Lifetime, not ending
What is the difference? I have heard that many people are trying to use these two words in the same sense and often inappropriately.
Simply put, the word "occult" comes from Latin (occultus), which means basically "hidden". On the other hand, the word "cult" comes from the word meaning "cultivate". In other words, to disassemble and train according to the prescribed method. That is the content of this article.
Enumeration definition
Many years ago, since I was eating all the spiritual things that I could grasp my hands, I decided that 20/20 Barbara Walters later "the fastest growing cult America." This group was called the Boston Church and the foundation stone church of Christ. They are now called the International Church of Christ and will not be confused with the traditional Christian church. I have left you a lot of sorrow details, but in essence, this group was known for its own "disciples training" skill. Nothing is being threatened, and it has been resolved in considerable lawsuits. In fact, I was one of those who ultimately recruited lawyers. A lawyer had a person who wrote a letter letting us leave.
After that, a man called my "trainee" called my house in the evening and tried to understand my lawsuit. I naively told you that he was involved in numerous lawsuits and was involved in cults that should have taken the group at once (in fact, they regard it as persecution that artists expect to hear) It was. He laughed at the unfair point of the concept because my warning only confirms his conviction that he was on the right team. At the end of the conversation, I said, "Well, I am in heaven, I am?" He came back and "It is a point, that is a point, Michael ... one of us will not go! I was invited to some of the group's Bible "academics". I interfered a little bit of questions I was about to leave the sales floor of the speaker. It certainly was so because there were no converts that night.
Please keep in mind that these were sincere, kind and sincere individuals. But they were deceived. Do not forget that they are not enemies ... We already know who it is!
Mr. Walter Martin, a man who was thought to be an adult by many, explained the cult, "a collection of people who gather certain people and misunderstanding the Bible". Cult is a group claiming to be in harmony with Christianity, but denies Christian doctrines such as Trinity and the unique God of Jesus Christ. The group that I participated was James 5:16 too far away (almost all the churches of the traditional churches, except that they confessed your sins to each other and prayed for each other to be healed) They were actually sued for the defamation of slander and personality by using secret statements of people as a means of intimidation According to James Walker of Watchman Expositor, one of the signs of the cult Is to multiply, divide, add, or subtract from the basic Christian doctrine.
Jesus warned us about the cult. In Matthew 7: 15-17, beware of false prophecies. What Jesus warned us was that religious people looked like acting Christians, acted and resonated. You can disguise yourself as a true believer in your clothes, but in the end words and actions, especially one belief will betray them. The Galatians 5: 22 show the evidence that the Holy Spirit lives in us shows what the fruit of the Spirit is like. The bar makes cappuccino.
Why are the cults and other cults I was involved growing rapidly? Their growth may be due to several important factors:
1) Jesus and the apostles were warned that such a day would come. In Matthew 24: 23-26, Jesus warned that as the return of Jesus got closer, false prophets increased and many people would be deceived with false teachings. That's true. That is happening. I always see it. In Peter 2: 1-3, Peter warns that a fake teacher will be born out of the church. Yes, that is happening, too. There are lots of bad, non-biblical teachings!
2) Growth of Christians contributes to the collapse of families including Christian families and the universal family of God, including all those who think that they were born again as children of God. Also, the breakdown of family units helps fill the cult classes as people ask for acceptance. As families go, churches are so. As the church progresses, the state will change as well. Like urban gangsters, cults provide a long family of receptive and family atmosphere from a broken home. Cult leaders often take the form of their fathers.
3) Finally, an amazing rise in the cult can be attributed to the fact that the church was unable to fulfill the chief duties. "It is said that the cult is an unpaid invoice of the church." Because Christians are lacking in Biblical and theological understanding, cults thrive. Therefore, we have little impact on our country's spiritual climate. Dr. Martin said, "The rise of the cult is directly proportional to the varying emphasis that the Church had placed in the teachings of the Bible doctrine of Christians." It is a well-trained priest of almost all varieties "If the church is engaged in a robust and deep Biblical teaching, the body gets better and when you come in contact with the people of bondage to the cult. In such a case, the cult did not prosper. Biblical illiteracy is important.
In II Corinthians II: 4, Paul warned the wrong teacher to teach another Jesus. Christian Science is a science of Christianity, and we teach that Jesus is not an incarnation of God, but a merciful person who presented Christ 's idea. He died for sin and did not resurrect. Based on Roman times 10: 9-10 we named this particular mushroom "Jesus" and believed in "He", so I asked about the group called the horrible mushroom church that they claimed to be saved. It is important to know exactly what Jesus is pointed to by a particular group. He is not a brother of Lucifer, he is not a teacher of Mormonism, nor is Archangel Michael, a Joshua witness's claim. He was born in the flesh of God, the second man of Trinity, the Virgin Mary, etc.
Strangely (I experienced this often), when I interact with people who grew up in religious education, I often hear that their group messages are consistent with the Bible. But when you point out where their teaching deviates from, the Bible is filled with weak points and claims that it is corrupt by the Church. When asked to indicate a contradiction or two, they are generally confused as they back flowed what they were taught that they are "wording".
Three kinds of lessons
There are three doctrines in the Bible: man, devil, and Christ. Whatever what is taught by our leader, was we led from artificial tradition, was the doctrine sown in groups by hell itself, or was taught by Jesus I have to ask the question of whether or not. Those questions, the courage to ask my friends! The cult has not only a doctrinal deviation from Biblical Christianity but also several different sociological features:
Authoritarianism.
Are leaders or organizations trying to fully control the life of the followers? Is the teaching of leadership considered the last word or is it giving inspiration to God? Do you go against the commandments of God himself against the leadership? If you forfeit the system, will you be exiled or avoided?
ELITISM.
Most Cultis believe that they are the true "church" and are the only people actually saved. This is because they believe in new revelations and understandings that give them an excellent position. In the past quarter century I have been related to three major sects and one religion. They insisted that they were all "true churches". Remember, the church is neither a building nor a belief, it is the people of God. The body of Christ. Not all parts of the body work the same way, the nose of the index finger said.
Insulation.
With the spirit of their elitism, the cults were deceived by those who disagree with them,
Demon. Therefore, many people try to escape their followers from the outside. Physical and even psychological barriers are often established. Faithful people are advised or prohibited from communicating with outsiders who disagree with their way.
I was involved in a popular church consisting of over 2000 members. In an emergency meeting the elders gathered staff (including administrators then), the minister began his own church thoughts of a certain minister (he did a party at the house; I was there) . At that meeting, one elder warned, "People should be careful about who they are with." Another elders said, "I think we have to promote it further and promise not to become friendship with other groups! I can not sit yet and say" I am starting to hear like a culture.
Closed MINDEDNESS.
Closed consciousness and enlightenment from individual thinking are other religious features. Due to their authoritarian nature, it is believed that only the rudder branch person is entitled to correctly interpret the word of God. Every member is taught to consult the organization with advice on the interpretation of the Bible and the decision of life. Should I get married so much? Should I quit my job? We have to ask if individual thoughts or questions fall. Do not you want to interact and consider other perspectives? Perhaps you've heard of it (herd?) In the Shepard movement, it was most popular in the 1980s. It is still around. Frankly speaking, in this movement, herds give power to leaders every time they exert their power on leaders.
When I once asked the Minister for financial issues, he took a disclaimer stating that he was here because of spiritual direction rather than financial advice. He expressed his opinion, but I advised him to seek experts. It was a healthy response.
law.
Are they teaching salvation based on God's grace or based on your own good deeds? Does the group build disciples according to the teachings and teachings of Jesus Christ, or are they producing church workers? The cult fellows tell us the work-oriented "gospel". This leads to a life style of legalism leading to the spirit of the Pharisee. Believers must act according to the group's standards in order to achieve and maintain membership and hope for eternal life. We serve faithfully and are obliged to attend meetings, research, and services. As a result, there are often subtle pressures that you must respond to the needs of the organization. The unbelief caste system was created among people who are "more spiritual" than others. Like the spirit of sin, shame and relief Christians compare each other, the spirit of pride is next the devil.
Finish the difficult process.
If relief is found throughout the organization, the organization is considered to be equivalent to returning to God. Former members who left the cult are often avoided by members including members of their families. When they leave, they are warned that they will go straight to hell. Many former members are harassed by the organization even after retirement. As I said, in my case, we had to use lawyer's services to regain a friendly neighborhood cult. People who are sad or hurt by this negative spiritual experience often interfere with religious organizations and end up with isolated feelings.
Life in the cult is the fear of judgment, pressure, legalism. This is quite different from what Jesus taught us. Jesus and the apostles said that the new life of Christ is one of grace, love, and freedom from the law. In Matthew 11: 28, Jesus said to him. "Come to me for all those who are tired and tired, and the peace and rest promised by Christ are rarely experienced by those who are enslaved by the cult.
In the first Peter 3: 15, "I must be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you for the reason you wanted, but please do this with kindness and respect." It is. How can I prepare? By knowing the word of God through diligent research. As we overcome fear, we must bear in mind that we need to unite cult members by bringing together the fruits of patience and kindness while we are in love and sharing the truth .
Danger!
The rise of the cult brings some dangers to the church and family, bringing serious challenges to the church. Here are some of the types of dangers related to cultural religion ...
Spiritual danger.
The first Timothy 4: 1 says, "... afterwards, some people obey what was taught by the deceiving spirit and demons, abandoning faith." The spirit behind all lies and deception is the devil. Therefore, the ultimate force behind the cult is Satan.
In Galatians 1: 8 says, "Even if we and the angel of angels are placed before the gospel except the gospel I told you, they are forever condemned." . The false gospel of the cult can not bring salvation to anyone. There is an eternal result in false beliefs. Therefore, Jesus and the apostles are very strict with fake teachers.
Psychological hazard.
Techniques that control the mind used by cults can cause mental and emotional immune disorders. Living based on pressure, guilt and dependency on the organization has proved to have a huge negative impact on people.
Domestic danger.
Individuals are taught that loyalty to the organization is equivalent to loyalty with God. Therefore, loyalty to the organization
I swear allegiance to my family. Thus, when families begin to guide themselves in ways that the organization does not approve, cult often segregates families from individual members. Quarantine is both emotional and physical. As a result, many families are divided.
Physical hazard.
The teachings of David Koresh were lost to Branch Davidians. His real name Vernon Howell was an eye-catching rock guitarist who became a charismatic leader of the branch of Branch David, the fragment of the seventh chapel. Branch / David people were apocalyptic sections established by Ben Royce Roden in the 1930's. Howell joined the Davidians in the branch in 1981 and soon had a good blessing with the chairman, Lois. She died in 1986, and Howell was under control. By 1990 he changed his name to David Koresh and reconciled with over 100 believers in a compound called Mount Carmel, a mountain of 10 meters outside Waco, Texas. Federal representatives of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau (BATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tried to implement a warrant against Koresh on February 28, 1993 as part of investigating allegations of illegal weapons and child abuse. Four BATF agents and six Branch Devilian died. Koresh and his followers became breathtaking on their compounds, the state of confused negotiations continued for 51 days. The compound burned to the ground and ended on April 19, 1993, and 74 followers including Koresh and 75 children died. A special investigation by the US Department of Justice killed the government's approval, but debate continues as to who had the fire.
Hobart Freeman taught that believers do not need drugs for sickness and instructed his followers to throw away all their heads. As a result, 52 of him and his members died in a curable state. He taught that symptoms of illness or injury would be regarded as devil deception after healing was asserted. Despite a positive confession, when death occurs, it is interpreted as discipline from God or lack of faith. The sad thing is that it did not quit with Freeman. There were more than 100 people (members) from the Freeman church who died as a result of his teachings. A number of lawsuits have been filed and the father was convicted of child abuse.
This way of thinking is the same as other cult leaders like Victor Paul Wierwille of The Way International who died of disease. There is something wrong with his faith, and Hobart Freeman died of a medically treatable illness.
The founder of Jonestown, Jonestown, Guyana and the excommunication of Guyana, the Christian Church (disciple of Christ) the full evangelical church of the People's Temple More than 900 communities have moved the congregation to Guyana in order to avoid government surveillance Did. In November 1978, US Congressional Leo Ryan visited Jonestown to investigate allegations of human rights violations. Ryan and his group were murdered in Jonestown and Jim Jones and 911 suicide people committed suicide or were killed on November 18, 1978. According to the initial report, the members had taken Cool Aid to take cyanide, but according to reports from Guyana's coroner, hundreds of bodies showed a certified mark and showed a foul . The US government has not published all the documents related to the investigation of the incident, and Johnston further complicates the long-standing conspiracy theory that it is a mind control experiment conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Do you know?
What are Christians doing?
In the light of cultural threats, what are Christians asked to do?
We are asked to study and know the word of God. Paul says to Timothy and all the saints "I do my best to entrust God to God as a craftworker who correctly deals with the truth world without being charged and approved." Christians should master the Bible so that they are not misled by false teachings.
2. Titus ordered us to confront a fake teacher and object to it.
3. In Acts 20, we encourage church leaders to protect their flocks from fake teachers who take away sheep. Because all Christians are asked to know the truth, they face the wrong teachings and can protect others from it.
Do not bring him in your house unless something comes to you and brings this doctrine. Do not ask God's speed. Those who ask him, the speed of God is the participant of his bad behavior. 2 Jn 10 - 11
Cult members believe that the same thing is true many times. It was said that his group is the only group that has the truth. He is told that the world considers his group a cult. He was told that the disciples of Jesus had to undergo the same persecution. You are talking to someone who thinks they are right.
Are you considering participating in a specific religious organization? Considering today's mental anxiety, if you do not know whether the group is a cult, do three things.
1. Look at their founder. Is its founder Jesus? Is Jesus always considered to be its founder? If he is not running, please run and do not walk in the other direction. Does the current leadership claim to condemn or condemn all the founder of Christianity and all others? Good things do not come out of evil. Evil trees can not produce good fruits, which is true for religion as well.
2. Who is the group? Ascended master? Do you care about Lucifer? mushroom? anything else?
3. What do they say they have to do to be "saved"? Please be careful if it is more than 10: 9-10 of the Romans.
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