Why do cults appeal to some seekers?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
B

BettyAnn

Guest
#61
so now history books are distorted, go bing The Holy Roman Empire , or those roman gods they called ceasers
Either of it all aside let's us assume that saturday sabbath IS what God wants. It still wouldn't lessen salvation in any way from what I've read in the Bible. So having a conviction is one thing but pushing any doctrine not related to salvation as necessary is just divisive, wouldn't it be?
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
400
83
63
#62
Caesar (plural Caesars; Latin: Caesar, plural: Caesares) is a title of imperial character.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(title)
The Julii Caesares were a specific branch of the gens Julia.

It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator. The change from being
a familial name to a title adopted by the Roman Emperors can be dated to about AD 68/69,
The first known bearer of the name was one Sextus Julius Caesar, praetor in 208 BC,

The first Emperor, Caesar Augustus, bore the name as a matter of course; born Gaius Octavius
adopted by Caesar in his will, and per Roman naming conventions was renamed
"Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus"

his relationship with Caesar by styling himself simply "Imperator Caesar"
(whereto the Roman Senate added the honorific Augustus, "Majestic" or "Venerable," in 27 BC),

His successor as emperor, his stepson Tiberius, also bore the name as a matter of course;
born Tiberius Claudius Nero, he was adopted by Caesar Augustus on June 26, 4 AD,
as "Tiberius Julius Caesar."

The precedent was set: the Emperor designated his successor by adopting him
and giving him the name "Caesar."

41 to 54AD Roman emperor Claudius
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius
He adopted the name "Caesar" as a cognomen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognomen
During his reign the Empire began the conquest of Britain

The Julio-Claudian dynasty
refers to the first five Roman Emperors:

Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero,
[1] or the family to which they belonged; they ruled the Roman Empire from its formation,
in the second half of the 1st century (44/31/27) BC, until AD 68,

when the last of the line, Nero, committed suicide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio-Claudian_dynasty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Emperors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption_in_ancient_Rome

None of the Julio-Claudians were succeeded by their sons;
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus
Augustus (Latin: Imperator Caesar Divi F. Augustus; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August 14 AD) was
the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD

He was born Gaius Octavius into an old and wealthy equestrian branch
of the plebeian Octavii family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_order
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plebeian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavii

Following the assassination of his maternal great-uncle Julius Caesar in 44 BC,
Caesar's will named Octavius as his adopted son and heir
He was succeeded as Emperor by his adopted son (also stepson and former son-in-law), Tiberius.

2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius
Tiberius (/ta?'b??ri?s/; Latin: Tiberius Caesar Divi Augusti filius Augustus;


16 November 42 BC – 16 March 37 AD)
was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Born Tiberius Claudius Nero, a Claudian,

Tiberius was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla.
His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian.

Tiberius would later marry Augustus' daughter Julia the Elder (from his marriage to Scribonia)
and even later be adopted by Augustus, by which act he officially became a Julian,
bearing the name Tiberius Julius Caesar.

Caligula, Tiberius' grand-nephew and adopted grandson, succeeded Tiberius upon his death.

3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula
"Caligula" (/k?'l?gj?l?/; Latin: Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus;
was the popular nickname of Gaius (31 August AD 12 – 22 January AD 41), Roman emperor (AD 37–41).
Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius...

With the death of Tiberius in AD 37, Caligula succeeded his great uncle and adoptive
grandfather as Emperor.on the day of the assassination of the Emperor Caligula,
the Praetorian Guard declared Caligula's uncle, Claudius, the next Roman Emperor.

4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius
Claudius (/'kl??di?s/; Classical Latin: ['klawd??s], Latin: Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus;

1 August 10 BC – 13 October 54 AD) was Roman emperor from 41 to 54.
the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul,

the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy.
declared Emperor by the Praetorian Guard after Caligula's assassination,
at which point he was the last man of his family.
During his reign the Empire began the conquest of Britain (if the earlier invasions of Britain
by Caesar and Caligula's aborted attempt are not counted).

After his death in 54 AD (at age of 63), his grand-nephew and adopted son Nero
succeeded him as Emperor

5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero
Nero (/'n??ro?/; Latin: Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus;
[1] 15 December 37 – 9 June 68)

[2] was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor,
and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death.
Through Octavia, Nero was the great-nephew of Caesar Augustus

Nero annexed the Bosporan Kingdom to the Empire and began the First Roman–Jewish War.

In 64 AD, most of Rome was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome,
which many Romans believed Nero himself had started , then blamed jews

He died on 9 June 68, the anniversary of the death of Octavia, and was buried
in the Mausoleum of the Domitii Ahenobarbi, in what is now
the Villa Borghese (Pincian Hill) area of Rome

666 identifys this title and person [nero Caesar] as emperior of the roman empire, and kingdom, and over romans
 
Last edited:

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,190
113
#63
I think new believers really want to be extreme for Christ.

They feel the pull, the call and the Love of Christ.

A lot of times these cults teach some extreme things that would line up with how a new believer feels. Wanting and feeling like they are part of an elite.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand. I felt this way too. I guess there just weren't any good cults around. I would have done all the OT rituals, short of animal sacrifice. I actually did some of the OT stuff for a little while, not understanding fully.
 
S

sparkman

Guest
#64
Yes, elitism is a big part of it.

Armstrongites are taught that they will literally be Gods in the resurrection. They may even get their own planet populated with humans who worship them. Some believed that they may have to come to their planet and die on a cross like Christ did.

I think new believers really want to be extreme for Christ.

They feel the pull, the call and the Love of Christ.

A lot of times these cults teach some extreme things that would line up with how a new believer feels. Wanting and feeling like they are part of an elite.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand. I felt this way too. I guess there just weren't any good cults around. I would have done all the OT rituals, short of animal sacrifice. I actually did some of the OT stuff for a little while, not understanding fully.
 
S

sparkman

Guest
#65
Either of it all aside let's us assume that saturday sabbath IS what God wants. It still wouldn't lessen salvation in any way from what I've read in the Bible. So having a conviction is one thing but pushing any doctrine not related to salvation as necessary is just divisive, wouldn't it be?
Armstrongites don't consider it optional. They consider everyone outside of their group to be unsaved. Why prove-all comes here is beyond me.
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
400
83
63
#66
Either of it all aside let's us assume that saturday sabbath IS what God wants. It still wouldn't lessen salvation in any way from what I've read in the Bible. So having a conviction is one thing but pushing any doctrine not related to salvation as necessary is just divisive, wouldn't it be?
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather,
that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
 
S

sparkman

Guest
#68
see i answered this question allready also, but you did not see
Answer the question if you are not too cowardly: Are any non-Sabbathkeepers saved?

Or, are you a cowardly lion? :)
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
400
83
63
#69
Answer the question if you are not too cowardly: Are any non-Sabbathkeepers saved?

Or, are you a cowardly lion? :)
was just comming back to re anwser, till i saw your post, now you can search youreself for now
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#70
was just comming back to re anwser, till i saw your post, now you can search youreself for now
I have never seen the answer. Can you answer it for me please?
 
F

flob

Guest
#71
He was born in to a very strict mormon family that didn't leave mormonism until he was in high school, so after he was saved he still had a pull towards the prophecy aspect of things. I didn't believe in prophecy but adventism, the way it was explained and how the scriptures were twisted, made it look true. So the two of us went in thinking it was Biblical. We both should have studied more and prayed about it on our own without letting the bad little seeds in our minds.
I guess folks who were ingrained with weirdness---like moronism----from childhood.............it can really effect 'em.
That is no criticism in the least. Just a guess. And.........I didn't know mormism was into prophecy. Or 'prophecy'





But at the same time it made us stronger and once burned,twice careful.
There you go, absolutely. The grain of wheat is..........indestructible.
And all Satan can do, ultimately, is but 'release the flow'
 
B

BettyAnn

Guest
#72
I guess folks who were ingrained with weirdness---like moronism----from childhood.............it can really effect 'em.
That is no criticism in the least. Just a guess. And.........I didn't know mormism was into prophecy. Or 'prophecy'
They're in to prophecy as far as the higher ups in the whole hierarchy. That's why the head is called prophet. They really don't stress the prophecy issue near as much from what hubby's told me, but it's there.
 
F

flob

Guest
#73
I think I understand. Mormon doesn't try to get into Bible prophecy, they have their own prophecies.
lol.
Thanks
 

vic1980

Senior Member
Apr 25, 2013
1,653
199
63
44
#74
Ephesians 4

Unity in the Body

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

God bless :)
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,721
13,521
113
#75
without having read the rest of the thread yet - & i mean to, because this is interesting to me --

one explanation for the popularity of cults that i've heard given, and believe in large part is true, is that where the scripture leaves some things unclear, and God has chosen to keep some things hidden in mystery for us, cults purport to have the complete answers. i think you find that in just about every single cult to one degree or another.

so there is this pride in man, wanting to puff himself up in 'hidden knowledge' and vanity, that cults satisfy.
 
Feb 7, 2013
1,276
21
0
#76
Generally 'cults' supports one's carnal/flesh/self's 'sensuality' and 'imagination' growth. They are 'beguiled' by a 'false doctrine' and a 'false spirit' and in 'disguise' sin and death rule their lives.

Only the Gospel can save them from 'eternal condemnation'.

Sadly 'cult' has become part of the church too, since while their MASTER is away and they 'refuse' to listen to HIS unworthy servants placed in service to them and sooner or later, they may have them 'banned' from their 'congregation'. That is why many 'leaders' have become and have been made 'cowardly silence' to written Grace and Truth, in the name of 'love' practicing with no knowledge guidance and same knowledge corrections, by 'contributing tugs' who hold 'office' in such church.

Failures in HOLY BIBLE history is repeating itself in GOD's church, as how the few true Prophets were mistreated speaking for GOD and also as how the lambs and sheep of GOD are 'starved to death', according to the book of Ezekiel. i am 'testifying' for the LORD in 'spiritual knowledge' in service to you, and not according to carnal/flesh/self's itching ears understanding.

This is not judging anyone yet, but 'exposing' what is 'true deception' happening in our 'own household'.

As it is written and said by JESUS who experienced the same and left them for us to 'distinguish', that;

"Your worst enemy will be in your own household."

Is it okay to, want to and don't mind to, 'believe' and 'receive' everyone and everything as 'just', in the name of 'love'?

That is why we are one big happy family with the world and majoritively contributing to it, and therefore only 'straining out a small fly for GOD' and yet 'boasting off' big things using their given 'gifts'. Church buildings and everything in it are getting more and more beautiful and branded and grand, while the lambs and sheep are neglected and divided within, in starvation and in malnutrition and on the verge of death once again.

As it is written;

"You are only accumulating trouble for yourself on judgement day."

For now the only 'last' word i have from the LORD, for all of your 'self' and my 'self' is;

Repent!
 
T

tanach

Guest
#77
I remember The World Wide Church of God. They had a free magazine that would be left in racks in busy areas like railway stations so anyone could read them. This was a clever way of recruiting new members because the decision to join was left entirely up to the individual. Christian cults rely mainly on peoples ignorence of the Bible. A person may be seeking meaning to their lives and a seemingly friendly cult member comes along just at the right or should I say wrong time claiming to meet their need. In my experience I have not met any really commited and knowledgable Christians who have decided to join a cult.
 
S

sparkman

Guest
#78
Yes, someone who has received sound biblical teaching can spot heresy a long way off. That's the issue, though. It's more of an exception than a rule that individuals have received sound biblical teaching, especially a younger person.

The free magazine was called the Plain Truth. Most of it focused on prophetic speculation, not their doctrinal teaching.

I remember The World Wide Church of God. They had a free magazine that would be left in racks in busy areas like railway stations so anyone could read them. This was a clever way of recruiting new members because the decision to join was left entirely up to the individual. Christian cults rely mainly on peoples ignorence of the Bible. A person may be seeking meaning to their lives and a seemingly friendly cult member comes along just at the right or should I say wrong time claiming to meet their need. In my experience I have not met any really commited and knowledgable Christians who have decided to join a cult.
 
S

sparkman

Guest
#79
I have never seen the answer. Can you answer it for me please?
prove-all did give his answer, in essence, only he's too cowardly to say it to you all plainly. To a former fellow Armstrongite, he answered it.

He said that our Christianity is a counterfeit Christianity, and that he is here as a "watchman". A "watchman" is someone who shouts a warning to others. The watchman gives the warning and then if you don't heed, it's your own fault if disaster comes upon you.

Herbert Armstrong taught that a counterfeit Christianity supplanted true Christianity in the early apostolic church and that he was the "restorer" of true religion to mankind in the mid 1900's. That "true religion" involves Sabbathkeeping, festival observance, clean and unclean meat law observance, and triple tithing, along with the teaching that mankind is to become a God being in the resurrection.

His mission was to be a "watchman" and to proclaim Christ's soon coming return to all nations, and then the end would come. He obtained audiences with foreign leaders by giving them pieces of crystal, worth tens of thousands of dollars, to buy time with them. They knew he was a daft old man but it was worth listening to him a short while for the gifts.

He didn't really talk about salvation to them; just the fact that Christ was going to return. That was his job. He didn't believe they had the opportunity to respond to a salvation message, anyways. They weren't part of the "firstfruits" which included only the Church. He wasn't concerned about their souls. His heretical doctrine teaches that they will have an opportunity either in the Millennium or a period following it, when all the uncalled receive an opportunity for salvation, called "the judgment".

This whole post mortem salvation idea is a total heresy, by the way. Scripture clearly teaches that today is the day of salvation for all, not some future period of time.

I suppose the Armstrongite group that just-all belongs to continues on with the same heretical teachings. He just doesn't have the fortitude to admit it. He's a coward. He would prefer to take pot shots at non-Sabbathkeepers without clarifying that he is part of a cult that teaches such foolishness. He knows I know what's behind it all.
 
Last edited:

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,453
13,394
113
58
#80
Predisposing factors may facilitate attraction to a cultic system, the success of recruitment and indoctrination efforts, and the length and depth of involvement. These factors include:

A desire to belong
Unassertiveness (the inability to say no or express criticism or doubt)
Gullibility (impaired capacity to question critically what one is told, observes, thinks, and so forth)
Low tolerance for ambiguity (need for absolute answers, impatience to obtain answers)
Cultural disillusionment (alienation, dissatisfaction with the status quo)
A lack of self-confidence
Ignorance of how groups can manipulate individuals