Major Cults and False World Religions

By Steve Urick

Cults and false religions are dangerous. They preach a false gospel and lead people into a false spirituality. Their victims are kept blinded from the true gospel of Christ while they are held in bondage to whatever false belief system and legalistic practices they must maintain.

Major Cults and False World Religions reveals several key characteristics that makes them unbiblical. It exposes several major cults and false religions that have the majority of the world's population deceived and headed for Hell.

This book is the result of thirtty-four years of evangelism work, studying comparative religions, and apologetic research and debate. It will equip you with a basic understanding of what each group believes and how to clearly discern and refute many of their unscriptural teachings and attacks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452071572

Steve Urick

Steve Urick was saved at a Billy Graham Crusade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1979, at age 21. He then began doing various evangelistic outreaches and also attended Moody Bible Institute and studied theology and evangelism. In 1989, Steve began writing Soul Seeker Tracts and, in 1999, formed Gospel Press, a gospel and apologetics publishing ministry that grounds Christians in the basics of Christianity and equips them for the work of evangelism and discipleship. So far, tens-of-thousands of Bible tracts and booklets have been sent across America and around the world.

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Major Cults and False World Religions

What Every Person Needs to Know

Steve Urick

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© 2011, 2014 Steve Urick. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 5/07/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7156-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7157-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010917744

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Preface

1. Marks of Cults and False Religions

2. Jehovah’s Witnesses

3. Mormonism

4. The Masonic Lodge

5. Christian Science

6. United Pentecostal Church

7. Seventh-day Adventism

8. Islam

9. Modern Judaism

10. Roman Catholicism

11. The New Age Movement

12. Astrology, Witchcraft, and the Occult

13. Far Eastern Religions

14. Questions and Answers

Appendix I: Scientology

Appendix II: Unitarian Universalism

Appendix III: Eastern Orthodoxy

Appendix IV: Modern Protestantism (Traditional and Liberal)

Appendix V: Church of Christ and Christian Church

Appendix VI: Baha’i

Appendix VII: Tribal Religions (Native American and African)

Appendix VIII: Wicca

Appendix IX: Roman Catholicism’s Connection to the Ancient Mystery Babylon Religion

Appendix X: Who is the Real Jesus?

Appendix XI: Why the Bible is Reliable

Epilogue

Recommended Books and Apologetic Websites

All Scripture quotes are taken from the King James Bible.

MAJOR CULTS AND FALSE WORLD RELIGIONS

This book is an edited and expanded compilation of various

Soul Seeker Tracts and essays, written between 1989-2011.

Other paperbacks and eBooks by the author include:

Acts 1 Dispensationalism

The Fundamentals of the Christian Faith

Christian Discipleship and the Local Church

Evangelism and Christian Apologetics

Practical Christian Living

False Teachings and Divisive Movements

Signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

and the End of the World

The Church in the Coming Great Tribulation

Nowmillennial Dispensationalism

Calvinism vs. Arminianism

The Truth about Roman Catholicism

The Truth about Islam

To order, go to:

www.authorhouse.com

www.amazon.com

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Proverbs 14:12

"Enter ye in at the straight [narrow] gate: For wide is

the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat

Matthew 7:13

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in

sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Matthew 7:15

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and

carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."

Ephesians 4:14

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are

heavy laden, and I will give you rest."—Jesus

Preface

Not long after I became a Christian in 1979, I began doing evangelism outreach on university campus and city streets. It didn’t take long before I ran into people who were members of various world religions, cults, and off-base sects that had sharply different views than mine. Since I wanted to get people saved this forced me to dig deeper into the Bible and also begin studying the general beliefs of these groups. All of them I discovered, though very different from each other, are yet similar in that they preach a false gospel (which is no gospel at all) and a different Jesus. That is what makes them false!

What concerns me most though is not that these groups exist (there will always be false religions in the world until Christ returns), but rather, many Christians do not know how to defend their faith and reach those who are being deceived. Whether it’s the contemporary seeker friendly mega churches that tend to overlook error and avoid any sort of confrontation, or older traditional churches that have become spiritually lukewarm or dead, they all seem to share a common attitude—disdain or disregard for apologetics.

Just walk into your average church today and look in their foyer. Unless it’s a solid, fundamental, Bible-believing/teaching church, rarely do you find free literature that explains the marks of a cult, or exposes the more common ones in our day, in order to inform and equip Christians with the knowledge they need to rescue the lost. Furthermore, they often will not even provide literature (tracts, pamphlets) that explains the gospel or basic Christian doctrines (the deity of Christ, the Trinity, sanctification and eternal security, Heaven and Hell, etc.) to hand out to people. This is inexcusable and has disastrous spiritual consequences for society (and explains why surveys say only about 4% of Christians ever lead anyone to Christ).

Not only that, untaught Christians are easy targets for cult recruitment later on. Thus, Christians must be taught the fundamentals of the faith and how to refute error. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available nowadays (such as books, CDs, DVDs, Christian radio, TV, and the internet), by solid apologetic and evangelistic ministries, for anyone to quickly learn from and become better equipped if they are not getting enough teaching from their local church, or if they simply want to learn more on their own.

Sadly, many pastors today are holding back the church from teaching believers how to share their faith and reach those who are being deceived. One of the reasons is many church leaders do not want to offend anyone, so they avoid or minimize evangelism and apologetics training and outreach. Another reason is they do not recognize the vital role of evangelists in the local church, whose spiritual service and motivation is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, that is, outreach and discipleship (see Ephesians 4:11-12). This has always amazed me because most churches do not have a staff evangelist who can work with pastors in the job of fully equipping the saints and growing the church (numerically and spiritually). And so, everyone suffers, from ill-equipped church members, to those multitudes of unbelievers that end up going into a Christless eternity.

(Over the years, I have personally worked with several pastors/elders of various evangelical churches and found that many (not all) of them are not evangelistic at all. They may talk about reaching the world for Christ in the church, but that is about as far as it goes. That is why evangelists are vital in the work of equipping the saints in the local church. The mindset of an evangelist is to reach the lost with the gospel and bring them into the local church, whereas the mindset of the pastor is to teach the flock of God with sound Bible doctrine.)

As churches stagnate or get off course, they often turn to gimmicks and entertainment (drama, Christian rock-n-roll music, carefully choreographed, high-tech flashing screens, lots of hype, etc.) to draw visitors and keep them amused, or they might center on felt-needs of people instead of teaching the whole council of God. They ought to be teaching and equipping more disciples who can reach a far greater multitude of lost souls in our society and beyond. Remember, time is running out for many. As Christians, we need to stop wasting time and get our priorities straight (by seeking God for wisdom in His Word and in prayer) and be about our heavenly Father’s business of making disciples (learners) of Christ. As you do, God will open doors of opportunity that you would otherwise never experience. Your life will also become fruitful in every way (with hardly ever a boring moment). But don’t always do it all alone. Find some like-minded believers and work as a team. You can make a greater impact as you work together with your unique talents and gifts and encourage one another. How do you find them? Just start doing what you sense God is calling you to do and He will, in time, send co-laborers (or you to them) that identify with the mission (if it is of the Lord and is bearing good fruit).

The purpose of this book is to explain the basic beliefs of the major cults and false religions that have billions of people deceived and equip Christians with practical knowledge to reach out to them with the truth. Over time, you will develop your own style of witnessing that is suited to your unique personality. I not only provide general information about various religions, but also record some of the rhetoric and arguments Christians will face in witnessing situations and how to answer. If one wants to learn more about a particular group or topic, I refer them to the ‘Recommended Books’ listed in the back of this book. This book is both apologetic (a defense of the Christian faith) and polemic (an attack against false teachings). My motive is not to offend anyone, but to examine their teachings and warn people about dangerous error so they (and their loved ones) are not harmed by it, in this life, and in eternity.

Some do not like this approach because it is direct and sometimes confrontational. But the Apostle Paul tells us to use the Word of God to reprove, rebuke, instruct, exhort, and convince (2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2). To do this, Paul used mostly logic (Acts 13:16-41; 17:2, 22-31; 18:4, 11; Gal. 5:11), some debate (Acts 9:29; 17:7), emotional pleadings at times (Acts 14:14-15; 2 Cor. 5:20), and even a little bit of sanctified sarcasm (Acts 13:46; Gal. 5:12; Tit. 1:12) to make a point and persuade his audience. We must remain meek and gentle when doing so. Even then, some will still be offended (Paul was often maligned and even physically assaulted sometimes after he preached) but this should not deter us from our mission to reach the lost (we should always seek to please God, not men). The goal is to get people saved, set free from error, and established in the faith.

How? We must use our grand armory, that is, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17) and speak the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11), for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). Remember too, the gospel of Christ is the POWER OF GOD unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom. 1:16). This should give every gospel laborer great confidence, knowing that our success is not dependant upon us (though God does use us as instruments to spread the Word), but on the divine workings of our all-powerful God.

The early Christians knew this when they went forth on their missionary journeys, for I [God] have much people in this city (Acts 18:10) of which God would grant repentance unto life [they were open and ready to receive eternal life] (Acts 11:14), and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a GREAT NUMBER BELIEVED, and turned unto the Lord (Acts 11:21 cp 13:42-43, 47; 17:2-4; 18:8; 19:10, 18). They could not fail to turn the world upside down, as long as they depended upon God (not their cleverness or eloquence), reasoned from the scriptures, and preached the pure gospel of grace. Yes, it caused a big stir, but that is what truth often does when it is proclaimed without compromise.

Having said this, I frankly confess that it is often very hard (if not impossible) to convince those who have drunk deeply of heresy. The poison is running in their veins, rendering them spiritually blind, deaf, and unable to receive spiritual truth. Every logical argument and biblical reasoning from the text will not convince them to bow to God. They will counter with falsehood or simply dismiss anything in their confused and closed minds that disagrees with their beliefs. They have been conditioned (often from childhood) to despise and reject the truth. There is no hope for them unless they humble themselves and repent (change their mind) and mix the gospel with faith. Do not spend too much time on them or let it get you down (and don’t take it personal). Not all have faith, nor do all want it (they have free will to choose life or death, but they simply choose death). It is NOT all dependent upon you to save them. Tell them that you care about their soul and warn them about the broad road to destruction they are on, then move on (leave them some gospel literature if they are willing to take it). God may use you to plant a seed and another may come along later on and water it. Remember, there are many others out there who are open and searching for the truth (ask God to lead them to you or vice-versa).

Not every Christian is called by God into full-time evangelism work, in which the study of comparative religions and apologetics plays a vital role. But every Christian should have a basic understanding of these matters in order to more effectively reach our world for Christ (you may be able to reach someone that no one else can). Those who do not think this is necessary, but soon find out it is when they begin to evangelize, will simply not be able to give a ready answer to inquiring minds, skeptics, and false religionists, as they otherwise could if they were better informed (I question the sincerity of those who claim to be Christians, but have no desire in seeing lost sinners saved). You don’t have to know everything (no one does), but as you go out with a basic foundation of biblical truth, you will gain more and more knowledge as time goes along.

As always, any and all teachings must be examined in light of God’s infallible Word, the Bible, which is our final authority. Apart from that, there is no clear truth to offer sinners for whom Christ died. This book provides clear answers to questions many people have and the knowledge they need to reach our lost and dying world for Christ, and pull many out of the fire. As one learns sound Bible doctrine, and begins to communicate the gospel to others, they will become more confident, bold, and motivated to step out by faith and turn the world upside for God (and most importantly, reach souls for Christ).

One last thing I want to stress—you don’t have to personally reach the whole world for Christ. God has many workers all over the world, each doing their part in their location that God has placed them at this time in history. Just find your place and do what you are led of the Spirit to do, by faith (it is better to do one or two thing well, than five things bad). If you do, you will find serving the Lord will be enjoyable (not a heavy burden) and things will fall into place for you. We are to serve the Lord with gladness, not guilt (self-induced or anyone else-induced) and worry. Know who you are and what you are called to do. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, or do what you’re not truly called to do (that will only result in frustration and failure).

Once you find your place, then be all in (God will empower you to accomplish His will) and apply the words of Paul—Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

[Note: False religion is man’s attempt to make himself right with God by his or her own works. But any such attempt is futile because even man’s best efforts are flawed and fall short, thus are unacceptable to God. Furthermore, our efforts cannot pay for our sins and satisfy God’s justice. God alone must (and did) provide a way of pardon. Many who are caught in false religion are searching for the truth, but don’t know where to go (and many others do not even have a clue they are wrong). They need Christians to go to them and explain the gospel of grace and rescue them from error. I have seen many people come to know the Lord through literature that answers their religious questions. It is simple, easy to do, and one of the most effective ways to reach our highly literate society. God has already prepared the hearts of many to receive the truth. They just need Christians to get the message out.

For help in getting grounded in the basics of Christianity and equipped in evangelism and making disciples, read three of the author’s books: The Fundamentals of the Christian Faith, Evangelism and Christian Apologetics, and Christian Discipleship and the Local Church.]

1

Marks of Cults

and False Religions

The Lord Jesus warned that in the last days many will come in His name and deceive many (see Matt. 24:4-5; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Pet. 2:1). False teachers and false religions bear certain marks (all hold one or more of these) which give them away. Every Christian should know their marks and warn others. People within cults or false religions do not realize their unfortunate position—a position that can ultimately lead to eternal separation from God in hell (see Matt. 7:13-27; Gal. 1:6-9). The following identifies their marks.

1

Extrabiblical Revelation

Cults and false religions oftentimes claim for their spiritual authority some revelation apart from the Bible. This new revelation (or companion to the Bible) usually comes through a supposed divinely and infallibly inspired leader or prophet/ess who claims to have received new messages that are equal to, or even supersede the Bible.

The 66 books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, are God’s final and complete revelation to mankind (Jude 3; Rev. 22:18). No one is required to believe (nor should they believe) any sort of new revelation outside of the Bible. Cults and false religions have no such commitment to the complete, final, and sole authority of the Bible! They deny that the divine revelation the apostles received in the first century is enough for us today. We need more, they say, in order to know God better and obtain salvation.

This puts them in a very dangerous position. If the Bible is accurate (and it is), then why do we need a new message? We don’t! If the new revelation contradicts the Bible (and it inevitably does), then the new revelation is false. For someone to say that the Bible is accurate, but we now need new revelations, or restored truth for our age, always leads to a different gospel and a different Jesus.

[Note: We should not seek new revelation, but rather, seek to understand what God has already revealed in the Bible. For more information on how we got the Bible, and its reliability, read Appendix XI: Why the Bible is Reliable. Also read the author’s book: The Fundamentals of the Christian Faith.]

2

A False Plan of Salvation

Cults and false religions pervert, by adding to or taking away from, the simple gospel of God’s grace (Jn. 3:16). Usually one is told that they must join their religious organization and work to earn salvation.

The clear plan of salvation in the New Testament is that eternal life is offered solely as a gift to repentant sinners through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary, who shed His blood and died to pay for all our sins, then rose bodily from the dead on the third day (Rom. 3:23-26; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9). Any individual or group that denies Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came in the flesh and died in order to pay for ours sins, is false. Faith in His atoning sacrifice for our sins and resurrection is fully sufficient to save sinners. The gospel is not Christ plus something, but rather, Christ alone who provides guaranteed salvation through His atoning death for us.

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested . . . even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely BY HIS GRACE [unmerited favor] through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD . . ." (Rom. 3:21-25).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3:5).

Cults and false religions will always devalue, in some way, the Person and work of Christ by either denying His full deity and equality with God and/or His all-sufficient, substitutionary death on our behalf. For example, Muslims say Jesus was a prophet, but He wasn’t the Son of God, nor did He die for our sins on a cross. On the other hand, Mormons claim Jesus died for our sins, but the gospel was lost for many centuries, and it wasn’t until 1830 that the fullness of the gospel (according to Mormonism, which includes laws and ordinances) was restored by their founder, Joseph Smith. But that is false! The gospel of God’s grace has never been lost. The gospel Paul proclaimed in the first century (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) is the same gospel Christians preach today (and every century inbetween). There is no other gospel!

Be aware that the fullness of the gospel is a buzz phrase that usually stands for additions (ordinances, rituals, works, law-keeping. etc.) made to the real gospel of Christ by false religionists.

[Note: Lest some accuse Christians of promoting just another religion, I like to remind people that we do not promote religion; but rather, SALVATION. Religion does not save; only Christ saves. He paid it all so we do not have to earn salvation by our own efforts (which is impossible to do anyway). When a person abandons any and all attempts to obtain righteousness based on the law (i.e., keeping God’s Commandments) or by works, but instead, trusts in Christ alone who was righteous and died in our place, he/she becomes born again (made spiritually alive) and has the perfect righteousness of God imputed to them by faith (Rom. 3:19-26; 4:5-6). It is a legal exchange between God and sinners, that is, our sins were imputed (charged) to Christ’s account on the Cross, and His righteousness is then given to believers.]

3

Uncertain Hope of Salvation

Cults and false religions deliver no assurance of one’s eternal destiny. Their members are on constant probation with the fear that if they do not remain with the group (or work hard enough for the organization) they will incur the damnation of their soul. Some teach that if a member commits a really bad sin, he or she will lose their salvation.

The true Christian knows their salvation is not secured by any sort of law-keeping or good works, but rather by the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Furthermore, we can KNOW we are saved. Jesus said in John 5:24—"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE; and they shall NEVER PERISH" (Jn. 10:27-28).

The apostle Paul wrote, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13).

The apostle John wrote, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 Jn. 5:13).

Christ paid our sin debt in full. This means that all who believe are pardoned of all sin: past, present, and future by God’s grace. This does not give Christians a license to sin; but rather, the duty to live holy lives, which is part of our sanctification (setting apart unto God) as clean vessels of honor, to the glory of God (1 Cor. 15:34; Eph. 4:22-24; 2 Tim. 2:19-22). Assurance of salvation produces joy and confidence in our relationship with God and sets us free from crippling fear and nagging doubts to serve Him. It changes everything, as we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord, and learn about our wonderful secure standing in Christ.

[Note: The Christian’s assurance of salvation is not an arrogant presumption that we are better than everyone else or somehow deserving; rather, it is based on God’s Word. God promises eternal life to all believers (and God cannot lie). Keep in mind, salvation is a legal binding contract (covenant) between God and undeserving sinners. God has taken it upon Himself to completely pardon all who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In fact, if a person says they believe in Christ, but doubts their salvation, it is a slap in the face of God! If God says something, that settles it! We can count on His promise. True Christians do not need to keep wondering or worrying if they are saved. That is what false religionists and misguided legalists do since they do not fully rely on Christ for salvation, but upon themselves to make it into heaven. Until one abandons all self-efforts to obtain the righteousness of God, they will never know His grace and experience true peace with God.]

4

Defective Views about God/Christ

Cults and false religions will deny (or make it optional to believe) one or more of the following essential and exclusive truths about Jesus Christ, such as His deity and virgin birth, His sinless humanity and one-time, all-sufficient, atoning blood sacrifice at Calvary, and/or His bodily resurrection from the dead. They also often reject the Trinitarian belief in God for an unbiblical concept instead.

Satan knows that a defective Christology (doctrine of Christ) results in belief in a false savior who is another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4) who is unqualified to redeem mankind (2 Jn. 9). Biblical and historic Christianity has always affirmed the divinity and sinless humanity of the Lord Jesus, who is the Christ (Messiah), the unique Son of God (i.e., Jehovah God in the flesh). He is the second person of the Godhead who became the God-man. This co-joining together in one personality is called the hypostatic union of Christ:

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US" (Matt. 1:23 cp. Isa. 7:14)

"In the beginning was the WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD . . . And the Word became FLESH [Jesus at His incarnation], and dwelt among us . . . the only begotten of the Father" (Jn. 1:1, 3, 14; cp. 17:5).

". . . I [Jesus Christ] came out from [the bosom of] God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world . . ." (Jn. 16:27-28 cp. 1:18).

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men . . . and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:5-8).

For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9 cf. 1 Tim. 3:16).

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:13). God will visibly appear at the end of the age.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty [God] . . . "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last . . ." . . . "I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and WAS DEAD [Jesus died on the Cross]; and behold, I am alive forevermore . . ." (Rev. 1:8, 11, 17-18). The Alpha and Omega is God who died and rose again.

God’s infallible Word, the Bible, clearly states there is only one true God and Savior, the Creator (1 Tim. 2:5). His Name is Yahweh (Lord) who is revealed in the Bible as a triune God (the Holy Trinity)—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 5:6-7; Isa. 40:28; 43:10-11; Jn. 14:23; Col. 1:15-21; 2:9). Jesus said He is the I AM of the Old Testament who identified Himself to Moses as being the Lord (Jehovah) God (Exo. 3:14; Jn. 8:58). There is no other God, for God is ONE, and there is none beside Him:

"For I am the Lord thy GOD, the Holy One of Israel, thy SAVIOR . . . I am he: before me there is NO GOD FORMED, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside ME there is no saviour . . . saith the Lord, that I AM GOD" (Isa. 43:3, 10-12 cp. Luke 2:11: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord").

I am the Lord, and there is NONE else, there is NO GOD BESIDE ME (45:5 cp. 45:21-22).

Who do you say Jesus of Nazareth is?

[Note: It is not required for salvation that people fully comprehend all the mysterious inner workings of redemption and the Personhood of Jesus Christ (e.g., His humbling of Himself in becoming a man, the hypostatic union of Christ, His spiritual death on the Cross while paying for our sins, etc.). This only causes confusion, division, and strife, and often results in heresies and schisms. It also causes people to lose their peace and joy as they obsess over things that cannot be fully answered in this life (consider 1 Corinthians 13:12). The important thing is for people to know and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came forth from the Father in heaven, born of a virgin, and died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day. We should not theorize beyond what Scripture clearly reveals or try to crack hidden meanings or codes that simply do not exist or were not meant to be known. Remember, GOD IS NOT TRYING TO CONFUSE US! He wants His simple truths to be known and mixed with faith.

For more information about the Person and saving work of Jesus Christ, read Appendix X: Who is the Real Jesus? Also the author’s book: The Fundamentals of the Christian Faith.]

5

False Messianic Leadership

Many cult leaders lay claim to some unusual divine capability that inspires worshipful awe or mindless devotion of their followers. Some blasphemously claim to be the Christ in reincarnated form or claim they are an apostle or prophet. They will declare that they, or their exclusive hierarchical organization, are God’s only channel of salvation and absolute obedience to them is necessary to obtain eternal life.

For the true child of God, the Lord Jesus is preeminent (Col. 1:18). He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 5:9). He alone is our Mediator and great High Priest (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7). He is the only Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22-23). He alone is the only begotten Son of God and true Savior, who came down from heaven, and is the only way back to God the Father (Isa. 43:10-15; 44:6; Jn. 3:13; 6:33; 14:6; Rev. 1:7-8).

[Note: Virtually all cults or false religions usurp the place of God and Christ in one way or another. Once they stand in place of God, they take on the role as mediator between God and men. This is what makes them antichrist. An antichrist is not always someone who openly opposes Christ, such as a rank unbeliever, but can also be someone who appears instead of or in place of Christ, and in this sense opposes Christ. It is a counterfeit Christ. This is why antichrists are so dangerous. Outwardly they may profess Christ or God, but they lead people astray with a false gospel and a different Jesus. They may be pastors, professors, popes, priests, philosophers, pop-stars, or statesmen. They can be found anywhere—in churches, seminaries, universities, colleges, and political offices. They are deceived and deceive others.]

6

Doctrinal Ambiguity

Cults and false religions will oftentimes alter their doctrines to adapt to various situations (e.g., unfulfilled prophecies, twisted logic, whims of their leaders, diabolical plans, public pressure, cultural traditions, etc.).

Christians are told to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered [in the first century] to the saints (Jude 3) and pass it down to Christians who will faithfully teach the same.

[Note: Don’t assume that your pastor or denomination holds to the fundamentals of the faith. Many mainline, liberal/apostate (fallen away) Protestant churches today (such as are found in the World Council of Churches) have become no better than the cults, since many deny or downplay the core doctrines of the Bible, such as the incarnation of Christ, His deity, propitiatory (sacrificial) death for our sins, and resurrection, His miracles, stern warnings about eternal damnation in Hell, teachings against sin, and the absolute necessity of being born again to enter the kingdom of God. Instead, many promote universalism, which says all or most religions lead to God, a false works-righteousness gospel, and/or a social justice gospel. They also have changed the ethics of Christ and the grace of God into license to sin (e.g., accepting and celebrating homosexuality). They are blind guides leading the blind! They twist or ignore what the Bible says to their own destruction.

God commands all true Christians to come out and be separate from false religion (Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 6:11-18). Some of the more liberal Protestant churches to beware of and avoid are the United Church of Christ (UCC); the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA); the United Methodist Church; the Presbyterian Church, USA; and the Episcopal Church. For a complete list of WCC members, Google World Council of Churches. Also read the author’s book: False Teachings and Divisive Movements.]

7

Segmented Biblical Attention

Cults will take a passage, verse, or word out of context and build an entire heretical doctrine around it, while neglecting to base their faith on the Bible as a whole. For example, the United Pentecostal Church (Apostolics) rejects the biblical doctrine of the Trinity because of undue emphasis on the Name of Jesus. Seventh-day Adventists reject the New Testament revelation about Sabbath-keeping and put their followers under legalistic bondage by requiring what was meant only for the children of Israel under the Law (Exo. 35:1-2; Deut. 5:12-15; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Col. 2:16; Gal. 5:4).

Careful comparison of scripture with scripture will save us from heretical interpretations (Acts 17:11).

8

Exploitation / Paranoia / Violence / Exclusivity

Isolationalism / Slavery / False Spirituality

Cults and false religions bring their followers into psychological, economic, physical, and spiritual slavery. Instead of letting every man be fully persuaded about what is biblical in his own mind (Rom. 14:5), they lord it over, intimidate (by bullying with threats of physical harm, death, or damnation if they try to leave), and dominate the faith of their members who are told the Bible is not fully true, reliable, and/or knowable apart from their anointed infallible leadership.

Rational thought, social interaction (except with other cult members), personal Bible study, and open questions are discouraged. They may insist that members sever all relationships outside of the cult and may assign another member to be at their side at all times. Recruits are controlled by love bombing, mind-numbing rituals, poor diet, and/or sleep deprivation. Some even use corporeal punishment to keep their members in line. Once isolated from outside relationships (family, friends, etc.) and put into a communal living situation, they are often manipulated by guilt, peer pressure, and fear. Some cults keep its members busy to the point of exhaustion with ministry work, pan-handling, and daily meetings that last for hours, even late into the night.

False religious leaders are oftentimes covetous, greedy, violent, conspiratorial, dishonest, and/or sexually immoral, and use their members to get what they want. Some doomsday cults instill an us against them mentality as they wait for the imminent end of the world. They may promote hatred and violence (including murder, terrorism, arson, revolution, anarchy, mayhem, holy