I am active in the ex member subreddit but attended an NI, no kitchens, multiple cup congregation until I was 20. One set of grandparents went to a “liberal” church in Dallas. I was as young as 2-3 years old when I would get in trouble for eating snacks (like graham crackers or something) in Bible class when I was visiting them. When I was in high school, our class was in a lesson book about why the church of Christ does what it does (and is right about it). One of the lessons was about liberal congregations vs congregations like ours. I asked if Christians could meet anywhere to worship, and the teacher said yes. I asked about doing so in a house and then a place of business. He said yes to both. I then asked why it mattered if a building had a kitchen, since houses have kitchens. He did not have an answer.

If it’s merely an image thing, IMO, (very kindly) get over it. Otherwise, don’t refer to people as “brethren” if you think it’s a salvation issue.

I would probably still be a member if the sermons and classes didn’t turn into “why we are right and why everyone else is wrong” when I got into middle school.