How Jinger Duggar Vuolo Found Freedom from Legalism
By Movieguide® Contributor
19 KIDS AND COUNTING star Jinger Duggar Vuolo shared her story of recognizing and breaking free from the false biblical teachings she grew up under.
“My parents always told us about Jesus and that salvation is a free gift of God,” she said on TAKEAWAYS WITH KIRK CAMERON. “It’s a beautiful thing to have that foundation for life, and sadly, we had this other teaching coming in from the side that was kind of confusing.”
Vuolo explained that some of the things she was being taught were “not all based in the Bible…you would have elements of truth mixed with error.”
For example, she was told women shouldn’t move out of their parents’ house before marriage or work outside the home.
There were also wardrobe restrictions — “I thought that if you wore sleeveless shirts that would be terribly sinful, or if you wore pants, you’re definitely sinning against God.”
Vuolo said these “fear-based teachings” left her with “a lot of uncertainty.”
“I would view God as always out to get me for something I maybe didn’t even know I was doing wrong,” she said. “I think for many people it’s unthinkable that you could get caught up in a system like this, especially when you do love God.”
Vuolo started questioning these fear-based methods after meeting future-husband Jeremy Vuolo. As the couple’s relationship became more serious, they started listening to tapes of her church’s teachings, and Jeremy would often stop the tape to ask her, “Does it line up [with the Bible]? Is this Bible teaching?”
“It was really freeing for me because I started to see more of the character and nature of God,” she said. “The Lord used Jeremy in that. I just saw his commitment and love for Jesus, but it wasn’t based on all these rules and standards.”
Vuolo worked to “disentangle” her faith from these regulations that didn’t serve her relationship with God and is now encouraging others to do the same.
“God is a loving heavenly Father who’s not just waiting to smite you if you step outside the box for something you didn’t know you did,” she shared. “Looking to God’s word and believing it and trusting in the finished work of Christ is what’s going to bring that freedom.”
Vuolo has also outlined her faith journey in her new book, “Becoming Free Indeed: .”
“I am just so grateful every day for just the freedom that I’ve found,” she told People about the lessons she learned from writing the book. “I think the freedom being one that I’ve said over and over, though, but it really is not this freedom from I’m going to throw off all of my religion in my relationship with Jesus. But I still hold that as what is most important to me, and that’s what I value the most.”
Vuolo shared passages from “Becoming Free Indeed” on Instagram.
“So many I know and love have decided Christianity is not for them…They assume God is oppressive and overbearing,” she wrote. “I wrote my book, ‘Becoming Free Indeed,’ because I want my friends in this situation to know that God truly is compassionate and loving. He cares for them. He sees their pain.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the Vuolos:
Jinger Duggar Vuolo and her husband Jeremy Vuolo recently discussed parenting and how to raise their children to become people of faith.
“When [you] become a parent, you have to start thinking more intentionally now that you’re raising little people,” Jeremy told Kirk Cameron. “So that has spurred some really good conversations for me and Jinger, just, ‘What are we going to emphasize in their life? What are we going to promote? What direction are we going to encourage them to go, whether it’s their or career or education?’”
In all of these decisions, Jinger and Jeremy want to root themselves in the word of the Lord. They understand that the wisdom of the Lord is best and the way of the Lord is best, and to raise children of God, they need to seek God first.
“[We] just [want] to stay rooted in the word of God as our guidepost for not only our lives but for theirs as well,” Jeremy said.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
