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In his article "Survivor or Victim?" John Huddle, the author of the Religious Cults Info blog addresses the questions of how we enter cults and recover from them. Following, in red ink, are excerpts from that post: Here's the link: http://religiouscultsinfo.com/2011/07/survivor-or-victim/
Michael Lagone writes the following in “Recovery From Cults” – Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse- Edited by Michael Langone- (copyright © 1993 American Family Foundation – ISBN 0-393-31321-2) “They (cult members) become extremely dependent on the group’s leadership for sometimes ridiculously minor decisions. They are subjected to high and sometimes impossible and contradictory demands, which tend to leave them feeling like failures. Yet they are commanded not to express any negativity that may reflect badly on the group. When they leave, for whatever reason, they will tend, as do victims of other forms of abuse (Boulette and Anderson, 1986) to believe they left because something was wrong with them. (page 11)
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I learned I cannot change my past. With understanding and support, I can change my attitude about the past and make changes for the future.
So, considering the whole picture, we did not choose to be victims, but, we choose to be survivors.
We like that last statement: "We did not choose to be victims, but we choose to be survivors." There was clearly deceit used to 'win' us to the group called ntcc. Each new doctrine was revealed slowly by only the pastor so that you wouldn't wake up and be 'run-off'. That is a common cult tactic, described as the 'frog in a pot' tactic by Mark Vrankovich in his work "Mind Control Toolbox". We became victims through the cult's deceit.
But now we have chosen to take back the power over our lives. We no longer need a man to tell us whom we can call, whom we can date, when we can visit friends, when we can invite company to our homes. We no longer need a man's approval on our lives. Instead, we seek to follow the Lord's guidance, for it is written, My sheep know my voice. By first seeking His will, we gain pre-approval of our activities. It may be through silent prayer, bible reading, or good old worship with contemporary Christian music. However you hear His voice is really up to you and Him. But we can follow His leading and know we are succeeding, not based on what men tell us, but based on assurance in our hearts from the only One Whose vote truly counts, the Master. Once we surrender to Him, we thrive as survivors.
But what about those still in the cult? They too can choose to stop being victims and become survivors. It starts when they realize it is the system that is messed-up, not them. It is the controlling group that keeps changing its rules back and forth that is wrong, not them. Once they realize those thoughts they have are not 'negativity' but reality and truth, they can then act on the truth and be set free. It's really up to you. Seek His face. Read and pray. Worship. You'll soon find those other man-made doctrines are hindering God's will for your life. You will want to take God out of the box the ntcc has Him in. And you will do so by leaving ntcc and going on to serve the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. When you do that, you stop being a victim and become a survivor. You take back the power by surrendering to God.
