9/20/09 "The Cult Menace."

I am pleased to welcome Debbie Davies to our pulpit this morning. Debbie was a member of the Mormon cult for more than 20 years before she became a Biblical Christian. Her spiritual pilgrimage began in her teens and although she became a Mormon, God always had his hand on her and was teaching her many things but especially about the debilitating effects of a legalistic religious system like Mormonism. In keeping with Debbie’s visit with us I would like to give a short overview of what cults are like and briefly speak to how Christians should relate to people who are caught in the web of cultic deceit and bondage.

In Galatians 1:8 Paul writes to an impressionable spiritually immature church: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel (or “another gospel,” parenthesis my own) to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (NKJV) Those are strong words from a very concerned apostle (read also 2 Peter 3:16,17). But the stakes were high in that Paul and the other New Testament leaders were planting new churches and it was critically essential to the spread of the authentic Christian faith that these first churches be founded on pure doctrine and sound spiritual principles. Since that time it has always been important that each succeeding generation of churches be in communion with their historic Christian roots. The first characteristic of cults, therefore, is that they do not accept the sole authority of Jesus and the apostolic community as given in Holy Scripture. The cults: deceptively alter scripture e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses); (2) grossly misinterpret scripture to suit their bizarre teachings (e.g. Christian Science, The Unification Church or “Moonies,” or Transcendental Meditation); or (3) they claim to accept the Bible as authoritative but add other writings that they claim are equally authoritative e.g. the Mormon Church); or (4) many cults just dismiss the Bible or ignore it (e.g. Scientology). But what is common to a majority of cults such as those mentioned above is their pernicious claim that they are “like” Christianity or they have a more enlightened understanding of “Biblical Christianity” and often they fool and ensnare unsuspecting Christians who are not grounded in Holy Scripture.

The next characteristic of Cults to be discussed here is that they often have flamboyant founders who “mesmerize” new converts and hold them under their hypnotic-like spell. Sun Yun Moon (Unification Church) was like that. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism in the 19th century was not so much flamboyant as he was the consummate “con artist” who attracted many impressionable and gullible people. Today many unsuspecting people become Mormons for the same reason, namely, that they think that Mormonism is just another “Christian Denomination.” They are also attracted by the sincerity and “clean cut” demeanor of many Mormons. What is especially symptomatic here is that most people today care little about sound doctrine or “The Truth” and “join up” because Mormonism seems so “respectable,” is financially prosperous (did you know that the Marriott Hotel chain is Mormon owned?) and has produced some leading political figures including governors and presidential candidates.

Finally, I would like to mention here the New Age Cults because they appeal to the modern predisposition to deny any authority and pursue their own path (to “godhood”) without regard for any Absolute authority including the God of the Bible. This approach to “Well Being” is very eclectic and may even seem friendly to Christ as long as our Lord is seen as one of a series of “Masters” but not exclusively “The Way, the Truth and the Life’ (John 14:6). Some self-help fads are also cult-like in that they also mislead people into thinking that they have no need of a Saviour and that they can be in control of their own destiny which is a far cry from assuming responsibility for one’s actions.

Because the Bible is misinterpreted, altered, added to or blatantly ignored, we also see bizarre ethical behavior among certain cultists as was seen recently in a cult that practiced polygamy and mind control to the extent that the “prisoners’ of this cult (mostly women and girls) were dismayed when the authorities in Texas made a rather rash effort to break up this cult. But this incident underscores the need to approach cultists with Spirit-filled wisdom and compassion as well as patience if we are to lead them out of bondage into the light of Jesus Christ (see John 8;12). Debbie Davies was providentially privileged to meet a Christian couple who did just that. So, it can’t be overemphasized that we need to be rooted and grounded in Scripture and we must stay humble. For a quick read on the cults read James Shire’s “Scripture Twisting” and “20 Ways the Cults Misread the Bible,” Inter Varsity Press), 1980. Though an older book, it is still a gem.