STUDY OF CULTS

DEFINITIONS

Cult -- "...basically a religious movement which distorts or WARPS
            orthodox faith to the point where TRUTH becomes PERVERTED into
            a lie."

           "...organized heresy."

           "...belief and PRACTICE in the world of religion which calls
            for devotion to a religious VIEW or LEADER centered in
            false DOCTRINE."

WHY DO CULTS PROSPER?

2 significant statements

*True Christianity will be under constant attack by those who would deny
and destroy the faith.   (Acts 20:28-31)

      1. From WITHOUT -- "shall grievous wolves enter in..." Verse 29

      2. From WITHIN -- "Also of your own selves shall men arise..." Verse 30

*One of the marks of the LAST DAYS is a FALLING AWAY from revealed
truth.   (I Timothy 4:1) [Prophecy - will be fulfilled]

Answer #1 -- Love of Darkness (John 3:19)

    --lost sinners determined to live their indulgent lifestyles will flee
      from the truth of God's Word.

    --BACKSLIDDEN Christians will not want to embrace the truth of God's
      Word, because it will REPROVE THEIR DEEDS.

    --both groups leave themselves open to embracing false doctrines
      (which allows or excuses their immoral or self-centered lives)

Answer #2 -- Spiritual Immaturity

    I Peter 2:2   Growth is the fundamental goal for a newborn Christian.

W H Y ?

    Ephesians 4:14   Children tend to believe everything they hear . . .
    And so are susceptible to obeying wrong directions.
    There are spiritual kidnappers waiting to steal new or immature Christians.

Soooo, How do we fight against this???

    II Timothy 3:16,17   Maturity comes from God's word.

Answer #3 -- Spiritual Subversion

BIBLICAL EXHIBIT "A"

Paul's Galatian converts (churches)

**They had embraced the truth and responded ecstatically to Paul's
preaching so much that Paul stated "if it had been possible, ye would
have plucked out your own eyes[.]"   Galatians 4:15

THE REST OF THE STORY --- The letter to these same Galatian believers
                                                     was written from Paul's burdened heart
                                                     because they had been seduced into embracing
                                                     "another gospel" (Galatians 1:6-9)

BIBLICAL EXHIBIT "B"

The Christians at Corinth

**Seduced by phenominalism -- which was a denial of the Pauline
doctrine that taught "the just shall live by faith", and an embracing
of the humanistic doctrine that said "the just shall live by sight".   (See II Corinthians 5:7)

**Paul reveals the Seducers (II Corinthians 11:13-15) and chides the
Corinthian believers for being so WIMPY and SPINELESS (II Cor. 11:20).

BIBLICAL EXHIBIT "C"

The Colossians

**Subversion came through the teaching of Gnostic doctrine.--Eastern philosophy & Jewish Legalism

GNOSTICISM: Achieve spiritual perfection & full knowledge.   Greek gnosis--to know.

*Paul's warning -- Col. 2:8,18
There will come those who would subvert your thinking and cause you to be a spiritual humanist.
Do not listen to anyone who does not follow Christ.

Answer #4 -- Intellectual Pride

    --Cults can gain access to the total person by first reaching the
       mind.

Biblical Christianity reaches the heart.

Intellectual People stumble over The Simplicity of The Gospel.

I Corinthians 2:14
II Corinthians 11:3-4

[The Twelve Marks of a Cult]

[Christian Helps Ministry (USA)] [Christian Home Bible Course]