David Taylor
Sep 19th 2008, 06:37 PM
I think of cult in two ways.
1) Generic Cults: an organization that uses false propoganda and techniques to deceive its people into joining it, and/or remaining within it; and then controlling them in various ways once within it.
2) Pseudo Christian Cults: an organization that claims in some way either stongly or weakly; to be a Christian organization (or "the only" Christian organization), which often shows the same attributes as #1 above; and more often than not, holds within its belief system some serious attack upon the nature, uniqueness, or accomplishments of Jesus Christ as God and Savior.
"World Religions" often overlap closely with #2 above in many areas. Where I would normally distinguish the difference; is that usually when we think of "Religions" they typically have very little in common and do not attempt to have very much in common with Christianity; whereas Cults often attempt to be accepted within Christianity, and play the guise of Christianity.
World Religions like Hinduism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism, Tribal Religions, and to a large degree Islam really have very little, if anything in common with Christianity.
Pseudo-Christian cults however, like the Watchtower, Mormonism, Moonies, People's Temple, Branch Davidians, Christadelphians, Word of Faith, etc...all try to were a guise of Christianity and often claim to be the only true example of Christianity.
That's how I look at and understand the topic anyhow.
theBelovedDisciple
Sep 19th 2008, 07:44 PM
Pure religion is defined in James as 'visiting the fatherless and widows in their distress' this what God calls 'religion' or pure religion...... Chrisitanity on the other hand is about a Relationship... with the Redeemer and Only True Living God.. Jesus the Christ.... living out and performing that which is spoken about in James.. visiting the fatherless and widows in their distress will be a By-product of Chrisitianity and your faith in action.. and its Spirit driven and Spirit led...
Groups that are 'cultic' in nature will look like the real thing.. they eventually lead you into bondage... they take you back into the flesh.. the Spirit disappears and replaced with works... they are 'controlling' and 'condemning' in nature. They do not adhere or endure sound doctrine and are led by literature 'doctrine' that is either full of half-truths or out right blatant lies... Most cults appeal to the flesh.... thats what draws and appeals to many.. yet at the same time.. deceiving and manipulating those participating thru false doctrine and half truths...
Cults can be various sizes... to just a few.... to thousands.. there is no limit to spiritual darkness and its desire to copy or mimic the Truth and propagate false doctrine and lies.. which lead many and drown many in perdition and destruction....
Abiding in Jesus the Christ.. you will find>>>>>> Truth, Grace, Mercy, freedom, joy, peace, NO CONDEMNATION, love, hope, and faith.....
Cults and cultic atmosphere's are exactly the opposite...... of these.......................... yet they masquerade as truth.. which leads us to Pauls explanation and revelation.....
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
dale1257
Oct 1st 2008, 11:51 PM
I do not know, nor do I claim to know all the answers to all the questions, but it seems to me that if denomination A considers denomination B a cult, it it not reasonable to expect that denomination B also considers denomination A a cult? Catholics long considered Protestants a cult, that feeling was reciprocal. I have been on forums where some of the posters consider Calvary Chapel a cult. (my example, as I attend CC. Imagine going to a forum and discovering that you are in a cult)
For my own basic guideline, the first thing I look for is how close a denomination follows the scriptures. Also, do they refer to a book other than the bible for questions regarding faith? (example: Mormons use Book of Mormon, 7th Day Adventist use something called 'clear bible' or something like that.) Point is that they get their teaching from other sources, therefore I tend to stay away from them. Are they cults? By my own beliefs, they probably would be considered as such. But I still enjoy a couple of sermons by Doug Bachelor.
By contrast, I consider for examle, Branch Dividians absolutely a cult. From the admitedly little I know of the Mormons, I consider them a cult. Yet in my life, I have seen devout Mormons who were more christianlike than many christians I know.
biblevoice
Oct 6th 2008, 01:11 PM
Rev 2:2 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them [to be] false;
Notes: Cannot endure evil men:
Evil men:
1Sa 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were evil men; they did not know Yahweh.
Ps 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol, [Even] all the nations who forget God.
Dt 13:6 "If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spart or conceal him. 9 "But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 10 "So you shall stone him to death because he has sought to seduce you from Yahweh your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 11 "Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.
Mt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
[FONT=Arial][B](Those who do not do the will of the Father in heaven are evil men.)[/B][/FONT]
Lk 13:24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' 26 "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; 27 and He will say,' I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.'
[FONT=Arial][B](Those who have not entered the narrow door are evil men:[/B][/FONT]
Jn 10:7 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.[COLOR=blue]) [/COLOR]
Ps 50:16 But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes, And to take My covenant in your mouth? 17 "For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you.
[SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff][B]Found them false:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
1Pe 1:10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that [would come] to you made careful search and inquiry, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels long to look.
[FONT=Arial][B]Paul:[/B][/FONT]
Gal 1:11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but [I received it] through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:15 But when He who had set me apart, [even] from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
2Co 13:3 since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him because of the power of God [directed] toward you. 5 Test yourselves [to see] if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test? 6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
2Pe 1:19 And [so] we have the prophetic word [made] more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
[FONT=Arial][B](Note: The morning star:[/B][/FONT]
Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star."
[FONT=Arial][B]Jesus arises in the heart.) [/B][/FONT]
2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
[FONT=Arial][B][Attention: Prophecy is the words of God spoken by men in the Holy Spirit. Then why can’t it be interpreted by one’s own will?[/B][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][B]Search: human will:[/B][/FONT]
Mt 16:21 From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid [it,] Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's will, but man's."
Eph 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
[FONT=Arial][B](The prince of the power of the air:[/B][/FONT]
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly places. [COLOR=blue])][/COLOR]
2Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in [their] greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
[FONT=Arial][B](Attention: We can see from above that he is false who interprets the Scripture out of his own will when the morning star has not yet appeared in his heart.) [/B][/FONT]
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him, who is the head, [even] Christ,
[FONT=Arial][B](Attention: Attain to the unity of the faith, see:[/B][/FONT]
Ro 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of the faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
[FONT=Arial][B]To know the Son of God and grow into Christ, the head, see:[/B][/FONT]
Ac 17:2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying,] "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."
[FONT=Arial][B]The Jesus Paul preaches from the Scriptures is Christ:[/B][/FONT]
Ac 18:28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
[FONT=Arial][B]What fails to help know the Son of God and grow into Christ the head is every wind of doctrine.)[/B][/FONT]
1Tim 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus, in order that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than [furthering] the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
[FONT=Arial][B](Attention: The administration and instruction of God which is by faith, see:[/B][/FONT]
Ro 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
[FONT=Arial][B]Strange doctrines: Sayings without biblical proof and without understanding the things about which they make assertions.)[/B][/FONT]
Mic 2:5 "Therefore, you will have no one stretching a measuring line For you by lot in the assembly of Yahweh. 6 ' Do not speak out,' [so] they speak out. [But if] they do not speak out concerning these things, Reproaches will not be turned back.
[FONT=Arial][B](Attention: Those who do not stretch a measuring line by lot are the false prophets, see: [/B][/FONT]
Am 7:7 Thus He showed me, and behold, Yahweh was standing by a vertical wall, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And Yahweh said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then Yahweh said, "Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spart them no longer.
[FONT=Arial][B]Yahweh is the plumb line. See:[/B][/FONT]
Isa 28:17 "And I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the level; Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the secret place.
Isa 30:18 Therefore Yahweh longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For Yahweh is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
[SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff][B]Yahweh is a God of justice.) [/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
1Ki 22:19 And Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh. I saw Yahweh sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 20 "And Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this while another said that. 21 "Then a spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, 'I will entice him.' 22 "And Yahweh said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then He said, 'You are to entice [him] and also prevail. Go and do so.' 23 "Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has proclaimed disaster against you."
[FONT=Arial][B](Note: See a lying spirit:[/B][/FONT]
Pr 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.
[FONT=Arial][B]So those who have a lying spirit are false.)[/B][/FONT]
Jer 8:4 "And you shall say to them, 'Thus says Yahweh, "Do [men] fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not repent? 5 "Why then has this people, Jerusalem, Turned away in continual apostasy? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. 6 "I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turned to his course, Like a horse charging into the battle. 7 "Even the stork in the sky Knows her seasons; And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush Observe the time of their migration; But My people do not know The ordinance of Yahweh. 8 "How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of Yahweh is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made [it] into a lie. 9 "The wise men are put to shame, They are dismayed and caught; Behold, they have rejected the word of Yahweh, And what kind of wisdom do they have?
[FONT=Arial][B](Attention: Those are false who turn away in continual apostasy, hold fast to deceit, follow their course, do not know the ordinance of Yahweh and reject the word of Yahweh with the lying pen of the scribes making it into a lie.)[/B][/FONT]
Jer 10:12 [It is] He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. 13 When He utters His voice, [there is] a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the wind from His storehouses. 14 Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. 15 They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.
