Confessions of an ungodly cult leader Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:28:40 -0500 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2407208 en-gb © 2026 Confessions of an ungodly cult leader yes 3c8e70b8-095a-5801-b4d6-e11d350fec89 Matthew episodic false Confessions of two ex-members of the ICOC James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert - a former leader and a struggling bro. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Matthew https://storage.buzzsprout.com/ss2z0oi2enzt24eua0at28h49tn1?.jpg Confessions of an ungodly cult leader Why do people stay in Cults? Why do people stay in Cults? This was originally intended to be in two parts, but I decided to put them both together. If you are interested in "Deconstruction" resources that give different ways to understand the Bible , "God", and life generally, please check out my facebook page at Facebook.com/matthew.wolpert

]]> This was originally intended to be in two parts, but I decided to put them both together. If you are interested in "Deconstruction" resources that give different ways to understand the Bible , "God", and life generally, please check out my facebook page at Facebook.com/matthew.wolpert

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16324273 Sun, 22 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 3666 full false Checks and Balances Checks and Balances James and Matthew talk about money.

]]> James and Matthew talk about money.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16148941 Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:00:00 +0000 3170 full false Repentance Repentance Did ICOC leaders and members "repent" when so much was exposed after 2003?

]]> Did ICOC leaders and members "repent" when so much was exposed after 2003?

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16122948 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000 1752 full false Would You Do It Again? Would You Do It Again? If you could go back in time would you still join the ICOC, ICC or RCW?
**Warning - mentions of SA**

]]> If you could go back in time would you still join the ICOC, ICC or RCW?
**Warning - mentions of SA**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16104366 Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000 1922 full false Movements Begin in Caves and End in Cathedrals Movements Begin in Caves and End in Cathedrals Were the early days of the ICOC different to where it ended up?

]]> Were the early days of the ICOC different to where it ended up?

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16080332 Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000 1896 full false Leaders and Members - The Great Divide Leaders and Members - The Great Divide This episode is two conversations,  both relate to the divide between Leaders and Members. It felt appropriate to put them together. The first one was recorded on 16th September 2024, the second one on 5th September 2024.
**Warning - Discussion of SA**

]]> This episode is two conversations,  both relate to the divide between Leaders and Members. It felt appropriate to put them together. The first one was recorded on 16th September 2024, the second one on 5th September 2024.
**Warning - Discussion of SA**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16054338 Thu, 07 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0000 4767 full false Korban Korban Was/is  Korban an issue in the ICOC, ICC and RCW?

]]> Was/is  Korban an issue in the ICOC, ICC and RCW?

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16024769 Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2499 full false James Interviews Matthew Part 2 James Interviews Matthew Part 2 **Warning - Contains theology that might blow your mind**

]]> **Warning - Contains theology that might blow your mind**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16024702 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000 2152 full false James Interviews Matthew Part 1 James Interviews Matthew Part 1 James turns the tables on Matthew.

**Warning - Discussion of unaliving oneself**

]]> James turns the tables on Matthew.

**Warning - Discussion of unaliving oneself**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16024696 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0000 1856 full false I'm sorry but... Part 2 I'm sorry but... Part 2 Please listen to Part 1 first.

]]> Please listen to Part 1 first.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16001782 Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 1387 full false I'm sorry but... Part 1 I'm sorry but... Part 1 **Warning - discussion of SA and unaliving oneself**

]]> **Warning - discussion of SA and unaliving oneself**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-16001780 Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 2798 full false When a Cult Leader is Deprogrammed (recorded 9th September 2024) When a Cult Leader is Deprogrammed (recorded 9th September 2024) An Antidote to Legalism and Whatever else binds you. (16th February 2003)

Romans 13:8-10

Love is the fulfilment of the law. All the commands are summed up in that one command. I have at certain times believed that if I did this and didn’t do that, that was love. I do not  believe that to be the case. Though if you love you will carry out the commands, the converse is not true. What I mean is you can carry out the commands but not have love. Witness:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

You can even sacrifice your life but if you have not love you gain nothing. Love is greater than the sum total of the commands. We could baptise the whole world but if we have not love we  are nothing. Even the qualities of love that this passage describes are not love but rather attributes of love.

John 13:34-35

Jesus clearly states how men will know we are his disciples, it is not our righteousness, nor our zeal, nor our “fruit”. But it is by our love for each other. Would men know that we are disciples by our love for each other?

John 15:9-17

Do you want to remain in Jesus’s Love ? Then we must love one another.
Do you want Jesus’s joy to be  made complete in you?  Then we must love one another.

1 John 4:7-12

In order to know God, to be born of God, to have God live in us, and for God’s love to be made complete in us we must love one another. God is love.

Acts 20:36 – 21:1

An Example of the depth of relationship we can have is Paul leaving the Ephesians Elders. They wept  and grieved to see him go, he had to tear himself away.

Romans 12:9 and 1 Peter 1:22

Love must be sincere.

1 Timothy 1:5

The goal is love, it is not a means to an end, it is the end.

1 Peter 4:8

Love covers over a multitude of sins

Galatians 5:2-6

Though talking about circumcision, this passage, I believe, could refer to any form of legalism. It is clear the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. The only thing that counts.

My plea, before we do anything, we have to love one another, I have not been doing this, I am now beginning to as much as I am able and I believe God’s Spirit is pleased. Love Matthew Wolpert

And Finally
1 Thessalonians 3:12

https://www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert



]]> An Antidote to Legalism and Whatever else binds you. (16th February 2003)

Romans 13:8-10

Love is the fulfilment of the law. All the commands are summed up in that one command. I have at certain times believed that if I did this and didn’t do that, that was love. I do not  believe that to be the case. Though if you love you will carry out the commands, the converse is not true. What I mean is you can carry out the commands but not have love. Witness:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

You can even sacrifice your life but if you have not love you gain nothing. Love is greater than the sum total of the commands. We could baptise the whole world but if we have not love we  are nothing. Even the qualities of love that this passage describes are not love but rather attributes of love.

John 13:34-35

Jesus clearly states how men will know we are his disciples, it is not our righteousness, nor our zeal, nor our “fruit”. But it is by our love for each other. Would men know that we are disciples by our love for each other?

John 15:9-17

Do you want to remain in Jesus’s Love ? Then we must love one another.
Do you want Jesus’s joy to be  made complete in you?  Then we must love one another.

1 John 4:7-12

In order to know God, to be born of God, to have God live in us, and for God’s love to be made complete in us we must love one another. God is love.

Acts 20:36 – 21:1

An Example of the depth of relationship we can have is Paul leaving the Ephesians Elders. They wept  and grieved to see him go, he had to tear himself away.

Romans 12:9 and 1 Peter 1:22

Love must be sincere.

1 Timothy 1:5

The goal is love, it is not a means to an end, it is the end.

1 Peter 4:8

Love covers over a multitude of sins

Galatians 5:2-6

Though talking about circumcision, this passage, I believe, could refer to any form of legalism. It is clear the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. The only thing that counts.

My plea, before we do anything, we have to love one another, I have not been doing this, I am now beginning to as much as I am able and I believe God’s Spirit is pleased. Love Matthew Wolpert

And Finally
1 Thessalonians 3:12

https://www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert



]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15981098 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 23:00:00 +0100 2043 full false Church is an Open Forum Church is an Open Forum I thought it was appropriate, with all that is going on in the ICC and RCW (the newest iteration of the "Crossroads/Boston Movement"), to post this conversation with James, on September 27 2024, earlier than I had planned.

]]> I thought it was appropriate, with all that is going on in the ICC and RCW (the newest iteration of the "Crossroads/Boston Movement"), to post this conversation with James, on September 27 2024, earlier than I had planned.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15960705 Mon, 21 Oct 2024 08:00:00 +0100 2035 full false Confessions of an Ungodly Cult Leader - Livestream Group Discussion 01 Confessions of an Ungodly Cult Leader - Livestream Group Discussion 01 An unedited zoom group discussion that was livestreamed on Facebook.

]]> An unedited zoom group discussion that was livestreamed on Facebook.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15953273 Sat, 19 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0100 4418 full false Power is Intoxicating Power is Intoxicating This  conversation was recorded on 5th September 2024

There is a Livestream on my Facebook feed
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert
Saturday 19th October 
LA - 9am, New York - 12pm, London - 5pm, Singapore - Midnight. All questions, concerns, criticisms and encouragements welcome.

]]> This  conversation was recorded on 5th September 2024

There is a Livestream on my Facebook feed
https://www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert
Saturday 19th October 
LA - 9am, New York - 12pm, London - 5pm, Singapore - Midnight. All questions, concerns, criticisms and encouragements welcome.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15944716 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 2314 1 7 full false Al Baird explains why a cover-up is not a cover-up. Al Baird explains why a cover-up is not a cover-up. This is a recording of Al Baird around 2021/22 addressing a closed session of a group of older church members. These members were trying to gain clarity on the way the sin (it has not been disclosed exactly what the sin was) of a high ranking top leader, was handled and why it only came out 6 years later. 

I have removed all the names (the volume dips), including the church location, because really this could be anytime, any place in the history of the ICOC. 

This is how the sins of top leaders have always been handled - in secret and without the rank and file members ever being informed. And if the information does leak out, as it has here,  there are always calls to move on and accusations of bitterness or lack of trust if anyone dares to want more information or challenge any decision. 

I have two friends who were both publicly disfellowshipped twice for sexual immorality (having sex outside of marriage three times), one of them killed himself, not long after the second disfellowshipment. 

I have never heard of a top leader being publicly warned, let alone being disfellowshipped, but we now know that is not because of their "self-control" but because a corrupt system will always protect those who serve its interests.

]]> This is a recording of Al Baird around 2021/22 addressing a closed session of a group of older church members. These members were trying to gain clarity on the way the sin (it has not been disclosed exactly what the sin was) of a high ranking top leader, was handled and why it only came out 6 years later. 

I have removed all the names (the volume dips), including the church location, because really this could be anytime, any place in the history of the ICOC. 

This is how the sins of top leaders have always been handled - in secret and without the rank and file members ever being informed. And if the information does leak out, as it has here,  there are always calls to move on and accusations of bitterness or lack of trust if anyone dares to want more information or challenge any decision. 

I have two friends who were both publicly disfellowshipped twice for sexual immorality (having sex outside of marriage three times), one of them killed himself, not long after the second disfellowshipment. 

I have never heard of a top leader being publicly warned, let alone being disfellowshipped, but we now know that is not because of their "self-control" but because a corrupt system will always protect those who serve its interests.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15940105 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100 777 full false Comments on the Comments Comments on the Comments Ahead of the Livestream this Saturday, James comments on some of the comments from people who have been watching and listening to our podcast. **Warning - Discussion of SA** 
The livestream is this Saturday 19th October on www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert  at UK - 5pm, New York - 12pm, LA - 9am, Singapore - Midnight,  join us with any comments, concerns, criticisms, challenges and random thoughts - constructive or otherwise. All welcome!

]]> Ahead of the Livestream this Saturday, James comments on some of the comments from people who have been watching and listening to our podcast. **Warning - Discussion of SA** 
The livestream is this Saturday 19th October on www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert  at UK - 5pm, New York - 12pm, LA - 9am, Singapore - Midnight,  join us with any comments, concerns, criticisms, challenges and random thoughts - constructive or otherwise. All welcome!

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15936251 Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0100 2633 1 7 full false One Lord, One Faith, Three Baptisms One Lord, One Faith, Three Baptisms After a short discussion about the previous episode - Last Principles.  James Lloyd talks about how baptisms were used in the ICOC.

]]> After a short discussion about the previous episode - Last Principles.  James Lloyd talks about how baptisms were used in the ICOC.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15920028 Mon, 14 Oct 2024 03:00:00 +0100 2497 1 6 full false Last Principles Last Principles In the ICOC and ICC there was a series of studies called "First Principles" (or Guard the Gospel in the UK) which every member had to do before being baptised. James Lloyd talks about how, behind the scenes "Last Principles" were actually at work.  He took the title of this episode from this YouTube channel which also deals with the ICOC - www.youtube.com/@LastPrinciples
**Warning - Discussion of SA**

]]> In the ICOC and ICC there was a series of studies called "First Principles" (or Guard the Gospel in the UK) which every member had to do before being baptised. James Lloyd talks about how, behind the scenes "Last Principles" were actually at work.  He took the title of this episode from this YouTube channel which also deals with the ICOC - www.youtube.com/@LastPrinciples
**Warning - Discussion of SA**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15895349 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0100 1606 1 5 full false The Original Sin of The Movement - Part 2 The Original Sin of The Movement - Part 2 The second part of the discussion of the abuse and dishonesty that was laid at the foundation of the ICOC and ICC.
**Warning discussion of SA**

]]> The second part of the discussion of the abuse and dishonesty that was laid at the foundation of the ICOC and ICC.
**Warning discussion of SA**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15881769 Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0100 2015 1 4 full false The Original Sin of The Movement - Part 1 The Original Sin of The Movement - Part 1 After some concluding thoughts on "the Curse of the Church of Christ" James Lloyd talks about "The Original Sin" of the movement, both in the ICOC and ICC, that was laid at its very foundation.
**Warning - Discussion of SA**

]]> After some concluding thoughts on "the Curse of the Church of Christ" James Lloyd talks about "The Original Sin" of the movement, both in the ICOC and ICC, that was laid at its very foundation.
**Warning - Discussion of SA**

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15862377 Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0100 2065 1 3 full true The Curse of the Church of Christ The Curse of the Church of Christ I believe this episode could be called "The Curse of Christiantity" as so many of the issues that we talk about regarding the ICOC, ICC and COC are found in many aspects of Christian teaching.

]]> I believe this episode could be called "The Curse of Christiantity" as so many of the issues that we talk about regarding the ICOC, ICC and COC are found in many aspects of Christian teaching.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15839719 Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0100 1814 1 2 full false Shut up or you'll get us both fired! Shut up or you'll get us both fired! This is the first in a series of conversations between James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert regarding the ICOC and ICC.

]]> This is the first in a series of conversations between James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert regarding the ICOC and ICC.

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15823742 Thu, 26 Sep 2024 22:00:00 +0100 1788 full false Kip and the Nanny Kip and the Nanny This is an impromptu discussion between James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert regarding the situation with Kip Mckean and his nanny that was recently revealed. The next podcast will begin the series officially. 

]]> This is an impromptu discussion between James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert regarding the situation with Kip Mckean and his nanny that was recently revealed. The next podcast will begin the series officially. 

]]> Matthew Buzzsprout-15804330 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 02:00:00 +0100 2451 1 1 full true