Is the Church of Christ A Cult?

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Is the Church of ChristA Cult?

• Examining the Evidence
• In Light of Gods Word

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Cult Defined

• World English Dictionary (Collins)
• Cult kuhlt n 1. a specific system of
  religious worship, esp. with reference to its
  rites and deity 2. a sect devoted to such a
  system 3. a quasi-religious organization using
  devious psychological techniques to gain and
  control adherents 4. sociology - a group having
  an exclusive ideology and ritual practices
  centered on sacred symbols, esp. one
  characterized by lack of organizational structure
  5. intense interest in and devotion to a person,
  idea, or activity the cult of yoga 6. the
  person, idea, etc., arousing such devotion 7. a.)
  something regarded as fashionable or significant
  by a particular group b.) ( as modifier ) a
  cult show 8. ( modifier ) of, relating to, or
  characteristic of a cult or cults a cult figure
  from Latin cultus cultivation, refinement, from
  colere to till

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Cult Defined

• Word Origin History (Etymonline)
• Cult - 1617, "worship," also "a particular form
  of worship," from Fr. culte, from L. cultus
  "care, cultivation, worship," originally "tended,
  cultivated," pp. of colere "to till" (see
  colony). Rare after 17c. revived mid-19c. with
  reference to ancient or primitive rituals.

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Cult Defined

• Cultural Dictionary (American Heritage)
• cult definition
• In anthropology, an organization for the conduct
  of ritual, magical, or other religious
  observances. Many so-called primitive tribes, for
  example, have ancestor cults, in which dead
  ancestors are considered divine and activities
  are organized to respect their memory and invoke
  their aid. A cult is also a religious group held
  together by a dominant, often charismatic
  individual, or by the worship of a divinity, an
  idol, or some other object.

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Overview of Cults

• Common religious groups in the US widely
  considered as cults Sun Myung Moon Unification
  Church (1940s), Church of Scientology (1950s),
  The Way International (1950s), Charles Manson
  (1960s), Anton Lavey Church of Satan (1960s),
  Family of Love (1960s), Church of Bible
  Understanding (1970s), The Raelians (1970s),
  Jim Jones The Peoples Temple (1970s),
  Elizabeth Clare Prophet Church Universal and
  Triumphant (1970s), Order of the Solar Temple
  (1980s), Cross Roads Boston Movement ICC
  (1980s), David Koresh Branch Dividians
  (1990s), Heavens Gate (1990s)

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Overview of Cults

• Is the church of Christ a cult? This question is
  sometimes asked of us (1 Pet. 315)
• Churches of Christ are listed on the Index of
  Cults and Religions of Watchman Fellowship
  (watchman.org/index)
• Websites are devoted to claiming that Churches of
  Christ are actual cults (jesus-is-savior.com/F)
  or close to it (chocd.org)

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Overview of Cults

• There are religious groups using the name Church
  of Christ that bare the marks of cults
• Church of Christ Jesus (ICC)
• Church of Christ Consciousness (Center of the
  Light)
• Church of Christ with Elijah Message

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Overview of Cults

• We must not judge or be judged a cult by
  appearance only or hearsay (Jn. 724 1518-21
  Acts 245)
• We must be on guard for anyone who would lead us
  astray (Mt. 715 2411,23-26 2 Pet. 21-2)
• Remember, the presence of a counterfeit implies
  the presence of the truth
• Consider four issues related to cults (1)
  authority, (2) scripture use, (3) daily living,
  and (4) future outlook

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Issues Related to Authority
Cults Lords Church
Self-styled, charismatic, unproven leader Proven Christ Jn. 2030-31
Question, neglect, or malign Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is truly divine and first (Col. 115-18)
Unproven, latter-day / extra-biblical revelations (in conjunction with the Bible) Complete revelation Jn. 1613 Gal. 16-9 Col. 28 2 Tim. 316-17 2 Jn. 9 Jude 3
Unquestioned leadership Test all things 1 Thess. 521 1 Jn. 41
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Issues Related to Scripture Use
Cults Lords Church
Doctrinal ambiguity Truth can be known (Jn. 832 1717)
Private study and investigation discouraged Private study encouraged (Jn. 539 Acts 1711 1 Tim. 413
Special help needed special discoveries made You can know the truth (Eph. 34 517)
Bible texts twisted and distorted use of specialized translations (NWT) Bible texts are kept in context (Mt. 45-6 2 Tim. 215 2 Pet. 316)
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Issues Related to Daily Living
Cults Lords Church
Total isolation, remove from family and friends, closed fellowship We are the light of world Phil. 215 no fellowship with worldliness, 2 Cor. 617 no fellowship with worldly members, 1 Cor. 51-13
Secret and sometimes immoral practices Open, righteous example to all 1 Tim. 412 Tit. 27-8
Privacy denied accountability partner financial exploitation total commitment Total commitment to God alone Mt. 2237 1 Cor. 161-2
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Issues Related to Daily Living
Cults Lords Church
Coercion violence stalking in joining or leaving Invitation given, voluntary Ac. 241 Rev. 320
Dishonest, manipulative proselytizing methods No dishonest methods 2 Cor. 217 1 Thess. 23-6
Psycological manipulation de-program brainwashing mind control drug use No psychological manipulation Rom. 116 Acts 172
Daily activities controlled, limited, or removed Activities such as work (1 Thess. 411) and family are encouraged (Eph. 5-6)
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Issues Related to Future Outlook
Cults Lords Church
False basis of salvation No false basis 1 Pet. 13-4
Secret plots of destruction preached No secret plots 1 Pet. 416
Physical preparations made for Armageddon No Armageddon Rev. 1616
Paradise on earth No earthly home 2 Pet. 310-13
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Is the Church of Christ a Cult?

• The label of cult against some churches of
  Christ is slanderous. The Lords church is not a
  cult! It is not a secret group that seeks to
  control your mind contrary to your will or (more
  importantly) the will God.
• It has been demonstrated that the Lords church
  is not a cult. The Lords church does not have
  the common characteristics of a cult. Anyone who
  charges otherwise is either ignoring the evidence
  present here or is committing slander.

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Is the Church of Christ a Cult?

• Know the difference between a cult and the Lords
  church! Dont be fooled!
• The Lords church always welcomes your
  investigation. We keep an open Bible, an open
  schedule, and an open mind to study with anyone,
  anytime, about any religious matter.