A Cult vs. A Church
 

Now I was thinking about this today. What is the difference between a cult and a church. Some people think they are actually in a church when it actually is a bible based cult.

So my question is how can you tell the difference between a bible based cult and a church?

Not trying to be funny but I personally know a church that I believe is a cult or at least has some properties of being one. I think this is actually is a good topic to discuss to educate people.

If there is a dictatorship rule (my way or hell) is that a cult or a church? 1 Corinthians 11:1?

Thoughts?

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

In a church, or in THE Church?

How many churches are there: and how many religions?

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

In a church, or in THE Church?

How many churches do you suppose are there: and how many religions? Put
them all in a circle, have them all point to the one on their right, and...that's
how many "cults" exist...

to the one on the left, that is!

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Any group that veers from the teachings and practice of the Apostles is a cult.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

To get specific would take all day or longer.

Here is a very general statement.

No 1 Bible based cult.

Catholic Church

No 2 Bible based cult.

Evangelical Protestant Church

These are the largest. A great number of Pentecostal, Charismatic and Apostolic Churches are cults in the sense they dont teach truth in all aspects.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Who does teach the truth in all aspect?

None that I know of and I have looked for a long time

How would you know if a church is worshipping in truth?

For sure they would be doing the same miracles as the first century church

But not the dog and pony show stuff we see on TV but real miracles of terminal diseases being cured and blind persons being made to see without medical intervention

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

That is very vague.


I would say any group that practices and preaches non-biblical opinions and that also forces, pressures people in believing those non-biblical opinion.

Remember God gave you the Holy Ghost too. Not just them.

I actually think cults exists because somehow we were lead to believe (and some still do) that we need to follow one imperfect man to the promise land.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

The Church of the Lord Jesus teaches "the truth in all aspects".

It's good that you are looking: but don't be pulling as you go! The denoms are
causing us (the Church) to pull; and we are pulling away from each other
instead of allowing the Spirit to DRAW us together. Each member of the body
has something to contribute: and we should be spiritual enough to "...take
forth the precious from the vile...", and become the Lord's mouthpiece.
Instead, we seem to be sounding our own trumpet.

"Come, and let us reason together..."

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

see the double entendre in
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Probably depends on which side you are looking at it.

If you are inside the cult and like it then you will not agree it is a cult.

If you are mad at a certain church or pastor then it is a cult. Just ask the person, they will tell you! LOL

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

if you are religious, then you are cultic, i'm pretty sure. You will know them by their fruits.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

I disagree with your examples of cults.

The Branch Davidians were a cult.

The Warren Jeffs followers are a cult.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

My simple way to tell the difference between a church and a cult: The true church of Jesus Christ will teach following and obeying JESUS. A cult is a group who says that the way to follow Jesus is to follow and obey them, as they "supposedly" follow Jesus.

No man can be a mediator between God and man, except for Jesus, and any man/group/fellowship/organization who steps into that position has essentially stepped into the position of being a cult leader. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and HE is the only mediator we need.

If a man/group/organization/fellowship teaches that you can't be saved unless you believe, and do all they teach, and do not teach you to follow Christ first, and be obedient to Him first, they are probably part of a cult.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

The word cult is very general. Anyone could call someone else a cult and many churches may even have cultist attributes. People must be responsible for their own personal beliefs and must not give another man control over their life. I have many influences in my life, but no person has the authority to make me do anything (except God).

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Amen, Beloved.

"For I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and
the head of the woman is the man...". Any man that covers his head with
another man's authority, is fallen into a cultist influence.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

I agree but to a point

God does not go to church, If He is there he arrived in the hearts of those in attendance.

Therefore when I walk in to a new place He should already be there....... if so I will enjoy the fellowship with like-minded brothers and sisters

On the other hand if it takes me showing up in a church for God to appear there, I am leaving and taking Him with me.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Very powerful statement. All churches say that.


AMEN to that!

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

You said it better than me. :thumbsup

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Just to play the other side...

Wasn't Moses a mediator between God and man?

Didn't he leave Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven and say whatsoever you bind on earth is bound in heaven?

That would lead some people to think that God has given certain people that authority to rule over people. The bible does say obey them that have the rule over you for they watch for your soul.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Moses was a type and shadow of Christ, not Joseph Smith or whoever.


And obey them that have the rule over you is so often taken out of context by those trying to rule over (while often getting 10% of their income too)

http://www.truthguard.com/Articles/s...lemma-a17.html

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Good point! Likewise the "whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven" is often taken out of context as well. It does not mean God is obligated to back up something we decide on earth. Something would only be bound on earth if it was already bound in heaven to begin with. This is similar to "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

I believe that the Holy Spirit will lead us to bind and loose according to His will. If a leader is being led of the Holy Spirit a person needs to obey. If a man is walking on his own then he has no authority. The authority belongs to God. Through the years many have felt they were to be submitted to, because of the title and position. No man has authority outside of the Holy Ghost.

Moses was the deliverer, but Aaron was the mouthpiece. Jesus is our deliverer, but the ministry is the mouthpiece. I want to be God's parrot. If he leads me then I can lead others. If church leadership say they have heard from God you better take heed. If they lie God will judge, if God has spoken we rebel against God and not man.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

What do you mean, "the ministry"?

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

For some reason I knew someone would bring that up. We have a sensitivity to leadership. Their is no one person better than another to God, but there is a difference in body parts. I don't mean to you must be a pastor or preacher to hear from God or to have a ministry. All are ministers, but the roles of ministry aren't the same. God has placed teachers, pastors, prophets, etc. in the body. The body needs to obey what it is God has called them to say. I am not telling anyone to be a mindless zombie.

So the ministry I am refering to is church leadership.

It is like this if you don't trust that a man is called of God then by all means pay him no mind. If a man is speaking the word of God and a person doesn't take heed they will have to stand before God. This is another foot washing issue with many. Many have the attitude I will not let another man tell me anything and that is called pride. I refuse to blindly follow anyone, but after much prayer and deliberation if I find someone to be true to me then I have no problem to follow.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

I believe a simple summation of that, would be choosing to follow, versus choosing to be led.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

I don't know that there is a difference, but if one sounds better, your choice. There definitely is a balance to things. I don't want people to just take my word for something, but find it out for yourself. Many times we try to win people to our churches instead of win them to Jesus. We settle for people to come and be another carbon copy number on our pew. The goal should be to bring people to Jesus and encourage them to have a personal relationship to Him. If you feed a man a fish you have fed him a meal, but if you teach him to fish you have taught him to feed himself for a life time.

I'm sure, there are leaders out there who like people depending on them and being the star of the show. We should be teaching people to become ministers themselves. Church should not be about how many are you gathering, but how many are you sending. I understand there is a balance to leadership, and people from every side should be balanced. I am not to proud to be led, but I will prayerfully decide what to follow.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Where I attend it's often about Gods house attendance, fitting into the requirements to participate in Gods house ministries, and pastor pulpit yelling wanting the listeners to yell back aka helping him preach, and pay him("the ministry") 10% of your income for yelling at you his personal rules and interpretation of scripture and if you're not in agreement (even if u can prove its inaccuracy)keep it to yourself. Never miss a "service" without passing the offering plate so Noone misses a blessing..Obey those that rule over you so you can participate in Gods Kingdom by teaching, parking cars, or taking up offering at Gods house, anything to do within the 4 walls of Gods house, because that "set up" is exactly what God has designed according to "the ministry".

makes me sick lately.
Cult or church...? Well...

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

There isn't anything perfect in this world, but what are some ideas you have personally for church operations?

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Signs of He who is perfect at work such as healing of serious life threatening diseases, or other miracles should be showing within said ministry.

God has always blessed obedience with worshipping Him in truth and in spirit with signs and wonders.

If a church is not witnessing any legitimate miracles within their gathering, God's blessing are not upon said church, and there is a reason why not

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Just today I was paying the church ins. over the phone and I have been praying for God to place people in my path to minister to. As I was about to get off the phone the lady asked, "pastor, you are pentecostal, right?" I said yes. She then asked me to pray because she was battling with cancer and it has been really hard on her. I felt my prayer was being answered. I didn't know this lady I was paying on a toll free number and don't even know where they were headquartered.

I don't proclaim in no way to see the signs following that I read of in scripture, but it is my desire. The only problem I see with relying on signs is Jesus said blessed are those who believe and have not seen. I know people who have went to great extents in prayer and fasting and have acted on faith and still didn't receive the miraculous. I cannot see where some of these have erred in their faith or commitment.

I am interested in what you believe is the major hindrances?

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

"you ask that you may consume it upon your lusts."

a harsh truth is that cancer is a consequence, and we have been completely misled as to its causes, imo. One cannot keep smoking, for example, and expect to be healed of lung cancer.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

The church can meet to study scripture together(instead of one man yelling his interpretation while others yell back "preach it pastor!"), discuss together life's challenges in each of our lives and biblical answers to conquer those challenges(instead of trying to answer life's challenges by weekly running a circle around the "sanctuary" screaming and stumbling into everyone else at the last verse of "catch on fire"), and in regard to the working of miracles if they are in operation within the church which is the people then they should not be limited to Gods "holy house" but wherever the people physically are in their daily lives.
Stop trying to win (sucker) new converts into thinking church(people not a holy bldg) is all about life INSIDE a 4 walled holy bldg.
For starters.
Sorry for any ranting, just lately where I'm at seems everything is all about involvement around a holy bldg.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

In Ephesians 4:27 Paul the apostle wrote to advise us that Christ Jesus is coming back to the earth to receive "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Judging from the church we find in the world today it appears there is lots of work to be accomplished for His church to meet this criterion, for we are so fractured, and dis-unified there's only a small handful of important scriptural issues outside of Acts 2:38 that we are able to get a majority to agree upon.

With regards to "church operations," why not follow the biblical principles that were commanded by the Lord Himself, and delivered through the words of Paul the apostle to the saints of the early church at Corinth? It's all set forth in plain, easy-to-understand language in I Corinthians 14:26-40 (and please note, Paul does make it explicitly clear that it was the Lord who has commanded that it be done this way - see the latter part of verse #37).

Want a "perfect church"? Then let's start doing things the way the Lord decreed for it to be done and dispense with man's agenda. Maybe then we shall see the revival we all so desperately desire!

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

Not a rant at all Shag. Well said. :thumbsup

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

ya, that was good
don't worry--that isn't the Church, anyway--that is the people crying "Lord, Lord," imo.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

I believe it is James that says this in his letter. The thing I don't believe is that the mother with the dying toddler, or the person dying with cancer who has never smoked a day in their life, or the lady that has been stricken with diabetes since she was a child; are being any more selfish than anyone else in wanting to receive healing. I don't see where people in scripture had to be perfect or perfectly motivated to receive their healing. Naaman for example was so full of pride he didn't even want to do what the prophet said, but yet he received a miracle. I don't pretend to have the answers and I really don't think any of us does. I can only say it must be the will of God.

As for church operations, if it was allowed to be a free for all, people learning would probably be more confused than they are now. 30+ people cannot stand up speaking out all their questions and comments in a large assembly. As for people running isles that takes place during worship and if someone feels to do that I should not judge them for it. Most of the churches in our areas have began a program called cell groups where we break up into smaller home groups through the week, where it is more appropriate to for people to study with question and answer.

Our church is small, so some in our church we serve coffee and other refreshments following most of our services for those who want to stay and have christian fellowship. Although, church service as we know it may not be perfect there has been many to come to God through them. IMO, many people become bitter with the church and develop a holier than thou attitude that allows them to disfellowship and not feel guilty. Everyone in the church must have it wrong, but that individual is the only one with the right attitude toward God.

I would love to hear solutions and not problems.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

The church is made to be without spot or wrinkle by the blood of Christ and not self perfection. Jesus makes us perfect through His sacrifice. Not everyone that goes to church is going to hear well done, but that doesn't mean that every one has gotten it wrong in our assemblies. Wheat and tares all will come up together and that is what I meant by no church is perfect in the natural. We are going to wrestle with carnality as long as we are in this fleshly form.

Re: A Cult vs. A Church
 

It is easy to spew out all the things that is bad with the church. I think negativism should be expressed with solutions. If a problem doesn't have a solution than I should shake the dust off and move on. I don't mind complaints, but I want to know what could make things better, explicitly.