Hello. I am doing a posting in response to a wise, well thought out, and intellegent response a reader gave to a posting of mine "Cult Characteristics"
He took my points in the order they were posted. I feel he asked good questions.
To my first point he felt that Christians could be a cult also. Let me respond by restating the definition I am using for a cult. It is any group that says it is Christian and is not. A group that diviates from Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is found in the Scripture.
He wanted to start a side issue on Messiahship. He seemed to camp on Messiahship.He wanted to know where in what he called Jewish scriptures the idea of a messiah dieing for sins shows up. Let me say I am still pondering that.
As for my second point he seemed to zero in on Christians and their belief that the Messiah is 100% man and 100% God. Isaiah 9:6-7 -"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders. (So far. Man. Human.) And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (100% God) There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace. On the throne of David and over his kingdom. to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this."
On to the third about good works. That one I won't bother with. It is getting off the subject of cult charactertistics and are Christians cultic.
In the forth point he refers to the Christian Bible as being full of misquotes. he refers to a Jewish Bible. The point I want to make is that the Bible is Jewish. All the way from Genesis to Revelation. Jews wrote it. They preserved it. Christians owe the Jews for giving us a manuscript that is accurate and fairly free of errors that harm basic doctrines.
I am amused to see that he uses the twenty second letter in the Greek Alphabet -Chi (x)- to keep from spelling out the word Christ. USe the name Jehovah if you are afraid of the Greek term meaning Messiah.
Humans are not simple. They are complex. It is my belief that God has spoken. We need to listen. In For Your Information I will be helping you with tools to do just that. Feel free to add comments. Let's make this a dialogue.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Look at Basics
As I was thinking about it I came to realize that in my posts I may be confusing most people. Therefore I decided to back up and take another look at the basics before continuing with the deviations and outright false belief systems.
First let me say that it is not so important that you be educated beyond your intelligence. Anyone of average intelligence and education can understand the basics. But if a person is going to be placed in the Church in a position of authority, it is imperative that he be educated and trained. When a person is called to ministry in a church he is called to train.- to get prepared. And then it is up to each church group to decide where to place the person during preparation.
I am aware of one church group that was so hungry for a young adult outreach that the vision committee went out and got a high school grad. The high school grad went and got his college degree on-line. I have nothing against Internet education. In fact, for some who need to work to support themself, the Internet education is a fine way to go.
This church then took this person, who has great leadership skills, and gave him the young adult group to build up. They gave him a teaching position in the evening service and renamed him the pastor. All this while he was still seeking a college education.
Presently this person has a position in the church. A large following. He is the main preacher. And he is signed up to attend seminary in 2012.
So I am not against education. And it doesn't need to be education in the area of ministy. It can be education in any field.
Now to get back to the basics.
There are a few areas in which the Bible is foundational. when it comes to our knowledge of God. The Scriptures are to be regarded as the authoritative word of truth on all matters of basic doctrine. These areas are:
Thanks for staying with this series. It is important to have the awareness you are finding, I hope, through these postings. Please comment and let me know what I can do for you.
First let me say that it is not so important that you be educated beyond your intelligence. Anyone of average intelligence and education can understand the basics. But if a person is going to be placed in the Church in a position of authority, it is imperative that he be educated and trained. When a person is called to ministry in a church he is called to train.- to get prepared. And then it is up to each church group to decide where to place the person during preparation.
This church then took this person, who has great leadership skills, and gave him the young adult group to build up. They gave him a teaching position in the evening service and renamed him the pastor. All this while he was still seeking a college education.
Presently this person has a position in the church. A large following. He is the main preacher. And he is signed up to attend seminary in 2012.
So I am not against education. And it doesn't need to be education in the area of ministy. It can be education in any field.
Now to get back to the basics.
There are a few areas in which the Bible is foundational. when it comes to our knowledge of God. The Scriptures are to be regarded as the authoritative word of truth on all matters of basic doctrine. These areas are:
- Who God is. We must believe because the scriptures say so.We should believe there is only one lawgiver and judge. We must believe that there is no other God besides God; a righteous God and savior. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever" Isaiah 40:8
- Creation.: "In the beginnng God created the heavens and the earth"-Genesis 1:1
- Salvation:. "Turn to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22
- Morals: "Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, pasion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." Colossians 3:5
- Worship:"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23
Thanks for staying with this series. It is important to have the awareness you are finding, I hope, through these postings. Please comment and let me know what I can do for you.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Major Doctrines
Again we spend some time with the Jehovah Witnesses. I don't think I gave you a fair enough look at their doctrines concerning the areas that I consider important. These areas are :What is their take on the Scriptures? How does a man attain salvation?: Who is Jesus?, What is their view of the Godhead? What is their take on what happens when a person dies?
First we see their take on Scriptures. It is this. A study of the Bible alone is not enough to teach one God's will. You need their help. "The religion that is approved by God must agree in all details with the Bible..," they say. Yet it must be seen through the preconceived ideas of the interpretations the church gives. Especailly in their books such as The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life.
Secondly, we look at what rhey say about salvation. They see it as by works instead of grace alone.
Thirdly, we look at what they say about Jesus. He is a created being. His resuurection was only a spirit resurrection. "The justice of God would not permit Jesus, as a ransom, be more than a perfect man; and certainly not the Supreme God Almighty in the flesh"
Fourthly, What do they see of the godhead? Jehovah is one God and He created Jesus. "What then , do the facts show us as to the "Trinity"? Neither the word nor the idea is in God's word, The Bible. The doctrine did not originate with God"
As to what happens when a person dies., there is no eternal punishment for the unsaved as man ceases to exist spiritually at death.
Am I helping you? Let me know if there is anything I can do for you,or subject I can include. And may God bless you all.
First we see their take on Scriptures. It is this. A study of the Bible alone is not enough to teach one God's will. You need their help. "The religion that is approved by God must agree in all details with the Bible..," they say. Yet it must be seen through the preconceived ideas of the interpretations the church gives. Especailly in their books such as The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life.
Secondly, we look at what rhey say about salvation. They see it as by works instead of grace alone.
Thirdly, we look at what they say about Jesus. He is a created being. His resuurection was only a spirit resurrection. "The justice of God would not permit Jesus, as a ransom, be more than a perfect man; and certainly not the Supreme God Almighty in the flesh"
Fourthly, What do they see of the godhead? Jehovah is one God and He created Jesus. "What then , do the facts show us as to the "Trinity"? Neither the word nor the idea is in God's word, The Bible. The doctrine did not originate with God"
As to what happens when a person dies., there is no eternal punishment for the unsaved as man ceases to exist spiritually at death.
Am I helping you? Let me know if there is anything I can do for you,or subject I can include. And may God bless you all.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Knocking on Doors- JW
You have decided to sleep in. You had a long night last night.
There is a knock at your door. You shout out, "Wait a minute."
You open your door. Two people stand there. They have a magazine grasped for lfe in their hand.
"Yes?"
"Would you like the message of truth?", one says.
"Do you know Jehovah?" asks the other.
They look harmless. Strange, yes. They are doing door to door evangelism.
Nothing wrong with that. Evanglism. Door to door.
Except they don't know God and they are not in any way, shape, or form sharing truth.
They are Jehovah Witnesses and they are working for their salvation.
The Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy He saved us."
They neither know Him nor mercy.
They are there becaue they have to be. Their parent organization located in Brooklyn, New York has trained them. They believe that they owe allegence only to Jehovah and not any government. They won't take part in elections or politics, They frown on blood transfussions as being the blood of an animal and forbidden by the Old Testamnt law. They don't observe holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Even birthdays are forbidden.
But worst of all, they deny the Trinity. Jesus, to them, is a created being. His resurrection was only in the spirit, not a physical one. The Holy Spirit is not God. Man at death ceases to be. They have no eternal punishemnt for the unsaved. And as I mentioned, salvation is by good works and not by grace.
They have a New World Translation of the Bible that they follow. It is bits and pieces with JW doctrine running through it. It is not a reliable translation, if such it can be called. (I wouldn't)
That is enough to chew on at the moment. I will be returning to this subject later.
There is a knock at your door. You shout out, "Wait a minute."
You open your door. Two people stand there. They have a magazine grasped for lfe in their hand.
"Yes?"
"Would you like the message of truth?", one says.
"Do you know Jehovah?" asks the other.
They look harmless. Strange, yes. They are doing door to door evangelism.
Nothing wrong with that. Evanglism. Door to door.
Except they don't know God and they are not in any way, shape, or form sharing truth.
They are Jehovah Witnesses and they are working for their salvation.
The Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy He saved us."
They neither know Him nor mercy.
They are there becaue they have to be. Their parent organization located in Brooklyn, New York has trained them. They believe that they owe allegence only to Jehovah and not any government. They won't take part in elections or politics, They frown on blood transfussions as being the blood of an animal and forbidden by the Old Testamnt law. They don't observe holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Even birthdays are forbidden.
But worst of all, they deny the Trinity. Jesus, to them, is a created being. His resurrection was only in the spirit, not a physical one. The Holy Spirit is not God. Man at death ceases to be. They have no eternal punishemnt for the unsaved. And as I mentioned, salvation is by good works and not by grace.
They have a New World Translation of the Bible that they follow. It is bits and pieces with JW doctrine running through it. It is not a reliable translation, if such it can be called. (I wouldn't)
That is enough to chew on at the moment. I will be returning to this subject later.
Reasons for Activity
It did not just happen over night. The deviations from orthodoxy came slowly. Well, not too slowly. The early church had to handle deviations and misapplications early.
Solomon, the wisest man in the world, had this to say, "There is nothing new under the sun"
The counterfeit truths are like water. They satisfy. But they don't hold solid when seen under the microscope of the Bible.The fake truths masked themself as orthodox but were not. When they start to say that Jesus was a creation of God, the first born of creation ,to them it meant He was created, not always existent. Or the false teaching that God is a force.
At the start the church was strong and held a common faith and a common hope. They were close knit together in all aspects of their lives.
The church of today has become a social club. Not all, but enough to allow error to creep in and even be accepted at truth. Today's church in America has turned into a security and entertainment center. In fact, look closely and you can see the five major faults within the church.
Humanism. That is what has crept into the church. Hinduism and the Eastern Belief system has rushed in to fill the void.
We need to, as Christians, get our World View from the Bible, God's Word. His only Word. He has communicated and put down in the Bible all He wants us to know. There will be no more communication. It is finished when the book of Revelation closed.
We need to protect ourselves against the attacks of the cults. That is one reason I am doing this series in this blog.
As we look at these cults we can see self-centered leaders. They do not submit to God's will. They tend to have big egos. The followers are insecure and need the ego driven leaders in order to make themselves feel worthwhile.
Their leaders give them their interpretation of what the Bible says. In reality they teach what their books say. Yes, they tend to have a book other than the Bible. Maybe in addition to but mostly in place of.
More. Much more in the future.
Am I helping you? Let me know how you are. Especially those oif you who are outside the United States.
Solomon, the wisest man in the world, had this to say, "There is nothing new under the sun"
The counterfeit truths are like water. They satisfy. But they don't hold solid when seen under the microscope of the Bible.The fake truths masked themself as orthodox but were not. When they start to say that Jesus was a creation of God, the first born of creation ,to them it meant He was created, not always existent. Or the false teaching that God is a force.
At the start the church was strong and held a common faith and a common hope. They were close knit together in all aspects of their lives.
The church of today has become a social club. Not all, but enough to allow error to creep in and even be accepted at truth. Today's church in America has turned into a security and entertainment center. In fact, look closely and you can see the five major faults within the church.
- A rise of liberalism
- An isolation from contemporary world issues
- A lack of sound Bible teaching
- A failure to promote a solidly Biblical world view
- A fundamental failure to meet people's spiritual, psychological, and social needs
Humanism. That is what has crept into the church. Hinduism and the Eastern Belief system has rushed in to fill the void.
We need to, as Christians, get our World View from the Bible, God's Word. His only Word. He has communicated and put down in the Bible all He wants us to know. There will be no more communication. It is finished when the book of Revelation closed.
We need to protect ourselves against the attacks of the cults. That is one reason I am doing this series in this blog.
As we look at these cults we can see self-centered leaders. They do not submit to God's will. They tend to have big egos. The followers are insecure and need the ego driven leaders in order to make themselves feel worthwhile.
Their leaders give them their interpretation of what the Bible says. In reality they teach what their books say. Yes, they tend to have a book other than the Bible. Maybe in addition to but mostly in place of.
More. Much more in the future.
Am I helping you? Let me know how you are. Especially those oif you who are outside the United States.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Cult Characteristics
You may ask me,"Dane, just what should I look for to see if I am in a cult or not?
That is easy to detail. ask yourself,
Let me know if I am helping you. Comment. Defend your belief system. Am I stepping on toes? Am I firming you up?
That is easy to detail. ask yourself,
- "Are they telling me that all Christian churches are wrong and that they are a special group to whom God alone has given truth?
- Do they attack the diety of Jesus Christ and lower Him to the level of a man, or even raise man to the level of Christ?
- Do they deny that man can be saved by faith in Christ? in other words, do they teach that man can make himself right with God by good works?
- Do they say that their leader, human leader, has new additions to the Bible or even new interpretations?
- Do they distort the Bible's teaching to suit their own particular belief about man,God,the Holy Spirit, heaven, hell, salvation or other vital doctrines?
Let me know if I am helping you. Comment. Defend your belief system. Am I stepping on toes? Am I firming you up?
Effort Makes One Enlightened
So now we look at another Eastern system.Since we in the United States are slowly forgetting our Christian roots we are allowing strange systems to creep in to fill the void.
Man is a religious creature. He is made up of three parts. He is a body. He is a Spirit. He is a soul. The body eats and is satisfied. The Spirit comunicates with the unknown. The soul is what gives him the urge to seek something out there.
Not all adherents to the Eastern mind set are Hindu. More to the mindset is the teaching of the Buddha. Unlike the Hindu the followers of the enlightened one or Buddha hold to the theory of a 'middle way'. that is a path between the complicated religion of the Hindu and the world of sensuality. They have a clear firm rule for the followers.
There are the Noble Truths:
In Tibet it appears as Demon Worship. In Japan it shows up as the new militant, nationalist cult of Soka Gokkai.
But the two main forms we should be aware of are Hinayana that holds that only a fortunate few make it to Nirvana, and Mayanana which is that all will make it, salvation is for all. There is a savior god. Hinayana said that man must save himself. But Mayanana sees Buddha as the savior
The problem is that its gods are beyond man's ability to reach.
On the other hand, Christianity gives us Jesus who will give us the strengh to live a righteous life. God can be reached because God first reached down to us.
Man is a religious creature. He is made up of three parts. He is a body. He is a Spirit. He is a soul. The body eats and is satisfied. The Spirit comunicates with the unknown. The soul is what gives him the urge to seek something out there.
Not all adherents to the Eastern mind set are Hindu. More to the mindset is the teaching of the Buddha. Unlike the Hindu the followers of the enlightened one or Buddha hold to the theory of a 'middle way'. that is a path between the complicated religion of the Hindu and the world of sensuality. They have a clear firm rule for the followers.
There are the Noble Truths:
- Suffering is universal. The very act of living is suffering But in each reincarnation (there it is again.) there is suffering. You will be looking for the Nirvana or release from the endless cycle of suffering.
- The cause of suffering is craving. The endless cycle occurs because we are attached to the world.
- The cure for suffering is to eliminate craving. Simple. No craving. No suffering
- Eliminate craving by following the Middle Way--the Noble Eightfold Path.By isolating the cause of the inability to escape the cage of birth, suffering, rebirth-- something called tanha --you can work out the solution.
- Right viewpoint
- Right aspiration
- Right speech
- Right behavior
- Right occupation
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right meditation
In Tibet it appears as Demon Worship. In Japan it shows up as the new militant, nationalist cult of Soka Gokkai.
But the two main forms we should be aware of are Hinayana that holds that only a fortunate few make it to Nirvana, and Mayanana which is that all will make it, salvation is for all. There is a savior god. Hinayana said that man must save himself. But Mayanana sees Buddha as the savior
The problem is that its gods are beyond man's ability to reach.
On the other hand, Christianity gives us Jesus who will give us the strengh to live a righteous life. God can be reached because God first reached down to us.
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