Cold Hard Facts On Cults

Christians are drifting into a highly subjective murky mysticism.Six years ago I penned a piece entitled “Caught up in a cult?”  My concern at the time was that a growing number of people were being drawn into cults and cult-like groups that call themselves Christian.  They had no clue that they’d strayed off The Safe Path into The Deep Weeds.  So I laid out what a cult is and listed several groups to beware of.  Six years later the numbers of people in cults has increased.  The main reason is that there’s a famine of spiritual discernment in the land.

Many so-called evangelical Christians do not know the Truth.  Why?  Largely because they have little or no interest in reading and studying their bibles. Moreover, a growing number of Christians have abandoned the essential doctrines of the faith altogether.  You know things are bad when a believer’s theology is “experience based” rather than based on God’s written Word.  Doctrine, after all, is divisive.  Several years ago, our late brother Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries lamented: “People are drifting into a highly subjective murky mysticism where one decides truth about God by what they ‘feel.’”

One troubling fact is that our younger generation—especially Millennials–have bowed down to the idols of moral relativism, political correctness and tolerance.  Wanting to be seen as “loving” and “tolerant,” Christian Millennials have adopted liberalism’s social justice gospel to avoid offending their neighbor.  They haven’t a clue that the social justice gospel (social action and involvement in issues of justice) saves no one.  Even worse, they completely miss the fact that the true Gospel of Christ has always been, and will continue to be, an offense to the unredeemed mind!

So a word of warning.  Christians who wander away from the safety of the sheep pen to explore The Deep Weeds may find themselves in a den of wolves.  Once inside the wolf den, there’s no easy escape.

Before I move on, I’d like readers to know that those of us involved in a counter-cult ministry oppose anyone, including Christian luminaries, who besmirches the Name of Jesus Christ.  Likewise, we’re concerned for our brethren who’ve been drawn into apostasy and our desire is to lead them out of The Deep Weeds onto The Safe Path.  To that end, the research material at the bottom of the page will help Bereans determine if a group is biblically sound.

“Caught up in a cult?”  (2010)

Countless people are caught up in cults and cult-like groups.  To avoid being one of them you must become familiar with the nature of a cult and their schemes. Granted, there are no easy answers to the question, “What exactly is a cult?” But there are some cold hard facts that most people are unaware of.

One thing you can count on is that some of your relatives, friends, neighbors and even the friendly face who checks your groceries at the local market may be caught up in a cult or a cult-like group.

Cult typically refers to “A system of intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object, especially one considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies; as, the Moonie cult.” Add to that: “A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations, or the people holding such an interest; as, the cult of James Dean; the cult of personality in totalitarian societies.” [1]

Probably the most well-known pseudo-Christian cults are Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) and Christian Science, but there are a whole host of other pseudo-Christian cults.  Some members of these cults may find my assertion humorous.  Others may even become angry.  Sorry about that, however, as a Christian I’m not called to be nice; I’m called to speak the truth in love and to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

Here’s the truth.  JWs, Mormons and Christian Scientists claim to be Christians yet they deny fundamental Christian doctrine and manipulate the Scriptures to fit in with their own beliefs.  From the Church’s perspective, which is what really matters, these groups have deviated from the historic, orthodox teachings that are derived from the Holy Scriptures and confirmed through the ancient ecumenical creeds.  Thus, people in these cults aren’t true Christians.  This should come as no surprise. After all, they’ve had to defend their spurious beliefs for decades.

Christians are not the only ones caught up in cults.  Pagans, agnostics and atheists may very well be involved in a destructive cult or cult-like group and not even realize it.  For example, devotees of any of the following groups/movements/theories/celebrities, can be exposed to mind control techniques and even open themselves up to the world of the occult!  Here’s a short list to ponder: (Warning! This is not for the easily offended.)

  • New Age movement (occultism 101…magic, psychic phenomena, astral travel, divination, tarot cards, astrology, reincarnation…and a whole lot more)
  • New Apostolic Reformation (aka Dominionism, 7-Mountain Mandate, Latter Rain, Elijah’s List, IHOP, Bethel Church in Redding CA)
  • Spiritual Warfare movement (deliverance from demonic strongholds, casting out demons, binding territorial spirits, strategic level prayer)
  • Spirituality (new term for New Age pagan beliefs)
  • Eastern mysticism (pantheistic, the opposite of Sola Scriptura…Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Disciplines, Centering Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Contemplative Spirituality, Labyrinth, Lectio Divina, The Silence)
  • Secret wisdom (occultism)
  • Oprah Winfrey (New Age guru who claims to be a Christian but denies that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and also promotes occultism)
  • Wicca/witchcraft (neopaganism)
  • Secret organizations (Freemasonry, Ku Klux Klan, New World Order)
  • Radical political/social groups (feminists, environmentalists, animal rights, abortion, LGBT)
  • Hebrew Roots
  • Global warming aka climate change (mind manipulation)
  • Self-improvement (personal transformation)
  • Holistic Health movement (occultism)
  • Esoteric groups (UFO’s, Mind Science, Mind Therapy, Transhumanism)
  • Multi-level Marketing (mind manipulation)
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (12-steps–occultism)
  • Advertisements (mind manipulation)
  • Academia (mind manipulation)
  • Darwinian evolution (dare to question “settled science” and see what happens)
  • Marxism

For the record, some of the above mentioned groups may not be bona fide cults.  But they’re not averse to using mind manipulation techniques as a means to an end – and this is what the cults do!  Granted, some cults or cult-like groups may not be psychologically harmful.  However, for the true Christian it can be spiritually damaging to become involved in any sort of occult practice.  And it’s spiritually harmful to follow the teachings of charismatic cult-like leaders whose teaching is decidedly unorthodox.  The Bible calls these men and women false prophets. (Jeremiah 5:31).

Plugged earsSome people will believe almost anything, regardless of its absurdity.  When confronted with the facts they refuse to listen.  Why?  Because knowing the truth could deflate their fantasy world so they choose to remain in denial.  This is why religious/spiritual gurus, social activists, the media, advertisers, celebrities, doctors, dispensers of pills/vitamins, multi-level marketing groups and powerful political leaders have such an easy time sucking people in — then sucking the life blood out of them!  Take est for example.  Chances are you haven’t heard of est, as it was big in the late 60’s.  I don’t have the space to go into the details, but the trainers used mind manipulation techniques on willing participants during feel good weekend seminars.  “We’re going to tear you down and put you back together.”  Critics of the training called it a cult.  Eventually the organization changed its name to Landmark Education and now promotes The Landmark Forum…but only the name has changed.

I’d be remiss not to mention the cult of liberalism.  Liberals fit right in with groups that have a “strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations [but not always], or the people holding such an interest.”

Ever notice how your liberal friends refuse to look at both sides an issue?  An area of thought where this approach prevails is so-called global warming. The eco-crowd believes that the evidence for global warming is compelling and that scientists on their side of the debate are the best and the brightest.  Scientists who deny that global warming is manmade are marginalized and often smeared.  Dare to present the opposing side’s views, which is compelling, and the “warmests” just plug their ears.

Liberals continually carp about narrow-minded unenlightened knuckle dragging people of faith while they walk in lock step with their own spiritual gurus and pay homage to radical activists. And by the way, some of these radicals are our congressional representatives who focus on their leftist social agenda and really don’t give a rip about their constituent’s desires.

But this isn’t about the cult of liberalism; it’s about pseudo Christian cults that are reaching around the globe to suck people in.

Admittedly, it’s not always easy to tell the genuine from the counterfeit, even for the discerning Christian.  According to Christian Research Institute, a common mark of a “Christian” cult is the manipulation of Scripture:

The Bible is twisted to fit the leader or group’s interpretation. Private interpretations are forbidden because the leader of the cult is the only one, of course, who is able to understand God’s voice properly. Their teachings distort the historic, orthodox claims of Christianity. [2]

Another mark of a cult (religious or otherwise) is the use of thought control techniques on the unsuspecting:

There is little concern for individual thought and development. Education is usually discouraged while the convert is bombarded with the cult’s doctrine and literature. Members are called to leave or neglect their old family and life-style for a brand new one.  [3]

Cults typically manipulate reality:

They tend to have an exclusive “us”/“them” mentality in which society and old associates are all out to get them. Anyone outside of the group is suspect. [4]

What does the Bible say about those who stray from the truth?

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Mat. 7:13-14). 

Hard heartWhy do so many seemingly intelligent people end up in a cult?  Principally because their hearts have been hardened by sin. (Eph. 4:18) Thus, they are easily led into a cult because of pride, or whatever else, and they allow themselves to follow teachers or teachings rather than the God of the Bible. “There is a real church and a real work for God,” says Mike Oppenheimer of Let Us Reason. “The difference is in the motivation–the why they do it.  The cults do things for rewards and good standing in the church, the real Christian does it because they love God and are motivated by love to people having real compassion. The cults become offended when you speak ill of them or their teacher or teachings and become emotional. The real Christian does not take offense and they know it is the Lords [sic] battle not theirs.” [5]

Indeed.  The believer is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, only the Holy Spirit can change a person’s heart.  (1 Cor. 15:1-4) It is the work of the Holy Spirit that regenerates us, convicts us of our sin, and brings us to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 3:6)

Oppenheimer continues:

The other difference is in teachings, about the person of Christ, the gospel, even the Bible itself. Although cults may use the Bible they have a false understanding of God and salvation and the way we are to relate to Him. [6]

So according to Mike, cults receive their understanding of the Bible from an exhaustive study of their own books and from their teachers, but not from using main stream Christian resources and Bible study tools to better understand the Word of God. Hence, they’re unaware of what historic Christianity really teaches. He also points out that cults will “focus on the minor things and make them major ones and make the major things minor. When this happens doctrines that are not core teachings become amplified and used to make the group exclusive and unique.”

It’s a sad fact that most professing Christians are not well-read on the cults.  Some do believe that the JWs and Mormons are non-Christian cults but they’re unable to articulate why they believe this.  I don’t mean to pile on the JWs and Mormons but the reason these groups fall in the category of a pseudo Christian cult is, as I stated earlier, they claim to be Christians even though they outright deny many of the essentials of the faith.  There is no doubt whatsoever that Mormon theology is incompatible with Christian theology.  A mouse in a cookie jar is not a cookie!

Sadly, some people do not protect themselves against wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Those who are in destructive cults fail to ask questions.  They’re too trusting.

People should want to know the truth — no matter where it leads.  So here’s a word of advice.  Before committing to anything or getting involved in any sort of group, do your homework.  In other words, investigate — dig, examine, study, ask probing questions and demand answers.  You have that right!

I’ll close with 2 Cor. 4:3-4:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

==========================================================Examine everythigOne last thing.  It is of the utmost importance for God’s people start to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1)  Even a little error can be dangerous. Paul pointed out that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” (Gal. 5:9) So examine everyone’s teaching!

Notes: 

[1] Definition of cult – define.com

[2] What are the common characteristics of cults? — Christian Research Institute

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

[5] How Did I Get Here? – Let Us Reason Ministries/Mike Oppenheimer

[6] Ibid

Additional Reading:

Rightly Interpreting the Bible By Ron Rhodes

The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions: The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response–Book by Ron Rhodes

Mormonism aka Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)—Berean Research

Jehovah’s Witnesses aka Watchtower Society—Berean Research

Copyright 2016 Marsha West

 

 

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9 Responses to Cold Hard Facts On Cults

  1. Sheila Beers April 25, 2016 at 4:50 pm #

    The first thing to tip someone off about a cult is that the cult will claim the sayings, writings, and revelations of its leader take priority over God and the Bible. This is contrary to the Christian doctrine/belief that God and His Word are the final authority. It also is the first step in the deceit the serpent (Satan) used to tempt Eve in the Book of Genesis.

    Also, a cult tends to add to the Bible such things as revelations from a supreme being or leader and apochryphal books. These revelations and “extra” books most likely will not be in agreement with the basic tenets of the Bible. Furthermore, the Bible says no one should add to it because the “added” books will not be the true Word of God.

    A cult will deny the death, burial, and resurrection in Jesus Christ as described in the Bible. The cult will deny a personal faith in Christ as being necessary for salvation, while promoting a “works salvation” of some sort.

    A cult also will promote man-made rules instead of Biblical morality as taught in the Ten Commandments. A cult will teach its followers to lie or use “divine deception” and emotional and physical abuse in dealing with people inside and outside the cult.

    A cult will deny the doctrine of the free will of man, but it will provide the deceived person with a sort of “ego trip” and a promise of materialism or promotion in this life and on this earth. This is false because Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” The cult also may claim its members are some of the “lost tribes” of the Nation of Israel, however illogical it is that the members in any way can be associated with or descended from the Hebrew race or nation.

  2. PaulA lynch April 26, 2016 at 10:41 am #

    Is Catholicism a cult. They have added to the bible. They have changed the bible by removing the second commandment. They pray to mary. They listen to pope over Gid DNS bible.

    • julie April 28, 2016 at 10:43 am #

      PaulA, yes, Catholicism could be considered a cult, depending on your definition of a cult. They heed the pope over the bible and also their traditions. They teach that they are the true church and you must obey their teachings in order to be saved. It is at least a false religious system, but I personally would consider it a cult because they claim to be Christian but do not teach biblical Christianity, so it’s the same as the JW’s and the LDS.

  3. W. Evans April 26, 2016 at 12:39 pm #

    Thank you for this article.

    What really struck me was:

    “as a Christian I’m not called to be nice; I’m called to speak the truth in love and to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).”

    I wish I could get more folks that I know to understand this.

    Thanks you again for this article and all of the fine work you do here.

  4. David Ford April 27, 2016 at 10:36 am #

    I’m obliged to point out that many of the groups that you mention in your alarmist post – liberals, Landmark, believers in global warming – don’t meet any definition of being a cult, including the one you link to. Most definitions of ‘cult’ involve a group with strong religious beliefs, which these things aren’t, or some group that takes people away from their families, which these things don’t.

    The only definition groups like these meet is ‘A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing’, under which definition pretty much anything qualifies – fans of Star Trek or The Boston Red Sox, for instance.

    In fact, Christianity as a whole fits most cult definitions far better than any of these groups.

  5. garry April 27, 2016 at 1:40 pm #

    I have seen a person slip in to a cult without realising . The first thing to change is their personality . The name of JESUS is only said with a four letter word in front or at the end of it .
    Cults are great at giving away their books that contain deceiving words . As I said I have seen this first hand .
    The final thing they take is money , all of it . All of your money to fund the leaders lavish lifestyle .
    Test the spirits , I mean, see what these people are following , GOD or man. See who they bend the knee to .
    JESUS said” many will come in my name ” and how true are those words.

  6. Manny1962 May 1, 2016 at 9:10 pm #

    The worship of ecology, environment, and Mother Earth is a cult, and that would include global warming, reluctantly renamed climate change after the rats in the cupboard were caught, you know those pesky scientists, funded by NGO’s, the UN and governments everywhere, caught falsifying data, lying to cover the errors in their reports. The believers of this movement are as rabid and anti Christian as they come, it is a cult, for they worship earth, believe in the mystical connection between man and the earth, his mother. Ever want to see Earth worship, go visit Sedona, then you’ll see what a “non-religious” cult is. Does anyone think this is any different than Scientology, Catholicism, Wicca, or any native religion? The bottom line: they all do not believe in he Jesus of the bible.

  7. Manny1962 May 1, 2016 at 9:20 pm #

    Biblical Christianity is in no way similar to a cult. Christianity unifies, shuns error, places humans above the environment, believes that human life is precious and its to be protected…….. that there is a Holy Judge of the universe which we will all stand before, Christianity does not divide families, on the contrary, those that reject Christianity are free to leave, at the end of the day, you are responsible for your actions. Unlike cults that don’t promise or feel there is a need for salvation, Christianity’s FREE gift is salvation, you can take it or reject it. The very nature of Christianity precludes it from being forced on a person. Perhaps Roman Catholicism was in view, that is a cult, unfortunately non-Christians seem to think it’s what biblical Christianity is.

  8. Cecil January 27, 2021 at 10:11 am #

    The covenant name given to Israel, YHWH, came on Mount Sinai through Moses, along with the 10 commandments, and all of the Law.

    And Elohim spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the YHWH (יהוה). I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as El Shaddai, but by My name YHWH (יהוה) I was NOT KNOWN to them.

    Abraham was not given the covenant name. He only knew God by the name El Shaddai. God Almighty to English speaking people. Before Sinai there was no name given to men that they may call on Him.

    Moses wrote the first five books of the Holy Scriptures, and knowing the covenant name of God given to him on Mt Sinai, used the name in Genesis. His revelation knowledge of the Name is why the Name appears in the text, for it was YHWH that that spoke to Adam, Eve, Enoch, Noah, Joseph. But the people in the book of Genesis, Noah, Enoch, and all the others living at their time, only knew God as God Almighty or El Shaddai. Enoch addressed God as Lord of the spirits.

    Because Israel broke the covenant with God. God made a new covenant! He offered the New Covenant to His people the Hebrews or Jews. A New Covenant with a new name to bow to, Y’shua. Israel’s majority rejected Him. Some believed, but as a whole they rejected. Jesus set Israel aside for a time, and offered the Himself to the Gentiles.

    Jesus is the only name given to men by which they maybe saved.

    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

    that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.

    YHWH is manifest or revealed now as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

    El Shaddai, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is manifest or revealed in the Church age as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

    Jesus is YHWH. The Father is YHWH. The Holy Spirit is YHWH. Jesus is El Shaddai, the Father is El Shaddai, the Holy Spirit is El Shaddai. One God! Made known as Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The Son was manifest in the flesh, and never saw decay. But you cannot see the Father, nor the Holy Spirit. For they are invisible spirit. But if you have seen the Son you have seen the Father, and the Holy Spirit lives in you.

    There is a new specific name, and only ONE to call upon! Jesus or Yeshua Hamashia!

    Yeshua/Y’shua יֵשׁוּעַ‎ – Hebrew
    Croatian – Isus
    Hungarian – Jézus
    Japanese- イエス

    And many other Gentile languages.

    When God is finished with the Gentiles, He will then turn His focus back to Israel.

    For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

    “The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
    And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
    For this is My covenant with them,
    When I take away their sins.”

    Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you THEY also may obtain mercy.

    And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

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