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In the interim I believe what I believe to be true and will share with others what I believe to be the truth. However, I know that God and Jesus can read hearts. They know what makes a person tick. Why people turn out the way they are. And at the end I trust that they will do the judging and do the right thing. Not me and not you.
Very wise, it's what I've believed for a long time, too.
Last edited by mensaguy; 03-28-2017 at 08:55 AM..
Reason: fixed quote tag
I was raised in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which is close to being a "Mainstream Christian Cult" as you describe it. It depends on the congregation. Some of the more conservative congregations and sub-factions in the Missouri Synod are like the Mainstream Christian Cults you describe.
Who decides what is and what is not a cult? All religions started as cults, including the most vaunted, esteemed cult of them all, mainstream Christianity. These cults then grew big enough to shed the mantle and turn into the definer rather than the defined.
I know I'm repeating myself but just think on this for a moment. A cult emphasizes it's error. Now think about the ones you think are cults and ask yourself what ERROR (according to the Word/letter) do they emphasize as their "own" and you'll see it to be true. When I first came to Him I had no idea who had the Truth on anything and I asked Him how I was to know who was a cult and who wasn't, there were so many of them. This is the answer He gave me. Peace
Who decides what is and what is not a cult? All religions started as cults, including the most vaunted, esteemed cult of them all, mainstream Christianity. These cults then grew big enough to shed the mantle and turn into the definer rather than the defined.
I don't know that we have a "cult czar" to decide which organizations are cults. However, there is a Cultic Studies Association that been working on this stuff for a long time.
Here's the post I made in another thread that links to their listing of 15 characteristics of cults.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mensaguy
It might be worthwhile for those of you using the word "cult" to take a look at this article. It lists 15 characteristics that apply to cults. It's an article that has been revised over and over since it was first written nearly 20 years ago and is maintained on the web site of the International Cultic Studies Association. I saw an earlier version of the article. The list of characteristics is almost unchanged between versions.
I was also taught that 'Christian apostates' know they are wrong but enjoy shaking their fist at God. If they had a good heart God would have already sent an honest Church of Christ person to convert them to the truth. So it's OK when they are thrown in hell. You wouldn't believe the things people have been disfellowshipped for. I know of someone who went on a camping trip with another group of Christians from a more liberal Church of Christ and her elders assumed the trip was 'illegally funded' with church treasury money. When she refused their inquiry she was shunned.
Honestly I think my experience in the Church of Christ turned me into an agnostic. The God was I taught about throws people into hell for just about anything, I figured I was going to hell anyway so why bother.
You have listened to false teachers-- the world is full of them, because their flocks got their heads buried in the ground and DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
Like applying this reality to ones religion
Mark 3:24-26-- a house divided( 33,000 trinity religions) will NOT stand.
1Cor 1:10-- a true mark of the one single religion that has Jesus--- unity of thought( all matters) no division.
There is no literal eternal suffering--only a sadist would create such a place.
Fact--Hebrew=Sheol= Greek- Hades= English-Hell--the grave.
The sad part is that the false teachers and their scholars know 100% they are teaching lies for $$$$$$$$$$$$
You have listened to false teachers-- the world is full of them, because their flocks got their heads buried in the ground and DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
Like applying this reality to ones religion
Mark 3:24-26-- a house divided( 33,000 trinity religions) will NOT stand.
1Cor 1:10-- a true mark of the one single religion that has Jesus--- unity of thought( all matters) no division.
There is no literal eternal suffering--only a sadist would create such a place.
Fact--Hebrew=Sheol= Greek- Hades= English-Hell--the grave.
The sad part is that the false teachers and their scholars know 100% they are teaching lies for $$$$$$$$$$$$
this is from the Jan Watchtower and it is disgusting. No one should be taking her money. In fact, why is her fridge empty in the first place? Where is all that "most loving people on the planet crap" when it comes to helping out someone who can't do anything for you?
The biblical definition of a "cult" (or "apostate") is any group/person who preaches a different Jesus than the one in the scriptures. I say this because the word "cult" refers to an unorthodox sect whose members distort the original doctrines of the religion. So, "Christian cults" are those who preach a different gospel, doctrines, practices and a Jesus other than those in the Christian bible. A "Christian" cult will deny one or more of the fundamental truths of Christianity while still claiming to be Christian.
The two most common teachings of Christian cults are that Jesus was not God and that salvation is not by faith alone. These are the very core of our faith in biblical Christianity, hence what the enemy attacks.
These cults first includes every other religion because there is only one God and one name by which anyone can be saved. Jesus. Among the sects that have a "Jesus" character but it isn't the Jesus of the Bible, includes Mormonism, Universalism, Jehova's Witnesses, Roman Catholicism, and I'm sure a few others. Then you have other religious cults that talk about Jesus but don't claim to be Christian, like Islam and new age cults like Eckhart Tolle's "New Earth" and what's considered "the church of Oprah." They just think Jesus was a good man but not God.
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However, there is a Cultic Studies Association that been working on this stuff for a long time.
