#i used to get so frustrated bc i'd be like “this doctrine is harmful”

[deservedgrace]

i listened to a sermon from my old church and transcribed it so i can go through and point out cult tactics for my own benefit, and i'm realizing how much like... i don't know if it can be considered doublespeak but there are a bunch of statements that probably sound way different to "outsiders" than it does to "insiders".

like the statement "we're not conformed to the way the world works, we're conformed to god's purposes in heaven", an "outsider" making a good faith interpretation might go "oh, okay, they're probably talking about having faith about heaven and how they feel they should act in accordance with that." but those of us that are/have been involved know, the words "conformed" and "world" have a lot of implications around them within christianity.

"conformed" doesn't just mean "behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards" or "agree with". it has implications in idolatry, since conforming to worldly things is equivalent to worshiping worldly things (and everybody is worshiping something, if they're not worshiping god they're worshiping satan/idols). "conformed" has implications in giving into the temptations of the sin of the "world".

and "world" doesn't mean "the earth" or "people/societies that exist on earth". it is equivalent to sinfulness, to wickedness, to immorality, to depravity. worldly people are incapable of morality, of goodness, of "real" love, of "real" happiness, of "real" fulfillment.

and i'm realizing now that when i brought up concerns about things being taught in the church, and i would get dismissed and made to feel like i was the issue... a lot of that was that i was criticizing "insider" doctrine, and the solution the church members were trained in is using "outsider doctrine" (nicer sounding) to make the person bringing up the "insider doctrine" (less nice sounding but still completely accurate interpretation) feel like the problem. suddenly, the understanding we all had of "world = sinful" was my fault and my interpretation and my sin getting in the way of the ~perfect~ doctrine.