While trying to recover from my childhood and young adult experiences I have listened to many podcasts and read many books. Over and over I have seen and heard Steve Hassan’s BITE model discussed. I have listened to Mr. Hassan talk about his personal experiences within a cult and how he was able to escape. After learning about the BITE model I feel CGC has many features of a cult. I personally feel CGC is a cult but some of you may disagree and that is ok. BITE stands for Behavioral Control, Information Control, Thought Control, and Emotional Control. I would like to take some time on my blog to talk about some of these things and give you my perspective. My hope is that this will spark some respectful conversation and understanding.
Let’s start with a topic that falls under Behavior Control, promotes dependence and obedience. Whew, this is a meaty topic. My opinion is that CGC definitely hits this marker. Let’s talk about dependence, when you become a new member you often really don’t know what you are getting into. Maybe you came to a service because a friend or family member asked you to and the next thing you know you are down at the altar repenting surrounded by people you don’t really know. Carried along by the energy of it all before you know it you are being told you are apart of this new family. This process happens with a heavy dose of love bombing and acceptance. If you stick around you soon learn that all of that love and acceptance are not unconditional. Soon you learn that it isn’t really ok for you to keep your “worldly” friends unless you are doing it in order to bring them into the church. You should probably be careful around unsaved family as well. The devil will use anyone he can to lead you astray. Before you know it all of your friends are part of the church and all of your activities involve the church as well. It is just the safest way to be sure you only expose yourself to Godly influence. This creates dependence. It makes it very hard to leave. If you go you will lose all of those friendships and connections. You may have pushed away other support systems and burned many bridges. The church also breeds fear of the outside world which means if you try to leave you will go with a pretty hefty fear of the unknown world out there.
This brings us to obedience. You are supposed to be obedient to God, your pastor, and if you are a woman to your husband. Children should be obedient to their parents. There may be other people thrown in depending on your situation. You might feel you need to be obedient to your Elder, Sunday School Teacher, or some other teacher. One of the first things you learn is that you shouldn’t question God.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9, KJV
Then you learn that you shouldn’t question your pastor.
“Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”
1 Chronicles 16:22, KJV
So now I am not saying that these verses are being interpreted correctly, I am saying these are the verses that were used on me when I asked questions. I am sure I am not the only one.
You are expected to be obedient to God and your pastor without questioning them. You are supposed to let your pastor tell you what God means within the pages of the Bible and that gives the pastor so much control over your life. If you do not obey your pastor then you can expect to be shunned and your status within the church will be lowered. Within CGC the pastor dictates how you dress, spend your free time, and how much money you give to the church. Now of course you can choose to not listen but if you do your life will be harder within the church. No the church does not enforce obedience at gunpoint but the emotional pain brought on by questioning and disobedience can be used as a powerful way to keep you in line.
What do you think of all of this? Have you attended a United Pentecostal Church and if so was your experience similar?
D
Debbie McNulty 
Calvery Gosprl hid so much of what was rrally happening behind closed doors, that even after the 4 yrs I attended there as a young adult, I spent almost 20 years apart from it before I learned what was really going on amd continues to go on. Thank you Debbie for sharing your truth and yes CHC is absolutely, undeniably a cult.
LikeLiked by 2 people
CGC*
LikeLike
Thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLike
My you sure have it worked out . Every word you said is true. My 3 years as a member were the same. Invited by family, prayed for by many strangers, recieved the Holy Ghost and instructed to change. One year of “stewardship ” training and I had become a clone.No pants,no jewelry, no make up, and 30 years later and still haven’t cut my hair..I stopped watching tv. When I left I got my identity back. About “obeying ” the pastor…I went against my political beliefs to follow Pastor Grant..funny now how I fell under the trap. Thank you for your blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome.
LikeLike
This is exactly how it is. As a former member of CGC in Madison WI. Thankfully I’ve been out of it for about 26 years. Deb, you discribe things so accurately in your postings. Thank you for speaking out . I know we are in a different place spiritually right now but that’s okay. Because you write so accurately I can respect what you say even though we believe differenty now..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I appreciate your tolerance of our differences. I try very hard to be truthful and accurate when I speak about CGC. Things were so bad there is no need to make anything up.
LikeLike