How to Create Your Own Religion

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How to Create Your Own Religion A Seminar
on Cults and Their (Mis)Use of Scripture 20/20
Collegiate Conference Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC February
3-4, 2006
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Catching a Counterfeit Understanding the
Basics of Cults Sects By Cky J. Carrigan,
Ph.D. North American Mission Board,
SBC Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary ccarrigan_at_namb.net www.ontruth.com
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CREEPERS CONTENDERS Jude 3-4
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CREEPERS (Jude 4)

• CREEP IN UNNOTICED
• DENY BIBLICAL GRACE
• DENY BIBLICAL JESUS

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CONTENDERS (Jude 3)

• CONTEND
• CONTEND EARNESTLY
• CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
• THE FAITH ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS
• THE FAITH BIBLE

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• Cults are Measured by Serious Errors
• There are Four Main Kinds of Cultic Errors
• Errors of Addition
• Errors of Subtraction
• Errors of Multiplication
• Errors of Division

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• Addition Errors
• Adds Indispensable Documents to Scripture
• That Claim To Give Additional Revelation
• Or Clearest Meaning of Scripture
• Through Current Direct Revelation From God
• OR, Forces Erroneous Interpretation on Scripture

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• Genuine Christianity
• Regards Bible Alone
• As Clear Revelation
• Sole and Final Authority For Doctrine
• AND, Employs Historical-Grammatical Techniques to
  Interpret the Bible

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• Subtraction Errors
• Subtracts from Person of Jesus Christ
• Christ is Less than Fully God
• Christ is Less than Fully Man
• Denies the Two Unified Natures
• Subtracts from the Number or Nature
• of the Tri-Unity of God

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• Genuine Christianity
• Asserts the Full Deity of Christ
• Asserts the Full Humanity of Christ
• Asserts the Two Natures Uniquely
• Unified in the One Person
• of Christ
• Asserts the Tri-Unity of God
• One God in Three Persons

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The Biblical and Reasonable Doctrine of
the TRI-UNITY of GOD
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• Six Propositions on the Tri-Unity of God
• The Father is God
• The Son is God
• The Holy Spirit is God
• God is ONE
• The Bible is True and Doesnt Contradict
• The Trinity is a Unique Mystery with No
  Exact Analogy

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• The Tri-Unity 0f God is NOT . . .
• Oneness in Purpose Only (Mormons)
• One Person Known by 3 Titles
• Three Parts of One Whole (Egg, Pie)
• One God in 3 Modes, Manifestations, Forms
• (Oneness Pentecostals)
• Best Expressed by the Formula 1 x 1 x 1 1
• Expressed by the Formula 3 1

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The Tri-Unity IS Expressed By The Formula
3 1
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The Tri-Unity of God
Three-Ness of Tri-Unity
One-Ness of Tri-Unity

• God is THREE in
• Person-hood
• Eternal Father
• Eternal Son
• Eternal Holy Spirit

• God is ONE in
• Essence
• Or Being-ness
• Or Nature

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Father
is
is not
is not
GOD
is
is
Holy Spirit
Son
is not
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• Multiplication Errors
• Multiplies the Requirements for Salvation
• Works (or Personal Righteousness) are Necessary
• Pre-Condition For Redemption
• Faith Works Salvation

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• Genuine Christianity
• Regards Grace Alone as the Sole
• Vehicle For Salvation
• Affirms Grace Alone Through Faith Alone
• Faith Salvation Works

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• Division Errors
• Divides Loyalties of its Members
• Divides Loyalties Between God and Org.
• Divides Loyalties Between God and Leaders
• Makes Devotion to Org. a Test of Faith
• Devotion to Org. is a Condition for
• Salvation

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• Genuine Christianity
• Requires Allegiance to the Lord Jesus
• Christ Alone
• May Require Loyalty to a Local Church
• For Local Church Membership
• But, Does Not Require Loyalty to a
• Local Church as a Condition For
• Salvation

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• Other Counterfeit Patterns
• End Times Speculation and Date Setting
• Attention to Obscure Biblical Passages
• Denial of Eternal Punishment
• Doctrinal Fluidity
• Induced Paranoia

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• Cults are Measured by Serious Errors
• Adding to (or forcing an erroneous interpretation
  on) the Bible
• Subtracting from Full Deity/Humanity of Christ or
  the Tri-Unity
• Multiplying Requirements for Salvation beyond
  Faith
• Dividing Loyalties to God and an Org.

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What Can YOU Do About the gods of this Age?
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• Dont be Fooled by Creepers!
• Learn to Spot Counterfeits!
• Become a Contender!