In Your Discussion, Stick to Key Issues

It is important to stick to the person, nature and work of Christ. Don't chase those 'theological rabbits' we've already mentioned! As your discussion progresses, make sure that you have the person define all his terms and give the basis of his authority for that definition. The following words or phrases are suggested as needing to be carefully defined:- 'The Deity of Christ'; 'justification'; 'incarnation'; 'eternal life'; 'new birth'; 'judgement'; 'born again'; 'resurrection'... Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, you should not only deal with the importance of His sacrificial atoning death on the cross, but also the importance of His physical resurrection from the dead. You might ask them questions like: "Why was it so important to His followers that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:13-17). After this, you could add, "Buddha is dead, Mohammed is dead, Krishna is dead, Joseph Smith is dead, and one day your guru or leader will die (if this is not already the case). You will be sad, but there is no reason for him to rise from the dead, because you will already have received his light and even now have it with you. So why was the resurrection of Christ so important to His disciples?".

Try to Find Out the Past Vacuums in their Life

This can best be done by asking the cultist what drew him into his particular group. Ask if they had any other church involvement before joining their present group. And if they did, ask why they left that church. This will give you a good opportunity to see into their background and find out their needs and identify their spiritual vacuums. Give them an honest and fair opportunity to explain their views without your constant interruption. Don't be so preoccupied with what your response is going to be that you never really hear them. Remember, the first and most important part of witnessing is listening. Really try to understand what they think and believe. If you honestly and sincerely hear them out, they will more than likely do the same for you.

Don't be Fooled by any Experience they Claim to Have Had

Never forget that Satan can counterfeit all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (except the Discerning of Spirits) and he is also a master of "counterfeit experiences". So don't try to tear down or belittle their experiences, because they are probably real! They HAVE experienced something, even though it's counterfeit. Their experiences are just as real to them as your experiences are to you. In one of our debates, the local TM teacher kept referring to experience as 'proof' by saying: "Well, all I can say is that all of these people practicing TM are experiencing something"! Obviously, many of these people DO experience a degree of peace and tranquility when they first join with their group.

Check their Attitude to Sin - both in the World and in their Personal Lives

Ask them how they realistically deal with evil in general in the world and with personal sin - in particular in their own life. Their inadequate understanding and low view of sin and retribution can be revealed by discussing with them Christ's death on the cross. Few cultic groups have a clear understanding of the meaning of the cross. Islam and the Bahai's may accept Christ as a manifestation of God, but they have no clear understanding of the meaning and purpose of Christ's atoning death on the Cross of Calvary. Use this gap in their understanding to ask this question: "Why was it necessary for Christ to die?" Their answer to this question will quickly reveal their understanding of the nature of man and his condition before God, as well as what they feel is the solution (salvation) to man's problem. Even though many other religions and cultists believe that it was not necessary for Christ to die on the cross, it is easy to point out to them from Scripture that THIS WAS JESUS' CONVICTION FOR HIS COMING! See Matt. 16:21, 17:22-23, 24:44-47, etc.

Share Your Personal Testimony of your Christian Faith

In sharing your faith with them, emphasize the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ in your own life. Tell them of your confident assurance concerning your present inheritance. Few cultists will profess that they have assurance of eternal life now and assured peace with God. This lack of assurance accounts for much of their zeal and activity as, by their own efforts, they constantly try to secure their salvation and assurance before God (which is simply salvation through works). You could read to them verses like the following: 2 Timothy 1:12 - "I know who I have believed, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day, what has been entrusted to Him." Romans 5:1 - "Therefore, since we are justified by FAITH, we HAVE peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". Ephesians 1:13-14 - "In Him you also, who ... have believed Him, WERE sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which IS THE GUARANTEE of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory".