What is a cult?

There are many groups out there that claim to be Christian. However, upon further examination, they are found to be false, espousing teachings that are not found in Scripture. These groups are called cults, and they are extremely dangerous since those who fall into their clutches are very hard to remove. Cults range from the enormously popular Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses to the small, esoteric apocalyptic groups that firmly believe the end of the world is at hand. In this entry, I want to give a brief overview of the characteristics of cultic groups so that we can be better prepared to recognize such people and stay away from them, as well as warn others about their dangers. I am indebted to the website http://www.carm.org/ for providing most of the information I am using for this blog entry - check it out by all means! It has been a wonderful apologetics resource on the Internet for a decade.

The term "cult" has been variously defined. A common blanket definition is "a group radically committed to a leader or principle." Obviously, this isn't adequate, since almost anyone could thus be a cultic member. I am defining "cult" from a Christian perspective, and so the definition I will adopt will not include other religions such as Hinduism or Buddhism, which deny any affiliation with Christianity at all.

Basically, a cult can be defined as a group which includes the Bible in its set of authoritative scriptures, but distorts the Word in order to support its aberrant doctrines. When I mean "distort," I mean the cult denies the essential doctrines of Scripture. Secondary matters, such as the difference between dispensationalism/reformed theology, infant baptism (as long as it's not for salvation)/believer's baptism, and the timing of the rapture do not distinguish heresy from orthodoxy. Some essential doctrines of Scripture include:

- The deity of Christ
- The Trinity
- Salvation by grace alone through faith
- The physical resurrection of Christ

In addition, there are some groups that do hold to these essentials, but are so extreme in secondary doctrines that they must be avoided, since they choose to emphasize on what divides rather than on what unifies. They are not properly "cultic," but are still dangerous in their own right.

Another key characteristic of cults is that they tend to add human works to the gift of salvation. This is the case with Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, since they both teach that Christ indeed paid a price for our sins, but we must work with Him to confirm our salvation. In other words, we do our best and hope God does the rest. Of course, this denies several Scriptures such as Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Even some well-known groups, such as Roman Catholicism, fall into this danger since they also emphasize the adding of our works to God's grace. The Protestant Reformation happened mainly because of the abuses of the Church of Rome, especially in the area of doctrine, and the regaining of the central doctrine of our justification by grace alone through faith was a major hallmark in the recovery of the true church of God. We need to cling to this doctrine with all our might, because it gives God all the glory for our salvation, and puts us into our proper place. More has been said by me in previous posts, such as in the ones on Justification and Sanctification.

Some cults also add their own Scriptures to the Bible. The Mormons acknowledge such books as the Book of Mormon (acknowledged to be "the most correct book of our religion" by founder Joseph Smith) and The Pearl of Great Price. The Jehovah's Witnesses count as authoritative the materials published by the Watchtower organization, as well as their version of the Bible called "The New World Translation" that corrupts several verses in favor of bad doctrine. Christian Scientists revere books written by Mary Baker Eddy (ex. Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures). In all of these cases, the books radically change Christianity to a form which the cult in question approves of. So, when examining a group, it is good to see what authority it places on its own publications as compared to Scripture.

Cults also tend to be strongly controlling. They are usually led by a single person or a powerful body of leaders. Such people may have highly charismatic abilities and strong powers of conviction. Of course, this alone is not a determining factor in defining a cult, since there are many strong preachers and people who God has raised up in orthodox Christianity to edify the saints. However, it is still true that most cults are led by domineering, controlling people. Such leaders may claim special revelation from God, have unique abilities tailored for their mission, and demand high levels of commitment and trust (i.e., they can't be questioned at all). Eventually, the cult tends to rule over all areas of its members' lives. That is why it is so difficult to extricate people from cultic groups.

By no means are all cults strange-looking. Some groups are very upright, honest, and moral people by the standards of this world. They do a good job of sweeping most of the "odd" stuff under the carpet. Many Mormons, for example, have an admirable record of honesty and uprightness, as do many Roman Catholics as well. Indeed, this may be a key reason why many people join cults. Cults can provide them with a strong sense of "belonging," and appear to meet their key needs. The group can be a key source of support and comfort (and of conflict once the member desires to leave the cult). In this world, where so many people are alone and distraught, cults put up an attractive front and lure their hapless victims into the clutches of heresy. Satan has been using this technique for thousands of years with devastating results. However, praise God that He continues to expose the errors of these cults and to receive many souls into His true Kingdom!

When encountering cults, it is extremely important to understand what you are going up against. Many cults use similar terminology as orthodox Christians, but give them different definitions. For example, the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible is inerrant. What they mean, though, is that their New World Translation of the Bible is inerrant, and all others are frauds. The Holy Spirit, according to the JW's, is not a person but rather an impersonal "force." For a Mormon, eternal life is not about living forever in heaven with God, but actually becoming a god of your own. Mormons also believe that Jesus is the brother of Satan and is actually a god distinct from God the Father (they believe the Trinity is three separate gods instead of one God in three persons). There is much more I could say, but I think the above information is sufficient to show that we are dealing with different things represented by the same terms.

So what can we do if we know people who have fallen into cult traps? Patience and hard work is the key. First of all, perseverance in prayer. Second, maintain communication with the person(s), and at all times determine to show the love of Christ to them so that they can see the alternative. Lovingly share your concerns about the group they are with, and give the relevant information about false doctrine if they are able to bear it. The problem is, of course, that cult members tend to become antagonistic if you attack their group - so that is why I urge caution when showing them how they are wrong. Ask God for wisdom and discernment about what to say in these situations. Sometimes it is better to be bold; sometimes it is better to be more discreet. Each situation must be examined in its own perspective. God is very merciful and has saved thousands of people from cults, and there are many helpful resources on the Internet and with various ministries to help people who are escaping from bondage to these groups. www.carm.org, as I stated before, is one such resource.

I may delve into certain groups in more detail in future entries. Definitely the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses deserve an in-depth description. But perhaps Christian Science, Oneness Pentecostalism, Scientology, Seventh-day Adventism, and Bahai'ism may be mentioned as well. There are a lot of groups out there, but some are more common than others - and that is why I choose to talk more about them. Word needs to get out about the dangers of these cults: for example, in Japan, most "Christians" are actually members of cults which masquerade as the one true faith. Part of our witness as Christians means exposing false doctrine to the light. So that is why it is good for us to know at least the basic details about cults so that God can use us to reveal the lies of the devil and substitute the truth in their place.

I hope I can continue to write more often - in truth, it is the comments on my blog that help me know that I have an audience and that what I write is actually read. But, of course, I serve God in my writing and as I write He helps me clear my thinking better. I write to please Him, and that needs to be my utmost motive in everything. Nevertheless, I welcome comments and questions, so I can interact with my readers.

Have a good day!