A subtle form of conditioning.

Source from Apologetics Index

IN that respect, they have succeeded, particularly on Cape Cod, where the church has two affiliates; Victory Chapel in South Dennis and Potter's House Christian Fellowship Church, formerly of Falmouth and now in Buzzards Bay.

The South Dennis church, which grew from four members in 1982 to 300 or more, is one of the crown jewels of the Christian Fellowship organization. But despite that success, critics say its leadership typifies the abusive behavior that pervades many of the organization's churches.

The former pastors and members interviewed for this series lived, ate and breathed Christian Fellowship for a long time - some for 20 or more years. All described how they were conditioned on a daily basis to believe they were doing the right thing. If doubts about the church arose - and they did - these pastors attributed them to "the voice of the devil," or some cracks in their wall of faith.

"The issue is not necessarily the basic fundamental doctrines that they proclaim," said Lee Stubbs, a pastor in New Mexico, Maryland and Georgia before he left earlier this year. "The issue is: It's a subtle form of conditioning that takes place over a year long period of time. And if you are attending on a regular basis, and you hear a repeated theme, eventually that theme will be ingrained in you."

Ross Ragan, a former associate pastor in the South Dennis church who spent seven years in the system, likened it to a biology experiment. "In biology, you put the frog in a little puddle of water, and stick a Bunsen burner under it, and gradually turn it up, and the frog just sits there. He doesn't know there's anything wrong," Ragan said. "As the heat goes up, the next thing you know the frog didn't even move because he didn't think there was anything wrong, and it boiled alive.

"You couldn't see anything happen," he said. "It was a gradual subtle increase. You're just getting used to the temperature, and it's fine. You think it's great. It's the same as it was when you started. And before you know it, you're dead. I think that' the best illustration of that church."