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WHAT
IS A CULT?
If you look up "CULT" in the
dictionary, you will find a very broad definition of the word which could apply
to almost any group of people that worship any person or image or even someone
that follows Jesus. The dictionary definition is not specific as to what a cult
really is. We all know that man wrote the dictionary with head knowledge, but
the word of God is inspired by the Spirit of God and is our only absolute truth.
A
cult according to the Word of God is any group of people that worship anything
or anyone other than Jesus Christ, and
believe anything contrary to His Word
as found in the Bible. With that in mind, we must believe that anyone,
who claims to know or preach
that there is any other way to reach, or know God other than the Lord
Jesus Christ is "THE ANTICHRIST" because this is what Jesus has told
us in His word.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone
out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit
that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:1-3)
If we choose to believe anything else, we have been deceived. That is why God
has given us His Word so that we may know the Truth, and that the Truth will
make us free from the deception of Satan.
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which
believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
The Bible Says that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit.
(Ephesians 6:17)
What do you do with a sword?
You fight with it, it is a weapon. Every time Jesus was confronted by Satan, He
used the Word of God to defend Himself. (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13)
We are
not fighting a war of flesh and blood, but a spiritual war. We are not fighting
the man, but the spirit behind the man. We're not supposed to hate the person but the
spirit behind the person, for that is our true enemy.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians
6:12)
People are deceived
and that is why we must always use the
Word of God to defend ourselves so we can bring them to know the Truth of
Jesus Christ and deliver them from Satan's deception.
That is our true calling to bring in the harvest in these end times.
Let us never forget the very sobering
words of the Apostle Paul:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another;
but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say
I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)
WHY TALK ABOUT CULTS?
We are continually warned in the Bible to
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. The cults fall into
the category of darkness. Cults are leading people astray into lies, deceit,
confusion and ultimately hell. According to 2 John 10-11, we are not even
supposed to say, "God bless you" to cult members lest we be partakers
of their evil deeds. We can tell cultists about the Lord, but if they don't want
to hear and persist in their cult activities, we are to have no fellowship with
them. Today's Christianity says, "Just love everybody and try to impress them
with your life. After all, we all believe the same essentials." But the Bible says to mark
those that cause division - not to embrace them.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of
the simple." (Romans 16:17-18)
People do not realize that counterfeit religions, like
counterfeit money, must resemble the genuine in order to deceive those who lack
spiritual discernment or those who have not had the opportunity or taken the
time to carefully compare all the facts with the truth of God's Word. Only when
one compares men's words with Scripture will it become obvious that cult is a
carefully crafted counterfeit, not the pure, genuine, biblical faith.
PURPOSE
This page has multiple purposes:
- Equip
Christians to identify cult members from a few words of conversation.
- Warn
Christians, cult members and potential cult members of false doctrines.
- Equip
Christians to effectively witness to cult members and sympathizers.
Satan has filled this world with "Christian" cults and
false religious doctrines
in order to see as many people as possible cast into the Lake of Fire. He deceives the simple and appeals to the prideful who want a "customized" religion that fits in
with their belief system. Cults always offer something "new," which in
this world is tantamount to better, but God doesn't change. (Malachi
3:6) So
when someone brings you a "new thing," you should be wary and seek the
Lord about it.
WITNESSING TO THE CULTIST
I've met people from a number of cults and all of them had been brainwashed by
their religious leaders. You must be in prayer the whole time you are talking to
them because the spirits that have control over them must be quieted in order
for them to hear what you are saying. The cult member has been told the same
lies so many times that they believe it is true. They have been told that their group
is the "only one" that has the truth. They may have also been told that the world considers
their group a cult. They have been told that disciples of Jesus have to undergo the
same persecution that Jesus did. You are talking to a person that thinks they are
right.
The biggest weapon you've got is the Word of God because it punches holes in every cult
argument. The Bible is the only offensive weapon listed in the whole armor of
God. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Nothing can replace an intimate knowledge of the
King James Bible. Don't be fooled by all the new
versions which claim to be better than all the rest.
Cults have a tendency to change their names, but their evil deeds remain.
They'll try to tell you that their "official publications" speak for
them, not the writings of their founders and prominent leaders. If you're not
sure if an organization is a cult, ask yourself these three questions:
-
Who is their founder? Jesus said an evil tree
cannot bear good fruit and this is true for cults. (Matthew 7:15-20)
- Who do they say Jesus is?
- How do they say we must be saved?
If
there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed:
For
he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
2
John 10-11
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