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What is after TWI is wide open actually. It's tremendous freedom. But it is daunting to face, isn't it? Some leave Christianity all together, others attend mainstream churches, still others assemble small fellowships. Some start or join splinter groups with most of the doctrine intact, but more loving they say. From my perspective, 2 things didn't change for me after leaving TWI - 1) God and 2) Me and my perspective towards God I have continued to function in my community, running across and fellowshipping with many different brands of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. and learning to appreciate all of the above without the same elitist prejudicial attitude that I had being part of "God's royal exclusive household" in the Way, which in all actuality was a learned type of Westboro Baptist attitude of hate. I have attended several churches and still do at times and found one that my family is most comfortable with to attend regularly. We have friends there and have participated in a small groups and small serving opportunities like helping a local food truck feed the poor. I had this huge wall in my mind over the trinity at first. But people don't really teach a lot on the trinity, and even when it comes up in conversation it's more about talking about God and Jesus and Jesus' authority than it is anything else. Can I say to Jesus like Thomas "my Lord and God?" Sure I can especially in the eastern oriental sense. In other words I can sort out my own doctrine and it isn't a big deal, and I don't need to get in knock down drag out fights over it. Especially when you are supposed to know Christians by their love, not their mental acrobatics in showing you the points where Jesus is a different personality than God in a combative fashion. I even went to an old church I attended in my youth where they did the more Catholic doxology and Apostles Creed. It didn't bother me - I was more interested in the closeness and love of the group than what protocol their services followed. Interestingly enough after going back after years I saw that church had stayed true to its roots - its roots were in service to the community. They STILL do this - all sorts of different groups meet there freely and they have an elementary school now too. To me this stood out in stark contrast to TWI, who does absolutely nothing for communities other than spewing elitist indoctrination at them. I told a few people in a close small group about my TWI experiences, so some of the church body I fellowship with is aware. But I don't generally offer up a lot of information about it to casual acquaintances. In general, I feel if you act with a social congruence, mainstream Christianity can be a blessing and an added support. Oh and there is the added benefit of your life not being under the thumb of false apostles and prophets. You can't really say enough about that benefit. But from my experiences post TWI with mainstream Christianity, it's OK to be afraid, it's OK to be damaged, it's OK to struggle to fit in. I remember walking up to the pastor after a message and telling him "I never thought I'd go to a church again, but this one is all right". I think a key here is to be authentic and not elitist. Figure out what you can share with another Christian that is authentic but not going into all of the weird and gory details of the twisted TWI experience. I would also offer up a suggestion that doctrine although important is less important than connection. You want to find a church or a group of people where you can feel free to connect on a real level, not just superficial. I mean move towards where God is leading you to love and healing. I mean look where TWI doctrine has led them even now, with TWI's current theme focusing on basically mental gymnastics to implement "believing" which is a verb which will overcome the world, just not the world in which you can live with a credit card and a mortgage and a student loan to better yourself because you are not allowed. That's where supposed accurate doctrine leads them. Me - I would say their doctrine is twisted. The twisted manipulation of scripture and lives from an elitist cult is no measure when you put it up against the genuine love of a Christian community, even if everyone in it is all messed up. Including myself. Or maybe I should say especially myself. So my suggestion is move out and connect even though we're afraid and damaged. And if the TWI muckities want to criticize my honesty and vulnerability then I'm happy to stand by and wait until I get a front row seat for Jesus Christ's confrontation of their unrepentant, unloving and corrupt @$$es at the bema. Peace out brethren.

George