Are you in a Cult of Christianity?

[JerryfromMass]

David Koresh, Jim jones, Marshall Applewhite, Ellen G. White, Charles T Russell, Joseph Smith, LDS, JW, SDA, Scientology, Christian Science, etc, etc. All cult leaders and cults, some cults of Christianity, but all share characteristcs common with each.

Cults are of Satan and are his tool of deception, and they are in places all over the world: Australia, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa.

"A cult of Christianity is a group of people, which claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible."
– Source: Alan Gomes, Cult: A Theological Definition, excerpt from “Unmasking The Cults“

The following is from an article that lists some characteristics of cults disguised as Christ's ekklesia: do any apply to you?

• "The group displays an excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
• Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
• The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (e.g., members must get permission to date, change jobs, or marry—or leaders prescribe what to wear, where to live, whether to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
• The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
• The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders, or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (e.g., lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
• The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and control members. Often this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
• Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
• The group is preoccupied with making money.
• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
• The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave—or even consider leaving—the group."

This excerpt written by Janja Lalich and Michael D. Langone is from: Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships (Bay Tree Publishing, 2006).

Do you recognize any of these elements in the church you attend?
1. Opposing critical thinking

2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving

3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture

4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders

5. Dishonoring the family unit

6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)

7. Separation from the Church

Some of you reading this may be trapped in a cult right now. Get help and get out. Repent and believe: be saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus alone to the glory of God alone through HOLY Scripture alone. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ as you are, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, believe HE is the risen Messiah, and HE will cleanse you of all unrighteousness and save you for all eternity. Amen.

 

[JerryfromMass]

Cults are everywhere disguised as Christian churches.

 

[Gregoryp]

The bible has the truth and the answers , read it. The holy spirit and prayer will guide you if any scripture is hard to understand. You dont need organised religion.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

I've seen many "Christian" churches where the pastor is in control of his people...He is the authority in that assembly...everybody who is a part of that assembly is 'under the pastors authority and protection' A person who wants to get married to a certain person needs permission from the pastor and the elders to marry said person.... Controlling the lives of ones church members is NOT a part of a Christian church. Enforcing strict dress codes is not either, a woman MUST have long hair....The woman Will submit to her husband, and become his servant....So many things we take out of context and twist to fit our own adgendas, or fears... Many of the churches I've attended in the last forty odd years I've been a Christian risk slipping into the cult class.... from Wyoming,Washington, Oregon, churches in California, Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia...I've visited many churches....Some though, are good...I have to admit that.

 

[JerryfromMass]

I've seen many "Christian" churches where the pastor is in control of his people...He is the authority in that assembly...everybody who is a part of that assembly is 'under the pastors authority and protection' A person who wants to get married to a certain person needs permission from the pastor and the elders to marry said person.... Controlling the lives of ones church members is NOT a part of a Christian church. Enforcing strict dress codes is not either, a woman MUST have long hair....The woman Will submit to her husband, and become his servant....So many things we take out of context and twist to fit our own adgendas, or fears... Many of the churches I've attended in the last forty odd years I've been a Christian risk slipping into the cult class.... from Wyoming,Washington, Oregon, churches in California, Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia...I've visited many churches....Some though, are good...I have to admit that.

Amen. We are given the spirit of discernment and of a sound mind to detetmine the diffetence between true ekklesia and those assembled in a cult.

 

[Hekuran]

The bible has the truth and the answers , read it. The holy spirit and prayer will guide you if any scripture is hard to understand. You dont need organised religion.

Maybe. But we do need fellowship, mutual support, people to pray with and for, practical assistance, accountability, Christian encouragement, discipline, and fellow travellers.

It's not easy to sustain that without some kind of organisation.

 

[Hekuran]

A very quick thought experiment: how might the conversation go if you told your pastor you felt God was calling you to another fellowship? I think the response is a pretty accurate indication of how cult-like your fellowship might be.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

A very quick thought experiment: how might the conversation go if you told your pastor you felt God was calling you to another fellowship? I think the response is a pretty accurate indication of how cult-like your fellowship might be.

Good point...that's when one can get accused of church hopping...."But pastor, I've been in your assembly for thirty years, That's not church hopping' LOL