TLEM
True Light Educational Ministry
Then
you will
know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ( John
8:32)
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WHAT ABOUT CULTS?
Our first commandment that we shall have no other gods before us is very
clear. Throughout the Bible we are warned of the deception of the cults and
told how to avoid them. In different ways Jesus warns us in the gospels about
the cults and false teachings. In Matthew 24:4-5; Mark 13:5-6; or Luke 21:8,
Jesus says many will come in my name, claiming I am the Christ and will
deceive many. Paul in Galatians 1:6-10 warns about another gospel, and in 2
Corinthians 11:4, Paul warns about another Jesus, a different spirit, or a
different gospel. So cults and false teachings started in the time of Genesis
with Adam and Eve in the garden and will not end until we get to heaven. In
fact we are told that they will increase as the end grows near. Being a
complete book, the Bible not only warns us about these false teachings, but
gives us the rules to follow in checking them out, and how to avoid them. The
Bible also gives us the limitations or rules the cults will follow. So now
let's look at the cults as Christians should.
Cults are grouped into several different subdivisions depending on the various
authors.
The Eastern cults
Although it may be headquartered in the United States, or Europe, is based
upon some Eastern philosophy. While some will claim to be in harmony with
Christianity, their roots are always founded in Hinduism, Zen Buddhism,
Taoism, or mixtures of Oriental philosophies. Some of these cults are, Hara
Krishnas, Meher Baba, and the Divine Light Mission, Soka Gakkai (or Nichiren
Shoshu of America - perhaps the largest and fastest growing cultic group in
the U.S.), and the Self-Realizationship Fellowship
The Humanistic cults
These are most often based on the belief that one can be capable of
self-fulfillment without recourse to supernaturalism. Often it teaches people
to find fulfillment in their own inner self, in nature, or in the idea that we
are constantly evolving upward. Some groups claim to be in harmony with
Christianity. Examples of this group include; Scientology, the Forum (for
Lifespring, Transcendental Meditation (TM), and the Sylva Mind Control. Some
of the New Age Movement falls into this group.
The Psychic/Occult/Astral Cults
These groups feast on "secret" wisdom and knowledge supposedly once
held by a few ancient seers. It is usually claimed that this secret wisdom was
lost with the rise of science and technology. The resulting void has caused
come to search for these "lost Truths." Although most of these
"lost truths" originate in the Eastern religions, a fair share of
them come from spiritism, paganism, and witchcraft. The Aetheris Society,
along with various other UFO cults, the Association for Research and
Enlightenment (founded by Edgar Cayce), and Astrology are included here.
The Western Cults
These are of Judeo-Christian origin and usually founded in the United States,
Western Europe, or Australia. Most of this group base their beliefs upon a
distortion of historic/orthodox Christianity. They often claim Christ or the
Bible as the central part of their faith. Although the Western cults claim to
be Christian, they are always in direct opposition to Christian doctrines such
as the trinity, salvation by grace through faith alone, etc. They frequently
misrepresent historic Christianity, to make their group necessary to correct
Christianity's errors. Some members of this group are the Way International,
Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, The Boston Church of Christ.
ECLECTIC/SYNCRETISTIC CULTS
This group usually combine strains from several religious traditions into a
new "hybrid" religion. This is "smorgasbord religion." The
Unification Church, for example, is a combination of Eastern philosophy,
spiritism, and Christianity. Other groups in this category also usually
combine a mix of Oriental religion and traditional Christianity. This group
includes, besides the Unification Church (Moonies), The Church Universal and
Triumphant (headed by Elizabeth Clare Prophet), Eckankar, and Sufism.
EXTREMIST POLITICAL/SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
These are movements that can be cultic in psychological or social sense but
are not necessarily religious in mature. They can resort to violence,
intrigue, deceit, and terror to achieve their ends. The goals are primarily
political as opposed to religious, through they often espouse a twisted
version of Christianity. Groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the White
Aryan Resistance, Lyndon LaRouche's political movement and certain extremist
terrorist movements represent this kind of cult.
COMMERCIAL
These groups promise quick, easy, sizeable earnings (or even instant wealth)
to anyone and everyone who dedicates himself to their sale of products.
Members are often encouraged to use deception as they sell and recruit others
to sell.
There are a couple ways to remember what a cult is. One of my favorite is the
simple math test. The four functions of math are addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. From a scientific principle if we can prove a
theory mathematically using the four functions, it's no longer a theory, but a
scientific fact. So let's try.
ADDITION
Does the group under question consideration add to the word of God? This is
usually done by indispensable publications that claim to give the Bible's
clear meaning or through present-day revelation from God.
Just a couple examples here are the Watchtower magazine and their other
publications of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The Book of Mormons, and the Divine
Principles of the Unification Church are other examples.
SUBTRACTION
Does the group in question subtract from the person of the Lord Jesus Christ
by making Him less God than His Father?
Generally the cults will make Jesus simply a man, an angel or lessor god than
the Father. The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus is a lessor god and
Michael the archangel. This is a critical area to look at. If Jesus is not the
God of the trinity, then the group is definitely a cult.
MULTIPLICATION
Does the group multiply the requirements for salvation by making works a
necessary condition for redemption? They may require that you work for the
organization for salvation.
DIVISION
Does the group in question divide the loyalty of it's members between God and
itself and its leaders? Do they make devotion to the organization a test of
faith and consider adherence to itself the vehicle of salvation for the
followers?
Now that we have a definition and a test for cults let's look at some of their
features.
There are many similar characteristics of a cult. These characteristics may be
used to determine if a group or organization will fall into our cult category.
Do not depend upon any listing in books. With two to five thousand different
cults I and promise you they are not all listed in the books. Almost daily I
am adding new names to my listings, or changing the names of a group that has
renamed itself.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULT
They have a strong leader to follow.
They demand obedience of the followers.
Their primary goals are growth and wealth. Charitable programs are not
priorities for most of the cults.
They teach they have the sole possession of truth and knowledge, and superior
to the sinners who remain unsaved.
The leader usually ends up having a free rein to decide what the followers
will believe.
Because debate is discouraged and unquestioning obedience praised, followers
learn to suppress critical thinking.
There are some basic rules you can follow to protect yourselves against cults.
Learn to cope with stress. All of us face different levels of stress in our
lives. When we feel it is starting to get the best of us, we are most likely
to be seduced by someone selling happiness.
Never be afraid to question. Always be wary of anyone who tries to prevent or
discourage you from questioning.
Learn to recognize common cult recruitment tactics and situations.
People who are excessively or inappropriately friendly.
People with invitations to free meals, lectures, and workshops
People who claim to be just like you. This is often a device for disarming
your vigilance.
People who pressure you to do something you don't really want to do. Don't be
afraid to say NO.
People who confidently claim that they can help you solve your problems,
especially when they know little about you.
People who make claims about saving mankind, achieving enlightenment, or
following the road to happiness. If their claims seem to good to be true, they
are probably false.
People who promise quick solutions to difficult problems.
People who always seem happy, even when common sense dictates otherwise.
People who claim that "you need to destroy the mind to find God," or
"the devil works through the mind," or otherwise disparage the
critical mind.
Your mind is your primary defense against psychological manipulation. PROTECT
IT!!
For More Information Contact:
True Light Educational Ministry
(631)395-4646
www.tlem.net
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