Words Fail Me

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Sometimes when I'm trying to explain the church of Christ and its negative effect on my life to my friends who didn't grow up in it, I feel as if I'm no longer speaking English. The words I'm saying simply don't compute with them. For example, they can't even imagine a church that rejects instrumental music, or refuses to celebrate Easter, or doesn't have a food pantry or give money to a homeless shelter. That's what a church IS to them. It's the very definition of a Christian religious body. Sometimes they don't even believe me and think that I'm pulling their leg. And who could blame them? The COC is so bizarre and insular and out of touch with reality that it seems like a bad joke.

This is one of the reasons I'm so grateful for the ex-Church of Christ support board (the link is to the right of this post). There are people on that board who actually speak my language, who grew up in the COC and know what a bizarre little world it is. I've been a member of that board for years, and it saved my sanity. I don't feel so alone in my struggles after escaping from the church. We disagree on many things, but it's comforting and refreshing to know that there are others out there who get where I'm coming from, who can share their own stories (many of which are far worse than mine--at least my parents weren't abusive, even if some of the ministers and elders were) and commiserate with my church-related problems.

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