![]() ![]() ![]() Most likely, cultic leaders do not want to expose any weakness on their part. In cultic churches, questions are condemned. Members are not allowed to ask questions of the leadership. ![]() In authentic churches, all members are encouraged to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.Ĥ. To show superiority, the cultic leader maintains a domineering attitude to show his/her supposed intellectual and/or spiritual superiority. Much of this anti-intellectualism comes by the leader being threatened with information that would show a potential weakness in the leader’s philosophy or theology. Members are discouraged from learning philosophy, history, science, systematic theology, or about anything with which the leader(s) is/are not familiar. In cultic churches and with cultic leaders, intellect is dismissed. Members are not allowed to grow intellectually. In authentic churches, biblical truth is given greater weight then personal opinions.ģ. Thus, the leader’s interpretation is given an equal, if not higher, standing than clear biblical precepts. Without proper training, cult and cultic leaders will make biblical connections that do not exist. Boehm noted that many trained cult leaders can twist most Christians into knots by pulling various quotes from the Bible. Recently, I interviewed cult expert, Michael Boehm. Personal interpretations are held to an equal or higher view than biblical truth. In authentic churches, biblical orthodoxy is both taught and practiced.Ģ. While there is nothing inherently wrong with emotionalism, the loss of biblical integrity develops into some downright bizarre practices. Biblical doctrine and theology are dismissed in favor of elevated levels of emotionalism. Most cultic churches are merely one step removed from being a full-blown cult. Biblical orthodoxy is held in low-esteem. So, how does one know that a church has the characteristics of a cultic church? Consider the following 10 signs of cultic churches.ġ. Their actions do not represent the loving precepts found in God’s Word. However, cultic churches are not authentic churches due to questionable orthopraxy (right practice). In contrast, cults are completely separated from Christian orthodoxy in their beliefs. Cultic churches are distinguished from cults in that their theology may be close to orthodoxy (right beliefs)-however, upon further investigation most cultic churches border on heresy. ![]() Cultic church lead by power-plays and draconian control over their members. They are the assemblies of baptized believers who fully adopt biblical principles and have the freedom to grow and develop in their relationship with Christ.Ĭultic churches are aberrations of the authentic church. Authentic churches are the body of Christ. Churches like these are identified as cultic churches as contrasted with authentic churches. He noted that one cult did not allow the congregants to open their Bibles as everything had to be interpreted by the leadership. Just last night, a guest pastor from the Philippines spoke about particular cults in his land. Jane Whaley and her husband are at the center of these accusations. Reports included young children being punched by the leadership while being called Satanists. A few weeks back, I was troubled to hear about a Word of Faith congregation in Spindale, North Carolina, that was guilty of abusing its members. ![]()
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