Cults?

IMHO, It is not the way they live their lives, but the attitude that they have toward people who do not live the way they do.

I am not pointing a finger at anyone, nor am I saying that anyone on this board is a member of a cult.

I think it is just as bad to question a person's salvation or an entire group of people's salvation.

 

I would think that you are Primitive Baptist. Not all, but many Primitives practice these things. Of course, they do not look down on those of us who do not. It's more of a preferential lifestyle than anything else. Of course, there are the ones that go a bit far with it. I know many of my brethren don't believe in birth control, but they also don't believe in abstaining from "the deed" either. Hence, I know many families that have over a dozen children.

Bottom line, many people, although Christian, have gotten used to living in this world, so when they see something that's a bit unusual to them, however biblical, they tend to frown upon it.

 

Amen!!!

 

Why is it bad to question someone's salvation? We are told to test the spirits to see whether or not they are from God. We are also told that there WOULD BE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING. They are in the church and they are among us here.

In my opinion asking someone if they are saved is fine. In fact I do this alot in my personal life. But, telling someone that they are a member of a cult, (condemning them to hell,) is judging someones soul.


Praise God it is not up to me to determine anyones eternal destiny.

 

Why is it bad to question someone's salvation? We are told to test the spirits to see whether or not they are from God. We are also told that there WOULD BE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING. They are in the church and they are among us here.

In my opinion asking someone if they are saved is fine. In fact I do this alot in my personal life. But, telling someone that they are a member of a cult, (condemning them to hell,) is judging someones soul.


Praise God it is not up to me to determine anyones eternal destiny. </font>[/QUOTE]I agree with your last sentence.


But I'm not sure that accusing a person or group of not being a Christian is the way to test the spirits or seek out the wolves.

Thank you for sharing that with me. I will study this carefully.

 

This is a put down to people who don't live like you do, which is just the attitude Thankful mentioned.

We are told to test the spirits, is some teaching from satan or God, we are never told to judge a persons salvation. Only God knows whats really in a persons heart, and if they've repented or not.

 

[ May 26, 2003, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: 3907 ]

 

I heard someone call a local Baptist church a cult because they've become 5 point Calvinist and are practicing Disciplieship.

I would also wonder if you were Primitive Baptist or one of the Fundamental Baptist churches that don't allow pants on women.... But NOT a cult!

Diane

 

I don't think it is. I think it depends a great deal on the attitude and emotion with which that question is asked though.

I prefer if someone says "By the way, do you mind my asking? Are you saved?" And then of course I can answer very plainly "Why yes I am, are you a believer too?"

But on the other hand as has often happened to me, when someone asks "are you sure you're saved? You don't seem to be to me?" That kind of attitude, usually gets little more than silence as a response...as it's obviously meant to be confrontational and judgemental. And like I've said recenltly elsewhere... If a person wants me to answer a question, they need to ask me nicely.

"It's not what you say, it's how you say it." We used to say this jokingly at work all the time. It is however very true. When a person has a gentle meek God fearing spirit...they can pretty much say anything and it will always be taken the right way.

Or as the Bible says:
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Prov. 15:7

 

I guess we must have posted at the same time, with the same topic. So I will just link mine with yours:

http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=002579

Sherrie

 

I agree that is correct. When someone accuses someone of being in a cult they are in fact telling that other person they are not saved. Which is what happened to me here on more than one occassion. I was called a cult member here because I homeschool. So, now homeschooling has made me unsaved and a cult member.

I see nothing wrong with asking someone when you first meet them or begin talking with them if they are saved or not.

But, to claim someone is in a cult without having any knowlegde about that persons heart or really who that person is to me is beyond judging the condition of their heart. It is also false witnessing.

 

I do not think anyone called you cult because you homeschool. That was not at anytime an issue on my part or anyone Else's that I could see.

It exactly the way Wisdom Seeker said it. It is the way you say things.

And if something is working for you thats one thing...but I see where this can be cult. and I posted my reasons on another thread called cult before this one was started. I also linked my post to this one.

I also agree that we must all teach our children the ways of walking with God. But when you begin to isolate yourself and your children from the rest of the world...it is in my opinion, and a lot of professional opinion, something is wrong.

We were put in the center of this world to be an example and show the world, not condemn, and ex-communicate with it. The word is living stones.

I think being over paranoid is wrong. I think the extreme here can be from the examples you give, is that there is lot of rebellion going on. Anti-government, anti-people friendly, staying only within a group. A whole lot of controlling going on.

My Son and Granddaughter are both in school. Never once were they taught homosexuality was a correct thing.

These are just excuses to cover up....again...paranoia.

A whole lot of paranoia going on.

Again I ask you...do you think your children worship God more or better than mine...and do you feel your children are saved, and mine are not?

Sherrie

 

I agree that a church of any denomination that follows a charismatic leader who teaches the Gospel according to himself and they buy into it. You have a cult. That is why we have the Bible to read ourselves and to question anyone who would teach the Word. Read, Study and Pray. Remember that we follow our Lord Jesus Christ, not any man. There are alot of people that I respect and will willingly listen too. But I don't follow any man. I have a question along these lines. What about members of a congregation that practice what I call, preacher worship? These are people who believe in a person so blindly that they will not doubt anything he says and instead of saying that I believe this because of faith in the Word, they say "My Preacher/Pastor Said..." Even though these people do not belong to a cult per say, wouldn't they be considered members of cult because of their blind faith in a person? Just a thought and this was the best that I could say it. What do the more experienced among us say?

In Christ

Ronnie

 

Hey Guys... just two days ago HCL asked a new person who was giving home schooling parents a hard time if she was a Christian and some of you jumped on Wizofoz. (BTW... that woman never answered and her profile said she is an
EX-Baptist and not in church....)

Either it's okay to ask or it's wrong to ask! Can't be both ways!

I know I don't fit in with a lot of you because I'm SBC, use NKJV and am against women preachers but I sure would hope no one would question my salvation just because I don't fit into the same box as them.

Diane

[ May 02, 2003, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: dianetavegia ]

 

Diane, it was NOT Wizofoz, but HeadCovered Lady

http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000206;p=1

who asked a new person if she were born again.

 

Thanks for catching that, Betty. I'll edit and correct it. Isn't it odd that HCL was jumped on for asking that and is now being asked the same thing?

Diane

 

Diane, I'm missing something here. I was the one that said I was offended by her question to the new person and that she had questioned the salvation of public school teachers. I think I am the one that is concerned about questioning someone's salvation which in my opinion is judging. I am certainly not questioning anyone's salvation.