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Faith on the Fringe

Faith on the Fringe

Written by: Leah Steele Barnett/Malaine Lea Butler
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The Bible is stranger, darker, and more glorious than you were taught. Let's talk about it.

Faith on the Fringe is where Leah Steele Barnett and Malaine Lea Butler explore the supernatural biblical worldview that most modern churches have quietly shelved. Spirit-Filled. Bible-Obsessed. Slightly Unhinged.

The Divine Council. Fallen Watchers. The Nephilim. Pre-flood history. Spiritual warfare with real teeth. We bring the scholarship, the Spirit, and zero religious performance.

We are not doom-scrolling through Revelation or building bunkers. This is a Kingdom-forward conversation rooted in the belief that God's story is bigger, wilder, and more victorious than mainstream theology has made room for.

For the believers who never stopped asking questions. For the Christ-followers who want the whole Bible, not just the comfortable parts.

MEET THE HOSTS OF FAITH ON THE FRINGE

LEAH STEELE BARNETT

Faith-led cultural commentator, AI educator, and host of The Culture Cast operating at the intersection of technology, culture, and Kingdom stewardship. She examines cultural deception, belief systems, and power structures through a biblical lens. She is pattern-oriented, allergic to hype, and built for the kind of theology that doesn't flinch. On The Fringe, she brings the research, the receipts, and a refusal to let comfortable doctrine go unchallenged.

MALAINE LEA BUTLER

Deliverance-driven disciple of Jesus Christ who walked out of the New Age and into radical transformation through the power of the Gospel. Host of Kingdom Talk and founder of Eden House, she creates space for raw, deep, and confrontational conversations that call hearts into full surrender and freedom in Christ. On The Fringe, she brings fire, spiritual authority, and zero tolerance for religious performance.

 Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • The New Apostolic Reformation Exposed: The Hidden History of Fivefold Ministry

    The New Apostolic Reformation Exposed: The Hidden History of Fivefold Ministry
    May 6 2026
    What if one of the most widely taught leadership frameworks in charismatic Christianity was never actually in the Bible? In this episode of Faith on the Fringe, Leah and Malaine trace the hidden history of the Fivefold Ministry, the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers hierarchy taught across many Pentecostal and charismatic spaces. They begin with Ephesians 4, and how one section of Scripture became the foundation for an entire church government model. From there, they follow the language of Fivefold Ministry back through British Israelism, John Alexander Dowie, the Latter Rain movement, and the New Apostolic Reformation. This conversation exposes how a modern framework became dressed in ancient apostolic language, why servant leadership matters, how spiritual authority can turn into control, and why believers must learn to trace teachings back to their roots. They also close with a practical three-question framework for testing any church teaching, plus a soul ties renunciation prayer for anyone who has been spiritually bound to unhealthy authority structures.Link to the soul tie renunciation prayer here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BOOPfOrV4kpNfuYdfxsVNruoz06upFityEc0SdOlzqc/edit?usp=sharing “Truth does not need protection from scrutiny. Only deception does.” -Leah Steele Barnett Key Takeaways The phrase Fivefold Ministry does not appear in Scripture, even though Ephesians 4 is often used to defend the framework.Ephesians 4 describes gifts given to equip the body of Christ, not a hierarchy of spiritual offices ruling over the church.The word “until” in Ephesians 4 matters because it points toward maturity in the body, not permanent institutional control.The modern Fivefold Ministry framework traces through historical streams many believers have never been taught to examine.British Israelism shaped parts of early restorationist and Pentecostal language in ways that still echo through modern charismatic systems.The New Apostolic Reformation systematized Fivefold language into a global church leadership model.Jesus taught servant leadership, humility, and direct access to the Father, not spiritual gatekeeping through human offices.Any teaching presented as biblical truth should be tested by Scripture, history, fruit, and whether it builds up the whole body of Christ. Featured Scripture Ephesians 4:11-13 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Application: Ephesians 4 is the central passage used to defend Fivefold Ministry, but the text itself points toward equipping the saints and building the body into maturity. It does not name a permanent hierarchy. It does not use the phrase Fivefold Ministry. It does not place apostles at the top of a governmental chain. The passage is beautiful, functional, and body-focused. The problem begins when a framework is laid over the text and treated as if it is the text. Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Faith on the Fringe0:51 – Is This Teaching Actually Biblical?2:36 – Ephesians 4: What It Actually Says4:09 – The Hierarchy Claim: Who Gets Authority?5:26 – What Happens When You Question This?8:55 – The Word Until Changes Everything13:27 – Gifts of Persons, Not Titles or Offices18:26 – The Phrase That's Not in Your Bible20:04 – Where the Term Really Came From24:09 – British Israelism & Christian Nationalism27:45 – Latter Rain & New Apostolic Reformation33:08 – What Paul Was Actually Describing38:05 – Jesus on Servant Leadership40:55 – The Gentile Model Jesus Rejected47:17 – How the Enemy Works Inside the Church50:15 – The Occult Parallel No One Wants to See54:57 – Gatekeeping Access to God1:01:38 – When Questioning = Rebellion: Red Flag1:06:32 – The New Denomination No One Admits1:12:44 – 3 Questions to Test Any Church Teaching1:19:51 – Soul Ties Renunciation Prayer1:33:05 – Christ Is Enough. You Don't Need the System. Resources and Connect Faith on the Fringe: Substack: https://faithonthefringe.substack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithonthefringepodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithonthefringepodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithontheFringeEmail: help@faithonthefringepodcast.com Leah Steele Barnett: Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/3WscgNeThe Cul✞ure Cast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-cast/id1797035500Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleahsteeleA House of Health: https://www.instagram.com/ahouseofhealthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsteeleofficialX: https://x.com/theleahsteele Malaine Lea Butler: Kingdom Talk Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kingdom-talk-podcast-with-malaine/id1813854951Eden House: https://...
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    1 hr and 35 mins
  • Christian Witchcraft: False Prophets, Spiritual Narcissism & Religious Trauma w/ Hector Gonzalez

    Christian Witchcraft: False Prophets, Spiritual Narcissism & Religious Trauma w/ Hector Gonzalez
    May 3 2026
    What if the most dangerous deception in the church is wearing Christian language, quoting Scripture, and calling itself discernment? In this episode of Faith on the Fringe, Leah and Malaine sit down with Hector Gonzalez, evangelist, founder of Theology Wars, and one of the boldest voices confronting spiritual deception inside modern Christianity today. Hector came to faith at 15 after surviving abuse connected to the church, grew up with Santeria in his family lineage, and has spent years in missions, evangelism, spiritual warfare, and theological training. He brings the kind of perspective this conversation demands: spirit-filled, biblically serious, and unwilling to flatter a broken church system. Together, they talk about Christian witchcraft, false prophets, spiritual narcissism, religious trauma, charismatic manipulation, the Python spirit in Acts 16, Jezebel, church hurt, Christian deconstruction, and why so many believers can sense something is wrong but do not always have the language to name it. This conversation is a call to test the fruit, search the Scriptures, and stop confusing supernatural performance with submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. Featured Quote “The biggest, most protective thing that you could do in your life is to actually seriously follow God.” -Hector Gonzalez Listen to Hector's episode with Leah on The Culture Cast - https://pod.link/1797035500/episode/ODljOWY5OTctNDJmMS00NjYxLWI5NzUtYjM5MzAwYzY2N2NjKey Takeaways False prophets are not always easy to spot, especially when they know how to use Christian language, spiritual authority, and charismatic performance.The Python spirit in Acts 16 gives believers a biblical pattern for testing what sounds true but may be operating from the wrong spirit.Spiritual narcissism thrives when leaders become untouchable, unquestionable, and protected by the very systems they are supposed to shepherd.Church hurt and religious trauma are driving many people into Christian deconstruction, especially when counterfeit spirituality misrepresents Jesus.Charismatic witchcraft is not the same as the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are real, but they must remain fully submitted to Christ.Healthy leadership welcomes honest questions, biblical accountability, transparency, and correction.Discernment grows through intimacy with the Lord, knowledge of Scripture, and the courage to test the fruit without falling into fear. Featured Scripture Acts 16:16-18 “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.” Application: The girl in Acts 16 was saying words that sounded true, but Paul still discerned the spirit behind them. That matters deeply in the modern charismatic church. Accuracy alone does not prove purity. Supernatural language does not prove submission. Believers are called to test the spirit, examine the fruit, and stay anchored to the Lord Jesus Christ rather than being moved by gifting, intensity, or platform. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction: Faith on the Fringe0:48 – Deception in the Church: The Warning2:25 – Meet Hector Gonzalez: Theology Wars5:02 – Hector's Story: Santeria & Spiritual War9:19 – Equipping Christians to Defend Their Faith11:16 – Why Christians Don't Know What They Believe15:40 – The Python Spirit Pattern in Church24:37 – How Church Leaders Fall Into Pride & Sin35:46 – Wolves in the Church: Intentional?39:27 – Red Flags: Control & Manipulation45:35 – What Is Heresy? Navigating Denominations53:03 – The Future of the Church: New Structures1:07:26 – Deconstruction & the Modern Church Crisis1:10:04 – Why Christians Are Walking Away From Faith1:24:43 – How to Spot False Leaders: Red Flags1:33:01 – What Healthy Church Leadership Looks Like1:41:55 – How to Pursue God With Discernment Resources and Connect Hector Gonzalez: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrioticpuertorican?igsh=dTQxMWkwa2t5ZDEz&utm_source=qrFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17T9EiBUvi/?mibextid=wwXIfrTheology Wars: https://theologywars.org/ Faith on the Fringe: Substack: https://faithonthefringe.substack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithonthefringepodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithonthefringepodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithontheFringeEmail: help@faithonthefringepodcast.com Leah Steele Barnett: The Cul✞ure Cast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-cast/id1797035500Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleahsteeleA House of Health: https://www.instagram.com/ahouseofhealthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/...
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Witchcraft to Jesus: Our Testimonies

    Witchcraft to Jesus: Our Testimonies
    Apr 26 2026
    The kingdom of darkness pays in favor and blessing while collecting the bill from your life force. In this episode we tell you our stories and share how we came out of witchcraft and the occult, and what changed on the other side. This is supernatural testimony from two former New Agers who went all the way in. We talk about how we both got pulled in, what was running underneath the new age life that nobody on the outside could see, and what the cost actually was. We talk about the difference between the favor of the kingdom of darkness and the favor of the Lord, why the church keeps losing seekers to the new age, and what shifted when we finally said yes to Jesus. If you're in the New Age right now and you're starting to wonder if the cost is worth it, this is the episode for you. "The enemy grants favor and blessing, but there is always a price to be paid. Typically that price is your life force. There is still a blood sacrifice in the devil's kingdom. It's your blood, and you pay that price one way or another." -Leah Steele Barnett Key Takeaways Not every blessing is from God. The wrong father gives uncanny favor too.The enemy comes to collect. Every agreement has a payment due, and the bill is your life force.Jesus is the deeper supernatural the new age was counterfeiting the whole time.The church loses seekers to the new age because the new age is delivering signs and wonders the church stopped operating in.Longevity in church doesn't equal spiritual maturity. Maturity yields authority.Witches are in the pulpits, the pews, and the personal development industry. Discernment is the discipline. Featured Scripture John 16:13 (NASB) "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." Application: The Holy Spirit is the one who leads believers into all truth. That includes the truth about what we were doing in the New Age, the truth about who held our covering then, and the truth about who holds it now. Both of our exits started the same way: the Spirit revealed what had been hidden, and we couldn't unsee it. The deception in the kingdom of darkness is real, and the only way out is the One who is Truth. Timestamps [00:00] Journey from New Age to Christ[05:40] Conspiracy Theories and Truth Seeking[10:54] When the Church Won't Answer Hard Questions[19:00] Christian Testimonies: Our Radical Encounters with God[26:45] Personal Testimonies and Radical Encounters[30:49] Leah's Testimony: From Salt Lake City to the Occult[33:08] The Duality of Life: Success and Spiritual Disconnection[39:01] Witchcraft, Voodoo, and Ifa: How Deep We Actually Went[45:14] Blood Sacrifice and the True Cost of Dark Favor[51:42] Awakening to Truth: The Deception of the New Age[57:28] Deliverance from Witchcraft and Spiritual Warfare: Your Protection Resources and Connect Faith on the Fringe: Substack: https://faithonthefringe.substack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithonthefringepodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithonthefringepodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithontheFringeEmail: help@faithonthefringepodcast.com Leah Steele Barnett: Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/3WscgNeThe Culture Cast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-cast/id1797035500Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleahsteeleA House of Health: https://www.instagram.com/ahouseofhealthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahsteeleofficialX: https://x.com/theleahsteele Malaine Lea Butler: Kingdom Talk Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kingdom-talk-podcast-with-malaine/id1813854951Eden House: https://www.theedenhouse.coInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/malaine_lea_butlerEden House IG: https://www.instagram.com/xoedenhouseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15kz1zU1XL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Scriptures for Further Study John 8:32. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The exit from the New Age starts with truth.Romans 8:28. All things work together for good for those who love God. Both of our years in the New Age included.Mark 8:36. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. The wealth witch era in one verse.2 Corinthians 11:14. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. The deception was that complete.1 John 4:1. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Discernment is the discipline.Galatians 5:1. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. The lifting of the pain was the proof. This is episode four. If you're listening and you're in the New Age right now, take what you've heard to the Lord. He is the one who leads you into all truth. He did it for both of us, and He will do it for you. Subscribe now so you don't miss what's next. Sign up for the Substack at https://faithonthefringe.substack.com/ for extended show notes and research deep dives. Share this episode with the ...
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    1 hr
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