How Not To Be Deceived By Cults (Even Christian Ones)

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HOW NOT TO BE DECEIVED BY CULTS
(EVEN CHRISTIAN ONES)

By Todd Fishkind

Deception has certain telltale signs, which apply not only with cults like the Watchtower, the Mormons, the mind sciences, and endless others. These signs also apply for true believers, who are prone to get caught up in a mighty rushing wind of good-sounding, but deceptive doctrine.
The following checkpoints are by no means exhaustive, but here are some prominent signs to watch out for:

1) WHEN THERE'S ALWAYS A STUDY GUIDE:
There's always some study guide, a "key to the scriptures," or, some founder's writing, in order to provide the true interpretation, or the INSPIRED word (as opposed to the literal word), or to "complete the revelation" of the Bible. These guides lead you down narrow corridors of thought, and are intended to keep, (and often discourage), you from studying on your own. This is often reinforced with powerful group dynamics of fear, and an intensely loyal following. Not all study guides are bad, of course. But, be careful with special editions, which may highlight certain aspects of scripture, to the exclusion, or even negation, of others. Or which imply, in any way, that the standard versions are not enough.

Be especially careful of any remade version, bearing the instrumentality or image of an apostle, popular teacher or tele-evangelist.
Beware of too many private interpretations and novel opinions, which have the effect of alienating and isolating you, and your church, from the Lord's body at large.
Also, be careful with people who bear a theme of restoration, who sincerely seek to bring back a radical, pure, New Testament church life, but who have a spirit of exclusion; who regard all other ministries as "off", or "out to lunch", or simply less fortunate than they are, because, they do not have THE revelation.

2) AN UNTEACHEABLE SPIRIT:
An unteachable spirit with a popular leader whom you respect. Such a person will not receive correction from outside; and is seldom, if ever, approached from within, due to control, legalism, fear of man, and often an authoritarian, top-down style; intense loyalty for one's group, (an "us against all the world" mentality), political correctness, etc.
Suspect leaders are always "right"; and seldom, if ever, repent before their following; and are insensitive toward the consensus of father-figures in the Lord's Body. They do not recant their positions when proven wrong, but merely modify them, and cite persecution against the Lord's "true followers" when they are questioned or criticized.
One must be willing to give up being right; one must be willing to be found wrong, many times, along the path of life, in order to obtain truth, and to remain in truth. And, what is truth, but a person?... Jesus. "I am the way, the truth and the Life; no one comes unto the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)
And, what does He require but humility? (Micah 6:8)
God gives grace to the humble.

3) INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE WITH TEACHING, INSTEAD OF INTERPRETING TEACHING WITH SCRIPTURE:
This is the highway to deception. And it happens everywhere. Beware, when you are told not to question teachings, or that you are "out of your league", or too young a believer to understand.
Beware, if you are told that "you don't have the measure, insight or capacity to question such things." This is elitist thinking.
There's nothing wrong with honest questions, coming from pure motives.
Be careful when you are told to just trust leaders, when they are not willing to trust you. Be willing to walk the fine line, the tightwire of balance, even when it means social reproach, or falling out of favor with some.
Beware, when no one around you is exercising personal discernment before the Lord. Especially, beware, if such discernment is discouraged. The Bereans, in the book of Acts, were commended for testing apostolic teaching with scripture. Scripture also tells us, ALL of us, (not just an elite few), to try the spirits, to TEST ALL THINGS, and hold fast to what is true.

4) A STARSTRUCK AND SPELLBOUND FOLLOWING:
Watch out, when a charismatic (gifted) leader is SO popular, has such force of persuasion, and enjoys such a loyal following (especially the exclusivist kind), that people hang on to his or her EVERY WORD, as though it were scripture itself. Like the canonizing of saints, their every musing, out of their times of devotion, are assumed to be right from the throne of heaven.
This is especially suspect, because, this kind of leader ALLOWS his following to be so taken with him, and seems to enjoy being the center of focus. A true Christian leader does not continually cause a following to be awestruck over his teaching, incredible knowledge and uncanny giftings, but brings attention to Jesus.
Oftentimes, such leaders start out right, but due to unresolved root issues in their lives, drift further and further into peripheral teachings, private interpretations, or obsessions, which are not governed by love; and often, have an alienating and divisive affect toward the rest of the body of Christ. It's not wrong to enjoy the ministry, but the wayward leader LOVES the ministry, and loves the limelight. The ministry has him. He tends to see it all as "his" ministry, as he does his big thing before a crowd of spectators.

And, when problems arise within the ministry, rather than leveling with the people and opening his heart in repentance regarding the true issues, they are glossed over, all the damage control comes out, and a positive spin is put on everything. Any wrongdoing becomes blame-shifted to the outside, while reputation is preserved at all costs, even at the awesome cost of character.

5) USING SELF-INTEREST AS AN ALLUREMENT:
Beware, when good-sounding teaching is spear-headed and characterized by some selfish motivation like health and wealth. These are relative values in life, not absolutes.
Be wary of teaching that is popularized by some scintillating personality, promising you all sorts of blessings without suffering in this life, grace without cost, peace without pain, fruit without the process.

Beware, when teaching is primarily focused on your happiness, rather than your holiness. (True happiness, and great joy, is a result, a normal outflow of holy living).
Beware, when you are not given the "whole counsel of God"; when one body of scripture is played against the other, with the effect of negating the other.
For example, religious health-and-wealth hucksters promise you all blessing and no suffering, while some holiness preachers give you the cross and no healings, little prosperity, and no grace.

Beware of extremism which shows little regard for balance.
Pursue biblical faith without turning to extreme and imbalanced teachers for inspiration, as they seem to just 'go for the gold', without due regard for sound doctrine, the Spirit's tempering, nor the consensus and balancing of father figures in the Lord's Body.

6) EXCLUSIVISM:
A sense of "We are it," or "We are the ones," to the exclusion of others. Sometimes, this involves a sense of paranoia and suspicion toward all others, such as, "the world is out to get us," and an end-of-the-world sentiment which finds safety in our group alone. The feeling comes across as, "Everyone else is deceived. Everyone is under a spell. We alone are awake. We are the overcomers."

7) NO REGARD FOR SOUND DOCTRINE:
When there is no real hunger for truth.
When individuals are apathetic and indifferent regarding sound doctrine, in many cases, relying on their tradition, or cultural backround to keep and preserve them on the path of live.
When people are gathered together for what sounds good, feels good, looks good.
When people stop learning, they stop growing. The meaning of "disciple" is basically "a learner."
When people just settle in on "what they've been always taught," not knowing WHY they believe what they believe, they are often candidates for deception.
A high percentage of people in the cults actually came from traditional denominations. Growing tired with the same old same, not really getting the heart and life of the gospel (a personal relationship with Jesus), they hop on the first bandwagon that makes them feel good once again. It may be right on; something that leads them to life in Jesus. Or, it may be a cult. But, when you hunger and thirst for righteousness, as Jesus promised, you shall be filled!

8) THE FOCUS ON MAN, OURSELVES, OR OUR MINISTRY, NOT ON JESUS: Many forms of deception can be found right in the church, of course. And, though legitimate churches are not cults, sometimes the dynamics can be similar.
Measuring ourselves among ourselves, the standard in scripture is lost by which we examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith.
Seeing Jesus, and His life expressed through us, as we are conformed to His image, is real key here.
If we look at our favorite teacher or preacher, and pattern ourselves after him, taking on their characteristics, we will be fixing our eyes in the wrong direction. If we look to a committee, or a church or ministry staff for all of our approval, we could become seriously midlead.
Remaining teachable, is vital for ongoing growth. Only, test it against God's word, not merely against what is politically correct within a body of believers. Be respectful of others' positions, but don't compromise your convictions.

Also, watch out when a church IS holy, radical and right on in many ways. High and holy standards can get so elevated, and a ministry so performance and control-oriented, that the person of Jesus becomes subtley pushed out of His proper center.
A religious spirit can slowly take over, as legal experience and fear of man, more and more, creeps in.
When leaders become enamored with themselves, become high-minded and authoritarian, lose their servant hearts, and find it easy to exploit submission, that's a sign that the ministry is man-centered, and not truly Christ-centered.

The life in Christ is not primarily a code of externals, but His life flowing through us. Keep Jesus at the center, measuring all things against Him, tempering and characterizing all things after Him. Be cautious with those who claim to be apostles, but do not act like New Testament apostles. Paul, the greatest apostle of all, came in the Spirit of Christ, a servant of all, a tentmaker, even denying his apostolic rights to be supported by the churches.
He did not ride high over others, flushed with power, throwing his apostolic weight around. Nor did he take spiritual authority in the flesh, using control and manipulation to keep leaders in line. Rather than being 'a major player in the big leagues', grasping the spotlight and applause of men, he was tempered and governed by a servant heart under the mighty hand of Christ.

9) SELF-DECEPTION:
Guard your own heart. Often, the most difficult deception to see is that of self-deception. We are all vulnerable here. To the degree that we are not doers of the word, responding to revealed light, we may soon become forgetful hearers, deceiving ourselves.

10) AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT:
Being a free-thinker does not mean being a 'free spirit' -- a wild, whimsical 'spiritual' gypsy who lives nomadicly, is never really broken, never trusts, and never really has the exposure that comes with normal growing in a close fellowship with brothers and sisters, whom the Lord would build together as lively stones in His temple. Such a person ultimately has an independent spirit toward God. Stay dependent and stay close, walking tenderly before Him. Stay open and teachable to others.