Originally Posted by Zezima

Yeah, that makes sense when leaving. But Nell mentioned that he visits from time to time to observe.

Originally Posted by Recovering

Leaving with, as Nell so nicely put it, with "guns ablazin" might feel good in the short term but just cuts off relationships and feeds a narrative that you only leave if you have "gone off the deep end."

Originally Posted by Nell

Zezima,

I interact just fine, and so do they. I didn't leave with "guns blazin'" so I'm not a pariah. They are polite to me and respectful. People I knew for years come up to me and greet me as though I was just someone they haven't seen in a very long time.

Honestly, no one asks "where have you been?" or "what have you been doing?" I think they may already know and don't want to hear the answers, or start a dialogue about it.

Nell

Originally Posted by Zezima

How do you interact with those who still attend when you visit? When they ask where you have been, what you’re doing etc.

Originally Posted by Zezima

How do you interact with those who still attend when you visit? When they ask where you have been, what you’re doing etc.

Originally Posted by Nell

I can offer a different perspective.

I consider that I am fully recovered from the teachings and practices I was exposed to in the LC, as well as the horrors I experienced. It's part of my past and gave me my perspective on life and my walk with the Lord. I'm grateful that He rescued me. However, I see that I ignored the warning signs, and there were signs. I confessed my own failures and poor choices in believing and following men rather than God. I now know what to do when I see or hear something that is "off."

I don't want to "go back" as a participant, but I can and do go to a meeting every so often, out of curiosity, just to see what's going on and if anything has changed. I'm unaffected by it except to confirm that leaving was the right decision. I haven't gone to a meeting in several years, though.

I'm not weak for cults. The "cult mentality" of groups is everywhere and can be seen in the media, politics, etc., so that would be hard to purposely avoid. I can recognize cult mentality when I see the warning signs, but I consider that a strength.

So, full recovery from "the recovery" is possible. It takes time getting out of the garlic room, but once you do, there is fresh air and you can never forget the smell of the garlic. You know or learn what to do when you smell it in any context, i.e., listen, smile, then turn around and RUN!

Nell

Originally Posted by Unregistered

After joining this group I don't have much friends outside now. Don't know how to start life again if I do leave.

Originally Posted by Nell

I can offer a different perspective....

Originally Posted by awareness

...
And you will always be a recovering Recoveryoholic.

... First rule : avoid contact with cults. You'll be weak for them.

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Well I'd encourage them to keep reading the bible, especially the Recovery version if it helps them.

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Well I'd encourage them to keep reading the bible, especially the Recovery version if it helps them.

Originally Posted by EvanG

Out of interest, which Bible version or bible versions are you reading now?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I'm in a process of leaving the local church.
Just wanna list a few things about LCM

Asian flavour: they emphasis the role of the males. So I notice that women often take up the roles like cooking or children ministry. The serving ones wivies are usually left alone. I really feel for them, some have young children but have to mind the children while the husband / dad go to the meetings or go for a conference out of town.

The Elders: in Lee's writings, there should be no ranking system in the church. But no one can make a decision without the elders from the church matters to personal lives ( e.g. They discourage you to get a spouse from outside the church). People have to submit to the elders.

Questions:
What I'm struggling is that some writings and people in Local church did help me a lot to know th Lord and to experience Him. In fact, I received my salvation here. They render lot so help to my practical life too.

After joining this group I don't have much friends outside now. Don't know how to start life again if I do leave.

Originally Posted by aron

By the way, the hardest thing I found was to leave the LC mind-set. Even after I left physically, I would be in a church meeting and someone would be talking and I'd think, "That's not God's economy". That went on for years. It is amazing how their ideas wormed into my thinking.

Originally Posted by UntoHim

we're here to tell you that there is life, light and love on the other side. And yes, there is even "church life" on the other side. It may not seem like it, but you are not going to be walking out into the abyss - God, and the Body of Christ are actually waiting for you with open arms. Remember the Lord Jesus' solemn promise "I will not leave you as orphans"

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What I'm struggling is that some writings and people in Local church did help me a lot to know the Lord and to experience Him. In fact, I received my salvation here. They render lot so help to my practical life too.

Originally Posted by aron

Unreg guest,

Look at John 7:13, 9:22, and 12:42. People who were interested in Jesus were afraid to follow Him because of the loss of jobs, being put out of the synagogue, public shame, etc. That's just the way it is; your journey is no different from anyone else's in that regard. God wants you to exercise faith. If you see something wrong with the current set-up, and the Shepherd is calling you, then follow the voice. Everything else will be added. It's called faith. Just do it.

You may lose good and valuable stuff on the way. Just make sure, really really sure, that the Shepherd is calling you. Then go.

I had a great time in the LC. I didn't get abused. I never knew about Daystar or Philip Lee. But the voice called me and I left. I was a hard-core, committed-for-life LC'er. Sure, there was stuff wrong, but so what. There's wrong stuff everywhere. I was "wrecked" for the LC church.

But the voice called and I left.