| I've been thinking today about
why I got involved in the
Worldwide
Church of God. I used to look for the good in
ministries. Actually Mr. Armstrong spoke some truth. All false leaders
do. I marvel at the vulnerability that caused me to believe that there
really could be a "True Church." I figured a just God would have to have a
safe haven for his true followers to fellowship and to grow safely. I
had wanted to follow Christ since I was a child. I really have to
believe that while Jesus would not lead me to error, He certainly would
most definitely walk beside me and lead me into truth and to work all
things together for good. My trust was seriously violated in the WCG and
it is only recently that I have really allowed myself to open my heart
to other ministries. After all, I reasoned, they are all human and prone
to error, but it was the error that caused me concern and caused me to
not want to take any more chances. However, there is a big world out there
with lots of good sharing. After all, we are more discerning now. There
is also junk, too, but true believers are not alone.
I believe that time does heal
all wounds. For some it takes more time than others. But Jesus
really has shown me over the years--and truly I believe He has shown me
things of Himself--I clearly see how He did it in spite of Worldwide
and in spite of arrogant leaders like
Herbert Armstrong. I have decided to
trust again and open my heart to the "good" that other
ministries are trying to share. A clear sign of a religious cult is any deviation
from the basic Gospel. But what makes the "new" Worldwide Church of God so deceptive is
that you see them declare the Gospel and yet their hearts are far from
Him. I know this could be seen as judgmental by them, but if my heart
yearns for Jesus, and I have trusted Him, then I must also speak out for
clear things against Him.
I just want to say that in
spite of being in Worldwide, Jesus has strengthened me. I am no
longer in there. I am facing life without
religion. There will always
be challenges in life that will cause us to look to Jesus. There will always be
religion, because Jesus has allowed that men and women seek for themselves and ultimately prove all things and
know what it really takes to fellowship with Him. I still have a long
way to go. I have never really not trusted Jesus. I trust Him now and am
fully assured that He will take me where He wants me to go. That doesn't
mean I will ever attend any church. Who knows? But it's not as if
staying away from church is really any obstacle to Him. After all, the
WCG is no obstacle to Him either. Satan uses these obstacles, but
Jesus uses them for good. To many former members in the WCG this may
sound syrupy, but I LOVE Jesus. I didn't express it in the WCG because I
believed that it was detrimental to those who didn't "want"
it. I reasoned that Jesus would lead them to the emotions in His Time.
Not totally wrong reasoning, but it kept me from reflecting how I really
feel and expressing it outloud. I no longer choose to do that and I pray for His wisdom and His timing to "witness" for His
sake. Let
all we do be done in love and I pray that God's love is reflected in me more and more each day.
Love in Christ,
By Phyllis (first name used with permission)
2003
Articles For Those Who Were Emotionally and Spiritually Abused
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Former Members of WCG and Offshoots
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