April 8, 2001 Volume 2 Number 14
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The horror stories of the Branch Davidians in Waco, TX, Heaven's Gate in southern California and The People's Temple (Jim Jones) in Guyana are enough to cause anyone to shudder at the thought of a cult masquerading in the form of a church. So, when I heard recently that some have said that we are a cult (this is not the first time I've heard such descriptions), it caused me to wonder how these folks define a cult. I did some investigation (to find out if we are a cult and don't know it!). I discovered that those who make such accusations are selective and arbitrary in how they define and apply the term. The following quotation is representative of what is meant by those who would describe churches of Christ as a "cult": "Today we will take a look at the question, What is a cult?....Webster's Dictionary say's "A CULT is a quasi-religious group, often living in a colony, with a charismatic leader who indoctrinates members with unorthodox or extremist views, practices, or beliefs. But there are groups that are classified as cults that may seem to many, to be Christian denominations. The way to determine if a group is a cult is solely by their teachings, and if those doctrines conform to the teachings of the Bible and historic Christianity. There are many doctrines that differ among Christian denominations, but they all share teachings that are essential to the Christian faith. In those areas, all Christian churches are in agreement. Some of those doctrines are: that there is only one true and living God and that the one God is manifest in three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that the Bible is the infallible word of God; and that salvation is a gift of God, by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When a group differs in these areas from historic, Biblical Christian doctrine, then it falls into the area of being classified as a cult. Non Christian cults will always deny that Jesus Christ is truly God. They will also claim to be the only true church and add their writings and place them above the Bible in authority. When examining any group, be sure that what they are teaching is in harmony with the Bible. Be sure also that the scriptures they are using to support their doctrines are being read within their context. As the late Dr. Walter Martin said, 'A text taken from it's context becomes a pretext, and most often a pretext for error.'" (Something To Consider, Proclaiming The Message Ministries) It is enlightening that according to the foregoing definition, the church we read about in the New Testament would have been considered a cult! It had: A charismatic leader. Jesus certainly was that Matt. 21:6-11. Unorthodox and extremist views, practices, or beliefs. Some of the beliefs and practices of Jesus and His disciples were viewed in this way by the religious leaders of their day. These included:
They will also claim to be the only true church. Jesus claimed He would build one church Mt 16:18. His apostles taught that He is the head over His body, the church Eph 1:22-23. And, they taught that just as the church has one head (Christ), Christ has one body (one church) which He saves Eph 4:4; 5:23. Indeed, many in the first century spoke against Christianity Acts 28:22. Do you suppose some said it was cult?! The apostle Paul was accused of being "...a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" Acts 24:5. (I guess that made it so, right?!) Could it be that people are throwing around the term "cult" without properly defining it? Truly, it is. By their own definition, Christianity is a cult and Jesus Christ a cult leader!! It has always been easier and safer for folks (including some brethren) to attach prejudicial labels and biased epithets upon those with whom we disagree than it is to examine what one is saying, believing and practicing in the light of God's word. Why? Because men love the darkness of error and evil more than they love the light of truth Jn 3:19-20. Satan blinds their unbelieving minds 2 Cor 4:3-4. Kill the messenger and one does not have to listen to the message! Do not be surprised when you are labeled, attacked, discounted, made fun of and otherwise mistreated for your faith in Christ. You are not being treated any differently from how your Master was treated by unbelievers cf. Jn 15:18-20; 1 Pet 3:13-18. Is the church of Christ a cult? No. Regardless of what men say, we serve the King of kings! 1 Tim 6:13-16; Mt 7:21-23; Lk 6:46; Heb 5:8-9
by Leon Cole One of the clearest teachings in the New Testament is that God put the gospel treasure in earthen vessels, that the power might be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7). It is urgent that the treasure (gospel) be glorified rather than the vessel (the preacher). Yet, in our day, much more time is spent polishing the vessel and attention is not focused on the treasure. Many congregations, faced with sagging interest, dwindling numbers, and community rejection, seek some kind of invigoration. The thinking prevails that simply offering the gospel does not attract enough people. There is no desire to abandon Bible truth, so what's to be done? It is thought that if folks will not buy the product in a plain wrapper the packaging must be jazzed up to attract attention. They try to put a little spicy dressing on the meat to whet the appetite. When this practice is followed congregations and elders become intensely concerned as to how a preacher appeals to a certain age group. The criteria in a preacher search is not their ability to share the fruits of their study, but their personal attraction to this or that age, economic, or intellectual level. Preaching is measured more by its artistic value and entertainment rating than by its Biblical content. Rationalizations are made to justify such procedures but in the end we draw attention to the packaging more than we do to the gospel. Frequently, I have heard brethren admit that they invite men for local work or gospel meetings because of their personal appeal to the young, the old, the affluent, or the educated. This encourages the "I am of Paul" and "I am of Apollos" syndrome, determining that the only way to hold members is by excellency of speech and dynamic personality. If God's people would simply present what the Bible teaches and support the men who do so, souls will be saved. It will not appeal to all but it will save some of all classes. We need to return to the gospel as the drawing power. It is the gospel that is essential not personality traits. Those who preach could learn something here. If we concentrated less on being dynamic, eloquent, and projecting self, and spent more time on learning the contents of the Book and telling people what to do to be saved, we could be more successful. It appears that too often our desire is to impress with wit and wisdom. If we tried preaching so folks would exclaim, "What a Saviour!" rather than "What a preacher!", or "What a delivery!", we would be a lot closer to the kind of preaching God wants done. "...And my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom... That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” 1 Cor 2:4-5. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” Jn 12:32. What? No Gym? A lot of people would be surprised if they visited a large church and found out that the church did not have a gymnasium or something called a "fellowship hall." People expect churches to be involved in social functions. What does the Bible say about recreation as a function of the church? Is there any scriptural authority for churches to provide recreation and social affairs? Many churches today have become more like YMCA's than churches. They provide everything from meals, to dances, to bingo parties, to basketball games. Some churches have better recreational facilities than the YMCA in the town where they are located. Did God ever intend for the church to provide recreation and social affairs? Can this type of thing be proved by the Word of God? What purpose does God give the church? What is to be its function or work? This is an important question, and we can learn the answer to it in the Bible. If a purpose is not revealed in God's Word, then the church has no duty towards a purpose and can engage in anything it wants. However, if the purpose is revealed, man has a duty to keep the church functioning within its God given purpose. The Bible teaches that the
church has a three-fold responsibility. First, it is to preach the gospel
to the lost. I Tim 3:15 refers to the church as the pillar and ground of
the truth (note also Eph. 3:9-10, I Thess 1:8, II Cor 11:8). Next, the
church is to teach or instruct its own members, i.e. those who are
Christians (I Tim. 3:15, Eph. 4:11-12, Acts 20:28), and finally, the
church can provide for needy saints (Acts 11:29-30). Three Kinds of
Christians There are three kinds of Christians in any local congregation. Which kind are you? There are those Christians you can always count on. When there is work to be done, when a volunteer is needed, when a need must be met, you can depend on these folks to step forward. They carry their own weight, and they help others carry theirs, too Gal 6:2,5. There is never a doubt about their commitment or dedication. Their obvious zeal serves as a positive source of encouragement to others. You just never are left to wonder where they stand -- because they demonstrate their faith in every way. These Christians serve as the "core" of any faithful congregation. Without them, important work would never get done -- crucial matters would be left unattended -- the church simply would not do well. Thank God for all such brethren. May their tribe increase! There are some other Christians in the church that are absolutely "out of it." They have little if any connection to the real work of the local congregation. They never are around if there is work to be done, and they simply DO NOT volunteer to help with the on-going efforts of the group. It is even impossible to count on these folks to attend the services regularly. Almost anything can serve as an excuse for them to miss the assemblies. And, if they don't even assemble faithfully, we wonder if they are really doing anything in service to the Lord. There is yet another group that is in evidence in the local church. These are the ones who are "riding the fence." They want to give the impression that they are faithful and involved, but in reality their lives are full of compromise. They vocally claim allegiance to Christ, but they can't be counted on to consistently put the kingdom first. Our Lord described these three kinds of Christians as "hot," "cold," and "lukewarm" Rev 3:15,16. Which term describes YOU? The Spirit Expressly
Says ... The God of the Bible is all-powerful. He is the creator of this world, and the things of the world. Consider Genesis 1:1, and you will find four things:
You can learn more about the power of God. Study your Bible daily. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation.” Rom 1:16 Food For Thought You may make some mistakes in working for the Lord, but you will make a bigger mistake by not working at all for Him... We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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