Re: Has Anyone Ever Heard of Radiant Life Church in Sacramento
Date: September 04, 2008 04:59AM
You decide...
Aberrant Christian Groups -
These present extra-biblical or unbiblical teachings a truth, while using the Bible and outwardly Christian practices to lay claim to the name "Christian." Often they blend pagan thought (and even practices) with their teachings. Many adopt the name "Christian" on the basis that, to one degree or another, they claim belief in Jesus Christ as their Savior, and even hold many true doctrines. These groups present the greatest danger to Christians since their teachers truly are wolves in sheep's clothing. Some even find common ground with overtly non-Christian groups. Aberrant Christian groups may be independent churches or world-wide denominations, or they may develop as sub-movements within the mainstream of Christianity. In the latter case they usually center on a specific doctrine such as IIword-faith," "dominion theology," If British-Israelism," "Charismatism/' etc. They view as immature or unspiritual those Christians who do not identify with their exclusive dogma. The followers of some media teachers present good examples of sub-movements within mainstream Christianity. Like those in eastern mystical groups, some aberrant Christian groups even teach that we are gods, or are exactly like God. Some even teach we should think of ourselves as equal to God. They exalt themselves and look down on those who reject the idea of their intrinsic "godhood." The degree of aberration characteristic of such groups varies. In some respects many tend toward orthodoxy in the Christian faith while holding false doctrines significantly aberrational as to nullify or distort the Gospel. Their theology centers upon the Bible and the person of Jesus, but certain characteristics of their beliefs and practices set them apart from biblical faith.
CONFUSION.FEAR& GUILT
The dangers of involvement in cults are not always easily discernible. After a carefully programmed initiation it is often too late for one caught to recognize his predicament. This is mainly because he has slowly undergone an alteration in his thinking processes. Even if he eventually comes to realize he might have made a mistake, it becomes difficult to leave because of uncertainty. He may become confused due to guilt placed upon him by the cult; he may worry that he would be falling away from God should he leave the group.
In order to determine whether or not a group is adhering to biblical truth, it is necessary to understand how the group defines its terms. This is a genuine problem because cults often change the meanings of words in order to confuse the thinking of the unwary and reprogram them into conformity with the cult's tenets.
Because of this confusion of language it can be extremely difficult to determine the group's actual beliefs and lack of conformity to biblical standards. It is necessary therefore, to not only look at the group's teachings, but also at its practices. Teachings and practices combine to fann an overall climate of mind control which is evidenced in certain characteristics.
To help Christians determine if they (or someone they know) may be under cultic influence, we present the following questionnaire. Check the appropriate boxes.
DOES THE CHURCH OR
ORGANIZA nON:
o Have at its head a single person
or group of persons who claim to
be exclusive apostles to the
uni vers al Ch urch?
D Claim to be the only truth
Church?
D Teach that all other Christian
churches or denominations are
under Satan's control?
D Operate in a secret or semiwsecret
manner, shunning outsiders
unless they are invited by
members? (Many times such
organizations will seclude
themselves in rural areas or, if in
dties, will enclose their grounds
with high walls, hedges or iron
fences and gates.)
o Teach that no other church has
the spedal revelation from God
that they have?
D Teach that you should not
attempt to understand the deep
spiritual truths they impart, but
rather learn to "experience" the
reality of God or Jesus through
certain techniques?
D Tell vou that, rather than seek
trutl; from the Bible, you should
earnestly pray that if the things
they tell you are true you will
receive an "inner \\'illless" or
assurance vdthin yourself that
they arc true?
D Tell you that you should not
question your leaders' teachings,
but that you must trust that tiley
have received spedal revelation
from God as well as unquestionable
auti10rity to teach the
church?
o Require, or at least strongly urge
you to enter into the "flow of
things through exclusive contact
with your group?
D Require that all members have a
"covering," or be " disci pled" or
"shepherded" to the degree that
they must answer for all personal
actions and dedsions that are not
clearly delineated in the Bible?
D Tell you that should you leave
their fellowship you will
backslide, fall into Satan's hands,
become ill, suffer divorce, or have
some other evil befall you as part
of God's judgment?
D Teach that you must love each
other but that you must hate
God's enemies (defined as your
enemies because only you, as part
of the group, are on God's side)?
D Teach that there may be other
true believers, but since they are
not part of your group they are in
..darkness," ..
confusion,"
"Babylon," "sin," etc.?
D Have its own teachings,
traditions, teaching aids or books
that it tells you are equal with the
Bible in establishing truth?
D Teach that its authority and
traditions are equal to Scripture?
o Teach that if you are faithful to
this "true cl1urch" vou will find
spedal favor with God so as to be
spared from the Great Tribulation
or from other fonns of harm while
He pours out His wrath upon all
others, including other Christians?
D Teach that if you remain faithful
to the group you will one day be
Iike God an d will possess His
nature-that you will be exactly
as He is, or that you will be equal
with God?
o Teach that vou should discard
your own opinions and assume
the opinions of your leaders
bec.ause they are more learned in
spiritual matters, and their
opinions are t,:ri"en in your best
interests?
3
o Require that you donate your
time and talent as free labor to
the blfOUPin order to be
considered a rnem ber in good
standing'!
D Require that you tithe or give any
substantial portion of your
income to the group or to its
leaders in order to be in good
standing?
o Keep tabs on your attendance and
finandal giving in order to
determine if you are" doing your
part" in supporting the group?
o Teach that you must stop
thinking as an individual and
begin thinking corporately,
assigning your wiilto the wili of
the leaders, or to the \\,il of God
as defined by your leaders?
o Teach tl1at everyone is "out to
get" you, your leader or your
group, and that you must be
wiiling to sacrifice everything,
including your life, for your leader
or for the group?
D Shun those who have left the
group and label them "reprobate,"
"dogs," "heathen," "publicans," or
other derogatory terms?
o Cover up or ignore the sins of its
leaders or its leaders' families?
(Often the members are harshly
disdplined for their sins or even
minor indiscretions,and aremade
examples of while the leaders and
their families are allowed to act as
they will.)
D Have a reporting system that
suggests you reveal the faults or
discontentment of others? (The
excuse is often given that this is
necessary in order that they may
be "protected" from error and
kept on the right path,)
D Engage in public fights against its
detractors and (sometimes)
employ non-Christians to fight its
battles through lawsuits or
harrassment?
D Teach that the true Church has
not functioned or been in
existence since the first century
and that it must be "restored"
through your leaders' revealed
truths.
o Claim that its leader is the second
coming of Christ, and that he wiil
usher in the Kingdom of God for
ail who follow him?
o Stress the entering into of
covenants through which you
must remainloyal to your group,
and that if you break that
covenant you are out of covenant
with God?
D Teach that the Church is Christ
or that believers are some sort of
"ongoing" or "continual"
incarnation of God?
D Concentrate on teaching 'Within a
narrow scope while generaily
ignoring the greater counsel of
God revealed in the whole Bible?
D Have a "clergy-laity" mentality
that relegates the congregation to
dependence upon the leaders
effectively operating as a
"priesthood" through whom God
speaks ?
o Have a leader or pastor who is not
in submission to a generally
recognized group of elders within
the congregation?
D Have a "board" of elders who
essentiaily function as little more
than rubber stamps for the
pastor's vision or programs?
D Employ the euphemism, "Thou
shalt not touch God's anointed"
when its leaders are chailenged on
the basis of biblical truth?
o Teach that Jesus was just a man
like any other, but that He had a
spedal anointing-being
"Christed"-just as anyone else
can be?
o Teach that Jesus was or is an
angel or anyone other than God
incarnate?
D Teach that you are God or "a
god?"
D Teach that there are other
"scriptures" besides the Bible in
which God's truth has been
revealed?
o Induce an atmosphere of fear
and/or guilt among the members
for reasons that are not biblical?
CONCLUSION
The above are by no means the only indicators of cultic activity, Nor do one or two yes answers mean that you are dealing with a cult (depending upon the gravity of the questions), But even one yes answer can indicate that there is a cult mentality at work. If you find any of these characteristics in your church or organization it would benefit you to seek counsel from a church or organization that is qualified to assist you in determining whether there are any serious dangers present. If you do not know where you can place your trust, but you believe this message is relevant to your situation, you may contact Media Spotlight and we will attempt to direct you to someone in your area, or to a qualified cultwatching organization that may able to help you, Finaily, we should heed Paul's words of warning "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunnlng craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ,"
(Ephesians 4:14-15)"
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PO Box 290
Redmond, WA98073-0290
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