Ccowl wrote:
We left our church about 2 months ago. My husband's family is very heavily involved in the church. His sister is one of the overbearing types who tries to run everything there. His mother has tried to end our marriage on several occasions and they both love to run me down to anyone who will listen. (Cause apparently that is the Christian thing to do) The mother and sister in law are favorites of the Pastor. They are very controlling of my husband and are constantly trying to get him alone without me and have even gone as far as to invite only him over and come to find out they would have his ex wife there. (Luckily he never went) He left because he was tired of being controlled and treated as if he was never "holy" enough. I left because I saw through the cracks. I grew up in a physically and verbally abusive home. I saw a lot of similarities between how my Dad controlled others and how they did it. I also had no friends and the stress of it all was way too much. Before we left we spoke to the Pastor about the controlling and back biting family members. His answer? "Well if this will continue to be a problem I just won't use you anymore." What?!?!?!? So if I have a problem with someone constantly threatening and controlling my marriage and life I am wrong?! This was my last straw. This proved to me it was all about control and I refused to give them anymore control. 

Since we we left one of the "sisters" who couldn't be bothered to acknowledge my presence in the past texts me that she loves me. She also sends things like, "Think about what you are doing to your children! Don't you want them to be saved?!" 
We also have the sisters daughter-in-law reporting about us on social media. The best of all is the mother-in-law coming to our home to scream at my husband like a two year old about how she, " Will not let the devil have her son!" I'm not quite sure if I am the devil she is referencing or not. Lol The sister texts him, "when are you coming back to church? I don't want you to go to hell. You need to be saved." Then the guilt trip, Oh well forget all that I just miss you. Your Aunt E said she isn't being nosey but she can't believe you left church. That makes me mad and now I have a headache." Then yesterday it was J & R (a couple who also left but went to a different pente church) called and told me something terrible that happened to them. You need to come back to church!" 
We also get the token pente scripture sent throughout the day everyday. Which are ment to "convict" our hearts no doubt. I just want peace!!!!
 

Oh, the drama!  Doesn't it make you want to scream???  Pente churches seem to ALWAYS have that kind of stupidity going on.  It used to make me nuts because it's so petty, and so childish, and so hateful, and so pointless, and such a huge waste of time and energy and accomplishes NOTHING! 

There is nothing like the peace and serenity that you experience in your life after leaving the pente church.  It was absolutely DELICIOUS to me and nothing could have ever dragged me back into that turmoil. I still to this very day, some 35 years after leaving the church, relish my peaceful life filled with good thoughts and good times and good friends who wish me well. 

I'll tell you this, Ccowl:  I had to cut off all contact with one of my husband's siblings because of the same things you described in your post, and they did those things for the same reason you stated:  In their minds, it's the Christian thing to do!    (I laughed out loud when I read that in your post!)  My husband was okay with it and I made one phone call to them and said "no more."  It was worth it!

That felt so good I pretty much cut off all contact with all those zealous folks who zero in on you if you don't look like one of them, and I run like the dickens in the opposite direction if I ever encounter one one the street!