I want to say a few things from my own personal experience which may help anyone out there
understand just how controlled people in PCG are.
Philadelphia Church of God, like any totalitarian
group, knows what the members fear the most
and it's all about fear tactics!
Members in PCG are willing to sell their soul to the "church" because they
simply don't see that they have any other option, and I was one of those
people at one stage in my life. Our very sense of "belonging" and being
loved is in our attachment to the "church." Love is equated with complete
and total obedience, even if lies, betrayal, shame, threats and
disapproval is taking place.
To be loved and accepted in the church requires TOTAL obedience even to
the point of total self sacrifice and a life of unhappiness! Some people
are willing to do that because fear and manipulation causes very black and
white thinking. We become trapped by our conditioned responses. If we
obey, we will be loved and accepted versus not obeying, which triggers
fear of rejection thus being disfellowshipped (cut off from the "church")
and threatens our very sense of safety and security (our basic human
need).
The threat or fear is not so much about being kicked out of a church or
group. The "church" is a lifestyle in which everything in our life is
based upon which gives us our security. It's the fear of being cut off
from God, not making it to God's Kingdom, and being separated
from an illusion of what we believe is our family. The stakes are
high....very high and when people are in that position, it's a dangerous
place to be because we don't have any power. They hold the power to accept
or reject at any time and members are fully aware of that, and continually
treading on egg shells, nervously proving to the ministry their right to
be in the group. Sad...but very true.
After a while, you begin to internalize all of this, about ourselves as
people, our worth, and self-doubt starts to creep in. It takes a while to
get out of this pattern of thinking, even a long time after being free of
PCG, especially for those who have grown up in the "church." In response
to the letter about Marvin Campbell advising the divorce [see
March 28, 2007
letter], I know of other stories where this sort of advice has been given
by the ministry to ensure members are not influenced by their spouse who
are non-members. They try and control members from having any contact with
the outside world, so they are under complete control of the ministry. The
members become isolated and their whole world is the "church." The ministry
have also been responsible for forbidding dating and marriage even between
members. They make direct and indirect threats about what will
happen if the members don't go along with the ministry.
If we are sick and are not healed when anointed, we are blamed for lack of
faith and the blame is put on the individual for not giving our wholes
lives to the "church." They once lent me money when I was in a tough spot
financially and little did I know it would be forever brought up to remind
me of what I owed the "church." I felt guilty and selfish because of this
and found myself accepting their abuse because of this. I spent a long
time going against my own wishes and now I am free, although it's still
hard trying to move forward. It's possible though, so don't give up, all
of you
who are struggling out there and have been through the PCG experience!
By Cliff (former member of PCG
March 30, 2007
Questions
about Members (covers several questions and answers)
Understanding Mind Control and Exploitive Groups
(many articles)
Articles for Those Who Were Emotionally and Spiritually Abused
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