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Known for its seemingly religious foundation, a cult is "a group of people whose beliefs and practices are unacceptable to members of mainstream society."

Since many of them are new, they are often referred to as "new religious movements" or NRMs. This is primarily due to the fact that the majority of cults are still in their first generation.

On November 18, 1978, millions of people around the world listened in horror to news reports that stated nearly 1,000 followers of Jim Jones—founder and leader of a religious organization known as The People's Temple—committed suicide by drinking a cyanide-laced beverage in Guyana on orders from Jones.

Those who refused were killed. Over 200 children were listed among the dead.

On April 19, 1993, the world watched as the compound belonging to the Branch Davidians—an apocalyptic Christian sect under the leadership of David Koresh—burned in Waco, Texas.

David Koresh and his followers had been holed up in their compound for 51 days as government agents attempted to negotiate a safe and amicable end to the standoff. Unfortunately, David Koresh, as well as 53 adults and 21 children, perished as the compound burned to the ground.

Those two tragedies are not isolated cases; they just happened to have received worldwide media coverage. With all of the negative attention garnered by cults today, why would so many people join one?

Why People Join Cults
There are various reasons why people join cults, such as a dissatisfaction with mainstream churches, the need for some people to have their decisions made for them by strong authority figures (co-dependency), idealistic views and the belief that the group will help them to know God.

Another factor to consider is biblical illiteracy, which significantly contributes to the popularity of cults. Although 73 percent of Americans believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, the percentage of people who actually have knowledge of the Word is extremely low.

This lack of knowledge causes individuals to become vulnerable and less likely to distinguish between counterfeit, or false, religions and Word-based churches.

In addition, cults are popular because they target people who are hurting. Often, individuals who have been raised in an abusive or controlling environment, who suffer rejection or who have experienced the loss of a loved one, feel misplaced and alone.

Cults seem to provide just what they are searching for—acceptance, love, companionship and a sense of family belonging. They become committed to the group and its cause, which gives meaning and purpose to their lives.

Although cults make serious demands on the individuals, each demand is met because of their commitment. Before long, an absolute dependency on the group has been formed, and the followers become completely submitted to an absolute authority.

Recognizing A Counterfeit
When learning how to distinguish counterfeit money from the real thing, bank tellers are never shown a counterfeit bill. Instead, they study real money. As a result, they become so familiar with the real thing that a counterfeit becomes obvious. The same should be true for you.

You should be so familiar with genuine Christianity and what it means to have a relationship with God that you can easily spot an obvious deviation.

For example, let's take a look at the New Age Movement for a moment. Based on the principles of Eastern religions, it is a broad social, spiritual and intellectual movement. New Age teaches people that we ourselves are "gods."

It does not recognize the omniscient, omnipresent Creator of heaven and earth as God. When people involved in the New Age Movement talk about God, they are actually referring to a "higher consciousness" within themselves. In other words, they believe that self is the originator, controller and god of all.

To them, reality doesn't exist outside of what an individual determines. In addition, New Age acknowledges many gods and goddesses, and believes that the earth is the source of all spirituality and that it has its own intelligence, emotions and deity.

New Age leaders often promote Eastern mysticism and teach spiritual, metaphysical and psychic techniques, such as breathing exercises, chanting, drumming and meditating. Followers believe that these techniques will help them to develop an altered consciousness and achieve their own individual divinity.

Satan's desire is to take truth, twist it and then use it for his wicked devices. Remember, he is a counterfeit, and cults are spiritual counterfeits that try to fulfill genuine and valid needs in a person's life. Second Corinthians 11:13-15 says:
For such men are false apostles ]counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; so it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds.
(AMP)
In other words, it is just one big masquerade party for Satan and his cohorts. However, those who know how to spot a counterfeit will not fall for the charade.

The following are simple criteria you can use to recognize a cult from a legitimate Christian church:
  1. Rejection of the doctrine taught by the apostles and other inspired writers of the Bible (2 Tim. 1:13-14; Titus 1:9)
  2. Unbiblical leadership (Matt. 7:15-20)
  3. Unhealthy group pressure and hostility to the truth (2 Peter 2:1-20)
  4. The requirement of separation or isolation from outsiders. Although the Word teaches believers to be separated from the world (Matt. 5:20; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 5:9-13), most cults require separations in ways that have nothing to do with the Word of God.
All four criteria are extremely important. However, I believe that the first one is the most important.

Whenever the authority of Scripture or the principle of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus alone is excluded from a religious sect, that group's beliefs will probably not line up with the other three criteria.

If that is the case, that particular group should be viewed as a cult.

Man's Need For God
God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and so is man (the human race). Man's spirit was created in the image and likeness of the Father (Gen. 1:27). Every human is made up of three parts—a spirit who possesses a soul and lives in a physical body.

Traditionally, the church has used the words spirit and soul interchangeably as if they were the same. They are not. Your spirit is the real you; your soul houses your mind, will and emotions.

Because you are a spirit being, you were created with an inner longing to connect with your Creator. You have a natural desire and capacity for a spiritual relationship with God.

Failure to connect with Him leaves a void inside that cannot be filled by the pursuit of power, knowledge, money, material possessions, sex or fame. God is the only One capable of filling the void.

Therefore, searching for the meaning of life without knowing the one true God only causes you to come up empty. No one can truly understand life without knowing the Life-Giver.

The answers to all of life's questions are found in God's Word—Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). That is why it is crucial to make Him your Lord and Savior. He is a loving, compassionate, risen Savior Who paid the price for your salvation.

You don't have to earn your salvation or righteousness through good works or self-improvement, as some religions require. Because of the blood of Jesus, you have the forgiveness of sins, the opportunity to live victoriously here on earth and the guarantee of spending eternity with Him in heaven.

What other religion can offer you such a glorious future?

Creflo Dollar Ministries All rights reserved.

Author Biography

Taffi L. Dollar
Web site: Creflo Dollar Ministries
 
Taffi Dollar is a celebrated author, teacher, and well-known conference speaker. Together with her husband, Creflo Dollar, she pastors more than 30,000 active members at World Changers Church International, World Changers Church-New York, as well as a host of fellowship churches throughout the U.S. and internationally.
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