There are many who are still attending Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God and breakaway "churches of God" and are still deceived and under mind control, who think that those of us who have exited are only "bitter" and need to "get over it." Some think it's all about "attitude" and we exiters may just need an "attitude adjustment." I hope to make plain in this article why this shows a complete lack of understanding as to the nature of what a Christian's attitude should reflect.

A true Christian's attitude can be seen by all. They are a light into the world and their lives and care for others reflects a value system which is Christ-centered. Jesus was filled with humility as He walked this earth. He ministered to the sick, the poor and the sinful people that the pious Pharisees would not even acknowledge, much less touch. What of the WCG ministers (and today those from the controlling splinter groups) who allowed the sick and suffering to go without doctors and medicine so that members could send more and more money to headquarters? What about those who were singled out and looked down upon because they "didn't trust God to heal them?" Is that a humble and ministering attitude? Were these suffering members told that their illnesses and misfortunes were directly related to their "attitude" and a punishment? Were they told they need to "do more" to earn their salvation? Were they lacking in faith?

When one has questions or doubts, is that having an "attitude" of "not submitting to the authority of "God's government on earth?" My understanding of God's will is that we are to seek Him with all our hearts and souls. Seek and you shall find--and He will guide us. Does that sound like the subservient attitude that these controlling Armstrong "churches" would like for us to have when they allow serious questions on faith, doctrine and Scripture to go unanswered in someone's heart because they want that person only to "submit to authority"? The Bible warns us of the false prophets and teachers who will abuse His sheep and rob them. He tells us to have no fellowship with them. He tells us to seek Jesus Christ first--not blindly obey men who appoint themselves as apostles and twist the Bible to fit with their sordid plans. An "attitude" of obeying without question is the exact opposite of what God wants us to have. He warns us in the Scripture so that we can be discerning and guard ourselves and our faith from those who would turn us from Jesus and His Salvation.

It is a sad fact, and known to many on the "outside," that those who are in the WCG or one of their many splinter groups are in reality following leaders of destructive cults. These members are taught to look to "headquarters" as the final word on doctrines and interpretation of the Bible and they accept the rules given to them without question. The elevate Herbert Armstrong up as a "man of God" when his fruits show otherwise. They are suffering under mind control and until they are able to remove themselves from underneath the governmental structure and the influence of its "ministers," they will continue to follow blindly the laws of men. Their submissive and unquestioning "attitude" is really just the byproduct of mind control. It is their "happy" mask worn to protect themselves from those who would question and upset the status quo.

An exiter's "attitude" reflects many long buried thoughts and feelings. It is their mind awakening from a long sleep. Anger, resentment, guilt, shame, fear -- all those feelings that never were allowed to be expressed -- come to the surface and have to be faced. They are the individual's own way of processing what happened to them. These emotions need to be tracked down and accounted for. They need to be heard and validated. Our stories are all unique but they reflect the same footprint of evil. Those in the WCG walk the same path and it doesn't lead to Jesus. It leads to "Headquarters.^"1

By Tiana  - Child Survivor of WCG
June 11, 2001

Footnote by ESN:

¹ In November 2004 the Worldwide Church of God moved its headquarters from Pasadena to Glendora, California. (Pasadena Star-News, October 25, 2004) By May 2006 all their offices were moved to Glendora. (Together May-June 2006).

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