One of the things I have noticed since being out of the Worldwide Church of God is that I want to make my own decisions on things--and I have been making my own decisions. It makes me infuriated to think about how they always told us what to do and we were automatically expected to comply.

Bible study was twice a month and you were expected to attend, and if you didn't or couldn't, it was assumed you would check out the tape. Same way for church services. If you weren't there, you later checked out the tape. If services were to be at a different location, or if they were earlier than usual, you were expected to be there. Jobs of service were routine, and if you were chosen for Security or Library at a certain time, you were expected to be there. Before the Feast, they posted on the bulletin board who was going to serve on Communications or Security and what your day and hours were. No questions asked. You even felt guilty if you wanted it to be a different day or hour--or if you didn't want to do it at all.

I now hate the way they always pulled you into "serving the group," no matter how tired you got or how inconvenient it was, or how much you didn't want to do it, and in the latter case, they were good at making you feel guilty or lazy. It was never what we wanted; it was always for the good of the group. We never could make our own decisions as to when we wanted to arrive for services, if our obligation was to be there early to "serve" in some capacity. To think otherwise was to be "selfish." 

That is why now I feel so good about being able to make decisions for myself. If I want to stay in a certain class at my new church-- I make the choice, if I want to switch and try out a different class-- I make the choice, and if I don't feel like attending another church class or service that week--I make the choice.

By D. W.
October 13, 1994
Exit & Support Network™

Note: Many Worldwide Church of God members would consider the above writing to be a demonstration of sinful "pride," when in actuality it is breaking free of the mind control and being able to express self-confidence and individualism, especially in making one's own free choices after leaving a high demand group.

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