Jen Hatmaker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Unlikely as Jen built a church already in her own image and even that isn't something she participates in anymore.

X1000. This is as sad as it is true.

Jen didn’t “build” a church she was married to the guy who built it and her brand honestly. Isn’t is obvious at this point? I’m not supporting what Brandon did that short circuited their marriage but take a look at what’s happening since he’s gone. It’s evident. I think many were fooled by the Jen Hatmaker. It’s truly a shame honestly. I feel bad for their kids and for all of the “jenions” that have put their hearts and pocketbooks behind her believing they were following a righteous person.

Jen was the engine behind it all. The dramatic departure from the mega church Brandon worked at in Austin, the formation of ANC in the aftermath. They, really she, created an origin story that only flattered themselves. In their wake, though, they caused a lot of division and heartbreak and confusion. This division and heartbreak and confusion followed them to ANC, of course. Division, heartbreak, and confusion are their real “brand”.

that sounds a lot like the enemy's real "brand" Perhaps the Hell fire and Brimstone naysayers are here too put their two sense in?

[Anonymous]

Brandon in no way built Jen’s brand. Sure, the church and her marriage were essential to the foundation of her brand but do not undermine a woman’s work like that.

What’s happening now is Jen is spiralling post divorce. Again, that doesn’t mean Brandon built her brand. It means for whatever reason, Jen is doing poorly at capitalizing on her life now. Brandon leaving dropped her authenticity points hardcore since we knew her recent bragging about the marriage were lies. Still, people were emphatic to her.

As time went on, it became clear that no one was going to pity Queen Jen. She almost immediately had to go on the offensive letting everyone know that she still had the best life. Her qualities were still so incredible and alluring that Prince Charming emerged straight from Royal Fantasydom to worship her. Together, they immediately created a relationship that was better than her marriage, better than any young person’s relationship, better than any poor person’s relationship.

She had to be the expert in healing. She had to be the fastest at, best and most hardworking at it.

Jen also got greedy. Rather than give her true vulnerabilities space to breath in her narrative, she went for quick financial fixes in code shilling and tacky promotions of “taboo” subjects designed to stir up fake outrage.

Her kids seem absolutely fine and they clearly all adore her so feeling bad for them seems ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in a similar place as Jen - divorcing a cheating husband after getting blindsided. It is a really tough road and I feel for her. I can't imagine being on a public platform during all of this. That said, while I empathize with her, I am not relating to her at all. I dated plenty before marriage and I handled our finances, so I have a different experience with all that. But that's not it. I think it's her tone. The "I am so great and so healed and so good at adulting now, guys. So good that I will now be teaching adulting classes!" Jen, this is a huge life change and a very big deal. It's OK to not be OK. I guess I would relate to her if she was more humble and honest about that, and authentically shared her experience. And let the actual experts shine instead of drowning them out with prattling.

For example, I think there's a huge value in teaching women to own and understand their finances. That is a really important course. But the tone of the Me Course marketing is such a turnoff. To much focus on Jen (ME! New Money Expert Jen!) rather than the actual expert.

I totally agree with you. I also am in the same spot and I just can't do it with her. I want to, because I want to like her, but it's her arrogance and self importance that just kills it for me. It's like she actually feels like (or believes) she knows what is best for everyone and that she has the answers. But clearly she's fooling even herself, and her boyfriend, oh my, he's using her. I feel so bad for her at this point. I pray she wakes up and walks from that creep before she gets hurt worse. Also, why aren't her close friends telling her this stuff? The poor lady?

I’m another who agrees with both of you. I’m 5 years out and still healing- her presenting as an expert on anything rings not only hollow, but predatory.

[Anonymous]

her smacking that gummy on camera and the wrong one at that. she's so sloppy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brandon in no way built Jen’s brand. Sure, the church and her marriage were essential to the foundation of her brand but do not undermine a woman’s work like that.
.

Maybe, but someone who was involved in her brand, must no longer be advising her on her brand. Because she is in absolute free fall. Either that, or she is in very dire financial straits. There is no other explanation to me for selling gummies, a sex course, a recipe book, some valentine’s merch, Beauty Counter etc etc in the course of two months.

[Anonymous]

Which megachurch did Brandon work at in Austin?

[Anonymous]

Just saw the gummy video and LOL

Genuinely funny that she took the wrong one while talking about how they keep her so mentally on track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which megachurch did Brandon work at in Austin?

Lake Hills Church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which megachurch did Brandon work at in Austin?

Lake Hills Church

Brandon was in staff for a couple of years, Jen was a popular teacher for women who had started publishing Bible studies.

The Hatmakers eventually decided, though, that Lake Hills was only about a shallow, consumerist faith and had lost their way.

But happily, the Hatmakers had it all figured out and knew the way correct forward towards a better, more vibrant, more missional, more
faithful Christianity.

So they caused a bit of a ruckus and with a lot of dumb drama left Lake Hills and started ANC and took a lot of congregants with them.

Now Jen doesn’t go to church anymore and talks about sex toys on Instagram.

[Anonymous]

I've been watching Beth Moore interviews today (her memoir just came out) and I know she and Jen used to be friendly and perhaps still are. But you just cannot watch Beth and not be struck by the difference between someone who is a genuine adult and has done the work to come to terms with how she's been failed and how she has failed, and Jen. It is night and day.

[Anonymous]

Beth Moore always had the grift on. I noticed it when she was charging church ladies 10+ years ago to “stream” her sermons in churches. So everyone would pay for a ticket to watch a livestream. These others are just following in her footsteps. With different angles.

[Anonymous]

I’d like to share my story and I will not be back here for awhile as I’m giving up judgement and snark for lent…seriously. But my story is similar to Jen’s, i think that’s why I follow it. I followed my brother and his wife into Progressive Christianity, 2018-2019,I had looked up to them, they were “sold out for Jesus people” my whole life. I started to deconstruct my faith(2019), started building my ego, seeing Conservative Christianity as the enemy. I wound up getting divorced, drinking too much, went into a Godless relationship where we had lots of sex, drank, trips, etc. I portrayed the image of “ I found myself “ and “I’m loving life” I lived for myself. What started with Progressive Christianity, I found I could live as I wanted, no repentance, I was the one harmed by conservative Christianity right?
I wound up alone, people used me to project their feelings about religion onto me, I was used sexually, I had no real friends or community anymore. But a couple people from my old church would come and help me, fix things in my new condo, talk with me, and I know they prayed for me. I started going to 12 step groups for addiction. And guess what? It led me back to the very thing I was running from. I don’t subscribe to the title evangelical anymore, because of the baggage with it. But I had to repent, to change, God is very real. I experienced things that I will never share because people will think I’m crazy.
I guess that’s my story in a nutshell about my personal experience with Progressive Christianity. I know it might be different for others but I found it to be a false illusion that caused me to literally hate the real thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d like to share my story and I will not be back here for awhile as I’m giving up judgement and snark for lent…seriously. But my story is similar to Jen’s, i think that’s why I follow it. I followed my brother and his wife into Progressive Christianity, 2018-2019,I had looked up to them, they were “sold out for Jesus people” my whole life. I started to deconstruct my faith(2019), started building my ego, seeing Conservative Christianity as the enemy. I wound up getting divorced, drinking too much, went into a Godless relationship where we had lots of sex, drank, trips, etc. I portrayed the image of “ I found myself “ and “I’m loving life” I lived for myself. What started with Progressive Christianity, I found I could live as I wanted, no repentance, I was the one harmed by conservative Christianity right?
I wound up alone, people used me to project their feelings about religion onto me, I was used sexually, I had no real friends or community anymore. But a couple people from my old church would come and help me, fix things in my new condo, talk with me, and I know they prayed for me. I started going to 12 step groups for addiction. And guess what? It led me back to the very thing I was running from. I don’t subscribe to the title evangelical anymore, because of the baggage with it. But I had to repent, to change, God is very real. I experienced things that I will never share because people will think I’m crazy.
I guess that’s my story in a nutshell about my personal experience with Progressive Christianity. I know it might be different for others but I found it to be a false illusion that caused me to literally hate the real thing.

Great story. Beautiful and redemptive.

What drives me crazy is that of course evangelical conservative Christianity has all sorts of horrible problems like spiritual abuse, corruption, hypocrisy, unchecked frauds and grifters. But you don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
Progressive Christianity in my experience isn’t a good alternative at all but it seems like the cool kids are into it right now. Feels like a phase.
I need a real Jesus who died for my sins and who loves me. I need to repent. Yes, God is very real. Amen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d like to share my story and I will not be back here for awhile as I’m giving up judgement and snark for lent…seriously. But my story is similar to Jen’s, i think that’s why I follow it. I followed my brother and his wife into Progressive Christianity, 2018-2019,I had looked up to them, they were “sold out for Jesus people” my whole life. I started to deconstruct my faith(2019), started building my ego, seeing Conservative Christianity as the enemy. I wound up getting divorced, drinking too much, went into a Godless relationship where we had lots of sex, drank, trips, etc. I portrayed the image of “ I found myself “ and “I’m loving life” I lived for myself. What started with Progressive Christianity, I found I could live as I wanted, no repentance, I was the one harmed by conservative Christianity right?
I wound up alone, people used me to project their feelings about religion onto me, I was used sexually, I had no real friends or community anymore. But a couple people from my old church would come and help me, fix things in my new condo, talk with me, and I know they prayed for me. I started going to 12 step groups for addiction. And guess what? It led me back to the very thing I was running from. I don’t subscribe to the title evangelical anymore, because of the baggage with it. But I had to repent, to change, God is very real. I experienced things that I will never share because people will think I’m crazy.
I guess that’s my story in a nutshell about my personal experience with Progressive Christianity. I know it might be different for others but I found it to be a false illusion that caused me to literally hate the real thing.

Great story. Beautiful and redemptive.

What drives me crazy is that of course evangelical conservative Christianity has all sorts of horrible problems like spiritual abuse, corruption, hypocrisy, unchecked frauds and grifters. But you don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
Progressive Christianity in my experience isn’t a good alternative at all but it seems like the cool kids are into it right now. Feels like a phase.
I need a real Jesus who died for my sins and who loves me. I need to repent. Yes, God is very real. Amen.

You people are too much. You know there are billions of people around the world who aren’t Christians that live a good life, are generous and kind to people, aren’t addicted to drugs/alcohol and don’t sleep around?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d like to share my story and I will not be back here for awhile as I’m giving up judgement and snark for lent…seriously. But my story is similar to Jen’s, i think that’s why I follow it. I followed my brother and his wife into Progressive Christianity, 2018-2019,I had looked up to them, they were “sold out for Jesus people” my whole life. I started to deconstruct my faith(2019), started building my ego, seeing Conservative Christianity as the enemy. I wound up getting divorced, drinking too much, went into a Godless relationship where we had lots of sex, drank, trips, etc. I portrayed the image of “ I found myself “ and “I’m loving life” I lived for myself. What started with Progressive Christianity, I found I could live as I wanted, no repentance, I was the one harmed by conservative Christianity right?
I wound up alone, people used me to project their feelings about religion onto me, I was used sexually, I had no real friends or community anymore. But a couple people from my old church would come and help me, fix things in my new condo, talk with me, and I know they prayed for me. I started going to 12 step groups for addiction. And guess what? It led me back to the very thing I was running from. I don’t subscribe to the title evangelical anymore, because of the baggage with it. But I had to repent, to change, God is very real. I experienced things that I will never share because people will think I’m crazy.
I guess that’s my story in a nutshell about my personal experience with Progressive Christianity. I know it might be different for others but I found it to be a false illusion that caused me to literally hate the real thing.

Great story. Beautiful and redemptive.

What drives me crazy is that of course evangelical conservative Christianity has all sorts of horrible problems like spiritual abuse, corruption, hypocrisy, unchecked frauds and grifters. But you don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
Progressive Christianity in my experience isn’t a good alternative at all but it seems like the cool kids are into it right now. Feels like a phase.
I need a real Jesus who died for my sins and who loves me. I need to repent. Yes, God is very real. Amen.

You people are too much. You know there are billions of people around the world who aren’t Christians that live a good life, are generous and kind to people, aren’t addicted to drugs/alcohol and don’t sleep around?

I don't doubt that there are but all I can do is speak from my own experience as a Christian who's been legit saved by Christ's love. My family has too. I can't imagine living this life without him. I don't like the institutional church very much either but the church is Christ's bride and he loves her very very much and will never ever abandon her. I can't either.