Cults and Occults

1. Cults and Occults MCCU Mr. Japheth Rwoti Focus Staff

2. OUTLINE • Definition of terms • How to identify a cult • What is the role of Christians in preventing the rise and the spread of this groups? • Biblical perspective • Conclusion

3. What is a Cult? The term "cult" first appeared in English in 1617, derived from the French culte, meaning "worship" or "a particular form of worship" which in turn originated from the Latin word cultus meaning "care, cultivation, worship," originally "tended, cultivated,“ Lewis defines Cult as ‘any religious movement which claims the backing of Christ or the Bible, but distorts the central message of Christianity by • An additional revelation, and • By displacing a fundamental tenet of faith with a secondary matter (Confronting Cults p.4)

4. Definition Cont… • A group of people gathered around (polarized about) one person's interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations from historic Christianity. • Perversion of God's word, distortion, heresy or counterfeit Christianity. • Rejection of the historic teachings of the Christian Church (The Body of Believers). • A Cult is a group that claims the truth of Christ and of Scriptures but they miss the heart of Christianity - Jesus Christ the Redeemer.

5. Some practical issues and videos April 5, 2016 A pastor South Africa, is raising eyebrows over his claims that he has visited heaven.Pastor PasekaMotsoeneng, who is also known as Pastor Mboro, claims that he visited God, according to his spokesperson. The pastor is now selling photos of himself in heaven. The photos can be purchased at the Incredible Happenings Church in Katlehong.The photos are being sold for 5,000 rand ($333) each. People made fun of the pastor on social media sites.

6. Practical Cont… Eating of grass in a congregation. (A story appeared on Standard Newspaper in 2014, 3 years ago) • In Kenya, news of human beings eating grass screams witchcraft and is usually a punishment for stealing stuff that does not belong to them. • However in South Africa, eating grass according to one Pastor Lesego Daniel, brings you closer to God. He argued that humans can eat anything to feed their bodies and survive on whatever they chose to eat.

7. Characteristics of a cult

8. New revelation: • Many cult leaders claim to have a revelation from God. God speaks directly to them and none else. As times change so does God change what to tell his people. You will always find an emphasis on new revelations from God. • The Mormons at some point excluded the African Americans from the priesthood of all believers. When pressure was exerted, the president claimed to have received a revelation that was reversing the previous order.

9. A denial of sole authority of the bible • Majority cults deny the sole authority of the bible. • As a result more of them have books that are more important e.g. • Mormons-the book of Mormons, • Jehovah witnesses-Watchtower

10. A denial of Salvation by grace • Cults typically deny salvation by grace alone thus distorting the purity of the gospel. • The Mormons emphasize the necessity to become more and more perfect in this life • JW emphasize the importance of distributing the Watchtower literature door to door as part of working out their salvation.

11. Authoritarian figure. • Authoritarianism involves the acceptance of an authority figure that uses mind-control techniques on group members. • The word of the prophet or founder is ultimate • The main aim of these leaders is to not reform like Luther martin or John Wesley, • They do not lead people by love • Instead of motivating people for Christ, he attempts to control the person

12. Exclusivism and dogmatism. • We alone have the truth'. “Our church has the truth”. • Mormons-we are the exclusive community of the saved; And we are the only true church on earth • JW-we are the exclusive community of the saved and the only voice of Jehovah on earth

13. Isolationism and antagonism • They tend to restrict interactions freely with other people. More often than not they encourage interactions among the members of the church. • They even prohibit visit by family members who are not members of the church • So there is both fear and antagonism towards the outside world, generated by the cult leader • All other groups are considered enemies and tools of Satan

14. Legalism • Setting down a rigid set of rules by which the devotees must live. • These standards are often extra biblical • Mormons-forbidding using of coffee, tea or any drink with caffeine • JW-requiring the members to distribute the Watchtower as a way of securing your crown

15. Why cults thrive today? • The man of God syndrome. “ My spiritual dad said” , My Bishop spoke over my life and said……” • A lack of discipleship/Carrying your cross. People want to be spoon fed in all things. • People don’t want to use their minds. No Bereans who can ask hard questions. When you ask, you branded a revival enemy/killer. (2 Tim 2:15) • Desperation. People are desperate for miracles and prophesy. • The unfortunate failure of the church to engage the community in way that touches on the practical needs of the people. • Failure to teach the doctrines of the church and how to discern error-We do have members who do not know the word not transformed enough to stand in testing times. • Apologetics has been left to selected few.

16. Why Cults Thrive today? • Increased relativism- the growth of relativism in our culture has contributed to the rise of cults. Everything is relative to the situation. Everything is acceptable and permissible. • Social breakdown of families- we now have a generation without a sense of history-cut off from the past, alienated from the present, and having a fragmented concept of the future. The now generation is in reality a lost generation-e.g. ‘generation jipange'. • Poor discipleship and grounding in truth: Underestimatingthe power of peer pressure.Each one of us talks and praises the churches we go to. Once one is immersed into a group philosophy with no room to interact with dissenting views, Chris Hart a psychologist says “ they will not just cave, they will soon be championing the cause of that group • The need to belong and be accepted is intrinsic in all of us: “Unfortunately many people confuse this need with being loved. The need for acceptance is very different.

17. Example of a cult: Rastafarianism • The Rastafari movement or Rastafarianism is a "messianic religio-political movement" that began in the Jamaican slums in the 1920s and 30s. • The most famous Rastafari is Bob Marley, whose reggae music gained the Jamaican movement international recognition. • There is significant variation within the Rastafari movement and no formal organization. Some Rastafarians see Rasta more as a way of life than a religion. • But uniting the diverse movement is belief in the divinity and/or messiahship of Ethiopian Emperor Haille Selassie I, the influence of Jamaican culture, resistance of oppression, and pride in African heritage. • The Rastafarian lifestyle usually includes ritual use of marijuana, avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of one's hair in dreadlocks, and vegetarianism.

18. Rastafarianism conti… • Rastafari is a young, Africa-centred religion which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia in 1930. • Rastafarians believe Haile Selassie is God, and that he will return to Africa members of the black community who are living in exile as the result of colonisation and the slave trade.

19. Rastafarianism conti… • One of the most important figures in the history of the Rastafari movement is the reggae artist Bob Marley (1945-81). The son of a white father and black mother, Marley lived in the Kingston slums of Jamaica. He recorded his first singles in 1962, had his first international hit with The Wailers' album Catch A Fire in 1973. He had his first solo hit outside Jamaica with "No Woman, No Cry," in 1975. • Bob Marley became a Rastafari around 1966. He grew dreadlocks, adopted marijuana as a sacred sacrament, and is said to have begun every performance proclaiming the divinity of JahRastafari. His immense popularity as a musician brought both reggae and Rasta to international attention. Reggae music is intimately connected to Rastafari and its lyrics often speak of oppression, poverty, slavery, apartheid and human rights.

20. What should we do? • Holding on to Sound doctrine. 2 Thes. -2: 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. • Explaining our faith. 1 Peter 3: 15 - Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. • Refuting error Titus 1:9 & 10 …encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. ….They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach.. • Contending the faith is thus not an activity of spiritual giants or theologians. It is for every Christian. By this definition, you are either contending for the faith or embracing strange teaching.

21. God bless you THANK YOU.