How Evangelical Christianity Destroyed My Self-Worth #exvangelical

I spent 15 years as an evangelical pastor. I preached original sin. I taught total depravity. I believed that humanity was separated from God because of Adam’s sin and that apart from Christ there was nothing truly good in us. Today, I want to talk about something I rarely hear discussed: what those beliefs can do to a person’s mental health and sense of self-worth. This isn’t a video attacking Christians or saying faith is harmful. Millions of people find hope, healing, and purpose through their faith. I’m talking specifically about the version of evangelical theology I lived, taught, and defended for years. When you’re raised believing you were born deserving hell… When you’re told your heart is deceitful… When you’re taught that even your best works are like “filthy rags” before God… When every struggle becomes evidence that you’re still broken… Those ideas don’t just shape your theology. They shape your identity. As a former youth pastor, I often wonder how these teachings affected the teenagers sitting in my youth group. How many carried shame into adulthood because they believed there was something fundamentally wrong with them? In this video I share my personal experience, why leaving evangelicalism changed the way I viewed myself, and why I believe conversations about theology should also include conversations about psychology and mental health. I’d love to hear your experience in the comments. Whether you’re still a Christian, you’ve left the church, or you’re somewhere in between, let’s have an honest conversation with respect for one another. ⸻ #deconstruction #evangelical #mentalhealth