Straight Outta LC
 

I will compose a more thorough narrative at some point, but just wanted to say hello. I was born and raised in the LC (18 years), and left when I went off to college. Unlike many of the other posters on this forum, I am not Christian, and I suppose I never was after reading most of your own testimonials, despite having been "saved" and "baptized" in the LC as a young teen--there is a lot of social pressure to do this, as you are all well aware.

I never had a subjective physical experience in the LC, despite thousands of various kinds of "meetings," that I could definitively point to and say "I was in my spirit then," although I strongly believe my family members--who are all still card-carrying members of the LC--have these kinds of experiences regularly. As a child and teen, I very much tried to get "out of my mind," etc., but I never felt It, and I suppose that's why I never bought in, nor had a very challenging time leaving, relatively speaking.

(Having said that, I never really saw how terrible the LC really was--I had always humorously called them a "cult" when describing my childhood to friends, but now I use that term in a much more serious, frightening way. The LC is no joke, especially when I think about the effects I already see in my nieces and nephews who are still in it.)

I do understand that if you *are* "bought in," leaving the LC is extremely traumatic. The reason I signed up to be a member of this forum is to hopefully be able to speak to young people raised in the LC like myself, who are feeling ambivalent about staying in/leaving, and are at the age when they are striking out on their own for the first time.

I also wanted to provide another reasonable, rational POV that is non-Christian. I respect all beliefs and hope I can contribute something positive out of my own experience.

Thanks for reading!

-nwolfe85

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Welcome to the forum nwolfe85!

Was there ever a time when you were alone together with Jesus?

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Do you remember the "pipeline" of Gene Gruhler? It bothers me today that I was complicit in the organisational stealing of childrens' souls.

The Bible does speak of raising godly children, but that's the responsibility of parents & not a corporation. The fact that it registered as a non-profit shows just how devious it was.

How about the "little bankers", or the YPG (Youth Propagation Groups)?

No, let's call a spade a spade, here.

I saw well-meaning adults get children who were not their own, and barely able to walk and talk, to "exercise their spirit", complete with obligatory fist pump. I was embarrassed then, and ashamed now.

And nwolfe85, if you respect others' POV then you may be more Christian than some of us here, who knows? I include myself in that, too. You see, the greatest virtue is love, and it leads to all others. And there cannot be love without respect. So perhaps you're on the road to Zion ahead of me, who knows?

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Having been raised in the LC, serving ones often portray as non-LC assemblies as "in the world" or "the denominations" and that only those in the local churches are "zealous for the Lord".
That couldn't be further from the truth. September 1986 I began college at University of La Verne in La Verne, CA. The following year I met a Guatamalan brother. If he didn't tell me his Christian background I wouldn't have known. Just by his mannerism, his attitude towards worldly things, and his zeal for the Lord, you would have wondered..."what locality are you from?". hardly the case. Knowing him and his testimony blew everything away I ever heard about "those in the denominations".

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

I fear that nwolfe85, and we, are under the impression that a true Christian must have outward characteristics that are similar to those of LRC people. And that being "saved" is about an experience with a feeling.

That is the dogma that demeans everything that does not match those outward characteristics and does not have lots of "feelings" to go with it.

Being a Christian is about believing in and obeying Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if you never have the kinds of experiences that are trumpeted by the LRC and others. None of that is the test of salvation. It is how you live, not how you feel. It is how you live in front of the world, not how you exhibit in front of your "Christian" peers.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Thanks for the warm replies :)

I attended LC pretty consistently from the mid-70s to late-80s in two different localities, each with hundreds of congregants. Saw Witness Lee in person several times, and he definitely had the snake oil salesman persona in full effect, although he could've worked a little more on the charm part. This unpleasant guy was the dude we're all supposed to be following?

At that time, I remember there was a lot of controversy swirling in the air about mutinous localities, etc.--very strong sense of you're either with us or for Satan.

Obviously I kept my opinions to myself!

-nwolfe85

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Thanks for sharing your experience. I just found this forum a few days ago. It is outstanding. I say this as someone who was born and raised in the LC cult.

About two years ago the Lord called my family and I out, after nearly 40 years. It's mind blowing how much brain washing we were subjected to. Man, so much to process. I will share my testimony with the hope of helping others who are considering leaving the LC, but have bought into the lie that "there's nothing else out there".

God is good, ALWAYS.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Welcome to the forum LifeGoesOn!

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Thanks. It has been very helpful. I am working on posting my testimony. I want to help others to see it for what it is, leave and know that there is Life after the LC.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

40 years is a long time! I first met the saints in 1973. I decided to leave in 2005. I try to remember all the good, and reject all the leaven.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Yes! God is good!

Looking forward to your testimony- May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you and your family in His truth, love, and glory!

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Welcome to LCD nwolfe85. You were programmed to be a Christian and you nihilated your programming. How heroic. You have quite a story to tell, and I'd like to read it. Don't wait. Share it while it's fresh and uneffaced by time. That way it will be as valuable to you as it is to the rest of us.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Welcome LifeGoesOn. I like your name/avatar. Wow 40 years in the LCM. And you recognize that it's a cult. I would like to read your story. You've come a long way in two years.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Nice. I'm raised in it too and I'm considering about leaving this terrible organization. I'm currently in high school though, so I think it may be tougher for me to leave because of parents. Any tips on how to leave and what to expect?

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Yes - welcome! I also had this same, simple question.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Brothers,
This post from nwolfe85! was from well over 2 years ago. (August 2017) Maybe someone could PM him to see how he is doing. He did mention in his opening post that he was raised in the Local Church, but does not consider himself a Christian anymore. He was open to dialog, at least at that time.
-

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

Opps! Yes . . . I didn't notice the date - just saw someone responded to it today. Thanks for pointing that out.

Re: Straight Outta LC
 

As I read these testimonies I wonder, how many "church kids" not only physically left the LC but then denied the Christian faith in toto? I suspect the percentage who became atheist or agnostic after leaving is rather high, even shockingly high. We have 10 years of datum on this forum. I've never counted, but believe it's considerable.

And I also believe it's because the most effective way they know to shut off the Witness Lee Mind Conditioning Programme (WLMCP) is to leave the Christian faith. The first has so thoroughly insinuated itself, through the second, that they let go of both to regain independent function in their minds. And one can hardly blame them.

In my case, I had a "Christian base" to fall back upon, when I could raise myself up somewhat from the dust, post-LC. To most "church kids" it's the WLMCP or nothing, and they choose nothing.