Wasted? There wasn’t an ounce of Salvation in that place. Stop hearing what you want from exmembers stories. Look at the big picture

It’s all your own thoughts. You wasted your salvation because of non-sense reasons.

My family left last week. We were therr for 4 years. Our first overseer was a very Odd man, as he was in his mid twenties, but looked almost 40 (all Ovrrseers are even taught to look the same). He was excommunicated, but we were told, “Mother wants him to go to Chicago Zion”. We found out that he had been making advances to the female members. We then had a deacon who was really common sense, become overseer. He was generally a good guy,would talk about “regular” things, including his fav sports team. Then…we switched him with a Korean overseer. We had been warned. He would make racial comments, jokes etc. Rude “harsh” jokes toward brothers and sisters. He would always pass it off as, “Isnt this how family talks?”. Ive seen him scream at members etc. Not to long ago, he purchased a very high end SUV. Shortly after he came, we moved into a new building. Our church could barely pay for ita own Oil bill in the old building….but we moved to a new big zion with a 7k a month oil bill in the cold months. BUT….we were encouraged to “Pay our own oil bill”. Whenevr we bought something, it had to be “New”. Even tools that you could buy used, or at a consignment shop…no. New.

i am thinking of leaving the church. I see the leaders buying $600 suits, $150 shoes, new cars (Leaders financially supported by mother) then they turn around and ask the members: buy the food, buy the cleaning supplies, give me $ for construction, give me $ for utilities, buy all the kitchen supplies, give me $ to give to pastor for the future house churches or you will die for keeping an idol in your heart. You will not go to heaven. Children’s teachers buy all the supplies for your class, bible teachers ask all the members in your group for money to give for food during the week. Its sad. The leaders only give a little to house church, and their tithe and offering on sabbath and feasts. They were taught to make the members pay for everything.Its disgusting.

I recently left. Very recently. I still have family that attend, not sure how it’s going to work out yet. But, I was just thinking about this the other day. There is the 10% Tithing, and it’s on EVERYTHING. I was taught you give 10% of All Income, Bonuses, Taxes, even Gifts. If you were given a Gift Card, you give 10% of the Amount of the Card or if a Regulat Gift, Find it’s Value & out of your money give 10% of the Value. You’re taught that it is all Gods, & all he asks for is 10% so if you don’t Tithe, you are stealing from God.
You are also expected to give an Offering at every Service, it adds up Fast, especially during the feasts.
We also had to buy all our books, veils. Groups took turns buying & making meals. I found out recently even the big flower displays are paid for by a brother or sister who has been blessed with the honor of picking out & buying the flowers for that weeks display. They took donations, always calling it an honor or blessing, to make renovations for the new church building.
I wondered often about how much they make with all the tithing, offering and ‘blessings’ and what they do with it.