All Too Common

The following article entitled 'What Are Some of the Common Marks of the Cults?" is from the CRI website (equip.org) and is written by Hank Hanegraaff. I added the bold type for clarity.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON MARKS OF THE CULTS?

One of the most devastating experiences someone could face is to have a loved one involved in a cult. What are some ways we can know that a certain group is in fact a cult?

The devil always hides behind a mask; and he seldom carries an ID card. If this statement is true, it is of utmost importance for us to discern a cult when we see one.

The first mark of a cult is its manipulation of Scripture. The Bible is twisted to fit the leader or group’s interpretation. Private interpretations are forbidden because the leader of the cult is the only one, of course, who is able to understand God’s voice properly. Their teachings distort the historic, orthodox claims of Christianity.

Second, many times cults manipulate people’s minds. There is little concern for individual thought and development. Education is usually discouraged while the convert is bombarded with the cult’s doctrine and literature. Members are called to leave or neglect their old family and life-style for a brand new one.

A third mark is the manipulation of time. Since salvation comes exclusively from the teachings of the group, in many cults members spend much of their time working for their organization. Family, school, leisure, sleep, and even food are most often neglected.

Finally, cults typically manipulate reality. They tend to have an exclusive “us”/“them” mentality in which society and old associates are all out to get them. Anyone outside of the group is suspect.

If a religious group exhibits one or more of the marks mentioned above, that group may well be considered a cult. Jesus Christ said that in the last days many false prophets would arise and deceive many (Matt. 24:11,24). To avoid the deception of the cults, we should be rooted in the teachings of the historic Christian faith, and receive Jesus Christ, God the Son, second Person of the Trinity, as Lord of our lives.

On the marks of a cult, that’s the Bible Answer Man Perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff.

Now, I'm not saying that the typical IFB church is in any way a cult (see disclaimer), but I would like to point out how personality-driven, churches that are caught up in extreme fundamentalism can certainly display some of the very same characteristics that are found in many cults.

First Mark: "Manipulation of Scripture". While many cults make up their own interpretations of Scripture or even write their own 'new' so-called revealed Scripture, many extreme IFB churches are certainly guilty of manipulating Scripture to fit their desired goals. Take dress standards for example. Many will take Duet. 22:5, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God" to try and make it mean that no women should be allowed to wear pants. This is simply not Scriptural. This verse is a declaration to keep the sexes clear, not to make a certain type of dress illegal in the church. Women can wear pants and be extremely feminine and modest. This kind of manipulation simply leaves context, culture, and common sense out of the discussion entirely for the sake of control.

Another example is using I Samuel 24 as a 'proof-text' for extreme pastoral authority. In I Sam. 24, David cuts off the corner of Saul's garment and then laments, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed." I have often heard this used by Pastors to ward off any questioning or arguing over his policies by saying that he is the man of God and no one is to stand up and question his 'God-given' authority (I have been warned with this passage and also the 'she-bears' passage more than once). David was also God's anointed and Saul was anything but a Pastor. This has nothing to do with Pastoral authority and is, once again, a manipulation of Scripture in order to increase power and control of a congregation. Nowhere in Scripture is a Pastor given absolute authority over a church . This is a clear manipulation of Scripture and, if nothing else, certainly looks cultish. There are plenty more, but for the sake of space I must continue. Maybe you have your own example you would like to leave in the comments.

Second Mark: "Manipulate People's Minds". I have been involved and educated in IFB circles and I have learned one thing through the entire experience: To be a good IFB. The colleges and seminaries in extreme fundamentalism do not encourage outside thought, independent thinking, or anything close to an eclectic look at Scripture. In many cases, these things are feared and not allowed anywhere near the campus. You can only listen to approved music, read approved books, use the KJV, dress a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, etc. One quickly learns to be a great follower of the extreme IFB way of thinking, but very few learn to develop into true leaders. The college I attended did stretch out a little by inviting a Presbyterian (I believe he was baptized baptist at one point late in life) to speak a few times for which they took all kinds of heat. In many extreme circles, education in any other college besides the approved colleges is simply unacceptable and will inevitably lead to what they call 'compromise' which is a key word for questioning and thinking. Where most Christian colleges and seminaries have a very eclectic staff that will challenge your presuppositions, encourage deep thought and meditation, and mold great leaders and innovators; many extreme IFB colleges simply have a staff full of people that all believe the exact same thing or else they will no longer be employed. In many cases this is not education, but rather indoctrination and manipulation. You can draw your own conclusions.

Third Mark: "Manipulation of Time". I have seen this time and time again with a guilt-driven, extreme fundamentalist style of ministry. "If you don't come out on Thursday night and go soul-winning then you are not being a good Christian." "If you don't go to church three times a week you're not going to thrive as a Christian." "We need someone to work and if you don't then you must not care about what God's doing around here." "We're having a revival this week and if you're not here every time you then you're not right with God." "The Bus ministry needs workers and if you're not doing anything on Saturdays then it's your shame that these kids won't be here." etc... The paid staff often have their time abused the most. They are asked to sacrifice time with their families as they work 80-100 hours a week trying to help the Pastor look as good as they possibly can. Their time is manipulated so that the church will 'grow' so that the pastor looks good. It has been my experience that many times the pastor is not willing to do himself what he commands of his congregation and staff. This is an abuse of people's time and the pastor's 'power'. This is indicative of cults and not true Christian churches.

Fourth Mark: "Manipulate Reality". Mr. Hanegraaff points out that many times in cults there is an 'us/them' mentality. Again, this is one thing that strikes so clearly when looking at many extreme IFB type churches. They are breeding grounds for this idea that they have it exactly right and anyone/everyone else are either sadly wrong or maniacally against them. Many sermons are produced with very little Biblical backing that talk of how they are the standard-bearers and anyone who is not the same is different and dangerous and must be avoided at all cost. Many times this leads to isolationism and the 'everyone's out to get us' mentality that begins to look so very cult-like. They begin to look at other Christians that have different standards and listen to different styles of music and read out of a different versions as the enemy and not as Christian brothers or sisters. Many times in these extreme fundamentalist churches 9 out of every 10 sermons will deal with separation and standards as they do everything that they can to keep their flock in their fold. It's a sad and dangerous mentality that leads to cult-like tendencies.

Conclusion: The intent of this post is not to try and prove that all IFB churches are cult-like in any way because that is certainly not the case (again, see disclaimer), but to point out that some involved in extreme fundamentalism have trended dangerously close to this mentality.  This is a warning to anyone who thinks that they may be caught up in a spiritually abusive or even cult-like situation.  Start asking questions and if you're not getting Biblical answers then get out.  Being a Christian is not about being manipulated into doing the will of man, but is the beautiful joy and complete pleasure of gladly doing the will of the One who rescued you.  True Christianity is a beautiful and glorious relationship and looks nothing like the harsh religion that characterizes cults and glorifies men.  

*edited to better reflect my views on 8.6.08

Trevor