In the introduction of this book, I noted that many denomination books include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. My book does not include these and certain other groups, and there is an important reason for their exclusion. Though it is not politically correct to say so, these groups are not Christian denominations, but are rather cults.
The term cult is not intended as a pejorative, inflammatory, or injurious word. The term is used simply as a means of categorizing certain religious or semireligious groups in modern America.
The word cult comes from the Latin word cultus, which means “worship.” In a sense, then, cults involve groups that have distinguishable forms of worship. This definition, however, is far too broad to be of any real use. Modern usage is much more specific.
Today the word cult is often used in either a sociological or a theological sense. Sociologically speaking, a cult is a religious or semireligious sect or group whose members are often controlled or dominated almost entirely by a single individual or organization. A sociological definition generally includes (but is not limited to) the authoritarian, manipulative, and sometimes communal features of cults.
Without meaning to discount insights we can gain from sociology on the cults, I believe we are best served to define cults theologically. Theologically speaking, a cult is a religious group that derives from a parent religion (such as Christianity), but in fact departs from that parent religion by denying (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the essential doctrines of that religion. So, for example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are cults in the sense that they both derive from the parent religion of Christianity, but each of them denies one or more of the essential doctrines of historic Christianity. For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the doctrine of the Trinity and argue that Jesus is not eternal Deity. The Mormons also deny the eternal Deity of Jesus, they redefine the Trinity as three distinct gods, and they argue that human beings can one day become gods. Obviously such beliefs separate them from mainstream historic Christianity.
The Essentials of Christianity
When one considers all the churches and groups claiming to be Christian today, there are many who have differences of opinion with others over such issues as church government, the proper mode of baptism, the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, the role of women in the church, and the precise timing of end-time events. Differing opinions on these issues does not push one over the line into cultism because these are considered peripheral doctrines—that is, they are minor doctrines over which people can freely disagree. Other doctrines of the Christian faith are so essential that if you deny one or more of them, you are no longer truly Christian. It is my personal belief that five doctrines are especially important.
1. Scripture. The Bible alone is the inspired Word of God and is therefore inerrant and authoritative. This doctrine is foundational to everything else.
2. God. There is one true God who is infinite and eternal and is revealed in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
3. Jesus Christ. Jesus is eternal God as the second person of the Trinity. In the Incarnation, He took on a human nature, being born of a virgin. He died for humankind’s sins and three days later was physically and bodily resurrected from the dead.
4. Humanity. Human beings are created in the image of God and are morally accountable to the Creator. They are destined to live forever with God in heaven or suffer eternally in hell, depending on whether they have responded affirmatively to the gospel of salvation as defined in Scripture.
5. Sin and salvation. All human beings are born into the world in a state of dire sin and are estranged from God. They can do nothing to merit salvation before God. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, based solely on the atonement wrought by Christ at the cross.
When we talk about cults of Christianity, we are referring to groups that derive from the parent religion of Christianity but deny (explicitly or implicitly) one or more of these five essential doctrines of Christianity.
Doctrinal Characteristics of Cults
Among cults, one will typically find an emphasis on new revelation from God, a denial of the sole authority of the Bible, a distorted view of God and Jesus, and/or a denial of salvation by grace through faith. While not every cult manifests every characteristic below (nor in the same degree), these characteristics are quite common.
New revelation. Many cult leaders claim to receive new revelations. Mormon presidents claim to receive revelations from God. New Agers claim to receive revelations from the Ascended Masters. UFO cult leaders claim to receive revelations from space brothers. Spiritists claim to receive revelations from the great beyond. If the Bible (old revelation) conflicts with a cult’s new revelation, the new revelation typically supersedes the Bible.
Denial of the sole authority of the Bible. Many cults deny the sole authority of the Bible. Christian Scientists, for example, elevate Mary Baker Eddy’s book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, to supreme authority. Unification Church members elevate Reverend Moon’s Divine Principle to supreme authority. New Agers often exalt The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ. Mormons place The Book of Mormon as the top authority.
A distorted view of God. Many cults espouse a distorted view of God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the Trinity. New Agers believe that all in the universe is God (pantheism). Mormons define the Trinity as three gods and believe human beings can become gods, and therefore they acknowledge many gods in the universe (polytheism). Witches and Wiccans believe in a mother goddess (paganism).
A distorted view of Jesus Christ. Cults typically espouse a distorted view of Jesus Christ. Jehovah’s Witnesses say Jesus was created as the archangel Michael and was a lesser god than God the Father. Mormons believe Jesus was the first spirit child of the heavenly Father and one of his unnamed wives. Spiritists say the human Jesus became the Christ through reincarnation. Hindu cults argue that Jesus was just an avatar or perhaps a guru. Some New Agers believe the human Jesus attained Christhood by learning from Indian gurus as a child in India. UFO cults suggest that Jesus was a hybrid being—half human and half alien (thus accounting for his miracles). Members of the Baha’i Faith argue that Jesus was just one of many manifestations of God.
Cults also have a distorted view of Jesus’s work at the cross. Jehovah’s Witnesses say Jesus died on a stake as a mere man (not the God-man), and he died for the sins of Adam. Mormons say Jesus’s death on the cross provided resurrection for all people but not full redemption. Some New Agers say Jesus died to balance world karma. The late Reverend Moon of the Unification Church believed Jesus did not complete the work of redemption, and so the Lord of the Second Advent (presumably Moon) must complete the job.
A distorted view of the Holy Spirit. Cults typically espouse a distorted view of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the Holy Spirit is not a person but is simply the force or power of God. The Way International also interprets the Holy Spirit as the force of God. The Children of God believe the Holy Spirit is the feminine aspect of God and is often depicted as a sensuous woman. Some New Agers equate the Holy Spirit with the Chi force.
A distorted view of humankind. Many cults espouse a distorted view of humankind. New Agers, for example, believe human beings are a part of God. Mind Science enthusiasts believe the same. Mormons believe that through a long process of eternal progression, human beings may become exalted to godhood.
Denial of salvation by grace. Cults typically deny salvation by grace, thus distorting the purity of the gospel. The Mormons, for example, emphasize the necessity of becoming increasingly perfect in this life. The Jehovah’s Witnesses emphasize the importance of distributing Watchtower literature door-to-door as a part of working out their salvation. Hindu cults teach that one must become increasingly perfect in each successive lifetime through reincarnation.
Redefinitions of biblical terms. In keeping with the above, a common mark of the cults is that they often use words from the Bible—words like God, Jesus, sin, salvation, the cross, resurrection, and ascension—but redefine them to mean something entirely different from what historic Christianity teaches. This is known as the “terminology block.” We must not forget that 2 Corinthians 11:4 warns of a different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. See also Matthew 24:24; Acts 20:28-31; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Relevance to This Book
Many, many groups claim to be Christian but in fact are not Christian because they deny one or more of the essential doctrines of the historic Christian faith. They have crossed the line into the kingdom of the cults. For this reason, it is inappropriate to include groups like the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses in a book on Christian denominations, despite the fact that other books on denominations make a regular habit of doing so.