all this talk about who is and who isn't a cult is just a means to label another church that disagrees with you as non christian. No one believes people in a cult are christians, and that is the whole point of labeling another church a cult. The bible says nothing about cults. the bible speaks of who christians are in the terms of who knows God the father and Jesus, who is born again, who believes Jesus is the christ the son of god etc. there is no mention in the bible of any of the reasons given in here for labeling a denomination a cult, and thereby as non christians. The whole point of calling others a cult is because they don't want to consider them as brothers in the lord so they invent reasons , non biblical reasons why they are not christians, such as they go to a church founded by a man, so they are a cult and not christians,
You can obey the bible and be labeled a fanatical cult. I can name the scriptures that if your chuch obeys them you will immediatly be called a cult.
My "Church" is the Israel Bride of Christ and knows, understands and believes those scriptures. It matters not if someone refers to the Body of Christ as a cult, it is their own issue to deal with. So call me of that cult who believes those scriptures. Does that make me of a cult?
To Christ, those who follow after the teachings of men are lost. It is true that the Bible doesn't use the word cult, but the definition of cult is, from a man's definition;
1.a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.2.an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers:
the physical fitness cult. 3.the object of such devotion.4.a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.5.
Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.6.a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.7.the members of such a religion or sect.any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.
Yes, the world is full of members of individual sects pointing fingers at others claiming they are cults. So do we rely on man's definition? Not neccesarily, but we can use it to a certain extent in general... after all, this thread has to do with "cults". Shall we delete the thread because the word "cult" isn't in the Bible?
ok with me.
But while it is here, we can all be free to address it, may we not?
The point should be though, if there is such a thing as a "cult", should it not be addressed from the perspective of Jesus Christ Himself? Did He not indeed deal with the "cultish" behaviour of the teachings of men at the hands of the Pharisees? Were they not a cult? Are they not now a cult? Is He not dealing with members of "cults" today in His Gospel of Salvation? Ask a Jew he will tell you He's not of a cult. (As a former Jew I understand why, but ask me now...) Importantly though, ask Jesus and you will get a straight answer.
Manny was in a cult.
I was in a cult.
Cultish behaviour and those trapped therein is a very real thing, regardless of the "word" used.
Back to the original point though, "cultish behaviour" in the Christian churches today is rampant. It is silly to argue that point. Rather, should we not know from Christ's perspective what is a "cult" then, (aka man spawned worship system)?
whatever you want to call it, it is real and it is dangerous, and only Christ has the Spirit of comprehension as to how to see it.
If one can see with His Spirit one will know then.
Otherwise, this will make no sense to that person and he will never see the danger associated with the cults of Christendom.
This is simply a word to the wise.
Blessings,
Son of Israel