| CULTS, NOT THE OCCULTWhat's the difference? | | | | for biblical interpretation and advice on life |
| I've heard many people attempt to use these | | | | decisions. Should I marry so-n-so? Should I quit |
| two words interchangeably and, often, | | | | my job? We must ask ourselves if individual |
| inappropriately.Quite simply, the word "occult" is | | | | thinking and questioning are discouraged. Is there |
| derived from a Latin word (occultus) that means, | | | | an unwillingness to dialogue and consider other |
| basically, "that which is hidden." The word "cult," on | | | | viewpoints? Perhaps you've heard (herd?) of the |
| the other hand, comes from a word which means | | | | shepherding movement, most popular in the |
| "to cultivate." In other words, to break down and | | | | 1980's. It's still around. Frankly, in this movement, |
| train up in accordance with the prescribed method. | | | | the flock gives the leaders all their power by |
| That's what this article is all about.DEFINING THE | | | | asking them about every move they make.I once |
| CULTSMany years ago, as I was devouring every | | | | approached a minister asking for his input on |
| spiritual thing I could get my hands on (good and | | | | financial matters, he did so with a disclaimer, |
| bad), I wound up involved with a group that 20 | | | | saying that he was here for spiritual direction, not |
| 20's Barbara Walters later referred to as "the | | | | financial advice. Though he offered his opinion, he |
| fastest growing cult in America." The group | | | | advised me to seek an expert. That was a |
| referred to themselves as the Boston Church of | | | | healthy response.LEGALISM.Are they teaching |
| Christ and/or the Cornerstone Church of Christ. | | | | salvation based upon God's grace, or based upon |
| They now refer to themselves as the | | | | your own good deeds? Is the group making |
| International Churches of Christ, not to be | | | | disciples along the lines of Jesus and His teaching, |
| confused with the traditional Church of Christ. I'll | | | | or are they producing church-workers? A cult will |
| spare you the many gory details but, essentially, | | | | teach a works-oriented "gospel," giving its |
| this group was known for their unique "discipleship" | | | | members many hoops to jump through. This |
| technique - nothing short of blackmail - which has | | | | leads to a lifestyle of legalism and ushers in the |
| resulted in quite a few lawsuits. In fact, I was one | | | | Spirit of the Pharisees. Followers must live up to |
| of those who ultimately wound up getting a | | | | the group's standards in order to attain or |
| lawyer who wrote them a letter to get them to | | | | maintain their membership and hope for eternal |
| leave us alone.Afterward, one man, referred by | | | | life. There is an obligation to faithfully serve, |
| the group as my "discipler," called my home one | | | | attend meetings, studies, and services. As a |
| evening, trying to make sense of my legal action. | | | | result, there is tremendous, though often subtle, |
| I naively informed him that he was involved in a | | | | pressure to live up to the requirements of the |
| cult (something cultist actually expect to hear, | | | | organization. An ungodly caste system is the |
| seeing it as persecution which only underscores | | | | created between those who are "more spiritual" |
| their purposes) that had received numerous law | | | | than others. The Spirit of Pride is the next |
| suits and that he should leave the group at once. | | | | demonic presence that waltzes in, as does the |
| He laughed at the absurdity of the notion as my | | | | Spirits of Guilt, Shame and Unworthiness as |
| warning only confirmed his convictions that he | | | | Christians compare themselves with one |
| was on the right team. At the end of the | | | | another.A DIFFICULT EXIT PROCESS.When |
| conversation, I said, "Well, I guess I'll see ya in | | | | salvation is found by way of the organization, to |
| Heaven, huh?" He snapped back, "That's the point, | | | | LEAVE the organization can only be considered |
| Michael...one of us isn't going!" Since then, I have | | | | the equivalent of turning one's back on God. All |
| been invited to several of that group's Bible | | | | former members who leave cults are shunned by |
| "Studies" and wound up being more than a little | | | | members which often includes members of their |
| disruptive by way of the questions I was asking | | | | own family. Many are warned that, if they leave, |
| that threw off the speaker's sales pitch. No | | | | they're going straight to Hell. Many ex-members |
| converts were made on those nights, that's for | | | | are harassed by the organization even after they |
| sure.Please bear in mind that these were | | | | leave. As I said, in my own case, we had to |
| well-meaning, kind, VERY sincere individuals. But | | | | employ the services of an attorney to get our |
| they were deceived. Remember, they are NOT | | | | friendly neighborhood cult to back off. Those who |
| the enemy...we already know who that is!A man | | | | are shunned, or hurt, by this negative spiritual |
| who was considered by many to be the greatest | | | | experience, often end up distrusting any religious |
| authority on the cults, the late Dr. Walter Martin, | | | | organization and end up feeling isolated, |
| described a cult simply as "A group of people | | | | alone...shipwrecked.Life in the cults is marked by |
| gathered around a specific person's | | | | fear of judgment, pressure, and legalism. This is a |
| misinterpretation of the Bible." Cults are groups | | | | far cry from what Jesus taught us. Jesus and the |
| that claim to be in harmony with Christianity but | | | | apostles said that the new life in Christ is one of |
| deny foundational Christian doctrines such as the | | | | grace, love, and freedom from the Law. In |
| Trinity or the unique deity of Jesus Christ. The | | | | Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, "Come to me all who |
| group I had joined agreed with most everything | | | | are weary and heavy laden and I will give you |
| the traditional Church of Christ teaches except | | | | rest." The peace and rest promised by Christ is |
| that it took James 5:16 too far ("Therefore, | | | | seldom experienced by those enslaved by the |
| confess your sins to each other and pray for | | | | cults.First Peter 3:15 states that we must always |
| each other so that you may be healed"). They | | | | be "prepared to give an answer to everyone who |
| actually had used people's confidential confessions | | | | asks you to give the reason for the hope that |
| as a means of blackmailing and were sued for | | | | you have. But do this with gentleness and |
| slander and defamation of character. One of the | | | | respect." How can we prepare? By knowing the |
| signs of a cult, according to James Walker of | | | | Word of God through diligent study. We must not |
| Watchman Expositor, is that they will multiply, | | | | forget that, once we've overcome our fears, we |
| divide, add or subtract from basic Christian | | | | must reach out to cult members, exercising the |
| doctrine.Jesus warned us about the cults. In | | | | fruits of patience and gentleness as we share the |
| Matthew 7:15-17, he warned, "Watch out for false | | | | truth in love.DANGER!The rise of the cults pose a |
| prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing | | | | serious challenge to the Church because they |
| but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their | | | | present several dangers to the Church and |
| fruit you will recognize them." Here, what Jesus | | | | families involved. Here are some of the types of |
| was warning us was that cultists will look, act, and | | | | danger associated with cultic religions...SPIRITUAL |
| sound very much like genuine Christians. However, | | | | DANGER.First Timothy 4:1 states "...that in later |
| they are wolves in sheep's clothing. One can | | | | times some will abandon the faith and follow |
| masquerade as a true believer for a time, but | | | | deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." |
| eventually one's words, actions, and especially | | | | Ultimately the spirit behind all lies and deception is |
| one's beliefs will betray them. That's why | | | | the devil, so the ultimate force behind the cults is |
| relationship is SO critical to us as we enter into | | | | Satan.Galatians 1:8 states, "But even if we or an |
| spiritual involvement with others. Galatians 5:22 | | | | angel from heaven should preach a gospel other |
| tells us what the fruits of the Spirit - the evidence | | | | that than the one we preached to you, let him be |
| that the Holy Spirit resides within us - are. Just | | | | eternally condemned." The false gospel of the |
| because one calls themselves Christian doesn't | | | | cults cannot lead anyone to salvation. There are |
| mean they ARE, no more than standing in a | | | | eternal consequences for false beliefs. For this |
| coffee bar makes one a Cappuccino.Why is the | | | | reason Jesus and the apostles are very harsh on |
| cult I was involved with - or any other cult - | | | | false teachers.PSYCHOLOGICAL DANGER.The |
| growing so fast? Their growth can be attributed | | | | mind-controlling techniques used by the cults can |
| to several key factors:1) We were warned by | | | | cause immense damage mentally and emotionally. |
| Jesus and the apostles that there would be days | | | | Living under the pressure, guilt, and dependence |
| like this. In Matthew 24:23-26, Jesus warned that, | | | | on the organization has proven to have |
| as His return draws near, there will be an increase | | | | tremendous negative effects on |
| in false prophets who will ensnare many with false | | | | people.DOMESTIC DANGER.Individuals are taught |
| teachings. It's true. It's happening. I see it all the | | | | that loyalty to the organization is equivalent to |
| time. In 2 Peter 2:1-3, Peter warns us that false | | | | allegiance with God. Therefore, loyalty to the |
| teachers will arise from WITHIN the church. Yes, | | | | organization |
| that's happening, too. Bad, unbiblical teaching | | | | supercedes loyalty to family. Thus, if a family |
| abounds!2) The growth of the cults contributes to | | | | member begins conducting himself in a way the |
| the breakdown of the family, including Christian | | | | organization does not approve of, the cult will |
| families AND the universal family of God, all those | | | | often separate the family from the individual |
| who consider themselves born-again children of | | | | member. Isolation can be emotional or physical. |
| God. Also, the breakdown of the family unit has | | | | Numerous families have been separated as a |
| served to fill the ranks of cults as people go | | | | result.PHYSICAL DANGER.The teachings of David |
| looking for acceptance. As families go, so goes | | | | Koresh cost the Branch Davidians their lives. |
| the Church. As the Church goes, so goes the | | | | Vernon Howell, his real name, was an aspiring rock |
| nation. Like urban gangs, cults provide the | | | | guitarist who became the charismatic leader of |
| acceptance and family atmosphere longed for by | | | | the Branch Davidian sect, an offshoot of the |
| many who stem from broken homes. The cult | | | | Seventh Day Adventists. The Branch Davidians |
| leader often winds up taking the place of a father | | | | were an apocalyptic sect founded by Ben and |
| figure.3) Finally, we can attribute the alarming rise | | | | Lois Roden in the 1930s. Howell joined the Branch |
| of cults to the failure of the Church to fulfill the | | | | Davidians in 1981 and was quickly in good graces |
| Great Commission of Christ. It has been said, | | | | with Lois, the head of the church. She died in |
| "The cults are the unpaid bills of the church." Cults | | | | 1986 and Howell was left in control. By 1990 he |
| thrive because Christians are lacking in biblical and | | | | had changed his name to David Koresh and had |
| theological understanding, therefore, we have | | | | settled with more than a hundred followers in a |
| very little impact on the spiritual climate of our | | | | compound called Mount Carmel, ten miles outside |
| nation. Dr. Martin stated, "The rise of the cults is | | | | of Waco, Texas. Federal agents from the Bureau |
| directly proportional to the fluctuating emphasis | | | | of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and the |
| which the church has placed on the teachings of | | | | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tried to |
| biblical doctrine to Christian laymen. To be sure, | | | | execute a warrant for Koresh on February 28, |
| few pastors, teachers, and evangelists defend | | | | 1993, part of an investigation into allegations of |
| adequately their beliefs, but most of them -- and | | | | illegal weapons and child abuse. A shoot-out |
| most of the average Christian laymen -- are hard | | | | ensued that left ten dead: four BATF agents and |
| put to confront and refute a well-trained cultist of | | | | six Branch Davidians. Koresh and his followers |
| almost any variety." If the church engaged in solid | | | | holed up in their compound and a confused state |
| and in-depth Bible teaching, the Body would | | | | of negotiations went on for 51 days, ending on |
| become better equipped and, when we came in | | | | April 19, 1993 when the compound burned to the |
| contact with those in bondage to a cult, we might | | | | ground, killing Koresh and 74 followers, including 21 |
| actually help them. If this were the case, the cults | | | | children. Although a special investigation by the U.S. |
| would not flourish as they do. Bible illiteracy is | | | | Justice Department exonerated the government, |
| key.In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul warned about false | | | | the debate over who started the fire goes |
| teachers teaching of another Jesus. A | | | | on.Hobart Freeman taught that believers did not |
| modern-day example of false teaching is Christian | | | | need medicine for illnesses, and told his followers |
| Science which teaches that Jesus was not God | | | | to throw all theirs away. As a result, he and |
| incarnate but merely a man who displayed the | | | | fifty-two of his members died from curable |
| "Christ" idea; He neither died for sins, nor was He | | | | conditions. He taught that after healing is claimed, |
| resurrected. I heard of a group that called itself | | | | symptoms of illness or injury that remain are |
| the Church of the Scared Mushroom that claimed, | | | | viewed as deception from the devil. When death |
| based on Roman 10:9-10, that because they | | | | occurs despite a positive confession, it is |
| named this particular mushroom "Jesus" and | | | | interpreted as discipline from God or a lack of |
| believed in "him," they were saved. It's important | | | | faith. The saddest part is that it did not stop with |
| to learn exactly WHO the Jesus is that any | | | | Freeman. There have been over 100 people |
| particular group is referring to. He is NOT Lucifer's | | | | (members) of Freeman's Church who have died |
| brother as Mormonism teaches nor is he the | | | | as a result of his teachings. Numerous lawsuits |
| archangel Michael as Jehovah's Witnesses claim. He | | | | have been filed and parents convicted of child |
| is God in the flesh, 2nd person in the Trinity, born | | | | abuse.This type of thinking is the same as other |
| of the Virgin Mary, etc.Oddly enough (and I've had | | | | cult leaders like Victor Paul Wierwille of The Way |
| this experience often), when we interact with | | | | International who died of an illness. Apparently |
| people caught up in cultic teaching, we'll often hear | | | | something was wrong with his faith, and also for |
| them say their group's message is consistent with | | | | Hobart Freeman, who too, died of an illness that |
| Scripture. But when we point out where their | | | | may have been medically treatable.Jim Jones, |
| teachings deviate from the Bible, they eventually | | | | founder and leader of Jonestown, Guyana, a |
| claim the Bible is filled with discrepancies and has | | | | community of over 900 members of The |
| been corrupted by the church. When asked to | | | | People's Temple Full Gospel Church, an offshoot |
| show a discrepancy or two, they generally are | | | | of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), |
| stumped as they were merely "parroting" and | | | | moved his congregation to Guyana to avoid |
| regurgitating what they were taught to say.THE 3 | | | | government scrutiny. In November of 1978, U.S. |
| KINDS OF DOCTRINEThere are 3 types of | | | | Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown to |
| doctrine mentioned in Scripture: Those of man, of | | | | investigate allegations of human rights abuses. |
| demons and of Christ/God. Whatever any of us | | | | Ryan and his group were murdered at Jonestown, |
| is being taught by our leaders, we MUST ask the | | | | and on November 18, 1978 Jim Jones and 911 of |
| question, was it derived from manmade traditions, | | | | his followers committed suicide or were murdered. |
| was it a doctrine sown into the group by Hell | | | | Initial reports said the members drank Kool-Aid |
| itself...or was it something taught by Jesus? DARE | | | | laced with cyanide, but a report from the |
| to ask these questions, my friends! Not only do | | | | Guyanese coroner said that hundreds of the |
| cults deviate doctrinally from biblical Christianity, | | | | bodies showed needle marks, indicating foul play. |
| but they have several distinct sociological | | | | The U.S. government has not released all the |
| characteristics:AUTHORITARIANISM.Is the leader | | | | documents pertinent to their investigation of the |
| or organization trying to exercise complete control | | | | incident, further complicating the long-held |
| over the follower's lives? Are the teachings of | | | | conspiracy theory that Jonestown was a |
| leadership considered the last word or even | | | | mind-control experiment conducted by the Central |
| divinely inspired? Is going against the leadership | | | | Intelligence Agency. Who knows?WHAT IS A |
| equivalent to going against the commands of God | | | | CHRISTIAN TO DO?In light of the cultic threat, |
| Himself? Are you ostracized or shunned if you | | | | what are Christians called to do?1. We are called |
| buck the system?ELITISM.Most cults believe they | | | | to study and know the Word of God. Paul writes |
| are the true "church" and the only ones who are | | | | to Timothy and all saints saying, "Do your best to |
| actually saved. This is because the group believes | | | | present yourself to God as one approved, a |
| they have new revelation or understanding that | | | | workman who does not need to be ashamed and |
| gives them superior standing. I've been associated | | | | who correctly handles the world of truth." |
| with no less than THREE mainline denominations | | | | Christians should master the Bible so that they will |
| and one cult in the past quarter century and they | | | | not be deceived by any false teaching.2. Titus |
| ALL claimed to be "the one true church." | | | | commands us to be able to confront and refute |
| Remember, the Church is NOT a building or a | | | | false teachers.3. In Acts 20, Paul exhorts the |
| denomination...it's the people of God; the Body of | | | | leaders of the church to protect their flock from |
| Christ. Not every part of the Body functions the | | | | the false teachers that will prey upon the sheep. |
| same way, said the nose to the index | | | | Every Christian is called to know the truth so well |
| finger.ISOLATIONISM.With their elitist mentality, | | | | they can confront false teaching, and protect |
| cults are convinced that those who disagree with | | | | others from it.If there come any unto you, and |
| them are deceived or even under the influence of | | | | bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your |
| | | | house, neither bid him God speed: For he that |
| the devil. Therefore, many attempt to shelter | | | | biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil |
| their followers from the outside world. Physical | | | | deeds. 2 Jn 10-11The cult member has been told |
| and even psychological barriers are often | | | | the same lies so many times that he believes |
| established. The faithful are advised or prohibited | | | | they are true. He's been told that his group is the |
| from communicating with outsiders who do not | | | | only one that has the truth. He has been told that |
| agree with their methods.I was involved with a | | | | the world considers his group a cult. He has been |
| popular church of more than 2,000 members | | | | told that disciples of Jesus had to undergo the |
| where, in an emergency meeting, the elders | | | | same persecution he does. You are talking to a |
| gathered the staff (including me, a janitor at the | | | | person that thinks they are right.Are you |
| time) to "warn" them about a certain minister's | | | | considering joining a particular religious group? In |
| perceived attempt to start his own church (he | | | | light of today's spiritual smorgasbord, if you're not |
| held a house party; I was there). In that meeting, | | | | sure if an organization is a cult, do these three |
| one elder warned that "our people should be | | | | things:1. Take a look at their founder. Is that |
| careful about who they fellowship with." Another | | | | founder Jesus? Is Jesus STILL considered to be |
| elder jumped in, "I think we should take it a step | | | | that founder - the Head - moreso than any man |
| further and COMMAND them not to fellowship | | | | or organization? If He's NOT, run, don't walk in the |
| with other groups!" I couldn't sit still and chimed in, | | | | other direction. Does current leadership claim to |
| "You guys are starting to sound like a cult. If we | | | | be the founders of all things Christian and snub or |
| were all being honest, this is all motivated by fear | | | | condemn all others? Good doesn't come out of |
| of losing tithers...." Needless to say, nobody said | | | | evil. Jesus said an evil tree cannot bear good fruit |
| another word to me after | | | | and this is true for cults.2. Who does the group |
| that.CLOSED-MINDEDNESS.Closed-mindedness and | | | | claim Jesus is? An ascended Master? Lucifer's |
| discouragement from individual thinking are other | | | | bother? A mushroom? Something else?3. What do |
| cultic characteristics. Because of their authoritarian | | | | they say one must do to "be saved"? If it's |
| nature, it is believed that only those at the helm | | | | anything more than Romans 10:9-10, beware.Write |
| are qualified to properly interpret God's Word. All | | | | me and request the CULTIC CHECKLIST! |
| members are taught to consult the organization | | | | |