Cults

[harrigan4me]

I am starting this thread as a discussion on cults in general. Some interest in discussion was expressed in the locked Glenn Beck thread. This is not an expose on what Glenn believes, but what the different cults say they believe.

Many cults use phrases that sound Christian, but when researched, are found to be different than what the Bible says. A good deal of that confusion comes from the cults own "divine writings" tht they hold to be equal to or more divine than the Bible. It is searching and reading that we can learn the truth. It is far easier to understand that Hinduism or Buddhism is not Christian than many cults that are Christian sounding.

For starters, "Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin (www.walter-martin.org)and edited by Ravi Zaccharias is an excellent resource. So is John Ankerberg Theological Research Institute(www.ankerberg.com). On each of their sites are links to many other web sites such as Berean Christian Ministries www.bcmmin.org

I believe the best place to start is to learn what the "church" cult professes about Jesus Christ and His deity, as well as the inerrancy of the Word of God. If you can find it in a comparison chart format, it is very easy to discern what the cult/church teaches, as evidenced here: http://www.bcmmin.org/b2.html. While a brief perusal may indicate that particular cult says they believe in Jesus, a closer look may show they do believe he existed, but in a different way than indicated by the Word of God. Believing in a Jesus that is inaccurate is akin to the way children believe in Santa Claus or super hero's: the belief may be sincere and heart felt, but that doesn't make it reality.

Contrary to the argument of not wanting to study these issues, we are told to be light to the world, to bring the good news of the truth of the Scriptures to those who don't know or who are misled. That is true of atheists, agnostics, Muslims, etc even as it is of those in cults that sound Christian. Again, it is so easy to rear up and point to the fallacies of religions that don't use Jesus' name, but there are equally serious fallacies in cults that sound Christian.

Where we spend eternity does rest on what we believe about Jesus. Even the demons know that! Whether they believe that Jesus is one of a plethora of gods and they will become a god as well (Mormonism or Hinduism) or that he is a created god (Jehovah Witness), the reality pans out the same: no matter how sincere they are in believing in their religion's Jesus, they are not believing in the real Jesus. Here, as always, a half truth is a whole lie. With eternal consequences.

[jorjean]

What is it you wanted to discuss?:idunno What it's like to be in a cult?:panic What it's like to leave a cult? What it's like to have family members still involved in a cult?:candle There is a lot of room for discussion.:hug

[goinghome]

One question I have which might be part of this discussion, what is the Christian's responsibility toward such cults/members? Most of the cults involved have heard the gospel. They have access to the Bible. But instead they read their own book and get confused. This is true in mormonism, jehovas witness, catholicism, word of faith to an extent, even islam. We can talk to them, debate with them, try to show a good example, but bottom line is they have rejected the true gospel in favor of manmade theology. Should we assume they have made their choice? Is it our responsibility to seek them out like we do unbelievers? Or should we be somewhere in the middle with this crowd, where we only witness to them if they show up on our doorstep so to speak and it's obvious God has placed them in front of us for the purpose of evangelization? I have this question especially about WOFers. They open the Bible on a regular basis, but they won't actually read all that's in there. Seems like they've directly chosen man instead of God. They'll read Joel Osteen's books all day long, choosing against the Bible. ?????? just questions, nobody get mad please, I'm not saying they've made their bed and now must burn in it or anything........

[BlessedinHim]

I might be wrong, but I think that it would depend on each individual involved in these cults. Children brought up in these cults do not know any different that what they have been taught and brainwashed to believe, where as adults that know the truth and then turn to these man made religions, they, I believe, have made their choice. Those born into it need to hear the truth.

[Hootmon]

I was involved in The Way International for a few years during college. In retrospect they were indeed a 'cult', but they gave me the basic tool set to study Scripture.

[countmeworthy]

I was a member of 'The Lord's Recovery'..under Witness Lee's ministry. Like Hootmon, I was given a very strong foundation on the Word of God. It has some good things but some very bad things too...very sectarian' very 'cultish'.

[jorjean]

One question I have which might be part of this discussion, what is the Christian's responsibility toward such cults/members? Most of the cults involved have heard the gospel. They have access to the Bible. But instead they read their own book and get confused. This is true in mormonism, jehovas witness, catholicism, word of faith to an extent, even islam. We can talk to them, debate with them, try to show a good example, but bottom line is they have rejected the true gospel in favor of manmade theology. Should we assume they have made their choice? Is it our responsibility to seek them out like we do unbelievers? Or should we be somewhere in the middle with this crowd, where we only witness to them if they show up on our doorstep so to speak and it's obvious God has placed them in front of us for the purpose of evangelization? I have this question especially about WOFers. They open the Bible on a regular basis, but they won't actually read all that's in there. Seems like they've directly chosen man instead of God. They'll read Joel Osteen's books all day long, choosing against the Bible. ?????? just questions, nobody get mad please, I'm not saying they've made their bed and now must burn in it or anything........


The Word tells us to go and make deciples of all nations. So based on that I try to witness to my family members when ever possible. The problem that I have found is that they think that I am the one who is wrong, so that I have little credablity.

When someone, (a missionary or whatever) comes to my door I get them in the Bible as soon as possible. I am such a work in progress, but I do try to speak the truth with love.

[4given]

The Word tells us to go and make deciples of all nations. So based on that I try to witness to my family members when ever possible. The problem that I have found is that they think that I am the one who is wrong, so that I have little credablity.

When someone, (a missionary or whatever) comes to my door I get them in the Bible as soon as possible. I am such a work in progress, but I do try to speak the truth with love.

There is a big difference in making someone a disciple and making them into a prophet.:preach As christians we are to discipleship train ourselves and other christians. I do not read anywhere in the new testament where it says turn people into prophets, yet that is the aim of most cults. They seek to change people into prophets and prophetesses. This is how they can have more control over the people s lives by destroying their identity of self.

[Doobie56]

The Word tells us to go and make deciples of all nations. So based on that I try to witness to my family members when ever possible. The problem that I have found is that they think that I am the one who is wrong, so that I have little credablity..

That is what I run into. My loving Niece, Mormon...tells me that "Man wrote the Bible, and changed it so much, and left out so much, that it's truth has been lost. However, Her Book of Mormon was written by a True God fearing "Prophet" and if we read it thoroughly, we would learn many things about life and Christ and the Father...Such as, for instance, in the BOM it (or the Prophet) speaks about caffine...not to put it in our bodies. It's all there for a reason you know."

How can one witness to someone who honestly believes their man made Bible is worthless and The Word of God is still living and active today? Especially when they won't acknowledge that fact? :doh
It's like beating my head up against the wall! :frust

They think of our Bible as we think of theirs. :idunno

[jorjean]

That is what I run into. My loving Niece, Mormon...tells me that "Man wrote the Bible, and changed it so much, and left out so much, that it's truth has been lost. However, Her Book of Mormon was written by a True God fearing "Prophet" and if we read it thoroughly, we would learn many things about life and Christ and the Father...Such as, for instance, in the BOM it (or the Prophet) speaks about caffine...not to put it in our bodies. It's all there for a reason you know."

How can one witness to someone who honestly believes their man made Bible is worthless and The Word of God is still living and active today? Especially when they won't acknowledge that fact? :doh
It's like beating my head up against the wall! :frust

They think of our Bible as we think of theirs. :idunno


You can't. Unless you can somehow create agreement about the divinity of the Bible, you are wasting your breath.:thinking The only way to reach them is to get them to agree with you on any point, so you are on the same page. Then work slowly and prayerfully forward.

I'm still stuck on creating agrement.:doh