The problem I have with people saying they heard from God to join the COG is that to me it is saying that God vindicates Berg.
To me God knew Berg's heart, that he was evil right from the word go. Although he cloaked his sins, his house was built on sand. That it has come to light that he had already sexually abused his children, that he was already taking prostitutes when on the road (we know this from the letters). He may have had some good ideas, but this to me doesn't vindicate him or tell me that God would have 'told' me to join a group that Berg started.
It was built on deception. We rarely even knew about Berg until much later after we joined. But God knew about Berg. If we were hearing truly, then God would have warned us. Indeed He did warn many. Many who did not join, who identified correctly the red flags they were seeing.
So that is my reasoning against why I feel God's voice was not truly heard to tell anyone to join. I know for many years that sweet intimacy that I thought was God turned out to be the devil. I know now, that what I thought was God's voice was not. (telling me to go screw this guy, simply cannot be blamed on God) So for me it was important to rely on God's Word, because I had been so misdirected by supposedly hearing God's voice.