Is The Church A Cult?! By Joe R. Price (http://www.bibleanswer.com/article.htm)
The horror stories of the Branch Davidians in Waco, TX, Heaven's
Gate in southern California and The People's Temple (Jim Jones)
in Guyana are enough to cause anyone to shudder at the thought
of a cult masquerading in the form of a church. So, when I heard
recently that some have said that we are a cult (this is not the
first time I've heard such descriptions); it caused me to wonder
how these folks define a cult.
I did some investigation (to find out if we are a cult and
don't know it!). I discovered that those who make such accusations
are selective and arbitrary in how they define and apply the term.
The following quotation is representative of what is meant by
those who would describe churches of Christ as a "cult":
"Today we will take a look at the question, what is a cult?
Webster's Dictionary say's "A CULT is a quasi-religious group,
often living in a colony, with a charismatic leader who indoctrinates
members with unorthodox or extremist views, practices, or beliefs.
But there are groups that are classified as cults that may seem
to many, to be Christian denominations. The way to determine if
a group is a cult is solely by their teachings, and if those doctrines
conform to the teachings of the Bible and historic Christianity.
There are many doctrines that differ among Christian denominations,
but they all share teachings that are essential to the Christian
faith. In those areas, all Christian churches are in agreement.
Some of those doctrines are: that there is only one true and living
God and that the one God is manifest in three persons, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit; that the Bible is the infallible word of
God; and that salvation is a gift of God, by grace through faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. When a group differs in these areas
from historic, Biblical Christian doctrine, then it falls into
the area of being classified as a cult. Non-Christian cults will
always deny that Jesus Christ is truly God. They will also claim
to be the only true church and add their writings and place them
above the Bible in authority. When examining any group, be sure
that what they are teaching is in harmony with the Bible. Be sure
also that the scriptures they are using to support their doctrines
are being read within their context. As the late Dr. Walter Martin
said, 'a text taken from it's context becomes a pretext, and most
often a pretext for error.'" (Something To Consider, Proclaiming
The Message Ministries, P.O. Box 500, Grand River, OH 44045-0500)
It is enlightening that according to the foregoing definition,
the church we read about in the New Testament would have been
considered a cult! It had:
(1) A charismatic leader. Jesus certainly was that (Matt. 21:6-11).
(2) Unorthodox and extremist views, practices, or beliefs. Some
of the beliefs and practices of Jesus and His disciples were viewed
in this way by the religious leaders of their day. These included:
a. Eating with unwashed hands (Matt. 15:1-14; Mk. 7:1-5).
b. Letting known sinners touch them (Lk. 7:36-50).
c. Eating with sinners and Gentiles (Matt. 11:19; Acts 11:2-3).
d. They claimed their leader came from heaven and went back to
heaven (Jno. 8:23-24)
e. They claimed their leader (Jesus) is the Son of God and one
with God (Jno. 10:30-36; Rom. 1:4).
f. They claimed their leader (Jesus) was raised from the dead
and will one day raise all men from the dead (Jno. 11:25-26; 1
Cor. 15:20-22).
(3) They will also claim to be the only true church. Jesus claimed
He would build one church (Matt. 16:18). His apostles taught that
He is the head over His body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23). And,
they taught that just as the church has one head (Christ), Christ
has one body (one church) that He saves (Eph. 4:4; 5:23).
Indeed, many in the first century spoke against Christianity (Acts
28:22). Do you suppose some said it was cult?! The apostle Paul
was accused of being "...a ringleader of the sect of the
Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). (I guess that made it so, right?!)
Could it be that people are throwing around the term "cult" without properly defining it? Truly, it is. By their own definition, Christianity is a cult and Jesus Christ a cult leader!!
It has always been easier and safer for folks (including some brethren) to attach prejudicial labels and biased epithets upon those with whom we disagree than it is to examine what one is saying, believing and practicing in the light of God's word. Why? Because men love the darkness of error and evil more than they love the light of truth (Jno. 3:19-20). Satan blinds their unbelieving minds (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Kill the messenger and one does not have to listen to the message!
Do not be surprised when you are labeled, attacked, discounted, made fun of and otherwise mistreated for your faith in Christ. You are not being treated any differently from how your Master was treated by unbelievers (cf. Jno. 15:18-20; 1 Pet. 3:13-18).
Is the church of Christ a cult? No. Regardless of what men say, we serve the King of kings! (1 Tim. 6:13-16; Matt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46; Heb. 5:8-9)
Spiritual Guard Duty by Warren E. Berkley (From Monday
Messages wberkley@flash.net)
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Let all that you do be done with love," (1 Cor. 16:13,14).
While in the Army I was assigned to guard duty a few times and
found it to be more than I had imagined. My pre-military perspective
was, you get to carry a gun and walk back and forth with authority.
I couldn't wait.
Not long after beginning basic training, I learned the truth about
guard duty. It involved much more than just walking back and forth
with a gun. First, you had to study Field Manual 22-6. You had
to know the difference between general orders and special orders;
interior and exterior posts. It is necessary to know the Challenge,
the Password, the Chain of Command and relief procedure. All this
instruction was vital to the discipline of the task and was far
more complex and serious than I realized.
But one lieutenant explained the essence of the work: "the
main thing about guard duty is using all your senses to know what
is happening at your post." I was assigned guard duty at
the motor pool one time and I remember the intensity of trying
to watch and listen and be aware of everything in the area. There
was a heightened state of alertness required by the task.
Every Christian is on spiritual guard duty. We are charged to
be aware of what's happening around us, be alert to danger and
prepared to respond.
I must guard my mind against error, selfishness, indifference
and every beginning of sin. I must guard my association with people,
alert to any pressure to engage in any evil. I must watch my relationships
for any opportunity to help people, to teach people and influence
people in good things. I have the individual duty to guard against
any approach of the enemy, any spiritual danger, any moral corruption
or compromise. We do not carry a rifle, but we are armed with
"the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,"
(Eph. 6:17). We have no earthly lieutenant we are answerable to,
but we are accountable to the "Captain of our salvation,"
(Heb. 2:10).
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist
him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings
are experienced by your brotherhood in the world," (1 Pet.
5:8,9).
"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch
and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who
get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be
sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a
helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died
for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with Him." (1 Thess. 5:6-10).
Are you on guard duty?
FINAL THOUGHTS (via The Beacon)
Americans are conflicted over the centrality of religion to personal
morality. The public is split about equally over whether belief
in God is necessary for one to be a moral person (50% say such
belief is not needed, 47% disagree). There is somewhat more agreement
that children raised with religious faith are more likely to grow
up to be moral adults. Six-in-ten (61%) believe this, but about
a third hold that children raised without religion are just as
likely to grow up to be moral. A comparable majority (58%) says
the strength of American society is predicated on the religious
faith of its people, while 36% think that society would be strong
even if most Americans lacked religious faith. - via Pew Research
Center
Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children
to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord."
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34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/~cdillinger/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
This Month's Bible Reading: Deuteronomy
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of,
and visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com