BGEA: My sister says the group I'm thinking of joining is a cult. They've been very kind to me, but I don't want to do something wrong. What exactly is a cult?

My sister says the group I'm thinking of joining is a cult, and I ought to stop going to their meetings. They've been very kind to me and I like them, but I don't want to do something wrong. What exactly is a cult? — Mrs. F.Z.

I'm thankful for your sister's concern for you—and for your concern, as well. And let me assure you that God doesn't want you to be led astray, either. He wants you to come to know Him and walk with Him every day.

How can you know if this group (which you don't name) is a cult? First, cults almost always claim that they, and they alone, have the truth. They turn their backs on almost 2,000 years of Christian history, and say that other churches are wrong and will deceive you. They point instead to their leader or founder as the final authority, and claim that God has given them a new revelation of Himself.

Second, cults always reject what the Bible teaches about itself. The Bible alone is God's Word—but cults add to it or substitute other books in its place. One cult even insists that its "translation" of the Bible is the only reliable one—in spite of the fact scholars universally reject it.

Most of all, cults reject Jesus Christ as God's way of salvation. They may reject His full divinity, or claim that faith in Him is not enough to save us. But Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Don't be deceived, but turn in faith to Christ for your salvation and ask Him to come into your life. Then ask Him to lead you to a church with Christ at its center.

2 Comments

Kristen says 7.11.2011, 5:31 p.m.

Dear Sharon, It appears from what you have said that your former pastor was indeed adding things to the Bible - adding things which are NOT in the Bible. Adding to or taking away from what the Bible actually says is a sin, and your pastor is in sin for misleading his congregation. There were indeed rules in OLD TESTAMENT times, under the OLD law/covenant, about how men and women should keep their hair and clothing. But the old law/covenant is no longer in effect. The old law was REPLACED by Christ himself when He came to this earth to die for our sins. After Christ came, people lived and still live under GRACE, not under the old law. Aside from following Biblical and common-sense guidelines for modesty in our dress, we are not responsible for keeping our hair and clothes a particular way, nor are we instructed to avoid jewelry and makeup. We ARE responsible for making a decision about God's Son, Jesus Christ. God is not asking us to have hair that measures 10.58 inches in length. God is asking us "What will you do with My Son???"Cigarettes are unhealthy and can quickly ruin your lungs. It is God's will that you care for the body He gave you; your body is His temple. But smoking cigarettes will not send you to hell. However, God is a righteous God, and He says that all have fallen short of His glory and all have sinned. Sin separates us from God and dooms us to eternal separation from God in hell. That gap can only be bridged through His grace by our faith in His free

Sharon says 9.7.2010, 3:48 p.m.

I use to attend a United Pentecostal church where the pastor tells his congergation that it is wrong for a woman to cut her hair,wear pants or jewlery and if they smoke cigarettes they are gonna go to hell,and that a man should not have long hair,or a beard or mustache. Well I feel this is wrong. I feel we have no authoirty to tell anyone they are gonna go to hell for smoking or for any sin they have in their life. I believe God changes his people in his time not ours. I don't believe God looks down on women for wearing pants or cutting hair or putting on jewlery or wearing make-up this pastor tells them what they can and can't do! Am I wrong for saying I feel like this man is trying to make himself God instead of letting God work on his people!Do you think it is wrong for a woman to wear pants,cut her hair,or wear jewlery ect..,and do you think God will send someone to hell for smoking cigarettes. I feel like this is what you would define as a cult ,am I wrong for feeling this way!!