Jude 3 Missions

Jude 3 Missions

P. O. Box 780 Victorville, CA 92393

How Do We Identify A Cult?

INTRODUCTION: The Bible clearly teaches us that we are to be of sound doctrine (Titus 1:9; 2:1). Not all people will listen to sound doctrine. Some will exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25). Just because something sounds right does not mean that it is from God (Proverbs 16:25).

I. In our modern society we have literally thousands of cults built upon man-made doctrines. We will compare five of these major cults with the Bible.

A. DEFINITION: A cult is a group of people basing their beliefs upon one person’s interpretation of God, life, and the hereafter; which always denies the central doctrines of Christianity as taught within the Bible.

B. The cults have applied false definitions to biblical terminology. Paul warns us about not following a false concept of Jesus, a false Spirit, or a false gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

II. What are some of the common marks for identifying a cult?

A. Single leadership.

1. Cults generally focus around the teachings of a single leader, perhaps their founder or current prophet. This single leader usually claims special revelation from God that is unavailable to members. This is what keeps him in his position.

a. In 1830 Joseph Smith, Jr., founded the Mormon Church (LDS).

b. In 1875 Mary Baker Eddy founded the Christian Science (CS).

c. In 1884 Charles Taze Russell founded the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, known as Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW).

d. In 1954 L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology (SCI).

e. In 1954 Sun Myung Moon founded the Unification Church (UC).

2. Christianity does not have a single leader on earth. Our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, heads the Church through many of his servants. All pastors and followers of Jesus Christ are considered equal in the eyes of God (Galatians 3:28). Jesus is our only source of truth because He is God incarnate (Matthew 1:23; John 20:28). Jesus is the full revelation of God to man, hence, we need no human revelator to supplement Him (John 1:18).

B. Extra-biblical Revelation.

1. The cults thrive upon revelation outside of the Bible, which they call Scripture.

a. The LDS have the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

b. CS has Science and Health, with Keys to the Scriptures.

c. The JWs have Watchtower publications, including the Watchtower and Awake magazines.

d. SCI has the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, which are “scripture” today.

e. UC has the Divine Principle, which is a revelation by Sun Myung Moon.

2. The Bible, in contrast to this, is the only revelation needed by Christians (2 Timothy 3:16; John 20:31; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

C. Alteration of the Bible.

1. The cults change the Bible in one of two ways. They either retranslate it inadequately or redefine the terminology to cloud the meaning.

a. The LDS and JWs alter the biblical text by retranslating it.

b. CS, SCI, and UC redefine the words of the Bible in their writings so that the unaware reader does not understand the biblical message.

2. The Bible clearly warns us about those who attempt to alter God’s Word (Proverbs 30:5-6; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-9).

D. The cults deny essential Christian doctrines. These doctrines are necessary for sound biblical faith.

1. The cults deny the doctrine of one God in Three Persons, the Trinity. Some cults will use the word “trinity,” although they redefine it and deny its true meaning.

a. The CS, SCI and JWs deny the Trinity by claiming it is of pagan origin.

b. The LDS redefine “trinity” as “three gods” among many gods. The UC redefines the “trinity” as Father, Son, and Mother.

c. The Bible teaches that there is but one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10). This true God eternally exists as Three Persons. The Father is God (Romans 1:7), the Son is God (Philippians2:6-8), and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). They are Three Persons of one God (Matthew 28:19).

2. The cults deny that Jesus is eternally God.

a. Some cults say that Jesus was “created” as a god, or that he is only godlike. None of them say that He is God eternal. The LDS say that He is one god among many gods. The JW believe that he was created as a godlike being who was also known as Michael the Archangel. The CS, UC, and SCI all deny that he is truly God.

b. The Bible teaches us that Jesus is truly God in human flesh (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1, 5:18, 8:58, 10:30, 20:28; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; and Revelation 1:8).

3. The cults deny that the Holy Spirit is a person and that He is God.

a. The JW, CS, and UC deny the Holy Spirit is a person or is God.

b. The LDS believe the Holy Spirit is different from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost, they say, was born in heaven, has a human form, and is one of the gods.

c. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a true person with a mind (Romans 8:27), emotions (Romans 15:30; Ephesians 4:30), and a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). Jesus also spoke of the Holy Spirit as a person in John 14:16-17, 15:26 and 16:7-14. The Holy Spirit is revealed as God (2 Samuel 23:2-3; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). He is coequal with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19).

4. The cults deny or alter the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ.

a. The LDS say that the atonement of Christ in ineffectual for certain sins (murder and breaking temple covenants). CS claim it is not efficacious to cleanse from sin.

b. The UC, SCI and JW see it as an important event. It must be coupled with personal works to obtain salvation.

c. The Bible clearly states that Jesus took our place in his sacrificial death on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). His blood is the only means to cleanse from sin (1 John 1:7).

5. The cults deny or alter the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

a. The CS, JW, and UC deny that Jesus rose in a physical body. SCI is silent on this.

b. The LDS affirm the bodily resurrection, but differ on Jesus’ status in heaven.

c. The Bible teaches that without the bodily resurrection all of our preaching is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). Jesus rose bodily on the third day (Luke 24:39). He could be touched (John 20:17), seen and heard (20:20), and eat (Luke 24:41-43).

6. The cults deny or alter salvation by grace and not of works.

a. The LDS, CS, JW, SCI and UC deny that salvation is by grace through faith. They insist that personal works achieve salvation.

b. The Bible teaches that salvation is by God’s grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:16, 11:6; Titus 3:5-7).

7. The cults deny or alter the doctrine of eternal punishment for the wicked (hell).

a. The LDS, CS, JW, SCI and UC deny hell as a literal place of eternal punishment for those who reject Jesus Christ.

b. The Bible teaches that hell was originally created by God as punishment for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). It is described as a lake of eternal fire (Revelation 20:13-15; Matthew 13:42), torment (Luke 16:19-31), and outer darkness (Matthew 8:12, 22:13).