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Characteristics of the Cults

Characteristics of the Cults. 2 Peter 2:1-3. The Danger. Cults are increasing in number and population.

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Characteristics of the Cults

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  1. Characteristics of the Cults 2 Peter 2:1-3

  2. The Danger • Cults are increasing in number and population. • Cult – “An organized heresy: a religious group not in the mainstream; a fanatical group that demands blind faith and unquestioning obedience; groups which concentrate on one belief or custom out of proportion to everything else; usually crystallized around a charismatic personality.”

  3. 7 Danger Signs • 1. Follow one human leader. • 2. Dilute the Bible. • 3. Desert your family. • 4. Forget the church. • 5. Believe new revelations. • 6. “Park” your mind. • 7. Keep our secret.

  4. The “Leader” • One who is thought to possess “unique” powers, special abilities. • A powerful “father figure” – a messiah. • Gives strict, arbitrary rules. • No independence of thought or study. • We must reveal to them all “secret” thoughts and actions. • Insist that we withdraw from normal involvements.

  5. Through regimentation – no private life. • Induce physical and mental exhaustion to prevent resistance and leaving the cult. • To bind members to the cult, leaders create the image of an “evil outgroup”, an enemy. • If you reject the cult, God will punish you.

  6. What Causes Cultism • Many in our society are socially “rootless”. • Decline of strong family units. • Churches do not meet Spiritual needs. • “Religion” is a leisure time activity. • Children are raised w/o goals and purpose. • Some love quacks and racketeers.

  7. The “Victims” • Primarily young people, away from home. • Love bombing. • Isolated. • Extreme guilt • No real identity of their own.

  8. An Ancient, Human Problem • 1 Tim. 4:1 • 2 Peter 3:18 • 2 Cor. 11:19; 3-4 • Col. 2:8

  9. The Contrast – Christ or Cults • Jesus urges us to count cost – Luke 14:27f • No Coercion – our choice – Rom. 1:16 • No outward uniform – We are “peculiar”, not bizarre. • No withdrawal from society – 1 Cor. 5:10 • No appeal to a peculiar age group. • “Keep our secret” – 2 Peter 2:1

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