Adapted from a post by Scott McC. on the Assembly bulletin board. It was originally posted on February 9, 2004, under the topic, "General Discussion", on the thread, "Assembly Kids". Scott grew up in the Assembly in Tuscola, Illinois.
Assembly kids (referred to as "AKs") were taught, whether blatantly or
subtly, that basically anything not a part of the Assembly was a part of the
Satanic world order.
Sports were denied because they fomented a competitive attitude rather
than cooperation, they glorified man and set man up as
an idol, and as an institution they became an idol.
Extra-curricular activities were denied because they took time away from
proper Assembly functions and allowed too much contact with unsaved
people.
Outside friendships were denied because other children might contaminate an AK
with worldly views or tempt them to carnal activities.
Fellowship with other Christians was denied because other Christians
were (take your pick) either playing games / apostate / without the true
vision / worldly / carnal.
Relationships with family members not in the Assembly were denied
because they were either not saved and a bad influence, or saved but not
"walking with the Lord".
Dancing was denied because it led to temptation and an overpowering
lust.
Holidays could not be celebrated because they purportedly had pagan
implications from centuries past.
Comic books could not be read because the heroes' powers were derived
from demonic influences.
Secular music was denied because the beat led to sexual arousal and demonic possession.
Basically, an AK with fully involved parents (especially those who were leading
brothers and workers) could expect in a normal day to wake up to morning devotions
(both private and household), morning stewardships, school, afternoon
stewardships, a meeting, homework. They were expected to prepare a
chapter summary, eat dinner properly and in relative silence, recite memory
verse or share a thought from a devotion, attend pre-prayer, set up
chairs, perform and behave properly during the meeting, take down
chairs, go home and do homework if there was time, sleep, do it again (the only variation being the type
of meeting to attend-- prayer, chapter summary, tape, witnessing, all
night of prayer, etc).
The bottom line was that an AK was required to be an Assembly adult. Any attempt to
be a child and enjoy childhood was forcefully quashed.
AKs were not taught to make choices (good or bad) on their own. They
were not taught to relate to people outside the Assembly. They were
taught that the Assembly was more important than family. They were
taught that they must to be prepared to survive a horrible period
of persecution before the return of Christ in the year ________
(depending on George's latest revelation). They were not in any way
prepared to be autonomously functioning adults in the real world.
AKs were taught they will never succeed in doing anything in accordance
with God's standards. AKs were taught that God is harsh and demanding
and there is no joy in a relationship with him until his return - and
then only if you have lived a life of hardship and denial in full
Assembly participation - and then only if you enjoy sitting in meetings
and listening to George, because that is what we will be doing
in eternity.
These things AKs learned on our own: Our parents preached joy and were
miserable. They preached freedom and were slaves. They preached Christ
first and worshipped the Assembly. They preached love and looked down
their noses at their fellow man. They preached humility, piety, sexual
purity and truth, and bound themselves to an arrogant, lying adulterer.
And then we bolted. Wonder why?
Scott McC.
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