Mario Espinosa: Supporting Ex-Cult Members: A Christian Initiative for Churches

 

In the interest of being honest, I am also a former member of the Living Church of God ("LCG," July 2005 to July 2015), which is a religious organization that is considered to be a "Cult of Christianity" because their belief system and practices deviate significantly from and often contradict the testimony of the Holy Scriptures. This organization is one of the hundreds of splinter groups of the former Worldwide Church of God (WCG) that adhere to the theology of Herbert W. Armstrong (Armstrongism). 

 

Then from 2010 to 2015, God graciously led me to discover that the information presented as "evidence" or "facts" (hermeneutics, history, prophecy, archeology, philology, etymology, genealogy, genetics) to support the various truth claims made by Herbert W. Armstrong, the WCG, LCG, and the Armstrong COG community, actually refuted their truth claims and showed their theology to be false, unbiblical, and not representative of Biblical Christianity or "Original Christianity." The Holy Spirit showed me through the Holy Scriptures how this false belief system is the preaching of a different Jesus and a different gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). He then pointed me to God's Truth, which is grounded in the reality of what and who God is and the fact that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This revelation would eventually lead to my departure from LCG in 2015. Three years later, the LORD powerfully led my wife to leave this organization and renounce the Armstrong theology! 

For a couple of years after exiting a cult of Christianity, I felt like I was walking through the "Wild West of Christianity".

The church I once belonged to claimed that they taught "the Truth" and were doing "God's Work", but it left me feeling isolated, confused, and frankly, angry. Leaving that environment was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, but it was also one of the bravest. Now, on the other side, I realize just how many others have walked a similar path.

The rise of cults posing as Christian churches has left many individuals spiritually scarred and confused about their faith. Many who exit or escape cults of Christianity are left with deep spiritual wounds. They're unsure of what to believe, where to turn, or even if they can ever trust a church again because quite frankly, other church groups claim that they teach "the Truth" and are doing "God's Work".

Transitioning from cults of Christianity into a church that teaches sound theology and doctrine can be a daunting process. That's why churches have a vital role in helping these individuals heal and find a healthy relationship with God through His Son Christ Jesus.

Christian churches have a unique opportunity to provide vital support for those exiting cults of Christianity. Here's what I think churches can do to create a safe and supportive environment for ex-cult members. By developing comprehensive programs that address both spiritual and psychological needs, churches can help these individuals find healing and integrate into healthy church communities.

Within this blog post, I will outline a series of solutions and programs designed to assist churches in how they can help ex-cult members in their journey toward recovery and spiritual growth.
You can read the seven steps he has for supporting those leaving cults here: Supporting Ex-Cult Members: A Christian Church Initiative