Christian Cults

[PreciousRubi]

Could some churches be classified as both Cults and Christian?

Most Christian churches ARE cults. Here's the primary example...most "Christians" consider the Roman Catholic Church as Christian. It is not. In fact it is a cult and a very large one. You may ask "How can 2 billion people worldwide be in a cult?". Because the Bible tells us that all nations are deceived by the sorceries of the whore of Babylon which is the world wide religious organization, which consists of Christianity (what the world perceives as Christian for what that's worth), Judaism, Muslims, Hindus etc are all part of this whorish system because they are all false. There is only one true church. Denominations are nothing but cults.

What we need to realize is that many called and chosen Christians are still bound to these religious systems. God commands us to "come out of her my people". The whole realm of religion is basically under the influence of witchcraft and sorcery. A Roman Catholic cannot be praying to Mary and dead saints and worshiping a man called a Pope (whom they say have the keys to the kingdom of God when it is Jesus that has the keys) and expect to enter in to the kingdom. No idolaters can enter in. Not to mention the rampant homosexuallity...

Let's mention it...God is peeling off the covers of this false religious system. The old is fading away because they won't repent. That's why he exposed Ted Haggard. That's why he's exposing Juanita Bynum and Paula White. That's why Jakes can have Dr. Phi (who claims he's a Christian) preaching at his church. Millions of people are following after this strange fire and really believe that they are saved.

Most street folk know that these mainstream "Christians" are running game and they are going to hear the real church when God looses his people - full of the Holy Ghost for REAL - to preach the real gospel of the kingdom to the world...the time is soon...there is, according to 2nd Corinthians 11:4 - ANOTHER JESUS, ANOTHER GOSPEL and ANOTHER SPIRIT.

If you are not under the headship of the REAL Jesus Christ - are not baptized in the REAL Holy Ghost and are not being taught and preaching the REAL Gospel - you are in a cult...time to humble down (like everyone else - me included) and come out like He says.

Tom

[Massorite]

And who hasn't noticed the growing number of pastors (TV & otherwise plus youth pastors) being charged re sexual assault, lack of financial integrity, and being involved in a marital breakdown - from Jim & Tammy Bakker onward? And many tend to continue in their ministries as though nothing had occurred. What an insult to the cause of Jesus Christ & a colossal hindrance to the Church's global witness! Yes, of course, cults are evil. But some "Christian activities" in churches come close to being on a par, no? Jesus hit the nail on the head, "Many false teachers shall arise, and deceive many!" RIGHT ON! Isn't it absolutely essential that there be concrete EVIDENCES in our lives of having passed from death unto life in Christ Jesus? To ask is to answer.

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

I agree Arthur. These fallen well known so called represantatives of the Lord Jesus make it real hard to get people to see that Jesus is way. Unfortunatly if prophecy is to come to pass this must be.

[Guest shiloh357]

When talking about cults or attempting to measure where some so called "churches" are in fact cults, what needs to be done is determine first what constitutes a "cult."

First of all cults are characterized by an authoritarian pyramid structure with utlimate authority beloning to ONE person at the top who pretty much excerisizes inordinate control over the group. In a genuine cult, your life ceases to be your own and you are expected to surrender your own goals, dreams and ambitions in deference to the agenda and ambitions of the cult leader and the group collective as a whole. His ambitions become your own. In some extreme cases, one might be expected to sever any outside relationships that are seen as possibly threatening to the ambitions of the leadership. What is also seen is that communication within the cult itself is controlled. In this controlled environment, the means of members to communicate and relate to one another is strictly regulated as much as their contact with the "outside world."

Secondly, cults are based on the teachings and "revelations" of a single person who is not to be questioned. Typically the "revelations" of this person are to be accepted without question. Any questions are evaded and usually the one asking the question is reviled. Often, guilt and shame are used as emotional levers to dissuade any challenges to a person's theology. The quesitoner is made to appear cruel. However, the chief tactic is evasion. Cultists and their leaders operate best in an enviroment where they are in control of the conversation, and when they are not, any legitimate questions are ignored, or at best the one asking the question is demonized. Typically quesitions are characterized as "attacks," hence the use of guilt and shame for even daring to challenge the superior "truth" being offered by the cultist.

Cults typically use isolationism. The cult will see itself as the ONLY bearer of the light of truth. When a group sees itself as being the ONLY true "church" (as some churches do) that should send up a red flag. Typcially in Christian cults, salvation is seen as not existing anywhere else. Typically, cult leaders will enforce this isolationism by presenting themselves as having been chosen by God through some supernatural or historical event to carry or fulfill some "revelation" or set of "principles" which have been given to him/her exclusively, and thus supporting the claim that the group/cult possesses the ONLY true path of salvation.

The difference between cults and biblical Christianity is that in Christianity, salvation is a Person (Jesus Christ). Salvation does not come from a set of rules, a revelation, or principles that remains the sole possession of one group or organization. Jesus is Eternal Life.

In cultic settings, the entire doctrine centers around the teachings and doctrines of a single person. Yet Christians have as their source of doctrine and instruction, the writings of 40 different authors many who did not even know one another who lived in separate time periods but with one consistent message. As Christians we have Jesus, in the Person of the Holy Spirit living within us to guide, comfort, instruct, convict and seal us until the day of salvation.

Cults place all of their focus on being a better Mormon, a better JW, a better this or that. The focus of cults, even Christian cults is consistently one's personal performance. The notion is that one must live a certain way to deserve or earn heaven. Only those who measure up, who keep the "commandments" will be "worthy" to enter into the Kingdom. Salvation becomes a human endeavor and the finished work of Christ on the cross is diminished and set aside in preference to this performance-based-acceptance that is foisted on misguided members.

[Smalcald]

When talking about cults or attempting to measure where some so called "churches" are in fact cults, what needs to be done is determine first what constitutes a "cult."

First of all cults are characterized by an authoritarian pyramid structure with utlimate authority beloning to ONE person at the top who pretty much excerisizes inordinate control over the group. In a genuine cult, your life ceases to be your own and you are expected to surrender your own goals, dreams and ambitions in deference to the agenda and ambitions of the cult leader and the group collective as a whole. His ambitions become your own. In some extreme cases, one might be expected to sever any outside relationships that are seen as possibly threatening to the ambitions of the leadership. What is also seen is that communication within the cult itself is controlled. In this controlled environment, the means of members to communicate and relate to one another is strictly regulated as much as their contact with the "outside world."

Secondly, cults are based on the teachings and "revelations" of a single person who is not to be questioned. Typically the "revelations" of this person are to be accepted without question. Any questions are evaded and usually the one asking the question is reviled. Often, guilt and shame are used as emotional levers to dissuade any challenges to a person's theology. The quesitoner is made to appear cruel. However, the chief tactic is evasion. Cultists and their leaders operate best in an enviroment where they are in control of the conversation, and when they are not, any legitimate questions are ignored, or at best the one asking the question is demonized. Typically quesitions are characterized as "attacks," hence the use of guilt and shame for even daring to challenge the superior "truth" being offered by the cultist.

Cults typically use isolationism. The cult will see itself as the ONLY bearer of the light of truth. When a group sees itself as being the ONLY true "church" (as some churches do) that should send up a red flag. Typcially in Christian cults, salvation is seen as not existing anywhere else. Typically, cult leaders will enforce this isolationism by presenting themselves as having been chosen by God through some supernatural or historical event to carry or fulfill some "revelation" or set of "principles" which have been given to him/her exclusively, and thus supporting the claim that the group/cult possesses the ONLY true path of salvation.

The difference between cults and biblical Christianity is that in Christianity, salvation is a Person (Jesus Christ). Salvation does not come from a set of rules, a revelation, or principles that remains the sole possession of one group or organization. Jesus is Eternal Life.

In cultic settings, the entire doctrine centers around the teachings and doctrines of a single person. Yet Christians have as their source of doctrine and instruction, the writings of 40 different authors many who did not even know one another who lived in separate time periods but with one consistent message. As Christians we have Jesus, in the Person of the Holy Spirit living within us to guide, comfort, instruct, convict and seal us until the day of salvation.

Cults place all of their focus on being a better Mormon, a better JW, a better this or that. The focus of cults, even Christian cults is consistently one's personal performance. The notion is that one must live a certain way to deserve or earn heaven. Only those who measure up, who keep the "commandments" will be "worthy" to enter into the Kingdom. Salvation becomes a human endeavor and the finished work of Christ on the cross is diminished and set aside in preference to this performance-based-acceptance that is foisted on misguided members.

[tah]

Thank you Shiloh..I thought that was a very good post...

[Daniel Marsh]

bump