Cult-like groups

Yes! Can you say CRAZY?!?!?!?!

Stay away, Stay FAR AWAY!

-BornBaptist



[ August 21, 2004, 11:12 PM: Message edited by: Dr. Bob ]

 

Cults are pretty much everywhere, often veneered to look as any other church, often the term "Bible Based" is used.

The Trinity tends to be the giveaway in a number of instances, they outright reject it, or try and explain it in a certain way and have people accept and believe there explanation of it.

Soul Sleep of the dead, Obligational Giving, Teaching that other churches are "Lukewarm" are other give aways.

For this reason I have begun to favour the acceptance of the Nicean Creed by churches, this often seperates the wheat from the chaff.

 

I find it interesting that all cults seem to target baptist members more than any other denomination for new recruits. Interesting indeed!!! If they hear that there is a baptist who left his Church recently they are on him like leaves on a tree.

 

What I have heard is that Seventh Day Adventists are the most targeted group for cults, that is probably because the Davidians and Shepherds Rod target them pretty much exclusivley.

 

"I find it interesting that all cults seem to target baptist members more than any other denomination for new recruits. Interesting indeed!!!"
''
I suspect Ben is right on the SDA's being a little more 'popular' as targets go, still baptists are tempting because many Christianity resembling cults originating in the USA pattern themselves at least somewhat after baptist Christianity.
A certain baptist model of churchgovernment is even somewhat usefull to the prospective leader of a small cult.
-local autonomous churchgovernment (meaning no potential meddlers on the outside with an official status inside ones cult)
-just pastors&deacons instead of pastors, deacons and elders. (one more potential oversightgroup removed).

I sometimes like to tell myself that my own church has adopted the pastors, deacons and elders model instead of the other one because of some profound insight, but in thruth it was done because most of the first members used to be Dutch Reformed and were used to that way of running things.

 

Mioque, just a sidebar comment: Here in the US, the Dutch Reformed Church (called the Reformed Church In America) is the oldest protest denomination with a continuous line. It dates back to 1628, when dutch settlers came to the US. The first church, Marble Collegiate Church (foundedd 1628) in New York City, has been in continuous operation ever since. It's not a large denomination, but it's got a fine tradition here in the States

 

jw's & mormons are big around here.Hey do you consider charismatics cultic or heretical?

 

well it really depends on how deep into the rabbit hole they go. There are those who believe that tongues and being slain in the spirit is a perk to salvation and then there are those who believe that it is a necessicity to salvation. From the latter, avoid!

Any of these new age Church sects that add to or take away from the gospel are cultic. I am set against the one word faith movement (ie joel olsteen) because they, though I am still researching olsteen because while I have never heard him proclaim their doctrine (I never really hear him proclaim any doctrine though) I have never heard him refute or deny....They teach salvation without repentance, just come to God and he will come to you and will turn your life around!!!

They never ever teach that you must first turn from your sins and ask forgiveness, they only teach that you must just give your problems to God and he will give you joy!

 

Even in our little bitsy town, we are seeing numerous cults moving in; concentrating mainly on Mexican-Americans. Ever heard of Luz de la Mundo?

 

the reason baptists are the main target is because so many baptist Churches are spiritually dry. They are dry and void of living water to the point that they will jump for just a small drop of the tainted water these cults offer. They bring a temporary quenching to a thirsty people.

 

The real problem with Word Faith are their heretical teachings about God and Christ: Jesus had to go to hell and fight Satan for 3 days to atone for sins; God lost his "legal" right to earth when Adam sinned and had to depend on man for help in his plan of salvation; God has a body (Copeland); God created the world from his faith; as believers, we can create like God with our words and mouth; if you are sick, it is because you do not have enough faith; if you think negative thoughts, you will get sick or poor or bad things will happen; if you are poor, you don't have enough faith; Jesus became God when he was baptized; we are little gods when we are Christians. These teachings are dangerous and damaging.

I heard Osteen teach that your thoughts can make someone die. He gave a story about a young man who was afraid his wife would die. Seven yrs. later she died -- it was the result of the man's fears.

Links:
Copeland
http://www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm
http://www.letusreason.org/Wf22.htm

Joyce Meyer
http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac17.htm
http://www.equip.org/free/DM472.htm
http://www.pfo.org/preacher.htm

Articles on Word Faith
http://www.watchman.org/profile/wordpro.htm
http://www.banner.org.uk/sum_wof.html
http://www.letusreason.org/WFDir.htm
http://www.afcministry.com/Faith_Movement.htm

Page with links to articles on Word Faith
http://www.watchman.org/search/watchman_VSearchResult2.cfm
(if above link does not work, go to www.watchman.org and type word faith in Search box)

Problems with the Dake Bible (many WF doctrines come from this, including teaching that Jesus became God on baptism)
http://sites.onlinemac.com/trwmainst/dake.html
http://www.ovrlnd.com/FalseDoctrine/drakesbible.html

I copied the info below from a word file. Some of the links might overlap with some above, but not all:
General article on WF. This might be good to read first as it gives an overall view of WF. This was written by someone I know well, whom I met as a new believer.
http://www.watchman.org/profile/wordpro.htm


A page with links to various articles. This is on the site of someone who was in WF
http://www.banner.org.uk/sum_wof.html


Quotes from WF teachers
http://craom.net/Hereticalsayings.htm


Testimony of Tricia Tillin, who was in WF
http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/mytest.html


Ten Reasons to Reject WF, by Tricia Tillin
http://www.banner.org.uk/wof/tract3.html


Another general article on WF
http://www.biblebb.com/files/WRDFAITH.HTM


Article on Kenneth Copeland, one of the biggies of the WF
http://www.letusreason.org/Wf22.htm


A list of articles on WF
http://www.letusreason.org/WFDir.htm

 

Anyone know anything about the "Christ Gospel Church"? We have one here, and from what I understand, they are a little over the Pentecostal edge. We have a church member who has deep roots there and still believes what they teach. She comes to our church to please her husband.
Any info would be appreciated. Their website offers little doctrinal info.

 

Marcia you forgot the most important danger of the word faith movement... They believe salvation comes only from putting faith in Christ, without repenting of sin.

Listen to their alter calls.... They never tell you to turn from your sins they only tell you to just accept Christ and be made happy, joy comes from just letting God into your life.

this alone takes from from heresy to cult IMO. You just cannot turn to God without turning away from sin first!

 

We have many here in Tennessee, especially being right here around the fastest growing college, Middle Tennesse State University. Many cult-like groups have been springing up lately.

AVL1984

 

Oh now you went and ruffled my feathers!

I happen to use a Dake Bible. and I happen to like it. and one thing to remember. Dake was a human, as was the author the that web page. Dake could have made errors, so could the guy that made that web page.

If people spent half as much time, winning the lost to Christ as they did putting down other Christian's... they be doing something. just because Dake's Bible doesn't jive with some people's belief's, is no grounds to call it a bad Bible... Yes, I own one. No, I don't agree with it all. But don't throw out the Baby with the bath water.

I suppose you think a scofield is any better? with it's racist notes? I want one, but it by no means is perfect, neither any other Bible with HUMAN Notes in it... Christian ought not to read notes, we should read the Word!




-BornBaptist

 

I agree that people should realize notes can be in error, but some of Dake's "errors" are more than just mistakes. They are huge theological flaws that go against the very Word they comment on. And sadly, this Bible has influenced some false teachers who get their faulty theology directly from Dake's (at least what they say matches the notes in Dake's).

I think we are to point out teachings that go against God's word -- this is not a matter of being critical but alerting the body of Christ.
See Eph 5.11

Did you look at the 2 links I posted on the Dake Bible?

This may be why Copeland says God has a body.

The statements below (same link as above) are also found in Word Faith teachings (a discussion in Other Religions was going on there on this topic, "What Jesus Knew;" I tried to start it on the Baptist Theology forum but it hasn't gone anywhere):

Jesus most assuredly did not empty himself of his equality with God. He was always fully God on earth.

Dake's, like many Word Faith teachers. also denies the eternal Sonship of Jesus and teaches that Jesus became God at baptism

Another serious attack on truth (same link as above):

Another WF teaching, that we are "little gods," here in Dake's (same link)

When my God and Savior are attacked, you better believe I will speak up.