Some Ways to determine if your church is a CULT

 

Some Ways to determine if your church is a CULT

Over 80% of Americans say they are Christians and 50% of this group says they go to church regularly.

That means over 120 million Americans go to church.  Millions of Christians are in churches that qualify as CULTS.  In fact there are over 2,500 active Christian Cults in America today.

Polls tell us that more Republicans go to church than Democrats.  Does that mean they are in more cults?

Cult (n)

1.    A particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies

2.     A religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader

3.    A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around these sacred symbols

Most of these cults use Jesus Christ as their authority to control and direct their members.  They claim power from Jesus and demand obedience from those in the church based on this Godly power.

Two extreme examples are David Koresh and the Branch Davidians and Jim Jones and the People's Temple.  In these two cases many died and many actually died gladly as if by God’s command.  In these two cases the members were under the control of the pastor not Jesus Christ.  In these two cases and the pastor didn’t follow what Jesus commands and what Jesus instructs.

Based on the above a religious cult is one that corrupts or distorts the teachings of Jesus and is lead by a leader who demands total obedience to him and not God.

Finally, a cult claims to be the only true religion and has exclusive knowledge of God.  They alone are Gods chosen people. 

Wow!  This sounds a lot like many churches in America today.  While most Christian Churches claim to believe in Jesus, some follow the pastor and do as he says even when it conflicts with the teachings of Jesus.  Many churches that are not cults have some of the characteristics of cults. 

Catholics:

·         Charismatic leader – the Pope (God on earth, infallible, hands down his own rules along with the Vatican Council)

·         Church rituals uniform throughout the world

·         Pray to saints instead of God

·         All forgiveness for sins must come from a priest – non-Catholic church minister can’t do this

·         If you don’t get forgiveness from a priest before you die you go to Hell no matter how good a Christian you are or how well you followed the instructions of Jesus

·         You can be forgiven for any sin (crime) by saying a few Holy Mary’s and a few Our Fathers – and get a pass into Heaven

·         The Pope has claimed that only Catholics will go to heaven

The Church of Scientology:

·         Secret rituals

·         Mixes science fiction with Christian beliefs

·         Has the ability to buy your way to salivation

·         Must totally commit to this above all else

Other possible cults are Christian Science, Mormons who claim the Book of Mormon is equal to the New Testament, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unification Church – Rev Moon and many others including many evangelical Churches where the pastor is the real spiritual leader not Jesus Christ.

Some quick tip-offs you should look for to see if your church is a CULT:

·         If your church has a pastor that claims God speaks ONLY to him/her

·         If your pastor preaches from the Old Testament and demands total obedience to what HE says and not to JESUS

·         If your pastor talks about making war on anyone or any group

·         If your church forces members to do things they don’t want to do and threatens harm if they don’t

·         If you give a lot of money to support the pastor in a wealthy lifestyle

·         If your pastor is rich

·         If your pastor preaches hate for any group; Jesus says, “LOVE your enemies”

·         If the church claims you will not go to Heaven if you leave the church

I know this is a lot to think about, but these churches do great harm.  They lead people away for the true message of God.

I am NOT saying any of the above churches are CULTS.  I am only saying they may have some of the characteristics of cults? 

Matthew 22:37-40 

 

37”And He said to him, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

 38"This is the great and foremost commandment.

 39"The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

 40" On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets”

Jesus says love God, not your pastor, priest or the Pope.  And love your neighbor as you love yourself even if your neighbor is different from you.

Matthew 7:12 (GOLDEN RULE)

12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

Jesus demands we treat others the way we want to be treated regardless of who they are.  Jesus didn’t say we had to treat others like we want to be treated only if they are like we are, Christians, white, American, middle class, etc.  Moslems, Hindus, Jews, etc are all God’s creatures and they too are our neighbors.

No church or pastor should ever come between Jesus Christ and church members. 

Am I right?  What do you think?

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