What defines a "cult"
 

AG wrote on another thread that UPCI was a boarderline "cult."

What is your definition of a cult?

I heard a preacher defined the following "red flags" of a cult by the following points.
1. They do not believe in the total efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
2. They have another holy book that they put on equal or greater authority with the Bible.
3. They do not believe in the literal physical return of Jesus Christ.
4. They follow a charismatic leader that has extreme control over their lives (managing their money or marriages, or they accept his word on equal authority with the Bible).
5. They will isolate followers from other family members.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

Points 4 and 5 (to me) really stand out as the main issues with cults. Other denominations, such as Mormons, have another book besides the bible, but I would not consider them a "cult". Cults tend to be lead by charismatic individuals -or individuals who are not so much charismatic but fear-inducing and controlling, or both.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

i agree points 4 and 5 are worth considering.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

Are you sure it was AG? Our AmazingGrace?

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

Abundant Grace... not Amazing... I think
Our AG (AmazingGrace) is UPCI, happily so.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

Oh yeah, I forgot about the other one.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

I've read similar things (1-5) in Larson's book of Cults, I believe it's called.
They define cults as such. (The book includes Mormons, JW's, Islam, etc... in it's list of cults and summarizes their beliefs)

I would say 1-2 or even 3 are just plain false religions or false doctrines.
4-5 are definitely cultish.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

:toofunny

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

So, does UPCI doctrine state that people must be baptized for salvation? That would mean that number 1 might apply to them; that the blood of Jesus alone does not produce salvation but that it also must come thru water baptism.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

Cult is short for culture. You have it by design or default. Often times the culture of a movement can be a good thing. The culture of a vibrant, relevant, progressive church is a GREAT thing. But the culture of a movement where everything is dictated by 1 or a group of leaders with no wiggle room can fall into the catagory of a cult. I don't consider the LDS a cult because I know too many of them and the ones I know their faith is solid in God. When a culture is led by the supremacy of a MAN and not the supremacy of God that qualifies. I don't think the UPCI is a cult either. Though in the LDS church and the UPCI church there are the extremes that border cultish. Having rules that dictate a heaven or hell path that is NOT FIRMLY founded on scripture is cultish. I choose to believe that most in the leadership of the UPCI are not cult leaders cause most of them really are led and used of God. Though I go to a UPCI church I am not a part of the organization and in its current state never will be. It boils down to teaching that is made a law in any religion that is outside the bible borders on cultish. But the deal-sealer to me is that the leader does not give credit to the Bible being the inspired word and they do not teach the supremacy of God's word. IMO

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

This oughta be good.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

I agree. There is another poster on the AFF that does not believe in the fidelity of God's Word. I think that is the most dangerous position one can take. If you are not going to believe part of the Word, then what part? What page should you tear out and why? I think logic would dictate that the whole Word has to stand or the whole Word be thrown out.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

I have a friend that calls this a pitch and catch lifestyle. You catch or hold to what you want to believe and cast or pitch away what you don't. I think it is a shaky ground to be on as well, but the key question in my mind is did this person at one time or another aspouse that they did believe the infallability of the scriptures or have they not ever aspoused it. If this person has never seen the supremacy of the word of God they are not as bad off as if someone has seen and turned away, IMO. Often times those that have seen it then turned away almost never come back because the hate the word/truth with as much if not more passion than when they loved it.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

Points 4 and 5. I'd add friends to number 5 also... I knew one like that, when he left his town, he took about 1/2 the church with him... that's control, and that's a cult.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

David K Bernard wrote an excellent article on a few years back:

Answering the Charge of Cultism

by David K. Bernard
Associate Editor of Word Aflame Press
In recent years a small but vocal group of opponents of the Jesus Name message have sought to label the United Pentecostal Church (UPCI) as a cult. How should we respond to this charge?

1. This charge stems from a small segment of the evangelical community … inspired by "ministries" who garner their financial support by making charges of this nature and who take their cue from the late Walter Martin, founder of Christian Research Institute and self-styled "Bible Answer Man." In many cases the charge is repeated by people who have had no personal knowledge of, or contact with the UPCI, and who have an inaccurate concept of the UPCI's beliefs. It does not come from any mainline Christian organization, nor is it the official position of any evangelical denomination. Trinitarian Pentecostal groups, who have the most contact with us, consider our views of the Godhead erroneous but still regard us as saved....

FULL ARTICLE HERE:
http://www.altupc.com/altupc/articles/upcicult.htm

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

I remember reading that article years ago. Thanks for the online version. I will keep as a reference.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

No, logic says that one of the following is true: 1. All of the Bible is God's Word, or 2. Some of the Bible is God's Word and some is not, or 3. None of the Bible is God's Word.

The Bible itself does not spell out which books are to be included, so the scriptures that claim inspiration, even if correct, may be talking about a different set than the 66 we have today. For one thing, it's likely that Paul himself had only the OT in mind in 2 Tim 3:16. Also, some other books are quoted, apparently as authoritative, that didn't make the cut in some canons (Jude quotes the Book of Enoch, e.g.).

So, your statement that it's all or nothing may be true, but it's not logic saying it! ;)

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

I ran into one of those people one time, she spent about 2 hours in a coffee shop one night trying to convince me that I was in heresy when she realized what I believe. It was surreal.

Re: What defines a "cult"
 

/nod