derkrash-at-yahoo-dot-com
I run into a few people, still Pentecostal – specifically Apostolic – who think that those leaving the faith are “bitter” and “rebellious.” I heard this from just about every dark corner of Apostolicism about those who “leave the faith.” It appears that in their twisted mind, there is no legitimate reason to leave the faith, and all that leave have some strange problem like being bitter and rebellious. Of course, since the structure of the churches is naturally unquestioned obedience to the dictator - sometimes called “pastor” or “man of God” or “preacher” – one can see where their thought process comes in the thinking on rebellion; if one disagrees with the dictator, of course, this is likened to rebellion. The problem is that in these strange religions, rebellion is never directly against God, but against some dictator leader who attempts to transfer rebellion against him as rebellion against God. This is the standard scam.
The other scam is the accusation of “bitterness.” I heard a thousand sermons on this subject from many corners. I take this to reveal something sinister. Since this accusation of “bitterness” is thrown against every person leaving these places, this shows that there is a problem where a system produces such an effect. For a normal system, one can come and go with healthy disagreements. One can leave with goodwill and a good reputation untainted. Why do these Pentecostals and Apostolics viciously attack those leaving with wild accusations? Why cannot people leave with goodwill? Why cannot they have a healthy disagreement without preachers damning them to hell? Well, this reveals the movement as illegitimate and subversive.
For each person that leaves, they have to rejustify themselves. They think that they have it all figured out in a fit of total knowledge, high presumption, and an almost psychotic arrogance. For someone to leave legitimately is for there to be an alternate way of living. If they can conceive an alternate way of living, then they have no reason for living the way that they do with all the high costs of social estrangement and emotional manipulation from the dictators. So, when a person leaves, in their mind, they have no legitimate reason to leave. The backslider must have something wrong with his own self. He must have some hidden “rebellion” or “hatred” or “bitterness” against the church or the pastor. To add insult to injury, sometimes the person leaving has been hurt by the system and may indeed have bitterness – and this is a legitimate response to abuse. So, the victim has a grudge against those who abused him and his abusers have the audacity to call him bitter! How is that for psychotic moral self-righteousness and narcissism! This is like the traditional Jewish story of the kid who kills his parents and then asks the court for mercy because he is an orphan! This is usually referred to as Chutzpah. We have such systems that call themselves Christian. Really. Really! We are not joking or making this up! Guys, this stuff is so outrageous that outsiders think we are lying. That is why it is so hard to get our message across. This wickedness is so preposterous and unbelievable.
JP Istre
