THIRTEEN SIGNS TO A CULT
Matt 24
4And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
All cults deny the Holy Trinity and the deity of Christ. Cult members are cut off from the body of Christ, often even cut off from their families. They exercise extremity of doctrine – people always seem to want some secret knowledge; they want to be like God. Heard that offer before!
Cults are often prideful over their uniqueness. Their leaders are authoritarian, manipulative, and dominant, teaching dependency on the leader rather than on God. Oh, there is a mystical source of revelation, yet members are made to feel a false sense of loyalty, like they can’t leave without losing their salvation. People also aren’t allowed time for normal social activities. There’s a legalistic side, emphasizing works. Legalism, it is a spirit.
Cults are deceitful. They have no, or very little, financial accountability; money always becomes an issue. They’re man orientated, man centered, rather than Christ centered; there’s very little emphasis on genuine Christian character. Things like forgiveness and not harboring offences are not taught in cults.
We don’t want to be judgmental, but rather we want and need to discern with a spirit that says, “Thank-you Lord for your grace and mercy because without that we would all be lost.”
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