What is a Cult?

Anytime an individual or group sets themselves up as the authority over other men’s knowledge and understanding of God or the Bible, or imposes his authority over how others believe or live their lives in regards to spiritual or religious matters, he is establishing himself as a Cult leader. When a leader or group of leaders declares themselves to be the sole or key human agent through whom God reveals His Truth, the only ones to whom knowledge or understanding of the Scriptures has been given, or to whom men must submit and obey in order to ‘follow’ God or be acceptable to or received by God, he or they have set themselves up as leaders of a Cult.

Any group of people which is established around the leadership of an individual or small group who dictates all religious teaching, spiritual understanding, and/or life matters, whose teachings and demands must be followed to the exclusion of independant study or understanding, and without recourse to question or hold accountable that leadership respective to its teachings or actions, that group is a Cult.

Any time an individual or group sets themselves up as the absolute authority over other men’s lives, and people accept and submit to that leadership, the resulting group is a Cult.

The Bible teaches that:

Christ is the head of the church (1 Cor 11:3; Eph 1:23; Col 1:18)

Christ is the sole mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 12;24)

the Holy Spirit is our God-given teacher, guide, convicter, (John 14, 16)

The Scriptures are God’s word to men and are sufficient and suitable for all teaching, to make men ‘wise unto salvation’ and to make men ‘perfect” (2 Tim 3:15-17)

That the saints of God have no need for other men to teach us (1 John 2:27)

That there is no spiritual hierarchy in Christ’s church; all saints are equals and Christian leadership is one of servanthood and example, achieved through demonstration of faith and mature life conduct. (cf. 1 Cor 12; Titus 1:5-10, 1 Tim 3:12)

A Christian leader is one whom others can follow, not someone who drives the sheep, but who feeds them as the flock of God. (Mrk 10:42-44; 1 Tim 4:12; 1 Pet 5:1-3)

Consequently, anyone who seeks to establish themselves as sovereign over other men’s lives or faith is a false teacher, and is to be refuted, revealed for what they are, and rejected.

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