Why do cults appeal to some seekers?

[sparkman]

The remark about "low tolerance for ambiguity" was especially relevant to me. They seemed to propose answers to questions that I had, and a lot of them were "reasonable" if you bought into their Scriptural rabbit holes. On the surface level, the arguments looked reasonable but they were not given context.

Young seekers are particularly susceptible as they have a number of those traits mentioned, just due to their stage in life.

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

 

[prove-all]

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.

Is this more slander by you of [another brother], who has not even commented to thread,
or mabe this is more slander directed at me , but you forgot who you where insulting?

 

[prove-all]

You didn't answer my question. Do any non-Sabbathkeepers currently possess salvation?

Do you belong to one of these Armstrongite organizations?

Organizations which came from Armstrongism and teach elements of his heresy include The Philadelphia Church of God (Gerald Flurry), The Restored Church of God (David Pack), Living Church of God (Roderick Meredith), Intercontinental Church of God (Garner Ted Armstrong), United Church of God, Church of God's Faithful (Robert G. Ardis), Independent Church of God (Ronald Dart), Church of God, An International Community (David Hulme), Christian Biblical Church of God (Fred Coulter), The Church of God - PKG (Ron Weinland), House of Yahweh (Yisrayl Hawkins), God's Church, Worldwide (David Moore), Church of God - A Faithful Flock (Alton Billingsley), and Church of God - A Worldwide Organization.

do you condem all those church people, even though they might believe in christ?

you never did answer my question,

and where would I have denyed the Christianity of non-Sabbathkeepers on this forum?

if you could you would have known the answer.

 

[prove-all]

I didn't see that answer. I would like to if you may?

I can use one word in my answer. Yes.

the answer would be no, i never have believed or said this, sparkman hates his former church.

I was asked and said I believe the Sabbath is a blessing and a sign or badge and also
posted I think you[sparkman] have mentioned slandering youre past church alot.

I think he got mad, then he slanders more sabbath keepers everywhere he goes.



I put mabe a 100 posts in this thread if want to know more of my views about sabbath


http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/110085-sabbath-3.html#post1960215


I do not mean to offend anyone, those that is not an anti christ , and loves Jesus is my friend.

but feel that this should be exposed, and the extra promises the Sabbath brings, Knowedge.

the fear of the lord......

 

[prove-all]

Armstrongites don't consider it optional. They consider everyone outside of their group to be unsaved. Why prove-all comes here is beyond me.

this would be a lie, they thought they where the first fruits, they never condemed everyone else,

mabe God drew me to this place just to talk to you, or are you still ignoring me so you can't reply.

 

[sparkman]

this would be a lie, they thought they where the first fruits, they never condemed everyone else,

mabe God drew me to this place just to talk to you, or are you still ignoring me so you can't reply.

They taught that all others were unsaved and still in their sins, and that there was no salvation outside of Worldwide Church of God.

Yes, they taught that all others would be resurrected in a period called the "judgment" where they would have the opportunity to be perfected and become God beings like them. However, they denied that there were other believers outside of Worldwide Church of God.

Post-mortem salvation is contrary to Scriptural teaching. Scripture says that the vast majority of mankind is on the path to destruction. It teaches that today is the day of salvation. Any other teaching doesn't reflect what Scripture says on this topic.

They clearly taught that keeping the Sabbath was a condition of salvation, and that only Worldwide Church of God members were being saved. Everyone else would have an opportunity in a "second life" after the Millennium, and that they were spiritually blinded now during their first life.

II Cor 6:1-2 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For he says,“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Matt 7:13 [SUP]13 [/SUP]“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[SUP][a][/SUP] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

There are many, many other references that refute Armstrongism's claim that there will be a post mortem salvation opportunity for the majority of mankind.

 

[sparkman]

this would be a lie, they thought they where the first fruits, they never condemed everyone else,

mabe God drew me to this place just to talk to you, or are you still ignoring me so you can't reply.

By the way, I know what they taught. I took 3 different Bible study correspondent courses from them and scored 100% on all of their tests except for one, where I got 97%. I read all the accompanying booklets and every article in the Worldwide News for the 10 or 12 years as a member prior to the church changes.

You may not understand what they taught but I certainly did.

I don't hate them either but I would hope that I could dissuade anyone from pursuing foolishness that causes them to believe that other Christians are not saved. In addition, there is a real danger that such individuals have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ but instead have adopted a false gospel of lawkeeping. They worship the law rather than the Lawgiver.

 

[mwc68]

It appears as if this thread is saying "if you go to church you are in a cult"! Just my take

 

[sparkman]

It appears as if this thread is saying "if you go to church you are in a cult"! Just my take

No, cults teach against essential Christian doctrines and deny the Christianity of others.

 

[prove-all]

prove-all, in my mind Armstrongites shouldn't criticize Roman Catholicism so much..Armstrong was nothing more than the equivalent of the Pope.
He claimed to be God's sole representative on earth, and that God only communicated authoritatively through him, .

He believed Jesus was the mediater between God and man.
yes he believed he was given understanding of the bible, also said the bible was his
sole authority, and he said to let the bible interpret the bible.

but to claim he said he was like the pope claiming to be the victar [instead of christ]
would be not true.

-so you want to do as the romans do that is youre choice.

give to cesar[roman ruler] whats ceasers, give to God whats Gods.

 

[sparkman]

Incorrect.

He taught that the government of God was from the top down like a pyramid.

God the Father at the top.
Jesus Christ under God the Father
Herbert Armstrong as God's apostle
Other church leadership
Church Pastors
Church elders
Church deacons
membership as the peons at the lowest level

The concept of the Government of God was clearly described in this manner, and he claimed to be God's apostle, on the same level as the original 12 apostles and Paul..

He inserted himself only under God the Father and Jesus Christ.

He believed Jesus was the mediater between God and man.
yes he believed he was given understanding of the bible, also said the bible was his
sole authority, and he said to let the bible interpret the bible.

but to claim he said he was like the pope claiming to be the victar [instead of christ]
would be not true.

-so you want to do as the romans do that is youre choice.

give to cesar[roman ruler] whats ceasers, give to God whats Gods.

 

[prove-all]

He inserted himself only under God the Father and Jesus Christ.

so pope says he is above Christ, and claim sole authority over man given to his church.

-so the pope claiming to be vicar you honor, but an apostle claim you say can't happen.

so if he started his church , he can't be the leader of it, why can't he claim to be an apostle?

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

-so are you saying there is no apostles now? I can't claim to be one even?​

 

[sparkman]

I'm not a Roman Catholic. Why would you accuse me of honoring the pope?

Ephesians 2:20 says that the apostles and prophets were in the foundation of the church. Now, we have Scripture which is the apostolic teachings.

Herbert Armstrong was as much a "pope" over Worldwide Church of God as the pope was over the Roman Catholic Church.

so pope says he is above Christ, and claim sole authority over man given to his church.

-so the pope claiming to be vicar you honor, but an apostle claim you say can't happen.

so if he started his church , he can't be the leader of it, why can't he claim to be an apostle?

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

-so are you saying there is no apostles now? I can't claim to be one even?​

 

[prove-all]

I'm not a Roman Catholic. Why would you accuse me of honoring the pope?

.

so you go around all day bashing sabbaths keepers, about keeping Gods holy convocations,

please do not give me the bull saying as long as they say its not required it is ok with you.

the fruits of youre speach does not make me believe this, you are againest sabbaths period....

but you say Armstrongites shouldn't criticize Roman Catholicism ,

the CC who we know thinks there above the bible,infallable, instead of Christ.


so you can accuse people, but others can not?

 

[prove-all]

I'm not a Roman Catholic. Why would you accuse me of honoring the pope?

Ephesians 2:20 says that the apostles and prophets were in the foundation of the church. Now, we have Scripture which is the apostolic teachings.

Herbert Armstrong was as much a "pope" over Worldwide Church of God as the pope was over the Roman Catholic Church.

you mean he can't be the leader of his church group he started

 

[sparkman]

you mean he can't be the leader of his church group he started

He claimed that Christianity was apostate, meaning that all churches, including Protestant churches of all types, were in error and that he was restoring "true religion" which had not been taught since the apostolic age to mankind.

He denied the Trinity doctrine.

He claimed that mankind was going to be a God being in the resurrection.

He claimed that Worldwide Church of God was the true church and that all other Christians were "so-called Christians" and were not truly saved because they did not keep the Sabbath.

Do you hold those positions?

 

[sparkman]

so you go around all day bashing sabbaths keepers, about keeping Gods holy convocations,

please do not give me the bull saying as long as they say its not required it is ok with you.

the fruits of youre speach does not make me believe this, you are againest sabbaths period....

but you say Armstrongites shouldn't criticize Roman Catholicism ,

the CC who we know thinks there above the bible,infallable, instead of Christ.


so you can accuse people, but others can not?

I have no issue with Sabbathkeepers who do not teach that keeping the Sabbath is a condition or requirement or necessary fruit of salvation. Those individuals are not Judaizers. I have several friends in the chatroom who don't deny the Christianity of other believers and I do not have any issue with them. In fact I chat with them quite often.

 

[sparkman]

None of the Sabbathkeepers that I chat with are heretics, though. None of them deny the Trinity. None of them deny the salvation of non-Sabbathkeeping Christians. None of them claim that they are going to be a God being in the resurrection. Those are clear cultic teachings.

 

[sparkman]

If you think you're going to get a free ride to teach Armstrongism here, you can forget it. I will refute you constantly.

 

[prove-all]

If you think you're going to get a free ride to teach Armstrongism here, you can forget it. I will refute you constantly.

WOULD NOT THAT BE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE FORUM RULES?

2. No conduct that is offensive or counterproductive to fellowship.
We like to welcome all to Christian Chat, but if anyone is not here for fellowship
(or for wanting to know about Christianity),

but simply for [disrupting fellowship], [offending people], whatever, then that person is not welcome.