In Reply to: choices posted by lydia on August 10, 2003 at 13:50:06:
... you really do have a tremendous understanding of the personal responsibility thing. As much as I hate the COG now, I have to admit that despite my family begging me to open my eyes, despite seeing things I KNEW were wrong, - brainwashing, FFing and neglect of children - and despite many, many things happening that made me know I needed to get out of the family, I clung to it for 14 years. No one made me cling. I chose. Why, I cannot fathom. But I chose it. I've come to the conclusion that I was completely deceived and I chose to be deceived, even though God sent people and situations into my life constantly that should have forced me to see the truth, I chose not to. The funny thing is, I became undeceived while still in the family and for the two weeks before I left, the scales were removed from my eyes and I saw evidence of the insanity everywhere - it would hit me as much as ten times per hour. I was so shocked at myself that it was everywhere and I had refused to see it.
So I think this answers PD's question about why didn't God stop the abuse and stop us from joining and get us out of the famly. He tried to show us the truth many times and we refused to see it.