Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man. - Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man. - Luke 21:36
A cult is a religious group that is separated from orthodox Christianity by false doctrine. This may seem obvious, but to please God and avoid being placed into bondage it may be necessary to look at cults more deeply.
Recently my wife and I have opened our house out in the country to disciple new believers and help them overcome the world. At our home:
Since all these things, as I will point out, are marks of a cult I would like to say a word in my defense, before I lose my audience let me state:
This is not a study to defend my position or beliefs, rather this paper is to teach and prevent new believers from being snared by a cult and encourage if possible cult members to leave their cults.
When a cult member knocks on an atheist’s door, most likely the atheist will not be interested. However, if that same person should start to think seriously about the things of God and then a cult member knocks - watch out! Now the victim may be snared by words like "We believe the Bible is the word of God" and the cult presenting evidence that they are the 'True and faithful church'. Jesus said:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. - Matthew 7:15-20
Not only must you beware of cults, unfortunately some Christian denominations have cultic practices. The more of these characteristics a church has, the more cultic it is. If a church has most of the following characteristics, it is a cult and may not even be Christian at all.
How does a believer recognize a cult? Here are some indications.
Cults usually believe that they and they alone, are the one true church. It is surprising to me how many different groups, I have heard of that believe they alone are the 144,000 mentioned in chapter seven of The Book of Revelation. Most cults teach that you have to be in their membership to go to Heaven.
Apostles & prophets
Cults will have leaders or prophets that are only recognized by them. The cult’s leader or leaders are not accountable to anyone. Often these prophets are given equal or more authority then the Bible. Without their prophets interpreting for them, they believe you cannot properly understand the Bible.
No thinking allowed
As a result, in a cult the individual person is not allowed to think for himself. Therefore, everyone believes exactly the same thing as his or her leader. In other words, if it is in their catechism, they can't question it. If it isn't, they can't believe it. Does everybody in your church believe exactly the same thing on every point of doctrine?
Isolation
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. - John 17:15
It is true; we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. However the isolation when practiced by cults is to keep their members from hearing any challenge to their doctrine. Rather than maturing as Christians cult members often become more and more dependant on the cult leader.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:26
AND
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. - Matthew 15:5-6
Cult members are often encouraged or even forced to separate from family members. Cult leaders will use Luke 14:26 to do this. These cult leaders will never bother to teach Matthew 15:5-6
Those who love God may have their family turn on them, however those on the narrow path will not neglect to honor their father or mother!
Pride
Pride causes them to look down on people who are not members. Since they view nonmembers as heretics they can't learn anything from them. Cult members are at the complete mercy of the 'anointed' cult leader. Have you ever been corrected by anyone outside of your church? A ‘no’ answer may be a bad sign.
Saved by works
Members are trying to work their way into Heaven. Ask the member how he is going to Heaven. Compare it to;
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9
Some cult members claim that they are saved by grace, but later you will find in reality the cult teaches differently.
Sermons
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:29
The sermons in a cult are preoccupied with uplifting the cult leader or the doctrines that separate them from other Christians. Sermons should be preoccupied in lifting up Jesus and encouraging us to become like Him.
Legalism
They all have some form of legalism. The more cultic the church is, the more legalistic. Compare it to rules the apostles gave the church in Acts chapter 15. Does your church have special works that are necessary, yet these same works separate it from the rest of Christianity?
Bible studies
All Bible studies are carefully orchestrated to provide the forgone conclusions of cult leaders. They teach, often taken verses out of context, how the Bible supports the cult’s pet doctrines rather than studying the Bible for what it actually says.
No hermeneutics, the science of studying the Bible, will be taught in a cult. This is not necessary, as the cult leader will study the Bible for you.
Other sacred writings
Cults will often have other sacred writings that are needed to understand the Bible. Do not use other books to interpret the Bible. Use the Bible to judge other books.
Some cults have books that they believe are equal to the Holy Bible. At the same time, cults will discourage or forbid members from reading anything that has not been approved by their leaders.
Cult leaders will often have distain for other Christian or secular leaders.
Secret doctrines
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. - John 18:20
Cults often have secret doctrines. Only after you are a member will you find out what your cult really believes. Compare this to Jesus who taught openly. Christianity has doctrines that are foolish to the unbeliever, not kept secret from the unbeliever.
The wolves are a real and serious problem to new believers, as well as to old believers who have not learned sound doctrine. The first step in protecting yourself from these wolves is to recognize that Satan goes about seeking whom he may devour. The solution is to become established in sound Biblical doctrine. If you need to, look for Christians that believe the Bible to be the word of God. Fellowship with those who do not practice the errors mentioned above.