Exclusively Christian TheologyThis forum is exclusively for those who consider themselves Christian and consider the Bible to be the inspired word of God.
where basically young women MUST live at home till they marry and fullfill their father's "vision"...no college, no friends outside of the church (which are usually home churches) no working outside the home from "under the father's authority"
I think the difference lies between MUST and SHOULD.
People should do all manner of things, laid out in the teachings of the Bible, but forcing them to do so is not giving them a chance to make decisions for themselves and learn from their mistakes, or learn about the blessings of willfully doing what is Ya's will for them as it is revealed to them by His Spirit.
"A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g. isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of [consequences of] leaving it, etc) designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community."
"The truly wise talk little about religion, and are not given to taking sides on doctrinal issues...
They have no time, they say, for that kind of thing.
They have enough to do in trying to faithfully practice what is beyond dispute."
-- George MacDonald
"A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g. isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of [consequences of] leaving it, etc) designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community."
Wow! Sounds like the democrats...
God invented distortion to use on really cool guitars!!
Suffering is Gods megaphone to a deaf world! C.S Lewis
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
ALL OR NOTHING STATEMENTS
(from those that have "the truth")
Herbert W. Armstrong - Founder of Worldwide Church of God: (1892-1986)
"[Of] all the religions and all the more than 250 denominations and sects in 'Christianity,' NOT ONE, except the Worldwide Church of God, knows WHO and WHAT God is....what, and why, MAN IS....the TRUTH about the nation Israel....the TRUE GOSPEL Christ proclaimed....what happens in the hereafter....what salvation really is!" "There is ONLY ONE WORK that is preaching the true gospel..."
Joseph W. Tkach Jr. - Pastor General/President of Worldwide Church of God: (1926-1995)
"Central to the truth is the knowledge that humans were created to become part of God's immortal, spirit-composed Family. No one else on earth understands this now!"
Gerald Flurry - Founder of Philadelphia Church of God:
"God began revealing MALACHI'S MESSAGE--the prophesied "little book"--to ME... It was all prophesied in detail!" "At this time, the Philadelphia Church of God is the only church preventing God’s revealed truth from being completely destroyed!"
Roderick C. Meredith: Founder of Living Church of God:
"Living Church of God is carrying on the teachings and practices (that is religious not personal practices), of Herbert Armstrong more than any other group on earth! ... LCOG is the true Church of God which teaches and practices Apostolic Christianity!"
David C. Pack - Founder of The Restored Church of God:
"A true minister is defined purely by whether or not he teaches the full, complete and unabridged truth of God. I am the only minister now doing that." "While many groups arose from the WCG, we are the only true extension of Mr. Armstrong's ministry--the Church in which Christ is now working!" "This Church is the only place Christ’s government can be found." "...the only place He's doing the Work."
Charles Taze Russell - Founder of Zion's Watchtower Tract Society (today known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or Jehovah's Witnesses):
"I said that I had been in conference with the Great Master Workman, the Lord himself, and I have secret information through the Holy Spirit and guidance in respect to what the Bible says..."
Brigham Young: Second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
"Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity."
Joseph Franklin Rutherford - Second President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (changed the name to the Jehovah's Witnesses):
"There is only one organization on earth today fulfilling the righteous requirements outlined in this commission from the Lord. The Society, represented by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is the only one." "We should not expect more than one organization doing this work."
Ellen G. White - Co-founder of Seventh day Adventism:
"In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a 'Thus saith the Lord.' The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God upon the tables of stone."
"ECK is the mainstream of life out of which ALL other doctrines flow...No amount of prayer or any religious faith will bring about freedom from the uncertainties of life, not until one has the good fortune to meet and be accepted by the (ECK) Master."
Buffalo Bill Hawkins (name changed to Yisrayl Hawkins) - Founder of House of Yahweh:
"Start learning the true way to Salvation. This way is not taught in the world by any organization, other than the one established by Yahweh--The House of Yahweh. ... Unless one becomes an associate of, and in full agreement with, this brother from the womb (Yisrayl), they are not Philadelphia, no matter what they might preach. ”
John Holdeman: Founder of Church of God in Christ, Mennonite:
“Outside the true organized Church of God [CGCM] the whole truth has never been found and neither will ever be found outside of it."
Strictly speaking of "Christian" Cults...
I would say that any orginization the states that no one outside their own group could know or understand the truth of God with out their help.
God invented distortion to use on really cool guitars!!
Suffering is Gods megaphone to a deaf world! C.S Lewis
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Slogan/motto:
opinions vary - don't let the facts trouble you . . .
Reputation:
July 1st, 2008, 01:10 PM
nice pile of quotes, jackson got any more?
I will stumble
I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes
I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved
Cults: Practice/Behaviors Not Necessarily Doctrine -
July 5th, 2008, 08:55 AM
You can review a group or church’s doctrinal statements or statement of beliefs and they may seem orthodox. The problem is that anyone can copy a doctrinal statement. Cults are more than just groups that the surrounding culture thinks is outside of the mainstream. What defines a cult is more their practices and behavior than what they proclaim to believe.
The term cult is perjorative, but the common denominator of most cultic groups is some form of excessive authoritarianism. In Margaret Singer’s book, Cults in Our Midst, she wrote: The issues they (cults) represent are basic to our society, to our understanding of each other and to our accepting our vulnerabilities and the potential for abuse within our world.”
It took me awhile to acknowledge that I had been a member of a Bible-based cult in Dallas. I was a seminary graduate from a conservative theological seminary, a licensed social worker, and had many years of experience in the mental health field. I should have been the last person to join a cult!
But, I did. And now my mission is to educate others on the reality and danger of cults.
Slogan/motto:
I have no loftier goal in life than to one day stand before my Savior and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Reputation:
July 5th, 2008, 09:03 AM
There are several factors that I believe go into defining what is and isn't a cult. But one of the first identifying marks that you always see is elevation of a person or persons and/or that person's teachings and writings, and placing them either on par with (or superior to) Scripture.
e.g. Charles Taze Russell and the JW's or Joseph Smith and the Mormons.
Slogan/motto:
I have no loftier goal in life than to one day stand before my Savior and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Reputation:
July 5th, 2008, 09:07 AM
Wendy, it's good to hear you were able to break free from the cult. I once had to pull my little brother out of a mind-control cult "The international Churches of Christ". They did a lot of harm to him spiritually and several years later he's still suffering from the ramifications of being wrapped up in that group.
Slogan/motto:
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly
Reputation:
July 5th, 2008, 09:10 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by hippiechyck
what constitutes calling a "ministry" a cult?
is it STRICTLY if they deny Christ in some fashion? (His Diety, miracles, whatever)
what if they do preach salvation in Christ BUT you must do ABC also
what if they teach some WEIRD and twisted "lifestyles" and they totally twist scriptures to "prove" it
what say you smart people here?
Usually a cult will follow a man or woman rather then Christ. They will also twist scripture be up hold their belief.
The main reason we have so many cults is because people do not have a love for the truth. And we are told that if we don't have a love for the truth then God Himself will send strong delusions so that they would believe a lie.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
There are several factors that I believe go into defining what is and isn't a cult. But one of the first identifying marks that you always see is elevation of a person or persons and/or that person's teachings and writings, and placing them either on par with (or superior to) Scripture.
e.g. Charles Taze Russell and the JW's or Joseph Smith and the Mormons.
Put Paul and Peter on that list, too. They actually proclaimed to be penning real, honest-to-goodness scripture and declared parts of the Bible null and void and to be superseded by their own writings and proclamations.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people
Slogan/motto:
". . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
Reputation:
August 14th, 2008, 05:44 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by wendyjduncan
You can review a group or church’s doctrinal statements or statement of beliefs and they may seem orthodox. The problem is that anyone can copy a doctrinal statement. Cults are more than just groups that the surrounding culture thinks is outside of the mainstream. What defines a cult is more their practices and behavior than what they proclaim to believe.
The term cult is perjorative, but the common denominator of most cultic groups is some form of excessive authoritarianism. In Margaret Singer’s book, Cults in Our Midst, she wrote: The issues they (cults) represent are basic to our society, to our understanding of each other and to our accepting our vulnerabilities and the potential for abuse within our world.”
It took me awhile to acknowledge that I had been a member of a Bible-based cult in Dallas. I was a seminary graduate from a conservative theological seminary, a licensed social worker, and had many years of experience in the mental health field. I should have been the last person to join a cult!
But, I did. And now my mission is to educate others on the reality and danger of cults.
Yes, a cult is where a leader tells a group what to think and how to believe, while cutting off opportunity for anyone in the group to think or learn on his own. Study is not encouraged; attendance and adherance to the leader is sufficient.
I believe you have come to a ripe place to begin your ministry, for the Open View shows many signs of being a cult, in that most of its followers are very uneducated in church history or theology and are not encouraged, nor show little interest, in learning about classical Theism. What their leaders tell them seems to be good enough for them, which places them in great danger, IMO.
Plus, emphasis is on morality, ethics, and politics rather than developing systematic doctrine.
I will pray for you and any efforts you might make towards this group . . .
Nang
"The immutable God never learned anything and never changed his mind. He knew everything from eternity." . . . Gordon Clark
God is with believers, in many denominations, non-denominations and even nations where there are no organized churches, where Christianity is outlawed. He isn't with cults. The biggest clue that a group is a cult is that God isn't with them, but they pretend that He is.
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." -- Amos 3:7
curious to ask but do you guys consider me cultish?
I don't consider the Oneness' heresy to be big enough to consider it a cult, although being pentecostal myself puts me in a cult, according to probably at least half of Christendom.
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." -- Amos 3:7
C.S Lewis
got any more?
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