and financial gain is addictive. California blonde is expensive to maintain.

Are we really just seeing a new wave of Bill G and John M’s magnetism via Jinger’s social influence? It seems like a very slippery slope that Jinger is on telling others how wrong Bill G had it (yep), but is Jinger, or those she’s speaking for, have it absolutely right? Is there another book coming in 10 years telling us she had it wrong once more?

I wish someone would do the math and add up all the monies made by those Duggar kids and Bates kids on social media. It must be in the millions. How long can it last? It remains to be seen.

I think Jinger’s heart is in the right place but why not make (take??) a little money while she can, right?

Check out Revelle, and understand that magic always has a price. Happy Reading :)