baptist1611 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 19, 2023 12:14 pm
Hi Bagel, could you please clarify the following:
Bagel wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 11:51 am
For some, it’s a matter of finding a ‘church’ that suits them better. For others, it’s a choice to give up the Kool-Aid altogether. So my words are for those who don’t want to simply change which bar they are drinking at, but who want to actually give up drinking completely.
If I am understanding you correctly, you are have likened
all churches, whether they be the Christian Fellowship cult or a church that obeys the teachings of Jesus Christ, to administering "the Kool-Aid". The "Kool-Aid" referring to
the Peoples Temple cult movement, who committed mass suicide in 1978.
I hope I am mistaken, but it appears that you have just described those who love and worship the Lord Jesus Christ and are part of his body, the church, as being in a death-cult.
Greetings baptist1611,
I hope things wonderful.
Great questions!
I'm sure you know people who have dropped out of the xCF (and other) Christian belief structures. Those whom I still have contact with often have acquired some sense of humour surrounding xCF, and perhaps some other branches of mainstream Christianity. It's not uncommon to hear the words 'kool-aid' sprinkled throughout conversations from time to time. I think one definition of it that I read was 'One who accepts an argument or philosophy wholeheartedly and blindly.' So, largely, a metaphor for blind obedience, laziness for academic rigour, or being hoodwinked, and so forth.
It appears, and I don't want to misunderstand, but you may well be a devout practising, and somewhat 'never-strayed-from-the-path' Christian, which is enviable. But my thoughts were pretty well addressed to people who are confused about their escape, the exit strategy, and the extreme guilt, and the feeling of betrayal, that can be experienced when walking out of a church that they dearly loved.
In one of your other posts you discussed the structure of the Christian church, headship, principles etc. And so when someone has to basically break all of those rules to leave, it's very difficult. Sometimes because the xCF culture makes things so binary, people can despair in all of the emotions that can arise. It's very, very hard, and can take years to recover.
So no, I don't draw the same parallels that you have described although I can understand what you're saying. But sometimes when people want to get out of xCF, their path may not be simple and easy, it may be fraught with years of guilt, distrust, shame, anger, confusion etc. And it may need breathing space completely outside of mainstream/organised religion.
Take care and all good wishes,
Bagel
