Cults And The Idea Of The True Church

1. Cults And The Idea Of The True Church

2. Metaphors Of The Church • Grudem pages 858-859 • Family ( Timothy 5:1,2; Ephesians 3:14, 2 Cor 6:18, Matthew 12:49-50, 1 John 3:14-18) • Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:32, 2 Corinthians 11:2) • Vine (John 15:5) Olive Tree (Romans 11:17-24)Field of crops (1 Corinthians 3:6-9) Harvest (John 4:35, Matthew 13:1-30) • Building (1 Corinthians 3:9) Temple of Living Stones (1 Peter 2:5) built on Christ the cornerstone ( 1 Peter 2:4-8) with believers as royal priests (1 Peter 2:5). God’s ‘house’ (Hebrews 3:3-6) and a pillar of the Truth (1 Timothy 3:15) • Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:15-16, Colossians 2:19

3. Universal Church vs. Visible Church • Universal Church = all of God’s children, all truly born-again believers • Visible Church = the visible church organization / denominations • Augustine said of the visible church: “many sheep are without and many wolves are within” • Grudem p 857: We may conclude that the group of God’s people considered at any level from local to universal may rightly be called “a church”

4. Error 1: Only We Are Saved • Only the members of the cult are saved • JW’s, Mormons etc • The cult members are ‘in the light’ and others are compromised or in darkness • Catholic doctrine – no salvation outside the Catholic Church • Thief on the cross, woman of Samaria, people in remote areas, often saved without any ‘organization’ to belong to

5. Error 2: Every One Is Saved • Liberal theology • New Age theology • Universalism • Christ died for everyone – they just don’t know it • All roads lead to God • Jesus teaching on Hell in Mark 9:38-50 • Paul – Jews not saved, Romans 10:1-3, Galatians 5:1-11 • Peter – even the righteous are saved ‘with difficulty’ (1 Peter 4:17-19)

6. Error 3: Salvation Depends on Factor X • Grace + X = salvation • X can be things such as: • Works • Giving to the cult • Obedience to the cult leader / doctrines • Ritual holiness • Baptism • Church attendance at Christmas and Easter • Matters of food, dress, drink etc. • Colossians 2:8-23, Galatians 4:10, 5;1-11

7. Error 4: Church = Doctrine • Only those adhering to exactly correct doctrine are saved (Hyper-Fundamentalism) • But what about someone w. Down’s syndrome? Does a person w. Alzheimer’s lose their salvation? • Salvation is primarily via a saving faith relationship • It is only secondarily about doctrine • 2 Timothy 2:23-26, Titus 3:9-11

8. Error 5: Church = Correct Leadership • Great Leader X ‘defines the true church’ • Apostolic succession ‘defines the true church’ • Correct structure ‘defines the true church’ • Modern apostles and prophets ‘define the true church’ • There are very few direct instructions about church structure and government in the Bible • The structure of the visible church has nothing to do with whether the people within it are born-again or not!

9. Error 6: Church = A Ceremony • Mass • Sunday services • Sabbath observance • New Age Rituals • God looks on the heart and the godly lifestyle not on the ceremony • Isaiah 29:13, Jeremiah 7:1-15, Micah 6:6-8, Mark 7:1-23

10. Error 7: Church = Culture • Church as a cultural or societal tradition rather than a living faith • Attempting to return to the 1800’s or the 1950s or to ancient times • May involve banning certain kinds of music or technology • May involve strong political ties that end up compromising the group • Scribes, Pharisees, High Priests etc.

11. Error 8: Church = Ecstatic State • Must speak in tongues to be saved (United Pentecostal Church) • Or must have a certain spiritual experience in order to be saved • The church consists of those who have ‘got it’ and the outsiders are those without the experience • Colossians 2 – angel worshippers and those ‘not holding fast to the Head which is Christ’

12. Error 9: Church = The Pure Ones • Church = those who are ‘holy’ • Holiness defined by the group’s standards e.g. not smoking, drinking, not committing sexual immorality etc. • Those who fail these standards are expelled from the church • Makes God’s grace very conditional • Corinthian church was messy, and contained many problem individuals, but was still a church! • Note: We should still strive to be holy!!

13. Error 10: Church = First Century Church • Church must have apostles, prophets, gifts of the Holy Spirit etc. • Must be in house churches, cell groups etc • All hierarchy seen as corrupt / sinful • Or must have certain practices of the early church such as immediate baptism by immersion • Argument from silence. The Bible does not directly prescribe these things or even condemn certain church structures.

14. Error 11: Church = An Enterprise (Business) • Watchtower Tract Distribution Society • Sale or relics, indulgences and marketing of pilgrimages • Cults where converts become sales-people • Some televangelists • Some multi-level marketing companies with strongly religious overtones • The ‘bottom line’ is cash not Christ • Cannot serve God and Mammon • The Church is a Body and when a Body becomes a business it is a prostitute! • 1 Timothy 6:3-10

15. Error 12: Church = State • Constantine – (Roman Emperor) head of State = head of Church • Queen Elizabeth is head of the Church of England • Pharaoh, Roman Emperors = ‘gods’ • Some cults declare themselves to be ‘sovereign nations’ not subject to laws, taxation etc • Bible – separation of prophet, priest and King • Priests from Levi, Kings from Judah, separate duties, when King Uzziah tried to offer incense he became a leper (2 Chronicles 26:16-21)