Cults?!

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kaylagrl

Guest
#1
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.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,210
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#2
In my meager opinion and experience over the last five to six years, today's modern-day "church" has the feel of a come-and-go cult. This system votes on whether or not active "alternate lifestyle" members are allowed to serve the sacraments. Imagine that . . . a man being intimate with another man the night before, or morning of, distributing the juice/bread for a service. I have attended a "church" where two team members had just come off the stage, sat down directly in front of me, and one man said to the other man, "Come here and sit next to me," and blew the other man a sexual kiss. This was pretty shocking as a guest.

One "church" I attended didn't even mention the name Jesus from the Pulpit, and I attended faithfully for 7 months before repulsing by the lack of Biblical teaching. We did, however, learn about gun safety and the "pastors" favorite burger joint in town . . . multiple times.

I am horrified for those who attend these "churches," for they do not realize that they belong to something that is LIKE a cult, but because of their ignorance and lack of Biblical understanding, they are unable to determine the fact that they are being taught a false gospel for an unknown but selfish reason. Perhaps these "pastors" are in business for a paycheck? Or, for some kind of recognition? And isn't this usually the purpose of a cult? To grant the cult leader money and/or fame? Certainly, the Truth is not important, for deception is required for a cult-like environment to succeed.

I'm sorry, @kaylaG - I don't have any Bible passages to meet your requests. Instead, only the above comments and experiences.
 
Jan 12, 2022
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#3
A cult is group of people that believe in a false religion, idol, or heresy. The cult founder or leader is usually motivated by either earthly things (money, adultery, fame, etc.) or they came into direct contact with the Devil. While this might on the surface seem like a big claim, it's actually quite curious how many cults and heretical sects were made by the cult leader claiming to come into contact with a supernatural being that told them a bunch of lies in total contradiction to the Bible.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
770
113
#4
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.

Cults could have many definitions. You really can't go by 'dictionary definitions' to find the meaning of a religous cult. And I don't think anyone can define a 'religious cult'. Most likely they'll define a 'religious cult' as a religious sect that doesn't believe what they believe.

Decades ago, when the Supreme Court was initially faced with the 'definition of pornography' they said they couldn't give it an exact definition. What they did say is that, 'You'll know pornography when you see it.'

The same applies to a 'religious cult'. When you observe/study Jim Jones and his People's Temple of Jonestown, there'll be no doubt that what you are seeing is a cult. Jonestown Part 1: Who was the Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones? - Bing video

Or, The Heaven's Gate Cult who all committed suicide when the Hale Bopp comet appeared: Friends and family speak out about Heaven’s Gate cult tragedy l GMA - Bing video

Or David Koresh and his Branch Davidians:Branch Davidians - YouTube

Actually, there are too many examples of extreme cults to count.

So, don't try and define a cult, there is no exact definition. For sure, a cult is not a religious sect that believes differently from you. AS I STATED, YOU'LL KNOW A CULT WHEN YOU SEE IT, AND THERE WILL BE NO MISTAKING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,210
1,830
113
#5
Cults could have many definitions. You really can't go by 'dictionary definitions' to find the meaning of a religous cult. And I don't think anyone can define a 'religious cult'. Most likely they'll define a 'religious cult' as a religious sect that doesn't believe what they believe.

Decades ago, when the Supreme Court was initially faced with the 'definition of pornography' they said they couldn't give it an exact definition. What they did say is that, 'You'll know pornography when you see it.'

The same applies to a 'religious cult'. When you observe/study Jim Jones and his People's Temple of Jonestown, there'll be no doubt that what you are seeing is a cult. Jonestown Part 1: Who was the Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones? - Bing video

Or, The Heaven's Gate Cult who all committed suicide when the Hale Bopp comet appeared: Friends and family speak out about Heaven’s Gate cult tragedy l GMA - Bing video

Or David Koresh and his Branch Davidians:Branch Davidians - YouTube

Actually, there are too many examples of extreme cults to count.

So, don't try and define a cult, there is no exact definition. For sure, a cult is not a religious sect that believes differently from you. AS I STATED, YOU'LL KNOW A CULT WHEN YOU SEE IT, AND THERE WILL BE NO MISTAKING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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?
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
639
113
#6
This will sound extreme, but I honestly believe before God Almighty that every "church" that I've ever stepped foot in over the course of my entire lifetime was/still is a "cult". Primarily in that none of them even came close to teaching what the Bible actually teaches, but there were a lot of other bizarre things to consider as well.

For example, I got married on the beach in Florida in February of 2001, and then my wife (my ex, now) and I moved back up to New Jersey near the end of September of that same year or slightly after the whole 9-11 Twin Towers thing went down. While we were in Florida, she and I worked for a cleaning company for a few months, and we actually started up our own cleaning business when we moved back to New Jersey. I should mention that I used to preach on the streets of New York and New Jersey before moving to Florida for those few months, and that I also preached briefly on the streets in Florida as well.

Well, when we started our cleaning business, I began contacting "churches" in the area to see if they wanted to hire us to clean their buildings. When I called one particular "church", the receptionist put me through to one of the "church" elders, and he and I spoke for several minutes. He asked me about my business, and I explained that to him while also mentioning to him that I was a street preacher. He, in turn, told me that their "church" was not only looking to hire someone to clean their building, but that they were also looking for an evangelist/street preacher to help bring people to their "church". He then asked me to come to their service that Sunday while telling me that he was going to arrange a meeting between me and the pastor after the service that day.

Sooooo, Sunday rolled around, and I got to the "church" early as was my norm. The very first thing that I saw as I entered the building was a grown man fully garbed in a clown costume. You know, funny hat, orange wig, white face, red nose, polka dot outfit, striped socks, and big goofy shoes. You get the picture. While seeking to console myself, I thought, "Well, they're probably having some sort of event for the children here today", and off I went into the "church" sanctuary. After I endured their so-called "praise and worship", an elder grabbed a microphone, and said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest speaker today, Koko the clown".

Mind you, this was the regular Sunday morning ADULT SERVICE.

So, Koko did his schtick.

You know, he pulled some lightbulbs out of the "pastor's" ear, and other things like that.

By then, I was starting to get a bit hot under the color, but, don't forget, I had my scheduled meeting with the "pastor" after the service, and I had some real "cleaning" to do at this point.

The service finally ended (THANK GOD!), and the elder who I spoke to on the phone approached me and asked me what I thought of the service.

In his defense, I probably should have had A BIG RED WARNING LABEL affixed to my forehead, but, hey, he asked, so I told him.

He got infuriated with me, and told me that their "church" doesn't believe in things like "repentance" and "the fear of the Lord", and that they REGULARLY bring in clowns to "preach" to the congregation.

Needless to say, I never had the meeting with the "pastor".

THIS is what they wanted me to draw people on the streets to via my street preaching.

Anyhow, that's just one of hundreds of true horror stories that I could share.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,210
1,830
113
#7
This will sound extreme, but I honestly believe before God Almighty that every "church" that I've ever stepped foot in over the course of my entire lifetime was/still is a "cult". Primarily in that none of them even came close to teaching what the Bible actually teaches, but there were a lot of other bizarre things to consider as well.

For example, I got married on the beach in Florida in February of 2001, and then my wife (my ex, now) and I moved back up to New Jersey near the end of September of that same year or slightly after the whole 9-11 Twin Towers thing went down. While we were in Florida, she and I worked for a cleaning company for a few months, and we actually started up our own cleaning business when we moved back to New Jersey. I should mention that I used to preach on the streets of New York and New Jersey before moving to Florida for those few months, and that I also preached briefly on the streets in Florida as well.

Well, when we started our cleaning business, I began contacting "churches" in the area to see if they wanted to hire us to clean their buildings. When I called one particular "church", the receptionist put me through to one of the "church" elders, and he and I spoke for several minutes. He asked me about my business, and I explained that to him while also mentioning to him that I was a street preacher. He, in turn, told me that their "church" was not only looking to hire someone to clean their building, but that they were also looking for an evangelist/street preacher to help bring people to their "church". He then asked me to come to their service that Sunday while telling me that he was going to arrange a meeting between me and the pastor after the service that day.

Sooooo, Sunday rolled around, and I got to the "church" early as was my norm. The very first thing that I saw as I entered the building was a grown man fully garbed in a clown costume. You know, funny hat, orange wig, white face, red nose, polka dot outfit, striped socks, and big goofy shoes. You get the picture. While seeking to console myself, I thought, "Well, they're probably having some sort of event for the children here today", and off I went into the "church" sanctuary. After I endured their so-called "praise and worship", an elder grabbed a microphone, and said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest speaker today, Koko the clown".

Mind you, this was the regular Sunday morning ADULT SERVICE.

So, Koko did his schtick.

You know, he pulled some lightbulbs out of the "pastor's" ear, and other things like that.

By then, I was starting to get a bit hot under the color, but, don't forget, I had my scheduled meeting with the "pastor" after the service, and I had some real "cleaning" to do at this point.

The service finally ended (THANK GOD!), and the elder who I spoke to on the phone approached me and asked me what I thought of the service.

In his defense, I probably should have had A BIG RED WARNING LABEL affixed to my forehead, but, hey, he asked, so I told him.

He got infuriated with me, and told me that their "church" doesn't believe in things like "repentance" and "the fear of the Lord", and that they REGULARLY bring in clowns to "preach" to the congregation.

Needless to say, I never had the meeting with the "pastor".

THIS is what they wanted me to draw people on the streets to via my street preaching.

Anyhow, that's just one of hundreds of true horror stories that I could share.
Unbelievable. Just . . . unbelievable.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,210
1,830
113
#9
Like I said, just one of hundreds of true horror stories I could share.
And just like the Sadducees, Pharisees, and teachers of the law (from yesterday), these "churches" absolutely believe that they possess the Truth.

John 9:39-41 NKJV - 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 40 Then [some] of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
639
113
#10
And just like the Sadducees, Pharisees, and teachers of the law (from yesterday), these "churches" absolutely believe that they possess the Truth.

John 9:39-41 NKJV - 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 40 Then [some] of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.
It's scary.

I literally cannot read my Bible without recalling some bizarre encounter that I've had with a professing "Christian" over the years, and several of them were "pastors" and even "deans" of Bible colleges. One "pastor", who later became a "bishop" who oversaw several "churches", shoved me up against a wall after hurling an ethnic slur at me.

Anyhow, I still pray for these people when they pop up in my mind (not that particular "pastor/bishop" because he died last year), and I fear for their souls exceedingly.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,210
1,830
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#12
It's scary.

I literally cannot read my Bible without recalling some bizarre encounter that I've had with a professing "Christian" over the years, and several of them were "pastors" and even "deans" of Bible colleges. One "pastor", who later became a "bishop" who oversaw several "churches", shoved me up against a wall after hurling an ethnic slur at me.

Anyhow, I still pray for these people when they pop up in my mind (not that particular "pastor/bishop" because he died last year), and I fear for their souls exceedingly.
Wow, I am very sorry that that happened to you. On the other hand, the blessing is realizing how utterly blind people really can be and are. It is moments like these that help us to take the Truth seriously . . . very seriously. There is always a gift somewhere in the midst of the travesties.
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
639
113
#13
This is a quote for the centuries.
Incidentally, this was a "church" that went by their city's name followed by "Assembly of God".

Whether or not they were officially aligned with other AOG churches I don't know. The "church" where the "pastor" shoved me against the wall initially went by their city's name followed by "Assembly of God", but I know that they weren't officially aligned with the AOG churches, and they eventually changed their church's name to something else.
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
639
113
#14
Wow, I am very sorry that that happened to you. On the other hand, the blessing is realizing how utterly blind people really can be and are. It is moments like these that help us to take the Truth seriously . . . very seriously. There is always a gift somewhere in the midst of the travesties.
When I finally left the "church' where the "pastor" shoved me up against the wall, God clearly spoke this verse of scripture to me:

"Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." (Isaiah 66:5)

Anyhow, I left that particular "church" something like 28 years ago.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
935
113
#15
Incidentally, this was a "church" that went by their city's name followed by "Assembly of God".

Whether or not they were officially aligned with other AOG churches I don't know. The "church" where the "pastor" shoved me against the wall initially went by their city's name followed by "Assembly of God", but I know that they weren't officially aligned with the AOG churches, and they eventually changed their church's name to something else.
AofG has plenty of clowns.
 
R

RichMan

Guest
#18
My opinion here, what I look for.

A group of people, large or small, religious, political, or what ever, that follows a man or woman without question.
 

iamsoandso

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2011
7,773
1,548
113
#19
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.

hmm, Acts 24:14....
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
5,494
2,153
113
#20
There are productive cults like a normal church setting and then there are destructive cults.

The Remnant Church was a destructive cult that had its senior leadership die during the quarantines in a plane crash....it's slowly dieing currently.

2Timothy 4:3-4
3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.