In the past as a young believer, I thought that a cult was a group of people who negated the deity of Christ, as their main doctrine. It was only as I began to read and study the Bible in my late 20's that I realized that a group of people don't have to deny Christ as God, to be a cult, they simply deny Him by their disobedience against His Word. We have modern "Christian" cults today who would strongly proclaim the deity of Christ, but violate much of God's Word.
Let me qualify that we are to submit to the governing bodies of a gathering, when they obey Christ, when they do not, then we do not have an obligation to obey them. If we find ourselves at logger heads with authority too often, then we should leave, they will not listen and they will not change, it is better to leave them alone and move on.
What would one of these cults look like?
1. Cults add to the Word of God with extra rules that were not written in the cannon of Scripture.
2. Cults have a leader or group of leaders that will not allow discussion on important doctrinal matters by their "underlings." They require complete allegiance to their doctrines without challenge. They monitor very closely the activities of those in their charge and will not allow discussion to clarify matters, they are always right, will not admit their own fallibility.
3. They camp heavily on the woman as one who should not speak of doctrine or spiritual matters to anyone, they are to be mindless and voiceless as they accept all that is fed to them by their superiors. They ignore the women as though they were unimportant and use intimidation to force submission even when their concern is valid. Of course there are cults too, that have women leaders in opposition to the Scriptures, some modern Christian cults have over reacted to the feminist movement by adding rules and twisting Scripture to keep from the pitfalls of our culture.
When we read the Word and pray for leading from the Holy Spirit, we do not have to overreact, we can simply obey God and leave all the results to Him. Christ never "controlled" anyone, He simply stated his truth and allowed others to make the decision. God does tell leaders to put out of the body a sinning brother, however, that has to do with blatant sin and disobedience against the Word. All matters must be diligently researched in the Word to make sure that the action taken is Biblical.
4. Often these cults place such authority over the women and children that they are not allowed to question anything, there is complete obedience to the men required, and even above God.
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."
5. One of the ear marks of a cult is that they demand complete submission to the governing body to such a degree that those who question them are disciplined through shunning and even putting out, if they do not obey all the rules of their organization.
6. Force, in one form or another, is a common tactic for the cult leaders. Force can range from intimidation by sordid looks to burning at the stake during the inquisition.
Jeremiah 1:8 "Do not be afraid of their faces, For I [am] with you to deliver you," says the LORD."
7. Cults often have clothing mandates for their people, that are not described in Scripture. I was once told by a group we were with that the ladies wore sleeves to their elbow, but above that was immoral, no pants at all for the women and the length of the skirt was to the ankles. When I asked for Scripture on this matter of clothing, they had only one to give that spoke of modesty, even though that scripture had no description of what that modesty looked like.
In this same group as mentioned in point #7, I was told that it was sin if one wore jewelry of any kind and watches were given for marriages instead of rings, presumably because watches were useful and rings were jewelry. Although some of the watches were beautiful. None of these rules were mentioned in Scripture. I brought up Ezekiel 16 to clarify that God blessed His people with jewelry and cosmetics, but the people misused these things. God does not bless with evil things, and the people misusing them does not make the things evil, only the hearts of the people were evil, not the things.
I was once told that the designation in the original language for woman's was "long and flowing", at closer inspection, that would have been the same designation for men, since all men wore tunics and robes same as the women. It became evident to me that if pants should be forbidden, on moral grounds for women, then the men should also never wear pants, but return to robes and tunics. I would not advocate pants for women, I tend to be more comfortable most of the time in dresses and skirts, however, I cannot judge another woman for her clothing unless it was blatantly immoral, most of us know what that looks like and respect for the brothers and sisters in Christ would drive us to be careful not to make a brother or sister fall by our actions.
The following passage pertains to food but the principle for all things still remains.
1 Corinthians 10:23-26
"All things are lawful for me, [fn] but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, [fn] but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's [well-being]. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; for "the earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness."
Cults enjoy very stringent rules, the same attitude of the Pharisees that required obedience to man rather than God. The people in these groups like rules because they can check their brains at the door and never have to make a decision about their own walk. Like little children, they do not read their Bibles, pray about matters or seek the Lord, they don't have to, they can just ask their elder and do whatever he says.
I am not against leadership, it is mentioned much in Scripture, I am against the abuse of power that uses meanness and self righteousness to control the people.
Leadership is not "control", it is serving by example, preaching and teaching, not forcing as the Catholic church, Calvin and others have done to force outward obedience rather than fostering inward transformation in Christ.
Obey the leaders when you can, but if they do not obey the Word, then confront them with their sin and if they will not listen, get out as fast as you can.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Our Culture Loves Praise of Men
Acts 8:9
"But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great."
Acts 8:13
"Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."
Acts 8:18-24
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
Act 8:21 "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act 8:23 "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
Act 8:24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."
Simon saw the miracles, believe in Christ....but he was not born again, even when he acknowledged that he was not, he did not repent, but only asked that other pray for him to be repentant.
This passage is a perfect picture of all the fakers that exist in our culture today. They want the Lord for their own wealth, health and purposes, but they are not willing to submit to Christ. Their "Christianity" is a means to their own ends, this is the reason they never move from infancy to maturity in their walk.
When we find ourselves continually instructing and arguing with the same people over what seem to be simple matters of the Word, we can discern that they are not born again. Those who fight against instruction, leave when the truth convicts and defame us to others to make themselves feel justified, are those who have not submitted to Christ.
Matthew 15:8 "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me."
Psalms 50:16 "But to the wicked God says: "What [right] have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Psa 50:17 "Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?"
Psa 50:18 "When you saw a thief, you consented [fn] with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers."
Psa 50:19 "You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit."
Psa 50:20 "You sit [and] speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son."
Psa 50:21 "These [things] you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; [But] I will rebuke you, And set [them] in order before your eyes."
Psa 50:22 "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear [you] in pieces, And [there be] none to deliver:"
Psa 50:23 "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders [his] conduct [aright] I will show the salvation of God."
"But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great."
Acts 8:13
"Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."
Acts 8:18-24
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
Act 8:21 "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act 8:23 "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
Act 8:24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."
Simon saw the miracles, believe in Christ....but he was not born again, even when he acknowledged that he was not, he did not repent, but only asked that other pray for him to be repentant.
This passage is a perfect picture of all the fakers that exist in our culture today. They want the Lord for their own wealth, health and purposes, but they are not willing to submit to Christ. Their "Christianity" is a means to their own ends, this is the reason they never move from infancy to maturity in their walk.
When we find ourselves continually instructing and arguing with the same people over what seem to be simple matters of the Word, we can discern that they are not born again. Those who fight against instruction, leave when the truth convicts and defame us to others to make themselves feel justified, are those who have not submitted to Christ.
Matthew 15:8 "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me."
Psalms 50:16 "But to the wicked God says: "What [right] have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Psa 50:17 "Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?"
Psa 50:18 "When you saw a thief, you consented [fn] with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers."
Psa 50:19 "You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit."
Psa 50:20 "You sit [and] speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son."
Psa 50:21 "These [things] you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; [But] I will rebuke you, And set [them] in order before your eyes."
Psa 50:22 "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear [you] in pieces, And [there be] none to deliver:"
Psa 50:23 "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders [his] conduct [aright] I will show the salvation of God."
We Did It Our Way
What does God think of false prophets and those who speak presumptuously? How many times have people claimed to know the answers to life's situations, but speak their own opinion apart from God's Word? Too many to count, I think.
How often do we see those who claim to be "Christian", touting great swelling words of their own wisdom and ignore the Words of God, only to become angry when pressed to back up their own opinion with Scripture? Also, too many to count.
Jeremiah 23:28 ""The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.
Jer 23:29 "[Is] not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer [that] breaks the rock in pieces?
Jer 23:30 "Therefore behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
Jer 23:31 "Behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
Jer 23:32 "Behold, I [am] against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD"
How many times have we heard "Christians" claim to know right from wrong but speak their opinion that either negates or twists the Word of God? Too many, I think.
Worship of self has caused this rebellion of spirit that rules our land. Believers claim to have "no other gods", but in their lifestyle and actions they elevate themselves and their own opinions above that of Christ.
Jeremiah 25:6 "Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you. Yet you have not listened to Me," says the Lord, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt."
We as a nation have taught love of self over all others, to our own harm. We have gotten all that we desire on our own terms and it will be the ruin of our country and has already devastated the family.
Our ruined lives and families are punishment enough if we are thinking people, although we are stubborn and haughty choosing not to see the obvious, we are "willfully ignorant", continuing on in our ways, that have not worked, but they are our ways so we will stay with them no matter how much harm they do. And, so you have the mindset of the American people, foolish to the end.
Albert Einstein's quote: "The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Abortion has momentarily spared a mother some anguish, only to bring greater anguish later when she realizes that her family is missing one she bore. The Social Security system is missing all those people who would have paid into it, supporting the elderly a generation from now, but they are all dead, and cannot help us.
Divorce has momentarily relieved the temporary conflict between two selfish people, but spawned two generations of angry and neglected children who have no regard for their parents or their own children.
Remarriage has momentarily brought superficial happiness to lonely divorced people, only to bring on a greater problem of angry children who will not accept their step parent's authority. Rebellion against all authority is the result of these "blended families."
Pampering and babying lazy people through the welfare system has robbed the social security system that was designed to help people save for their retirement, to receive payments in their aged years, that which they invested, now nearly bankrupt.
2 Thes. 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."
You see.....when we do not follow the ways of Christ, we may momentarily get what we want, but to our own harm....and I fear now.....without recovery.
God has placed into power over us the most wicked governing body this nation has ever known, He only gave us what we wanted, but guaranteed, we will see much worse days as the people become more and more oppressed.....and all because we wanted to do our own ways, rather than God's.
How often do we see those who claim to be "Christian", touting great swelling words of their own wisdom and ignore the Words of God, only to become angry when pressed to back up their own opinion with Scripture? Also, too many to count.
Jeremiah 23:28 ""The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.
Jer 23:29 "[Is] not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer [that] breaks the rock in pieces?
Jer 23:30 "Therefore behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
Jer 23:31 "Behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
Jer 23:32 "Behold, I [am] against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD"
How many times have we heard "Christians" claim to know right from wrong but speak their opinion that either negates or twists the Word of God? Too many, I think.
Worship of self has caused this rebellion of spirit that rules our land. Believers claim to have "no other gods", but in their lifestyle and actions they elevate themselves and their own opinions above that of Christ.
Jeremiah 25:6 "Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you. Yet you have not listened to Me," says the Lord, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt."
We as a nation have taught love of self over all others, to our own harm. We have gotten all that we desire on our own terms and it will be the ruin of our country and has already devastated the family.
Our ruined lives and families are punishment enough if we are thinking people, although we are stubborn and haughty choosing not to see the obvious, we are "willfully ignorant", continuing on in our ways, that have not worked, but they are our ways so we will stay with them no matter how much harm they do. And, so you have the mindset of the American people, foolish to the end.
Albert Einstein's quote: "The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Abortion has momentarily spared a mother some anguish, only to bring greater anguish later when she realizes that her family is missing one she bore. The Social Security system is missing all those people who would have paid into it, supporting the elderly a generation from now, but they are all dead, and cannot help us.
Divorce has momentarily relieved the temporary conflict between two selfish people, but spawned two generations of angry and neglected children who have no regard for their parents or their own children.
Remarriage has momentarily brought superficial happiness to lonely divorced people, only to bring on a greater problem of angry children who will not accept their step parent's authority. Rebellion against all authority is the result of these "blended families."
Pampering and babying lazy people through the welfare system has robbed the social security system that was designed to help people save for their retirement, to receive payments in their aged years, that which they invested, now nearly bankrupt.
2 Thes. 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."
You see.....when we do not follow the ways of Christ, we may momentarily get what we want, but to our own harm....and I fear now.....without recovery.
God has placed into power over us the most wicked governing body this nation has ever known, He only gave us what we wanted, but guaranteed, we will see much worse days as the people become more and more oppressed.....and all because we wanted to do our own ways, rather than God's.
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