A look at how to recognize cults and non-cult cult like leaders.
 Why can’t we all just get along? That’s the question I am sure that you, like I, have asked many times. We look around at how things are in the world and we just want to scream. War, famine, poverty, racism, partisan politics, etc. Then when we look at the church, on many fronts, it doesn’t look much better. Denomination, theological debates, fussing and fighting. Surely this is what Jesus had in mind when He said that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18). Recent circumstances in my life and ministry, along with situations where I have had the opportunity of counseling with other believers about things in their lives, has emphasized how important it is that we all be aware of and understand how to properly discern the true from the false. Not just doctrinally but also in regards to church leaders themselves. Not all that glitters is gold. Jesus warned about false prophets and cults There is almost a universal, world-wide consensus among believers of every stream and system that we are surely living in the last days. Possibly in the latter part of the last days. This has resulted in a renewed examination of the teaching of Scripture on that time period and the dynamics related to those living in that time period. One of the sources that is focused on, and rightly so, is the teachings given by the Lord Jesus Christ concerning the last days. Let’s look for a few moments at what Jesus has to say about the times we are living in. When Jesus taught on the end times, one of the things He emphasized was the warning to beware of false teachers who could gain a large following, thus starting new cults. A cult is a group with an unusual devotion to one leader and his set of beliefs that are not founded in Scripture (as affirmed in historic Christianity). 4 …“See that no one leads you astray (deceives you). 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’and they will lead many astray... 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray… 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew24:4-5, 11,24) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... (Hosea 4:6) As a group called to be Forerunners of the Kingdom message and lifestyle, one of our primary focuses is to not only herald the truth but also to expose false teaching. When I say that, I want to point out that I am not advocating the type of ministry so prevalent, especially on the internet, by the so-called cult watchers or “watch dog” ministries. Much of what is seen there is closed-minded and critical and is not representative of what we, as believers, or to do at all. The conflict in the end times will be a battle for truth. Satan’s main weapon will be deception and our main defense will be love for the truth. This battle will be primarily focused on defining who Jesus is and how we are to love Him. We must love God on His terms. Our love for God must be expressed in allegiance to Jesus and to the Bible. The Spirit exalts Jesus by guiding us into all truth about Him. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-14) There is a false sentiment that is prevalent in much of the teaching circulating in many Christian circles. It is that if we are followers of Christ and lovers of the truth that everything will be sugar and spice and everything nice, everyone will see eye-to-eye, and will look alike, dress alike and act alike. Not! It is not uncommon to hear the phrase, “Christians are not to judge”. That is the opposite of what Jesus taught. In fact we are commanded to judge and to test everything and everybody so that we will not be deceived. (Mark 13:5-6, 22; 1 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:4; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:13; Titus 1:10; 1 John 2:26; 4:1) It is true that Jesus made the statement once that His followers to “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matt. 7:1).But here He was warning His disciples not to judge in a wrong way, not to be gullible and follow everything everybody said every time. The truths we proclaim about Jesus will offend the secular humanist. When we boldly proclaim Jesus’ right as God to establish absolute standards to which the nations will be held accountable to Him for, they are offended. They are offended when we proclaim that Jesus is the only way of salvation. They are greatly offended when we preach that Jesus alone possesses the wisdom and love to judge sin both in time and in eternity. But it is not only the secular humanist that is offended by the truth we preach. Many in the church are offended by the truth as well. Many people who were once followers of the truth fall away because of the truth. The Bible refers to this as being offended at God. Paul warns us of a falling away in the end times that can only be avoided by an on-going loving and embracing of the truth. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day (Jesus’ return) will not come, unless the rebellion (falling away) comes first, and the man of lawlessness (Antichrist) is revealed…9 …by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth… (2 Thessalonians2:3-10) Love for the truth is more than adherence to it. Loving the truth also means that we must take a firm stand for it, even if it costs us to do so. Loving truth requires that we commit to accept any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in the Scripture regardless of how different they are from our experience or religious background. We are warned that some will depart from having a relationship with God as a result of their having paid attention to doctrines that were inspired by demons. 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars… (1 Timothy 4:1-2) Paul spoke about false teaches who would start cults by drawing people after themselves. He admonished the elders appointed by God to watch over the people of God to be on the alert to this (1 Tim. 1:3-11; 4:1-8; 6:2-7, 20-21; 2 Tim. 3:1-17). 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted (perverse) things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. (Acts 20:29-31) The Apostle Peter warns of the dangers of false teachers who deny the main tenets of our faith. They can be detected most easily by their covetousness and immorality (2 Pet. 2:9-14; Jude 8-10). 1 …there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them… 2 And many will follow their sensuality (destructive ways), and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed (ridiculed). 3 And in their greed they will exploit (manipulate) you with false words… 14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin… They have hearts trained in greed (covetous practices)… 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions (lusts) of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. (2 Peter2:1-18) False teachers are those who do not hold to the “main and plain” doctrines of Scripture. They pervert the teaching about the grace of God by either legalism or lewdness. Legalism is a religious system that adds to the grace of God by seeking to earn the grace of God. Lewdness reduces the message of grace to receiving forgiveness without turning from our sin. The true grace message inspires us to deny lust and empowers us to walk godly (Titus 2:11-12). For certain people (false teachers) have crept inunnoticed…ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 4) Beloved, we must accept the main historical Christian doctrines which include: · Jesus as God’s only son who is fully God and fully man, born of virgin birth, without sin · Jesus’ death and bodily resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand · The one true God exists in three persons (Trinity) as Father, Son and Holy Spirit · Salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone and in Christ alone · The infallibility of Scripture as our final authority for all matters of faith and practice · The unity and diversity of the Body of Christ For more information on the Historic doctrines of the faith, see the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed andthe Westminster's Confession. Seven characteristics of cults There are seven characteristics of a cult or a cultic leader. If a group or individual embraces one of these characteristics, then they are a cult or have cult-like tendencies. They oppose criticalthinking Individuals or groups that are cultic discourage their followers from thinking for themselves. Cults teach: Their members must accept what they believe without challenging their doctrines. They do not want their members to think critically for themselves. The Bible teaches: We must all challenge each teaching that we hear by the light of Scripture. Loyalty to a ministry involves challenging it with humility. I encourage everyone that listens to me to not believe a teaching that they cannot see with their own eyes in their own Bible. We must be a people that think for ourselves and do not quickly accept ideas. Do not say, “Our leaders say…” but rather say, “The Bible says…” but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) 10 …The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they (the Bereans) received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see (to find out) if these things were so. (Acts 17:10-11) They penalize people for leaving their cult (church or group) Individuals or groups that are cultic require that their followers submit to them instead of, as leaders, serving their people by empowering them to follow God’s will for their life. Cults teach: People will be judged by God or will lose God’s best if they leave. Rejection, shunning and warnings of judgment are given. People are taught to make life long commitments to the group and/or to seek permission to join another ministry. Individuals who don’t agree with the leaders are pushed out of the group. The Bible teaches: The first concern of a leader is for what is good for the people under them. Therefore,leaders are to help them succeed as they seek to follow God’s will for their life, regardless if it means joining another ministry. The foundational value is that God owns the people, not the leader or the group in which they serve. Itis not about any church or group, it is about the Kingdom of God. They emphasize special doctrines outside of Scripture Individuals or groups that are cultic discourage loyalty to the Scripture and usually quote Scripture to do it! Cults teach: Cults emphasize the special revelations of their“anointed” leader who presents himself as having unique insights that no one else has. The Bible teaches: We must emphasize supremacy and infallibility of Scripture as the final authority of truth. We must emphasize the “main and plain” themes of Scripture as pertaining to loving Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle, prayer, reading the word, winning the lost, healing the sick and serving others, etc. They seeki nappropriate loyalty to their leaders Individuals or groups that are cultic do not seek to connect people to Jesus individually. Cults teach: Cults require loyalty to the leaders instead of to Jesus. Faithfulness is defined as supporting the leader instead of obeying Jesus. This loyalty is expressed in forbidding them to correct the leader (who usually does not freely and publicly admit his faults or errors). You will often hear the phrase among cultic groups warning the people to “not touch God’s anointed”. The Bible teaches: Our first loyalty and connection is to Jesus. We serve together with weak and broken leaders who do not have all the answers and who are in need of insight and correction from others. I encourage the people who listen to me to feel free to question me and my lifestyle. Leaders are answerable to their people, not the other way around. They dishonor the familyunit Individuals or groups that are cultic work to undermine the biblical priority of the family unit. Cults teach: The children are taught to be more loyal to the leaders than to their parents. The women are taught to be more loyal to the leaders than to their husbands and the husbands are taught to accept this as normal behavior. The Bible teaches: The first relational priority of commitmentis to one’s marriage, children and parents. The sanctity and identity one’s family is far more important than the ministry in which they are involved. Lack of biblical boundaries in behavior Individuals or groups that are cultic refuse to individuallyand corporately take a stand for sexual purity and personal ownership. Cults teach: Cults emphasize special revelations that especially allow their leaders to cross biblical boundaries in areas of immorality. They usually insist on owning the money and property of theirmembers who “join the community”. The Bible teaches: Sexual purity and private ownership of finances and property. In Acts4, the disciples laid their money and property at the apostle’s feet as a one-time free will offering, not as a permanent economic arrangement. Separation from theChurch Individuals or groups that are cultic discourage or down play a culture of honor towards the whole Church. They often mock or ridicule believers or doctrinal beliefs of other streams of the Body of Christ. Cults teach: Cults criticize and exclude the larger Body of Christ and claim to be the only ones truly saved. They separate from the wider Church with an elite spirit. The Bible teaches: We love God by loving the whole Church that is so dear to Him. We are to cultivate a culture of honor in our midst that emphasizes blessing other ministries without criticism and a spirit of inclusion without elitism. How to discern a false prophet or teacher 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits…17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit…20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20) Jesus compared false teachers to wolves because they are dangerous in their effect on people and deceptive in how they influence people. A wolf is a natural enemy of sheep who can not defend themselves. A wolf disguises himself as a sheep by claiming to uphold the Scripture while operating in a leadership model that is detrimental to his followers both short and long term. Jesus then changed his metaphor from wolves among sheep to fruit on trees. While it is not always immediately discernable whether a leader is a wolf, it is clearer if edible fruit is on a tree. We are commanded by Jesus, and will be evaluated by Jesus on the Day of Judgment on whether we were faithful to know or test the fruit in the lives of the teachers that we sit under or listen to. There is a moral and a doctrinal test. Sound doctrine and holy living are the sure fruit of a good leader. It is not possible to examine fruit from a distance. Thus, Jesus is not exhorting us to become critical of others as a self appointed “heresy-hunter”. We are commanded to know those who minister among us. We are to evaluate and hold accountable those who minister in our midst. We should be extremely wary of any leader who doesn’t encourage his followers to question his teachings and lifestyle. We should also be wary of any leader who doesn’t humbly make himself accountable to his people. How to avoid deception Even a new believer can make sure that he is not deceived. We must all live faithful, accountable lives. We must all teach each other how to avoid deception by loving the truth (2 Thes. 2:10). We can do this by growing in our relationship to Jesus as we regularly read the Bible, setting our heart to obey it, staying in relationship with others with a teachable spirit that receives the truth without defensiveness, and by serving the truth by witnessing to unbelievers as well as ministering to the needs of others. |
