Thank you for your response. I will listen. Even though I knew Christ before going to walnut creek church downtown, I have been surprised by how much my own definitions have gotten skewed. This forum has been so helpful, just to see that all these red flags are not my imagination. I think I thought if I'd stay just a little longer, then the atmosphere of fear and performance would change. When did you all realize you weren't going to be an agent of change, grace, truth? Did you leave right away or did you drag your heels, just hoping you didn't have to leave?
Glancing over this old thread, and ran across this post.
Red Flags. We've all had them. Over time, we toss them aside, then we toss some dirt on them. More flags appear, and someone convinces us that it's our imagination--or our sin, so we toss those aside too.
It's hard to unearth these red flags, especially when there are so many and they are buried so deep. Plus it means that you have to admit that you ignored them for so long and were taken in by a different gospel, so to speak. A message of legalism & conformity, not a message of grace & freedom. Galatians 5.1 says: It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
But eventually it is freeing to recognize them and finally heed them.
Grace to you all.