OUR STANDARD -In order to judge and evaluate whether a
particular religious group comes under the heading of a cult or not, the
Christian needs an unchanging standard by which to measure all such
groups. We have such a measure. That measure- is God's unchanging word. In it, all the truths about God, Jesus, Holy
Spirit, and salvation are clearly set forth.
Anytime a new group sets forth doctrines or practices that are contrary
to those given in the Bible, then it comes under the category of a cult and
should be so judged.
Before a person can begin
evaluating another's doctrines and teachings, one needs to know his own. Not just what he thinks he believes, but
what the Bible says and where the Bible says it.
The following is taken from Larson's Book of Cults. . It is a brief presentation of what makes up the basics of Christianity. This is sometimes called "orthodoxy."
1.
GOD - Both the Old and New Testaments proclaim the triune
nature of God - Father, Son, and 14oly Spirit. They are co- equal, co-existent,
and co-eternal, three Person's of the same Substance (John 1:1-3;
14:26). God is a personality who can speak and create and who possesses a mind
and will (Gen 1-1 26; Jer 29:11; Eze 18:30). God's character is eternal
(1-fim 1:17), omnipotent (Rev 19:6) omnipresent (Ps. 139:7- 12), omniscient
(Rom 11:33) perfect (Deut 34:1-4) and holy I Pet 1:116).
A. Other
supportive Scriptures: 1 Cor. 8:6; Isa. 43:10; Exo. 3:4; 1 Tim 2:5; Ps 90:2.
B. Most cults teach
that God is . . .
1.
Impersonal, unknowable essence (Hinduism, Bahaism)
2.
Divine Idea, principle or example (Christian Science, unity)
3.
Non-Trinitarian (Jehovah's Witnesses, The Way)
2.
CHRIST-The Apostles' Creed states: "Conceived by the
Holy Ghost born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, died and was
buried; He descended into Hell; the third day He arose from the dead; He
ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead." Jesus Christ
is the second Person of the Trinity, the eternally Begotten Son of God
who became flesh and is now our great high priest.
A. Other supportive
Scriptures: Heb 4:14,15; John 1:1,3; 14;
1 John 4:3; Eph. 1:21; Col 2:9
B. Most cults
teach that Jesus is . . .
1.
Merely a human being without divinity who attained Christ
Consciousness (The International Community)
2. Created
being (Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses)
3.
One of many avatars or revelations of God (Hinduism, Divine
Light Mission)
3.
MAN- God created man in his own image (Gen 1:26), perfect
and without sin so that he could know and love God. Man is the highest
distinction of God's creative genius, separate from him, made "a little
lower than the angels" (Ps 8:5) with dominion over all the earth (Gen
1:28). In Eden, man fell by giving into
temptation, and henceforth “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" (Ron, 3:23). Man is headed
for eternal damnation in hell unless he is born again, receiving new life from
Jesus Christ (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17).
A. Other
supportive scriptures - Jer. 17:9; Rom 5:12,19; Rom 6:23
1.
Man is divine, an emanation of the infinite impersonal
(Theosophy, Rosicrucianism)
2.
Sinful but capable of attaining the same "Christ
Consciousness that Jesus did (Church Universal)
3.
Destined to be a god (Mormonism, Worldwide Church of God.)
4.
ATONEMENT-The O.T. sacrifices foreshadowed the Lamb of God
“slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8), whose blood was
shed as the final sacrifice for sin (I John 1:7). Man, who sin has separated him from God, can now have peace
"through the blood of his cross" (Col 1:20) and be reconciled to God
(2 Cor. 5:19) because of his vicarious, substitutionary death.
1.
Good works and beneficent deeds will cause one to achieve
at-one-ment with God (Unity, Bahaism)
2.
Reincarnation will fulfill the law of karma (Scientology,
Krishna Consciousness)
3.
Universalism: all will eventually be saved (Mormonism,
Christian Science).
5.
REVELATION-The Word of God in scriptural canon is inspired
(God-breathed), inerrant complete (Rev 22:18,19) and the only infallible rule
of faith. It reveals the origin and
destiny of all things; records God's dealings with mankind in the past,
present, and future; and focuses on the Person and work of Jesus Christ. The Bible inspires faith (Rom 10: 17) and
will make men wise unto salvation" (2 Tim 3:15)
1.
The Bible needs additional subjective or written revelation
for our age (Mormonism, The Way)
2.
The Word of God needs to be properly translated with
accompanying explanations (Jehovah's Witnesses)
3.
The Bible is one of many equally divine, sacred books
(Unity, Bahaism)