Cult Awareness

		Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1Peter 3.15

Cult Profiles Cult Updates	Cults 101 What is a Cult? The word cult comes from the Latin word cultus, which is a form of the verb colere, meaning "to worship or give reverence to a deity." Cultus was a general word for worship, regardless of a particular god in question The Vulgate, a Latin translation of the Bible, uses the word in the general sense of worship, regardless of the deity in view (e.g., Acts 17:23,25) The Word is also used in Christian Latin texts that speaks of the worship of the one true God. It is understandable, then that the word cult would naturally be applied to a religious group of people, but this general meaning is too broad for the present purpose. What is a Cult of Christianity? "A cult of Christianity is a group of people, which claiming to be a Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly [definite] or implicitly [absolute]) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible." Adapted from the book of Alan W. Gomes, Unmasking the Cults (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995) How to Identify a Cult of Christianity Rejects the Triunity of the Godhead Do Not Believe in Salvation by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ Do Not Believe in the Finished Work of Christ Do Not Believe in Jesus' Bodily Resurrection Have Extra-Biblical Revelation Believe That They Alone Are Saved Do Not Believe in Eternal Punishment (Hell Fire) Major on Minor Doctrines Believe That Their Founder is the Messenger of God Gives More Emphasis on Experience than Doctrine Gives More Emphasis on Direct Revelations and Visions from God Fix the Dates on the End Times Oppose Proper Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics) Occasionally Entangled in Spiritism or Occultism Mixing Christianity With Other Unbiblical Beliefs What is the Occult? The word occult comes from the word occultus and it carries the idea of things hidden, secret and mysterious. Hoover list three distinct characteristics of the occult: 1. The occult deals with things secret or hidden. 2. The occult deals with operations or events which seem to depend on human powers that go beyond the five senses. 3. The occult deals with the supernatural, the presence of angelic or demonic forces. David W. Hoover, "How To Respond to the Occult," St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1977, p. 8) as cited by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart in their book,"The Occult" published by Here's Life Publisher 1992. What is Heresy? Coming from the Greek hairesis, it means “choice” or “thing chosen.” In the Greek New Testament, however, heresy usually means “faction” or “division” but in later church usage, heresy referred to a denial of a defined doctrine of the Christian faith. “Heretical” is the adjectival form of the word heresy (e.g., a heretical teaching), while a “heretic” is one who espouses heresy. What is a Sect? Originally from the Latin word secta which means “a faction,” “school of thought” or “political party.” American Heritage Dictionary defines a sect as “religious body, especially, one that has separated from a larger denomination.” “Within the Christian tradition, the sect constitutes a distinctive, persisting and separately organized group of believers who reject the established authorities, but who claim to adhere to the authentic elements of the faith.” Thus, the term “ sect” can refer to genuinely Christian groups that “have distanced themselves from churches, and to some degree the predominant culture they represent, in order to emphasize one or more beliefs or practices they fell have been lost. What is a false belief system? What is a religion? This is any system of belief that opposes the central teachings of the Christian faith. While all cults of Christianity are also false religion, not all false religion are cults of Christianity because not all religion claims to be Christian. What are the marks of a Bible-based, Spirit-filled, Christ-centered Church? The minister preach from the Bible; the preaching of God's Word in doctrine of Trinity; justification by grace through faith; and atonement of sins; the fullness of deity and humanity of Christ. Jesus Christ is represented in most sermons and He is represented as God incarnate. Christ's ordinance on the Lord's supper and water baptism is administered. The pastor seemed concerned about your spiritual well being and he is natural and non-judgmental in bringing up spiritual matters in his conversations. Administers Biblical Church discipline and ethics. There is an opportunity for the lay people to serve the Church There is a stress on personal evangelism and missions that focus on the salvation of souls. There is a well rounded Biblical education program both for children and adults Are you looking for a local Church in the Philippines? Check this out. Adapted from "How to Find an Evangelical Church" by William Proctor (The Born-Again Christian Catalog, 1979). Back to the top
The Bible says: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." Colossians 2:8 (NASB)
Cult List: IGLESIA NI CRISTO (1914) w MGA KAANIB NG IGLESIA NG DIOS KAY KRISTO HESUS, HALIGI AT SALIGAN NG KATOTOHANAN SA BANSANG PILIPINAS, INC. (SORIANO) w THE BOSTON MOVEMENT (MMCC) w SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST w JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE, INTERNATIONAL (ALMEDA) w THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME (QUIBOLOY) w TO GOD BE THE GLORY (SANTOS) w LOCAL CHURCH (WITNESS LEE) w BRANHAMISM w UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH w PENTECOSTAL MISSIONARY CHURCH OF CHRIST (4TH WATCH) w CAMPBELLITES w AKO NGA w MGA SAKSI NI JEHOVAH w ROMAN CATHOLICISM w ONENESS PENTECOSTAL w PBMA w TRES PERSONA SOLO DIOS w SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT w NEW AGE w FAITH HEALING w FENG SHUI w HOROSCOPES w OUIJA BOARD w CHRISTIAN SCIENCE w FREEMASONRY w CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (MORMONISM) w CHILDREN OF GOD w UNIFICATION CHURCH w ARMSTRONGISM w TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION w ISLAM w ASTRAL PROJECTION w OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE w UFO w ATHEISM w EVOLUTION w LIBERATION THEOLOGY w AND MANY OTHERS Related Links: Effective Evangelism and Evangelizing the Cults
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