One Mans Cult is another mans Religion... But in this article I am talking specifically about some so called "Christian Churches" that are nothing more than Cults Using our Gods name and the Churches Front and reputation to hide their ungodly deeds.If the Truth hurts... Its still the truth...Truth though trodden under foot and stomped in the mud... Is still the truth.Like it or not... It is still the truth.
What do the neighbors say? Now we live in a day when many people are against the Church because of anti-God sentiment or other reasons... You can generally figure out where the people you are talking to are coming from... But if you see a trend in religious people that looks like this... Beware!!!
If Christians in the community are pretty unanimous about "stay away from that one... Its Pastor is a cult leader".And if that Singular church that they are warning you of... calls the rest of the churches in the area "a bunch of apostates and Laodiceans" and generally considers the whole bunch "Lost" and or "Reprobate"... Beware... Cults prey upon the Good intentions of their members. They want you to think that they are the only ones in town who are right with God.
In a Cult, The Leader (sometimes called a Pastor or Dad or Moderator or whatever) has sole authority that is unchecked by the congregation. This may be done literally by the position of his Job. Or it may be done by him "Owning" his Congregation through family ties or Monetary interests... like owning the Company everyone works for and the buildings they live in.
Step5Watch for continual preaching on the same topics.. like adultery and fornication... and another good sign would be a Preachers office that has no windows (or they are generally curtained) and a private Bathroom that connects to a "Profits Chamber" or has a Back door that can allow for secret meetings.A Pastor should NEVER under ANY CERCUMSTACES... EVER Council a woman privately without his own wife present. (AND HER HUSBAND if she is married)
Hypocrisy from the Pulpit is another good sign that something is wrong... For example: The Pastor preaches not to steal and his children are the leaders of the local Children's Mafia... dealing in anything and everything that is missing from the pews or could be pilfered from purses etc.Hypocrisy like... Telling you to discipline your children: But his own children go unchecked (except for rare occasions where he makes a show of it for your benefit).
Tithes and offerings: Should be counted by a third party (Not the Pastor or his wife but a Deacon or Elder with a witness) and should be logged into the churches accounting books.The church budget should not be a secret.The church financial information should be available for view upon request to any MEMBER of the church. (Not for outsiders however: Really it's none of their business and churches are correct in being discreet with these figures.)Our Sending church puts a monthly copy of the budget intake and outgoing in a hidden place where the members know about and can take a peak before its put away... Its an effective and discreet way of staying above reproach.
At another church we once belonged to:A small congregation of only 14 men and their families were supporting over 120 missions projects and missionaries... (Supposedly) The total amount that each mission item was receiving was not disclosed but when we read the letters from the missionaries we saw that many of them were only receiving from $25 - $35 per month.The Church missions offering was coming in at a rate of 12,000 per month from men who were encouraged to give to missions till it hurt and make vows to God and to live up to our Promises... (most of us were self employed and could scrape it up)Then when Hypocrisy started showing up from the Pulpit and when little things told us we were being lied to... we started looking at the math and found that the Missions offerings were not adding up.If most of the Missionaries are only getting less than $50... and we have 120 of them = $6000 Where is the other $6000 per month in missions offerings?
Hmmmm Pastor just bought some more Brangus Heifers for his pasture and hasn't been to the sale barn lately...Pastor just bought himself an expensive Dually Diesel truck for his farm use... a New Tractor...Things start to fall into place.
Women in the church:Encouraged to separate from their husbands because the husband is "Un-saved" a "Bum" and is against Pastoral Council.Inappropriate relations noticed between these Woman and the so called Pastor...They literally Idolize him... He can do no wrong in their eyes.Then the rumours start floating around about inapropriate relations...
Guns in the sanctuary: Guns don't belong in Church... Period.
Now I know that we live in an age when churches are attacked by outsiders bursting in the doors and shooting people... We tend to think that these problems will only get worse... I am aware that protection is necessary in the days that are ahead.But if we look at the pulpit and we see a man who is literally carrying an arsenal with him and encouraging his faithful few to do likewise.. there could be ulterior motives... like Irate husbands of former church Members.... accusations of foul play...
A man who wants guns all around for his protection... Is a recipe for "Ill play while you pay..."
Hermeneutics: The Bible alone should be the sole authority of a Christian Churches Doctrine. (This is the first precept in In Baptist Churche Doctrine). A good sign that a Cult is being born is when the Bible verses start being twisted to support personal agenda or lifestyle. If you have the chance to take a course in Hermeneutics at the local Baptist Bible College... do it. You will learn a great deal about how to keep Verses of the Bible in their Proper context while studying them... and keep a would be Cult leader from using a single small verse as a spring board for their errant doctrines.
If you are thinking that its possible the church you are entertaining is a cult... Get out now... Before you are a member preferably. But in any case... Find a good local church... probably the one they are calling "Liberal" would be a good start... and keep going to church. Pray for direction and follow the Lords leading. God can use even a "Liberal" church to give you further directions... Point you in the right direction... Just trust him and keep your intentions in their proper place.
Read 1st and 2nd Peter and the Book of Jude.Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Be alert to what goes on around you in the Church
Watch the adolescent Children they will tell you much in the way they act...
Watch for Deceptions
Watch for Joking that is not acceptable Biblically.
Be aware of odd innuendos to spouse and children.
Keep close tabs on your Children.
Cults are nothing to trifle with: If in doubt Get out!!!
Just Leave and don't look back!!!
Close the door behind you.
Don't Let them re-open it.
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| Terry McAuliffe |
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