When leaving a group like the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG), one of the most pressing and deeply personal questions is, "Where do I go now?"
For those of us who recognize the problems with the WMSCOG’s teachings, particularly its legalistic emphasis on what I call their codification of the “Pseudo New Covenant Feasts” which is unfounded in the early church.
It can feel overwhelming to find a spiritual home. As a Catholic, I believe this journey must center on Christ Himself and the core of the Gospel He preached. For me, it took me a while to become interested in religion again, as the Church made the cult your whole life. And for most people, when you dedicate yourself for years financially, with your time, with so many sacrifices, and in the end find out it is all in vain, it is defeating. Most people go to the world, not because they are demon possessed or cursed as the WMSCOG would believe, but because they missed out so much on life.
I have seen many former members become bitter athiests which is extremely sad to see. It is important to talk about what you went through in the church, and if possible, speak to former members and talk about what you experienced. We often gaslit ourselves in the church to obey, or put off criticism or flaws you found in their doctrines. Digging into those things are a big part of healing.
For me, I believe everything happens for a reason. And to be quite frank, although yes I wasted a lot of time in that church, I did learn a lot of life lesson directly and indirectly as a member there. I became more interested and well-learned in the Bible. I learned construction, how to manage money to make ends meet, and much more. I personally always had a small signaling in my conscience that I did not belong in the church. The first time I left when I was young, I naturally felt like I had to avoid them. I also eventually became the one knocking on passover members’ doors trying to find them and get them back to that church. I have seen both sides. In the end, my conscience was correct. Although I was brainwashed into accepting assumption after assumption building upon false pretenses, I built up a false faith like everyone else. In my opinion, I am glad I was saved from that path of destruction. I could not imagine being in the church married, with a child, more years in the church, and in the end, it is not the Korean man I have been praying to on the last day that will greet me then. It is Christ who really sacrificed himself on the cross for me. In the church we were always told Father and Mother fasted, worked so hard, cleaned toilets, did everything terrible so motivate us to work harder. I cannot believe even now I used to believe I used to write letter, pray and fast for a woman in Korea who didn’t even know my name, my nationality, not a tiny detail about me and I was expected to worship this lady. The point us, you getting out of that church is the best thing you have ever done. And there are plenty of people outside the church who are following their dreams, are still fervent for the true gospel, and they haven’t been cursed or struck down by lightning for having left that cult.
Now, without further ado, lets dive into some things we should look for when finding a spiritual home.
My view of the Body of Christ is not limited to the walls of Catholicism or any single denomination. Instead, it is rooted in an open, faith-filled understanding of the Church Christ established, where truth, grace, and salvation are found. The early church had certain differences in customs, but the core of the gospel, a lot of which we can find in the scriptures are what should be our focus. As an Orthodox Catholic, I personally believe Apostolic Tradition is just as important as scripture. In 2 Tim 2:16, it teaches scripture is good for instruction. But the Bible also says there are traditions giving orally or many things that occurred or were taught that without having been written (John 21:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Corinthians 11:2, Colossians 4:16). However, there are some people who despite that have trouble agreeing with the Marian Dogmas etc and don’t agree with the notion of codification of doctrines or revelations as accepted by the Catholic church and that is fine. Let us see some of the things that are really important and I would consider the Core of the Gospel.
The Body of Christ is the mystical union of all believers who are united to Christ through faith, baptism, and the work of the Holy Spirit. As Paul writes:
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
The Body of Christ is not confined to a single building, organization, or denomination. While I firmly believe that the Catholic Church is the fullest expression of this Body—through its sacraments, apostolic tradition, and the deposit of faith—I also recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in other Christian traditions.
Catholicism holds a unique place in my heart because of its deep roots in apostolic tradition and its stewardship of the deposit of faith handed down from Christ through the apostles. This includes:
While I find these aspects compelling, I also have a deep respect for other apostolic churches, such as the Orthodox Church, which shares much of this same heritage.