It is one of thousands of letters and testimonies from people whose lives have been adversely affected by their association with the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG). Destroyed marriages, families torn apart and even suicides. Exit & Support has been warning the world about this dangerous cult church for over 20 years.
Why It’s Hard to Leave Philadelphia Church of God
I want to say a few things from my own personal experience which may help anyone out there understand just how controlled people in Philadelphia Church of God are.
PCG, 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 group 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.” I know of stories where advice is given by the ministry to divorce when this will 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 whole 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)
Comment by ESN: If you have left PCG, it is recommended, and can be considered important, that you write the leader of the group you have left and tell them to take your name off their membership roster.
Note: Those who leave PCG can also fear becoming a “Laodicean”–one who will (according to Gerald Flurry) have to go into the Great Tribulation, and be punished in order to repent. They also have been told they will be “cursed” if they leave. These are lies and are not based on the Word of God.
Note: If you left the WCG during the “changes” in 1990-95, it is most likely you had no knowledge that there were serious problems in the WCG for decades before that. And if you later heard about it, it is without a doubt that the information was twisted and not truthful. It is good to read the real history of WCG and what actually happened during the changes. Therefore, it is good to view our section: Worldwide Church of God Expose`
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” ~1 John 4:18“
“…he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” ~Deuteronomy 31:8
Related Articles:
Giving the Reigns of Our Life Over to Someone Else By former member WCG/PCG, in PCG 22 years.
To All Who Are Considering Joining Philadelphia Church of God By Mike
Includes at end: “What if I am Becoming Hooked on Philadelphia Church of God Literature?” and words by a former PCG member.
To Members and Survivors of Philadelphia Church of God (By former PCG member) “I’d also like to send a message to those who still find themselves ‘stuck’ in the PCG and are worried about the consequences of leaving.”
Excellent Letters:
Helpful Suggestions For Those Who Have Left PCG (From a former PCG member)
I Have Made the PCG a Thing of the Past
Many Times I Felt Something Wasn’t Right
For Years I Felt Something Wasn’t Right
We Recognized Things That Didn’t Add Up
God Helped Get Me and My Relatives Out of PCG
Just Getting Away is What Helped Us (This person was in WCG, but it is a very good letter)
Another Woman in PCG Commits Suicide / We Finally Got the Courage to Leave
Have No Doubt I am Doing the Right Thing (PCG member who prayed for discernment and is leaving)
Excellent Testimonies:
Quitting Philadelphia Church of God Was the Best Decision I Ever Made
I Could Not Obey the No-Contact Ruling
Growing Up in WCG Caused Me To Almost Give Up on God (while this person was not in PCG, this is an excellent testimony)
God Opened the Door and Said to Get Out! (While this is by a former member of WCG, it is helpful even for those in PCG to understand what happened during the time of the changes and how they ended up in PCG or another offshoot. Especially see update by ESN at the end.)
Spared From Philadelphia Church of God
Disfellowshipped After Voicing Concerns (This man was disfellowshipped for believing God and not man)
Recommended Articles:
Identifying Marks of an Abusive Group
How to Get the Group Out of Us
How Do People Get Out of Religious Cults?
How do I recover after exiting an abusive group?
Why Did God Allow Me to Go In an Abusive Group?
How do I help someone recover?
Recommended Section:
Mind Control & Exploitation (many articles to help one understand the methods)
Prayers For Freedom From Spiritual Strongholds
These prayers are very effective in gaining deliverance from many strongholds and oppression due to involvement in any harmful cult or occult practices.
Recommended Books:
See our Booklist.
Back to Philadelphia Church of God Articles
Back to Mike’s Enlightenment Page (Info on PCG & GF)
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