Is The Church of Christ A Cult?
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Transcript Is The Church of Christ A Cult?
Examining the Evidence
In Light of God’s Word
World English Dictionary (Collins)
Cult [kuhlt] — n 1. a specific system of religious worship, esp.
with reference to its rites and deity 2. a sect devoted to such a
system 3. a quasi-religious organization using devious
psychological techniques to gain and control adherents 4.
sociology - a group having an exclusive ideology and ritual
practices centered on sacred symbols, esp. one characterized by
lack of organizational structure 5. intense interest in and
devotion to a person, idea, or activity: the cult of yoga 6. the
person, idea, etc., arousing such devotion 7. a.) something
regarded as fashionable or significant by a particular group; b.) (
as modifier ): a cult show 8. ( modifier ) of, relating to, or
characteristic of a cult or cults: a cult figure [from Latin cultus
cultivation, refinement, from colere to till]
Word Origin & History (Etymonline)
Cult - 1617, "worship," also "a particular form of
worship," from Fr. culte, from L. cultus "care,
cultivation, worship," originally "tended, cultivated,"
pp. of colere "to till" (see colony). Rare after 17c.;
revived mid-19c. with reference to ancient or primitive
rituals.
Cultural Dictionary (American Heritage)
cult definition
In anthropology, an organization for the conduct of
ritual, magical, or other religious observances. Many
so-called primitive tribes, for example, have ancestor
cults, in which dead ancestors are considered divine
and activities are organized to respect their memory
and invoke their aid. A cult is also a religious group
held together by a dominant, often charismatic
individual, or by the worship of a divinity, an idol, or
some other object.
• Common religious groups in the US widely
considered as cults: Sun Myung Moon – Unification
Church (1940’s), Church of Scientology (1950’s), The
Way International (1950’s), Charles Manson (1960’s),
Anton Lavey – Church of Satan (1960’s), Family of
Love (1960’s), Church of Bible Understanding
(1970’s), The Raelians (1970’s), Jim Jones – The
People’s Temple (1970’s), Elizabeth Clare Prophet –
Church Universal and Triumphant (1970’s), Order of
the Solar Temple (1980’s), Cross Roads – Boston
Movement – ICC (1980’s), David Koresh – Branch
Dividians (1990’s), Heaven’s Gate (1990’s)
• Is the church of Christ a cult? This question is
sometimes asked of us (1 Pet. 3:15)
Churches of Christ are listed on the “Index of Cults
and Religions” of Watchman Fellowship
(watchman.org/index)
Websites are devoted to claiming that Churches of
Christ are actual cults (jesus-is-savior.com/F) or
close to it (chocd.org)
• There are religious groups using the name “Church of
Christ” that bare the marks of cults…
Church of Christ Jesus (ICC)
Church of Christ Consciousness (Center of the Light)
Church of Christ with Elijah Message
• We must not judge or be judged a “cult” by
appearance only or hearsay (Jn. 7:24; 15:18-21;
Acts 24:5)
• We must be on guard for anyone who would lead us
astray (Mt. 7:15; 24:11,23-26; 2 Pet. 2:1-2)
• Remember, the presence of a counterfeit implies the
presence of the truth
• Consider four issues related to cults: (1) authority,
(2) scripture use, (3) daily living, and (4) future
outlook
Cults
Self-styled, charismatic,
unproven leader
Question, neglect, or malign
Jesus Christ
Unproven, latter-day / extrabiblical revelations (in
conjunction with the Bible)
Unquestioned leadership
Lord’s Church
Proven Christ: Jn. 20:30-31
Jesus Christ is truly divine
and first (Col. 1:15-18)
Complete revelation:
Jn. 16:13; Gal. 1:6-9;
Col. 2:8; 2 Tim. 3:16-17;
2 Jn. 9; Jude 3
Test all things: 1 Thess. 5:21;
1 Jn. 4:1
Cults
Doctrinal ambiguity
Lord’s Church
Truth can be known
(Jn. 8:32; 17:17)
Private study and
Private study encouraged
investigation discouraged
(Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:11;
1 Tim. 4:13
Special help needed;
You can know the truth
“special discoveries” made (Eph. 3:4; 5:17)
Bible texts twisted and
Bible texts are kept in
distorted; use of specialized context (Mt. 4:5-6;
translations (NWT)
2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:16)
Cults
Lord’s Church
Total isolation, remove from We are the light of world:
family and friends, closed
Phil. 2:15 [no fellowship
fellowship
with worldliness, 2 Cor. 6:17;
no fellowship with worldly
members, 1 Cor. 5:1-13]
Secret and sometimes
Open, righteous example to
immoral practices
all: 1 Tim. 4:12; Tit. 2:7-8
Privacy denied;
Total commitment to God
accountability partner;
alone: Mt. 22:37;
financial exploitation; “total 1 Cor. 16:1-2
commitment”
Cults
Coercion; violence; stalking
in joining or leaving
Dishonest, manipulative
proselytizing methods
Psycological manipulation;
de-program; brainwashing;
mind control; drug use
Daily activities controlled,
limited, or removed
Lord’s Church
Invitation given, voluntary:
Ac. 2:41; Rev. 3:20
No dishonest methods:
2 Cor. 2:17; 1 Thess. 2:3-6
No psychological
manipulation: Rom. 1:16;
Acts 17:2
Activities such as work
(1 Thess. 4:11) and family
are encouraged (Eph. 5-6)
Cults
Lord’s Church
False basis of salvation
No false basis: 1 Pet. 1:3-4
Secret plots of destruction
preached
Physical preparations made
for Armageddon
Paradise on earth
No secret plots: 1 Pet. 4:16
No Armageddon: Rev. 16:16
No earthly home:
2 Pet. 3:10-13
• The label of “cult” against some churches of Christ is
slanderous. The Lord’s church is not a cult! It is not a
secret group that seeks to control your mind contrary
to your will or (more importantly) the will God.
• It has been demonstrated that the Lord’s church is
not a cult. The Lord’s church does not have the
common characteristics of a cult. Anyone who
charges otherwise is either ignoring the evidence
present here or is committing slander.
• Know the difference between a cult and the Lord’s
church! Don’t be fooled!
• The Lord’s church always welcomes your
investigation. We keep an open Bible, an open
schedule, and an open mind to study with anyone,
anytime, about any religious matter.