Not recovery related - BIG questions on cults

[TDinATL]

Hi All,

I wasn't sure where else to go with this and wanted to see if anyone here had some insight on how to handle this?

I left a church back in October that I had attended for 6 years. Over the years my faith in God grew - as did my relationship with him. There began to be issues that I noticed and didn't feel they were right, and looking back over previous years things had been happening all along.

Things got bad enough that I left the church. It was very hard because at the time I considered the pastors to be very dear friends and I served as a deacon in the church and many people looked up to me - not that I was anything special but I had been there a long time.

After my head cleared I did some research and an absolutely positive this "church" is a cult. I still have some very dear friends that attend and I've talked with them some but they don't see what I'm saying.

A few points:
- The pastor puts people in leadership roles and gives them titles but then he runs them like marionettes.
- The ministry always asks for money, members have even been tricked into pledging funds to the church. Funds have been designated for a particular need and then the pastor "decides" to use them for other things.
- If you question the authority of the pastor or what he asks you to do or tells you then you are belittled and made to feel guilty that you would even question it.
--- It was even suggested to me at one point that if I left the church I would not go to Heaven - he quoted Luke 9:62 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
- Many of the people who go now are terrified to leave, believing they will be going against God's will if they do.

I feel I need to do something but I don't know what to do. My best friend did finally leave - but his wife and daughter continue to attend and she refuses to discuss the issue.

Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions? I keep it covered in prayer but wish I could do more.

Thanks!

[cmc]

Hi,
I'm glad you got out of that situation. It's hard to know what to say about it because I don't know anything about the structure of this fellowship. When you find a new place to fellowship perhaps your new pastor will have some suggestions.

If this church belongs to a denomination then what goes on there should be governed by a local board and at a higher denominational level. This pastor very likely has set up for himself an 'accountability group' (sarcasm injected) that he controls. This way he can do whatever he wants and other than leaving or holding some type of congregational meeting or forum- I see little that can be done as long as no laws are broken.

As for those that you know who choose to stay in a situation like that...fwiw it is pretty much the same issue that I learn in Alanon about letting go of what other people choose to do- and leave it up to God to speak to their hearts. I see nothing wrong with speaking to others about it, but people have the right to choose. I've known of a few people like your former pastor; jmho they cause a great deal of pain and bring shame upon the Body of Christ. I'm sure God isn't too happy with things as they stand either.

The types of manipulation you describe are counter productive and represent wrong spiritual side of things if you get my drift. God does not conduct business this way.
Some people may refuse to accept the truth and some will also stay because they feel that they can make a difference and change things, others may have a need to be controlled in this way because _they_ are spiritually weak and don't understand the scriptures.

Church 'splits' can be a nasty thing and many good people take sides and behave in direct opposition to the command that we should love one another and do our best to live at peace with one another. The fact that when you left.... you were threatened and shamed is very sad.

Prayer can accomplish so much. Your former pastor, the people who work within that fellowship and those who are blinded to what is going on need prayer, as do your family members who continue to attend this church.

Thanks for sharing.

[TDinATL]

Thanks CMC - just as additional info it is a non-denominational church. You are head-on with the "accountability group", I was a member of it when I was there. He controlled us and if we ever tried to be pro-active and it didn't coincide 100% with what he would have done we were politely chastised.

Man! I've really had enough "junk" in my life the last year-and-a-half!

[best]

Sounds like the leader(pastor) is a control freak and is guided by his own pride and is using the bible out of context for his own ends.
There are groups that deal with cults and how to gather people out of them.
What I think could be done on an individual level... study your bible so you know what is the true answer and let the truth placed before others maybe guide them to what is right and good.
Maybe a google search on cult rescues may get you some info.