Recently, I watched about three dozen True Church
YouTube videos. Twenty-five years later, it is still the same
story: Christ took on your sin, and you need to rid yourself
of it and be saved. The Bible remains infallible. The church
recognizes only baptism by immersion in its church as a
basis for salvation. Finally, most of the organization
purports that it is the one true church.
What fascinated me about the videos is that the actual
language of the congregants has not changed in 30 years.
An Asian evangelist halfway around the world is using the
words “fired up” in a discussion about his church goals.
Our church sermons were peppered with these words, in
addition to “brothers and sisters,”“winning the world for
Christ,” and “amen.” Everyone is continually amazed at the
“awesome things God is doing in bringing fruit to the
ministries.” In thought reform, this is called “loading the
language.” Groups create a special vocabulary that
isolates them further, creating an us-vs-them mentality.
It also tends to shut down critical thinking.
The videos also indicate that True Church leaders are still
strong proponents of discipleship. One-on-one “discipling”
has always been the key mechanism to this church.
Everyone is “discipled” by a more mature member. This
practice serves to retain members. I wanted to leave the
church one month after my baptism, and my “discipler”
cried. She pleaded with me not to go, and shared
numerous scriptures. This is typical. Committed sisters
inform you that you are a dog returning to its vomit (an
actual biblical passage). They try to manipulate you
psychologically by bringing up relationships and memories.
During my 5 years in the church, the leadership assigned
me to five different women “disciplers.”Women are only to
work with women. They are not to teach, counsel, or train
men. When they enter the patriarchal machine, they
reinforce the doctrine of submission to members of their
own sex on a day-to-day basis. “Older” sisters give advice on
dating, clothing choices, vacations, moves, college majors,
and jobs. The church controlled every aspect of our lives.
My roommate and I wanted to go away for a weekend, and
our disciplers told us we had to be back for Sunday services.
This hierarchy also occurs in living arrangements. Following
my baptism, leaders told me that I needed to share a
residence with “strong”True Church members. Non-Christians
constituted anyone not in the organization. I was assigned
roommates, who reported my doubts to other leaders.
Roommates had direct “discipling”interactions with us.
14 ICSA TODAY
YouTube videos. Twenty-five years later, it is still the same
story: Christ took on your sin, and you need to rid yourself
of it and be saved. The Bible remains infallible. The church
recognizes only baptism by immersion in its church as a
basis for salvation. Finally, most of the organization
purports that it is the one true church.
What fascinated me about the videos is that the actual
language of the congregants has not changed in 30 years.
An Asian evangelist halfway around the world is using the
words “fired up” in a discussion about his church goals.
Our church sermons were peppered with these words, in
addition to “brothers and sisters,”“winning the world for
Christ,” and “amen.” Everyone is continually amazed at the
“awesome things God is doing in bringing fruit to the
ministries.” In thought reform, this is called “loading the
language.” Groups create a special vocabulary that
isolates them further, creating an us-vs-them mentality.
It also tends to shut down critical thinking.
The videos also indicate that True Church leaders are still
strong proponents of discipleship. One-on-one “discipling”
has always been the key mechanism to this church.
Everyone is “discipled” by a more mature member. This
practice serves to retain members. I wanted to leave the
church one month after my baptism, and my “discipler”
cried. She pleaded with me not to go, and shared
numerous scriptures. This is typical. Committed sisters
inform you that you are a dog returning to its vomit (an
actual biblical passage). They try to manipulate you
psychologically by bringing up relationships and memories.
During my 5 years in the church, the leadership assigned
me to five different women “disciplers.”Women are only to
work with women. They are not to teach, counsel, or train
men. When they enter the patriarchal machine, they
reinforce the doctrine of submission to members of their
own sex on a day-to-day basis. “Older” sisters give advice on
dating, clothing choices, vacations, moves, college majors,
and jobs. The church controlled every aspect of our lives.
My roommate and I wanted to go away for a weekend, and
our disciplers told us we had to be back for Sunday services.
This hierarchy also occurs in living arrangements. Following
my baptism, leaders told me that I needed to share a
residence with “strong”True Church members. Non-Christians
constituted anyone not in the organization. I was assigned
roommates, who reported my doubts to other leaders.
Roommates had direct “discipling”interactions with us.
14 ICSA TODAY
