What is a cult? - Harvest Free Will Baptist Church

lessons about the trappings of cults and false religions #1
.
What is a cult
1. Christian-oriented cults: are religious groups which
_____________ harmony with Christianity but which either
denies, misinterprets or adds to essential biblical doctrines.
2. Destructive Cults: are religious groups which exploit its members'
vulnerability in order to gain complete control over them, often using
unethical psychological techniques to bring about thought reform.
Cults can be both Christian-oriented and Destructive.
What are some of the characteristics of cults
1. Most cults come from another religious background.
2. Most cults will claim to be a Christian group yet they will teach
something that is _____________ primarily a Christian belief.
3. Most cults will _____________ a little Christianity into their
teachings, often deceiving people into following them.
4. Most cults think that they are the only the group has ''the
_____________,'' usually based on new insights or revelation.
5. Most cults think that they have received special revelation from
God.
6. Most cults have strong individual _____________ or small powerful
leadership group which holds control of the group’s teachings
and practices.
7. Most cults will exercise control over its members. Sometimes
through fear, threatening lose of salvation if you leave the group.
8. Most cults will encourage or require its members to live and/or
socialize _____________ with other group members.
9. Most cults will believe and teach that their group is singled out for
persecution.
NOTES:
How to Recognize a
Cult: When you know
the truth, that which is
authentic, you will
easily recognize the
"less than authentic."
Take the Bible at face
value in all its
simplicity.
The purpose of all cults
is to lead people astray
into lies, deceit,
confusion and
ultimately into hell.
Be very suspicious of
any group that claims
to be better than all the
others.
And then if any man
shall say to you, Lo,
here is Christ; or, lo, he
is there; believe him
not: For false Christs
and false prophets
shall rise, and shall
shew signs and
wonders, to seduce, if
it were possible, even
the elect. But take ye
heed: behold, I have
foretold you all things.
Jesus
Mark 13:21-23
Harvest Free Will Baptist Church
www.harvestbakersfield.com
Pastor Kurt Lindgren
1

lessons about the trappings of cults and false religions #1
10. All cults draw the person away from the truth concerning
Jesus Christ ; this is done in a number of ways:
By denying Jesus Christ is _____________.
By saying God is "The _____________" or some sort of
creating/evolving energy.
By saying that Jesus was god with a small g and that we
all can _____________ gods.
Jesus is just a _____________ man, prophet or teacher.
By seeing Christ as just _____________ nature achieving
at top potential.
By saying Jesus did not come in the _____________ but is
instead a divine principle a Cosmic Christ.
By saying Jesus is the Archangel Michael or Satan's
_____________.
What are the misconceptions about cults
1. Cults are _____________ to spot; they wear strange clothes and live
in communes.
Most cult members are everyday people like you and me.
They live in houses. They wear the same clothes. They
eat the same food.
2. Cults are full of _____________, and emotionally unstable people.
Not true. Many cult members are very intelligent,
attractive and skilled.
3. Cults are just a bunch of religious _____________ cases.
Virtually anyone can get involved in a cult under the right
circumstances, particularly during periods of vulnerability
such as emotional trauma associated with illness, loss of
a job or death of a loved one.
Jesus declares “I am
the way, the truth,
and the life. No one
comes to the Father
except through Me.”
John 14:6 If this
statement is true,
Jesus is the only way
to get to the Father
(God) and all the other
religions and belief
systems are useless.
Therefore, any cult will
try to change the value
of Jesus Christ.
One test of a cult is
that it often does not
strictly teach that
Jesus is the only
begotten Son of God
who Himself is God
manifested in the flesh.
Another test is whether
the person who is the
teacher or leader of the
group or movement
promotes himself as
being equal to or
greater than Jesus.
At the lowest point in
your life, Satan will
introduce you to the
friendliest people you
have ever known,
who will introduce
you to the most
loving group of
people you have ever
encountered.
Anonymous Ex-Cult
Member
Harvest Free Will Baptist Church
www.harvestbakersfield.com
Pastor Kurt Lindgren
2