The "Freedom of Choice"

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I came across this recently. The paragraph quoted below is the final two paragraph of the book 'The Freedom of Choice'. This is the take-home message; what the writer(s) want the reader to remember. If there ever was a statement that summarises narcissistic, abusive and cultish leadership practices, this is it.

Those who leave the fellowship to which we are called as sons of God have the right to depart. The right to make this choice is essential to the freedom that belongs to their identity. While we dignify others with this choice, we do not justify their reasons for departing by embracing, or endeavouring to understand, them. Such reasoning does not belong to the wisdom from above. If we attempt to justify the reasons that are given for a person’s departure from a faith community or we engage in their debates in an attempt to arrest their perspective, we, ourselves, are forsaking the fruit of the tree of life. At this point, we are at risk of departing with them, having come to agree with the reasons that they have expressed for the exercise of their right to leave. In the name of love, we will have chosen and begun to live a lie. Consequently, we will forfeit our part in the bride city, for outside the city ‘are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practises a lie’. Rev 22:15.

The very first sentence has a conclusion backed into the premise… Christians (Sons of God) are firstly called to be disciples of Christ, not a leadership group. Any leadership group that claims, in any way, that being a Christian requires loyalty to them? Beware! This is a huge red flag!

I also find it telling that this is coming from a leadership group who is 'living a lie' by spreading lies and rumours about those who have left. The words of Jesus from Matt 7:15-20 are ringing in my ears! “You will know them by their fruit”. The fruit of 'living a lie' is on full display. Control and isolation. This is the kind of fruit that Jesus warns us about. This is the kind of fruit we should be weary of.

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Can anyone explain to me the meaning of: "Forsaking the way of the tree of life"??

[guest]

Can anyone explain to me the meaning of: "Forsaking the way of the tree of life"??

It's typical CF speak, dressing up their actions and behaviours in biblical symbols to give a sense of greater authority.
In this case they've determined that they receive their spiritual nourishment from the tree of life, and moving away from this is bad of course. In practice it means they don't engage with any ideas outside of what the CFs lay down. It's all designed so that the congregants never consider that what the church teaches might be wrong.

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Can anyone explain to me the meaning of: "Forsaking the way of the tree of life"??

I know, right!?! It's a really ambiguous thing to say. But I think most xCF people who read that will automatically take that to mean that those who've left the fellowship have turned their back on God. They just didn't say it directly. You have to wade through the flowery, religious xCF inspeak and draw the conculsion yourself.

What’s more, this kind of language instils fear in people, discouraging them from asking those who’ve left the fellowship any meaningful questions. It’s as if doing so would automatically put you in the danger zone of ‘departing’. This fear tactic is unmistakable.

But the other thing that seems obvious to me is that this statement was written in response to someone or some people leaving the fellowship. Vic doesn’t want anyone speaking to them because of an underlying fear that he will be exposed. Straight from the Cult101 handbook.