toleavethechurch-blog

[toleavethechurch-blog]

Unique Vocabulary

Abusive and controlling organizations employ buzzwords in order to restructure a member’s thought process and separate them mentally from those who are not in the group. This is called “Loading the Language” and is one of Jay Lifton’s Eight Criteria of Thought Reform. The PCG is a prime example of this. For those with loved ones in or associated with the PCG, it is especially important to know what these terms mean. Here is a list of the meaning of some of those terms.

The Truth - the message the PCG preaches/the organization itself

The Brethren - those within the PCG

The Elect - ditto

God’s True Church - the PCG

Spiritual Israel - ditto

God’s Way of Life - applying the doctrines of the PCG

Laodiceans - those who have left the Worldwide Church of God or the Philadelphia Church of God after 1) being baptized, or 2) being deeply entrenched into their teachings enough to understand and fully believe it

The Great Tribulation - the 3 1/2 years during which most of the world will be obliterated

The Millenium - the 1000-year period after the Great Tribulation during which those in the PCG will rebuild the world and “teach” in preparation for the Great White Throne Judgment

The World Tomorrow - the world during the Millenium

The Great White Throne Judgment - the resurrection of those who were never in “God’s True Church” (they have 100 years to live and either accept or reject “God’s way of life”

Services - church services (it is considered taboo to say that one is “going to church”)

The Feast - the Feast of Tabernacles, occurring every fall (see the Trumpet.com website to find their Holy Day calendar)

The End-Time Elijah - Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the WCG

The End-Time Elisha - Gerald Flurry, founder of the PCG

The Last Hour - the time in which we are now supposedly living, beginning in 2001

The End-Time - the time in which we are now living; preached by Herbert W. Armstrong originally, tracing back to the early twentieth century

Mr. Armstrong - Herbert W. Armstrong

Holy Days - the Old Testament and New Testament holidays and feasts observed by the PCG members each year

The Grave - death (usually used to replace “hell” during messages)

The Work - the efforts made by the PCG to spread their message

Future installments to come.

[toleavethechurch-blog]

Welcome!

Chances are that if you’ve come across this blog, you are either: 1) an ex-PCG member, 2) currently in the PCG, or 3) connected to someone in the PCG. If you are, then you’re in luck! This blog is dedicated to shedding light on the Philadelphia Church of God and helping those who have been affected by the organization. If you would like to contact the blog to share your story, ask questions, or provide information, you can reach Penny Peterson at LeavingPCG@gmail.com.