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