Cults vs. Cultic Churches

Recently, I took an Apologetics course because I wanted to have a deeper understanding with many of the religions in our world today. More and more I am encountering people who are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Hindu, and Muslim.

One of the most compelling lessons that we had was on cults vs. cultic. I realized that there is a big difference. You see a cult is an organization or belief system that the fundamental doctrine denies salvation, they add to the Bible, many time they multiply the way to salvation, divide the body of Christ, and their view of who Christ is is totally skewed.

On the other hand, we have several churches in America and across the world that are cultic churches. Basically a cultic church is a Godly church that begins to act ungodly. There are a few signs of a cultic church:

• they begin to promote separation from anyone not a member
• they begin to demand explicit control of the followers
• they reject any questioning of their leaders
• they begin to take control of salvation (for instance, if their views/church is rejected the person that rejects is destined for Hell)
• they take explicit control of finances in one's personal life
• they become a place to hide from the world (no visitors are welcome, etc.)
• they believe that there group is the only chosen ones
• they believe that their way is the only way

Now let me say this, Jesus is the only way! I love diversity and I love that many churches do things differently in the form of style. However, our goal for the Church is to make disciples of all nations. We must do a better job being unified in the body of Christ in order to reach more people. Lets not let our style overpower the purpose! God may our churches be YOUR CHURCH!