We know when we are in a cult-like church gathering when someone who has been attending a long time and decides to leave they are treated with shame and even shunned for leaving.
Church membership is not Biblical. When we become born-again we are automatically in God's family no matter where His people meet.
We can meet in one gathering one week and another gathering another week or we can remain in one gathering all our lives. God never commands us how often to meet or with particular people. We are told not to forsake the gathering permanently but at times it is necessary to take breaks from traditions and rules God never made.
I remember years ago when we were first believers we attended a church group who pressured us to "Join" as though it was God's requirement. We didn't join formally but attended for a couple of years. When we left I was chastised for leaving because, as they put it, it was like a marriage and we could not break that bond.
I quickly refuted what was being said using the Scriptures but was rejected and set aside for not being in their group.
This was our first experience with this kind of spiritual abuse and misuse of Scripture. What these people didn't understand is that we had already left the Catholic church because of bad doctrine after becoming born-again, it isn't likely we would be intimidated by any other group to remain where the doctrine was blatantly unbiblical.
It is amazing to me that people think they will get us to stay by being rude and mean. The fastest way to get me to run from people is when they use intimidation, mocking and rudeness to manipulate me into doing what they want. I am the kind of person who makes decisions based on truth, facts and rational thinking, not emotions generated by those who wish to make me feel unloved if I don't do what they want.
I learned early on after becoming born-again that the mark of an authentic believer is marked with humility and love, in other words all the fruit of God's Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
The fruit of the Spirit motivates believers to love one another and everyone else too.
Romans 12:10
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
John 13:35 " 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 3:14
"We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death."
Manipulation to control others to make them just like us is not love. We influence people by speaking and by our example, not by tricks to make them feel unloved if they aren't just like us.
Treating someone disrespectfully for not remaining in our group is the height of arrogance and ruthlessness. Each one must be led by Christ as to where they will go and what they will do with their lives.
May all of us practice the love of Christ as we allow others to be who God made them to be, His child under HIs guidance.
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