Things We Can Learn From Cults
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Tonight is week 4 that we have been looking at cults and false religions. After introducing the series, we looked at the similarities that each cult and false religion have, then last week, we looked at the nature of false teachers, and tonight, we are going to be looking at some lessons that the Church can learn from cults.
It should not surprise us that there are many false religions and cults in our day.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The Bible is clear that there is a false Jesus, a false Spirit, a false Gospel, and we need to be aware of the things that people are believing in our day.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
The word “reprove” in that verse means, “to convict, rebuke, expose.”
That’s why I’m doing this series...
I mentioned last week that it’s estimated that there are as many as 30 million people actively participating in a cult or some for of the occult in the United States. There is an estimated 5,000 cults worldwide with an estimated 150 million people involved in them.
Now, something very interesting I come across in studying this subject is that statistically, there is a significant percentage of cultists that formerly attended a Christian church.
According to one organization that helps former cultists overcome the harmful effects of their experience, some 25 percent formerly attended evangelical or fundamentalist churches, and more than 40 percent had backgrounds in the large, more liberal protestant denominations.
This fact has led some experts in the field like say things like “The increase in cult membership is a direct result of a failure on the part of the church.” And “Cults are the unpaid bills of the church.”
Now, obviously I don’t believe that all the blame falls on the true Church, and there are details surrounding those quotes that I don’t have time to get into tonight, but when I was studying this and reading some of these conclusions, it did make me think, we can do more than we are…And then as I was looking into some of the lessons we are going to take a look at in the coming weeks concerning specific beliefs, I began seeing lessons that we, as the church, can learn from the cults...
So tonight, that’s what I want to do, I want to give you som lessons we can take from the cults...
Some Lessons From The Cults
Some Lessons From The Cults
The Importance of Having Definite Convictions about Matters of Faith
Cults, by definition, are characterized by a fervent commitment to a set of beliefs, often to the point of exclusivity and isolation.
You talk to someone in a cult, and they know exactly what they believe and are convinced it is right.
While their beliefs may be misguided, the intensity of their conviction serves as a reminder for the church to reflect on the depth of its own faith.
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
As the Church, we need to know what we believe and know why we believe it!
The Importance of Knowing the Scriptures
Jehovah’s Witnesses proclaim the Bible as “God’s inspired message to humans” (jw.org).
They faithfully study their own version of Scripture (The New World Translation). And they are armed with memory verses and Bible passages to support their beliefs when they step onto your front porch.
Their translation of the Bible weaves many teachings of their leadership into the text of the Bible…I’ll give you an example:
John 1:1 in the New World Translation reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.”
Now, this is reprehensible…They had to put that in there because they don’t believe that Jesus is God, so of course, they would change the parts concerning Jesus and God being one...
Even so, they are well-schooled in taking verse upon verse out of context and showing you why they believe what they believe.
Mormons believe the King James Version of the Bible is true “insofar as it is translated correctly.” This opens the door for them to say it has been corrupted and requires the Book of Mormon, written by Joseph Smith, to smooth out the rough edges of the KJV.
In any case, it’s vital for Christians to know what the Bible really says, particularly with respect to the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personhood and deity of the Holy Spirit, salvation by grace alone through faith alone, and other core doctrines.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The Zeal for Witnessing – The converts show that witnessing works even for the Cults.
These cults not only stand behind their convictions; they put feet to them.
At the end of 2022, it’s estimated there are nearly 91,000 Mormon missionaries carrying the message of Joseph Smith around the world — at their own expense, or the expense of their families. Meanwhile, at the end of 2022, Jehovah’s Witnesses boast 8.5 million “publishers” in 240 countries.
They may be faulted for their false teachings, but certainly not for their faithfulness to them.
As Anthony Hoekema has written in The Four Major Cults, “It would appear that the cults are generally pursuing a much more diligent and systematic program of witnessing, both at home and abroad, than are the churches.”
The Strong Sense of Urgency – Cults believe witnessing must be done immediately and urgently. They all believe the end of the world is at hand, one way or another, and that their time is limited.
Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, believe the Battle of Armageddon is just around the corner and since all who die in this battle will be annihilated, never to be raised from the dead, it is imperative to spread “the truth” while there is yet time.
I, too, believe Armageddon is right around the corner, but according to the Bible, the Church will be raptured away before Armageddon happens, even before the Tribulation begins...
I will say this, no matter how wrong they can be about the end times, you cannot fault them for their sincerity, or their sense of urgency.
This is something we need in the true Church!
The Large Role taken by the Followers or Congregation
Mormons claim to have no clergy but every male above the age of 20 may hold either the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood, and send tens of thousands of young people out on two-year missions.
Men and women in local congregations engage in so-called temple works such as baptism for the dead, enabling those who have preceded them in death to have an opportunity for salvation.
For Jehovah’s Witnesses, a body of elders supervises each congregation. And every week, people of all ages venture into neighborhoods, or in remote places, to declare Jehovah’s message.
This empowerment of the congregation often stands in stark contrast with historic Christian churches that leave the work of disciple making to the Pastor, when in fact Jesus gives the Great Commission to all His followers.
Definite Techniques for Witnessing
Jehovah's Witnesses have weekly training sessions to teach their methods of witnessing.
They have a guide book which followers vigorously follow.
They deal with methods of study, methods of speaking, meeting objections, distributing of literature, conducting Bible studies, organizing new congregations, etc.
A Willingness to Endure Ridicule
Cultists are not worried about being thought of as weird. It doesn’t bother them that they aren’t like everyone else around them...Mormons aren't bothered because they have chosen to eat certain foods...They aren't worried about social standing.
Meanwhile, it seems in our day that the Church is concerned with how close can we get to being just like the world, but still be saved...
Conclusion
Conclusion
In closing tonight, I want to take another opportunity to give the purpose in studying the cults.
Why is it important for us to look into this subject?
1. To awaken interest in the important task of missionary work among the cults, pointing out their error and leading them to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus. They have souls. They need to be saved.
2. To point out the flaws in the various cult systems and provide Scriptural answers for them.
3. To familiarize ourselves with the great truths of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that we might see the heritage of the Christian faith and be challenged to live more effectively and to witness for the Saviour.