Mirth1981 asked:
1)What made you finally decide to leave?
I clearly heard from Jesus to leave.
2) Was it difficult?
YES! I did NOT want to leave at the time, but knew I had to obey.
3) Were you able to find a church that wasn't "easy believism" but yet one that didn't enforce extra-biblical principles where you could go and worship God in your own way?
Yes, but it took me a couple of months to accept the new church. Talk about culture shock!!! ( I will private message you about all this.)
4)Do you have any regrets?
Yes, I regret that I didn't leave years earlier. Just think of all the wasted years and all the harm that came to our family. ( I can't say what harm, because those watching the forum will figure out who I am and make more trouble for our family.)
I regret that my old church is STILL in control of part of my life, because I have to jump through hoops just to have contact with my family. Like I can't tell you publicly who I am, because I would be accused of slandering them. :-/ Funny how the truth is slander. 
5) Anything you wish you had done differently?
As said before, I wish I had left years earlier. I also wish that I had not even discussed what God was showing me, so that I would not have been labeled an enemy of the church. Somehow, my sharing what I discovered in the Bible, and what I didn't find that is taught, made me an enemy. 
6) How is your walk with God now?
Much better! The church I attend preaches the benefits of living for Jesus and sharing the love of Jesus with others. Interesting how focusing on Jesus and all He did, being grateful, and sharing all this with people who don't know Him causes me to actually focus more time on Jesus! 
There is peace, happiness and joy where there used to be frustration and fear of "messing up" all the time. I don't focus on keeping my salvation and "making all the way to the end" now. Funny though, I WILL make it "all the way to the end" now because my focus IS on HIM instead of church.
7) Do you still suffer from self condemnation and feel brainwashed?
NO! That freedom came right away. What I do suffer from, is knowing that all the people I love and cherish are condemning me and think I have been brainwashed. 
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