Cults?!

[Nehemiah6]

Biblically what constitutes a cult?

See The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin. Here are the definitions in that book:

"...In his study of modern American cults and minority religious movements as found in his text These Also Believe, Dr. Charles Braden, emeritus professor at Northwestern University (1954) [and co-author, John C. Schaffer, lecturer (1955) and visiting professor at Scripps College (1954 to 1956)], made a number of observations with which this writer agrees. In regard to the term “cult,” for instance, Dr. Braden says the following: By the term cult I mean nothing derogatory to any group so classified. A cult, as I define it, is any religious group which differs significantly in one or more respects as to belief or practice from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture (Preface, xii).

I may add to this that a cult might also be defined as a group of people gathered about a specific person or person’s misinterpretation of the Bible. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses are, for the most part, followers of the interpretations of Charles T. Russell and J. F. Rutherford..."

For Christians, probably the best way to identify a cult is to determine whether they reject or modify the doctrines of the deity of Christ (that Jesus is God) and the Holy Trinity (or triune Godhead). Those who attack the doctrine of Christ are called "antichrists" by the apostle John.

 

[DavidTree]

So I find this an interesting subject. I've heard the term thrown around before I came to CC. Honestly I have seen the term thrown around here more than most places. I wonder if people actually understand what a cult is. So maybe, before we use a term, we need to understand what the term means. According to the world outside the church, we are all part of a cult. But I don't mean the secular definition. Biblically what constitutes a cult? Use Scripture where possible, and tell my why a person should be considered part of a cult.

Here is the Number One Cult of Today = according to God's Word of Truth = Acts 20:28-31
It boasts the largest following of both christian and secular people in the entire world.

 

[Beckie]

A 'cult' as the term relates to a Christian forum may be recognized by several factors
1. They have trouble with or will flatly deny the doctrine of the Trinity. .
2 .They will refuse the deity of Jesus Christ
3. They will deny the dual natures of Fully God AND Fully human
4, They will deny/alter the plain facts associated with the virgin birth of Christ
5. They will add to or substract from the Scriptures, including the use of Christian terminology with private definitions.
6. They will deny future bodily resurrection and eternal judgement.
7. They will deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
8.. They will deny that Christ is 'the (only) Way and the Truth and the Life
This list is not exhaustive but I reckon it answers your question. Please note that none of these specifics require judgement of a personal nature but rather a template one side is orthodox the other is not. Yet it still allows for a great deal of differing views within orthodoxy. So as presented the moderator can be truthfully objective. Now the variations listed lead to all kinds of problems but I have purposely left out matters of tactics and manipulations which we all know to be commonly used. Knowing these things is valuable but not necessary to identifying cultish dogma. That said please note , at least 6 items on the list align very well with John's definition of antichrist, whom John also identified as a liar. Since I am not a 'forum guy' I put this up as a suggestion. You are required to do your best as you see fit. You and I do not agree on the specifics, while I certainly understand it is not an easy matter to handle Jesus Talk , as I saw personally, was too often allowed to be used as a soap box for those described above as 1-8. You are doubtless aware I am not the only one with this view.

Written by a friend

 

[Inquisitor]

So I find this an interesting subject. I've heard the term thrown around before I came to CC. Honestly I have seen the term thrown around here more than most places. I wonder if people actually understand what a cult is. So maybe, before we use a term, we need to understand what the term means. According to the world outside the church, we are all part of a cult. But I don't mean the secular definition. Biblically what constitutes a cult? Use Scripture where possible, and tell my why a person should be considered part of a cult.

I would define a cult by five common points that cults seem to follow.
1) They are usually the one true church
2) Their interpretation and doctrine is always unbiblical, always debatable
3) They usually have a prophet and/or a very outspoken person, whom is looked up to by the cult members
4) They exert a strong control over their members and the cult rules are enforced
5) They usually have a strong end-times component in their doctrine

 

[Magenta]

Polygamist Cult Founder’s Daughter, Rachel Jeffs, Gives Her First TV Interview

 

[Beckie]

I would define a cult by five common points that cults seem to follow.
1) They are usually the one true church
2) Their interpretation and doctrine is always unbiblical, always debatable
3) They usually have a prophet and/or a very outspoken person, whom is looked up to by the cult members
4) They exert a strong control over their members and the cult rules are enforced
5) They usually have a strong end-times component in their doctrine

most will have some goofy unGodly sexual ideals ..

 

[TheLearner]

So I find this an interesting subject. I've heard the term thrown around before I came to CC. Honestly I have seen the term thrown around here more than most places. I wonder if people actually understand what a cult is. So maybe, before we use a term, we need to understand what the term means. According to the world outside the church, we are all part of a cult. But I don't mean the secular definition. Biblically what constitutes a cult? Use Scripture where possible, and tell my why a person should be considered part of a cult.

The Historical Church had defined correct doctrine, theology via Councils based on the example of Acts 15. Around 325 AD the Trinity was defined and was doctrine from the time of the Apostles. The Apostles taught the Early Church Fathers and their writings have many references to the Trinity. The Canon of Scripture was not defined until around 400 AD. Other true theology is the deity of Christ as God. Basically from a Biblical standpoint aka rule of faith --- any teachings that are contrary to that are false. Those who start a sect like the Latter Day Saints, Christadelphians, Jehovah's Witnesses, The Watchtower, Christian Science, Mind Science cults meet the definition of Cult. One of the best books is Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin, my mentor. Personally, I grew up in a cult know as the Sextons, a fundaments' Mormon Sect branched of of King Strang of Beaver Island in Michigan. I have been diloguing and witnessing to those in "cults" since 1974.

 

[pottersclay]

As we have said before, even now I say again: If anyone is preaching a gospel to you contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!

There are many cults today that you may not even consider to be a cult. This new world order has spawned many new beleifs contrary to the word of truth.

Self love.
Social justice.
Self help.
Pharmakeia
Build back better
Climate change
Make america great again

Satan loves to distract anyone from the word of truth. Causing separation just like a lion on the hunt for the weakest in the herd.
Cults are prideful, cunning, liars. Deceiving for there own gain. Edifying self righteousness.

 

[TheLearner]

I'm confused. If we will know a cult when we see it, why can't we define it (or one) for others so that they won't fall victim to them?

Walter Martin. (The Kingdom of Cults) “A cult takes its point of departure from the religious thought of a major religion, but twists and warps that pattern of faith until it has become something essentially new and different from what it was originally.”

https://cdn5-ss1.sharpschool.com/Us...20297608/File/Mikeska/cults notes student.pdf

Cults promote false teaching on the nature of God. The Bible teaches there is one God revealed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The central feature that distinguishes cults from biblical Christianity is the doctrine of the Trinity. All cults have a distorted view of this doctrine. For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses condemn the doctrine of the Trinity, and Mormons teach tritheism, three gods who make up the godhead.

Second, cults teach a false view of Jesus. The Bible teaches that Christ is 100 percent man and 100 percent God. This has been called the hypostatic union. In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul warned about false teachers teaching another Jesus. A modern-day example of false teaching is Christian Science which teaches that Jesus was not God but a man who displayed the Christ idea. He neither died for sins, nor was He resurrected.

Third is a false teaching on salvation. All cults have a works-oriented Gospel. The death of Christ is believed to give followers the potential to be saved. So after believing in Christ, one must serve the organization to attain salvation. Salvation is found in the organization and one is never really sure if one has done enough to be worthy of salvation. In the International Church of Christ, for example, disciples are scrutinized by their discipler daily to determine if they performed as worthy disciples. Failure to meet the standards may result in discipline. Disciples can never be certain they have done enough for salvation.

Fourth, there is extra-biblical revelation and the denial of the sole authority of the Bible. Cults claim that extra revelation is given to the leader whose words are seen as inspired by God and equal to the Bible. If there is a conflict between the Bible and the leader’s words, the latter takes precedence. So in reality, the leader’s writings take precedence over the Bible. When interacting with cultists, I often hear them claim their teachings are consistent with the Bible. However, when I point out where their teachings deviate from the Bible, they eventually claim the Bible to be in error. In most cases, cultists claim the Bible has somehow been corrupted by the church.

Sociological Structure of the Cults

 

[TheLearner]

Sociological Structure of the Cults
Not only do cults deviate doctrinally from biblical Christianity, they have distinctive sociological characteristics. The first is authoritarianism. The leader or organization exercises complete control over a follower’s life. The words of the leadership are ultimate and often considered divinely inspired. Going against the leadership is equivalent to going against the commands of God.

The second characteristic is an elitist mentality. Most cults believe they are the true church and the only ones who will be saved. This is because the group believes they have new revelation or understanding that gives them superior standing.

Third is isolationism. Due to their elitist mentality, cultists believe those who do not agree with them are deceived or under the influence of Satan. Therefore, many feel their members must be protected from the outside world, and physical or psychological barriers are created. Members are prohibited from communicating with those outside the organization who do not agree with the teachings of the group.

Fourth, there is closed-mindedness and the discouragement of individual thinking. Because of its authoritarian nature, leaders are the only ones thought to be able to properly interpret the Bible. All members are to turn to the organization for biblical interpretation and advice on life decisions. Therefore, individual thinking and questioning is discouraged. There is an unwillingness to dialogue and consider other viewpoints.

Fifth is a legalistic lifestyle. As mentioned earlier, salvation is not based on grace; cults teach a works-oriented gospel. This leads to a lifestyle of legalism. Followers must live up to the group’s standards in order to attain or maintain their membership and hope for eternal life. Followers are required to faithfully serve, and attend meetings, studies, and services. As a result, there is tremendous pressure to live up to the requirements of the organization.

Finally there is a difficult exit process. Since salvation is found in the organization, leaving the organization is considered by many to be leaving God. All former members who leave cults are shunned by members which often includes members of their own family. Many are warned that if they leave, they will be condemned to hell, or seduced by Satan. Many ex-members are harassed by the organization even after they leave. Exiting members often end up distrusting any religious organization and end up feeling isolated and alone.

Life in the cults is marked by fear of judgment, pressure, and legalism. This is a far cry from what we are taught in the Bible. Jesus and the apostles taught that the new life in Christ is one of grace, love, and freedom from the law. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The peace and rest promised by Christ is seldom experienced by those in the cults.

 

[TheLearner]

Cultic Methodology
When you receive a knock on your door in the mornings, who do you assume it to be? A salesman? A Girl Scout selling cookies? For many of us, we assume it to be a Jehovah’s Witness or a Mormon missionary looking to tell us about his or her organization. One of the reasons cults have grown is their methodology.

The methods cults use to win converts are moral deception, aggressive proselytizing, and Scripture twisting. By moral deception I mean cults use Christian terminology to win converts. For example, New Agers use the term born again to support reincarnation. Mormons use terms like the Trinity and salvation by grace but these terms have different meanings than what the Bible teaches. Therefore, many untrained Christians are deceived into believing these groups are actually Christian.

Aggressive proselytizing is another method of the cults. Although many Christian groups use aggressive evangelism, they do so out of a love for God and a desire to see others come to know Christ. Many cultists proselytize for much the same reasons but added to this is the desire to win God’s approval. They work for grace rather than from grace. The cults require their members to evangelize. Many groups hold their members accountable for the number of hours they spend witnessing for the organization. Many members feel guilty if a day or so goes by without them proselytizing.

Scripture twisting is another method of the cults. Cultist quote verses in the Bible that support their position, but skip over the verses that do not. Often, there is gross misinterpretation of Scripture so that contradictory verses will better fall in line with their views.

For example, Jehovah’s Witness and Mormons try to use verses to show Jesus is a created being. However, their position is easily shown to be incorrect when you explain the context and correct meaning of the terms. Also, when you show additional verses that contradict their position, they are often surprised and realize they have never seen those verse before or that the organization’s explanations of those verses are unable to be supported.

To successfully engage in conversation and effectively witness to those in the cults, Christians must be prepared in the following ways. First Peter 3:15 states that we must always be “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” We must be prepared by knowing the word of God through diligent study of it. Second, we must be prepared to overcome our fears and lovingly reach out to cult members, exercising the fruits of patience and gentleness as we share the truth.

 

[TheLearner]

https://bible.org/article/character-cults

 

[TheLearner]

start at #6

 

[kaylagrl]

See The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin. Here are the definitions in that book:

"...In his study of modern American cults and minority religious movements as found in his text These Also Believe, Dr. Charles Braden, emeritus professor at Northwestern University (1954) [and co-author, John C. Schaffer, lecturer (1955) and visiting professor at Scripps College (1954 to 1956)], made a number of observations with which this writer agrees. In regard to the term “cult,” for instance, Dr. Braden says the following: By the term cult I mean nothing derogatory to any group so classified. A cult, as I define it, is any religious group which differs significantly in one or more respects as to belief or practice from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture (Preface, xii).

I may add to this that a cult might also be defined as a group of people gathered about a specific person or person’s misinterpretation of the Bible. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses are, for the most part, followers of the interpretations of Charles T. Russell and J. F. Rutherford..."

For Christians, probably the best way to identify a cult is to determine whether they reject or modify the doctrines of the deity of Christ (that Jesus is God) and the Holy Trinity (or triune Godhead). Those who attack the doctrine of Christ are called "antichrists" by the apostle John.

So far, your answer is closest to what I'm looking for. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

So far, your answer is closest to what I'm looking for. Thanks for sharing it.

It's been many years since I've heard or read anything from Walter Martin, but when I did, he seemed to know what he was talking about.

 

[kaylagrl]

A 'cult' as the term relates to a Christian forum may be recognized by several factors
1. They have trouble with or will flatly deny the doctrine of the Trinity. .
2 .They will refuse the deity of Jesus Christ
3. They will deny the dual natures of Fully God AND Fully human
4, They will deny/alter the plain facts associated with the virgin birth of Christ
5. They will add to or substract from the Scriptures, including the use of Christian terminology with private definitions.
6. They will deny future bodily resurrection and eternal judgement.
7. They will deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
8.. They will deny that Christ is 'the (only) Way and the Truth and the Life
This list is not exhaustive but I reckon it answers your question. Please note that none of these specifics require judgement of a personal nature but rather a template one side is orthodox the other is not. Yet it still allows for a great deal of differing views within orthodoxy. So as presented the moderator can be truthfully objective. Now the variations listed lead to all kinds of problems but I have purposely left out matters of tactics and manipulations which we all know to be commonly used. Knowing these things is valuable but not necessary to identifying cultish dogma. That said please note , at least 6 items on the list align very well with John's definition of antichrist, whom John also identified as a liar. Since I am not a 'forum guy' I put this up as a suggestion. You are required to do your best as you see fit. You and I do not agree on the specifics, while I certainly understand it is not an easy matter to handle Jesus Talk , as I saw personally, was too often allowed to be used as a soap box for those described above as 1-8. You are doubtless aware I am not the only one with this view.

Written by a friend

Some good points here too. This also trends toward the direction I want to go. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kaylagrl]

Polygamist Cult Founder’s Daughter, Rachel Jeffs, Gives Her First TV Interview

A little late tonight but I do want to watch this. Her father was certainly the leader of a cult. Prime example.

 

[Inquisitor]

most will have some goofy unGodly sexual ideals ..

Your not wrong. I think that has some connection to the exertion of power by the leaders.

 

[kaylagrl]

https://bible.org/article/character-cults

Thank you for sharing, I want to read more slowly over it again before I comment.

 

[Magenta]

A little late tonight but I do want to watch this. Her father was certainly the leader of a cult. Prime example.

I recently watched a documentary on him/the cult on Netflix. Very eye-opening

It was a four part mini-series called, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey