Welcome to the Real World

[Arthur]

For those of you just coming out from being under the grasp of the assembly,

Welcome...to the real world.

[Peacefulg]

Why oh why did I not take the blue pill?  

[Tim]

It sure ain't pretty, but Neo has come and is setting us free.

[Arthur]

Sorry, for clarification, the Matrix is just a fictional story, although there are some interesting parallel's with the gospel story and it could be taken as an analogy, but still it is just a story, and my post was meant to be somewhat humorous and somewhat, hey yeah, cool analogy, type of a thing.  I think, and I hope, everyone here sees that.  Tim, you were continuing on with the analogy and not really believing in Neo, right?

Arthur

[Brian_Steele]

Arthur,

The Matrix analogy is perfect!!!  Only I'd consider this the anti-Matrix.  The "real" world is beautiful, full of promise, hope, freedom, independence.  The "virtual" world of the Assembly is mechanical, slavish, with brutal dependence.  When I "woke up" in 1992 it felt like such a weight was removed from my shoulders and I could breathe free!.

By the way, how cool is it that there will be two sequels coming out this year?

Cheers.

[jackhutchinson]

Arthur,

I know that the Matrix is just a story, but the analogy does work for the assembly situation.  It can be seen in different ways, including the one shown in the last post.

I see it this way:  I was living in a 'matrix' where the assembly life was presented to me by the leaders as being good (the remnant, heavenly vision, etc), yet, like Neo, I was not really happy.  When I started looking at this site on 1/20/03, I saw that the reality of the assembly was quite ugly from the start.  It was very upsetting to see that, but at least it was the truth.  The good news is that reality does not stop there.  I am free and am starting a new life without the assembly.  I will find out what true freedom and happiness really is.

I, too, can't wait to see the sequels.  I just watched the Matrix for my 2nd time 3 weeks ago.  I think I'll see it again.

Speaking of analogies in movies, The Truman Show is an excellent choice for the assembly experience.  Yes, it has Jim Carry, but he is very subdued in this one and it's clean (it's rated PG if you're concerned about crude stuff).

Jack

[moonflower]

Arthur,

Speaking of analogies in movies, The Truman Show is an excellent choice for the assembly experience.  Yes, it has Jim Carry, but he is very subdued in this one and it's clean (it's rated PG if you're concerned about crude stuff).

Jack

  Great movie. Great analogy.

[Arthur]

Jack

Yes, the Truman show is another great analogy.  I thought the same thing when I saw that one too.  The assembly was like a virtual world, in some respects.    Man, what would that be like to be Neo and find out that the world in which you were living for what, 30 years, was all fake.  What a trip! There definitely are some similarities there.
How does it feel to be free?  Now we've got to watch out for other "bondages" out there.  

Arthur

[jackhutchinson]

Arthur,

The real world (after 2 weeks) is kinda scary.  I have to make my own choices without someone else thinking for me.  I have to live with the consequences, so I can't just think, "The Lord will cover for me if I do something wrong that brother so-and-so told me I could do."

On the other hand, it's so satisfying to make stands on my own before the Lord and not before men.  Last summer I renigged on my Scriptural conviction in light of a certain common illegal practice in the wedding video business.  Nobody in the assembly (with few exceptions) thought it was a big deal.  However, I was immediately convicted by the Holy Spirit, so I repented of that illegal practice.  I have not regretted my repentance since then.  I have a clear conscience because I am living before God.  It is liberating.  Freedom can be scary, but I'll take that over bondage any day.

I'm relaxing as much as I can and I'm keeping in contact with many who have left.  I had dinner at the Cantrell's last week and spent an evening chatting with Tom Weltner over yogurt.  I've spoken on the phone with Rob and Linda K, Rachel and Kirk.  I'm going to visit the Biddles next weekend.  I'm also spending a lot more time with my family.  This really is just like when I got saved.  This is a time for simplicity for me.

Jack

[Ann Vanasse]

Hey Arthur,
I just read your 5 year story.  I am so sad.  Thank you for sharing your heart.   You pose some good questions at the end that I am still thinking through.  

One of my siblings shared with me how God lead them to be in the assembly at the time my family was being split by George and the leadership in Omaha.  Scripture was used as proof of God's definite direction.  Hmmmm.  Now, does God ever lead us to follow a fraud, an immoral man, a sneak, a liar, a theif?  But to face the fact that perhaps that was not God's leading should cause this one to question other decisions  that have also been 'God lead'.  

I am hoping that my family members will truley be free.  My heart breaks everytime I have a conversation in which they assembly way is still defended as 'of the Lord'.  

I want my family back.   They were stolen from me 25 years ago and I miss them so much.  I was 18 when my family split.  None of us is getting any younger.  Even though George is gone, there is a long road ahead for us all.

What was it that let Pilgrim out of the Giant Despairs dungeon in Pilgrim's Progress?

blessings,
Ann Vanasse

[Andrea Denner]

Ann,
It was the key of faith that let them out of the dungeon, and remember they kept calling to the others to listen....and none of them would listen to Pilgrim or Hopeful.

Andrea

[Ann Vanasse]

 
Faith.  If they could only believe.

They remind me of the dwarves in the Last Battle who were being offered food and scorned it as dung, who couldn't see or feel the sunlight of Aslan's land, but sat in the shack still in shackles that existed only in their minds and hearts.

I am so sad.
Ann