Conversation with a Cult Member

Of course he wouldn't tell you he was from a cult.

Yesterday while waiting for a friend to be done with class at Harper College, some people from the "Church of God" came up to me and asked me to go to a bible study at his church to uncover the "secrets of the Bible".

A red flag went up because since when are there secrets in the Bible?

So I asked him about those secrets and he told me that "along with God the Father, there is a God the Mother that many people don't know about". No wonder the red flag went up.

After quoting me a half-dozen unrelated Bible passages (possibly to woo me with his knowlege of scripture, but he didn't know that I know my stuff a lot more than the average guy) I ask him to just show me where God is called 'mother'. He points out Galatians 4:26, "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother."

After one quick look in a Bible concordance I saw that "Jerualem" signified Sarah (Abraham's wife) because Abraham is the father of Israel (and Jerusalem) which means Sarah is the mother---and NOT God.

That is just one of the qualms I had about this cult along with their not directly answering questions, always going back to the same Biblical passages, and pointing the finger at us. He said that "worshipping on Sunday is not in the Bible" and I quickly responded that "Wearing that shirt you have on is not in the Bible, but that doesn't make it wrong" and of course he tried to hold back a smile (cuz he knew I was right!!) and went back to something he already said a few times that didn't make much sense.

Overall, he was very confusing to talk to and I was frustrated at the end of the conversation because I knew he did not listen to what I had to say. He just listened for the "trigger words" that would give way to an argument he had....

The School of Biblical Evangelism has this to say about what makes religious groups cults:
"A group is non-Christian when it denies the essential doctrines of the Bible: -The diety of Christ which involves the trinity, the Resurrection of Jesus, Salvation by grace alone" and goes on to say this about twisting scripture, "Some of the errors they commit in interpreting Scripture are: 1. Taking scripture out of context;
2. Reading into the Scriptures information that is not there;
3. Picking and choosing only Scriptures that suit their needs;
4. Ignoring other explanations;
5. Combining Scriptures that don't have anything to do with each other;
6. Incorrect definitions of key words; and
7. Mistranslations"

The people I talked to did #1, 2, 3, and 4 (and possibly 5-7 but I just didn't remember that). Needless to say, there is a lot to be learned from this experience.

1. We need to know the Bible and how to read it (click here for a suggestion on learning how to read the Bible, I have this DVD and you can borrow it if you'd like, it's sweet)

2. We need to be bold in preaching the Gospel in any way we can and take advantage of opportunities we've been giving, and then look to create more opportunities. True Christians need to let the world know the truth that they are sinners who are bound to be judged by a just God. We also need to let them know that by believing in Jesus they can have their sins covered and their fine paid.

We need to do this so the cult people don't reach them first!

Another Take on Worldliness

I started thinking about a Christian’s role in the world and how much of the “world” (in a Christian worldliness sense) each of us should intake (spurred on by a conversation with another Taylor student). It was said that we need to “be a part of culture to relate better to non-Christians”. He argued that we need to keep up to date with culture to be relevant (this blog is not pointing fingers or saying any one person is wrong it’s just what’s up).

I disagree. Romans 12:2 says that we are “not to conform the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds”, and goes later to say that it is God’s will for us. A definition of culture from the American Heritage Dictionary says, “The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.” I have heard it said that Christians are “counter-culture” because we “are not of this world” and do not live by the same rules that non-Christians do (see Colossians 2:20*).

I have tried in the past year and a half or so to not be a part of this world by limiting my intake of movies, music that doesn’t have good lyrics, and anything of the like to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2), and if anything, I feel better able to witness to people because I better understand God, His love, and how this world is dying and in need of Him.

Luke 8 has the parable of the seeds, and it says that “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Obviously between that verse James 4:4**, and James 1:27***, God does not want us to be polluted by worldly things.

I argue that to relate to people, we need to speak the truth, because God’s law is written on our hearts****, and the biggest reason of all: we already live in the world along with them. Just because I choose not to fill my mind with a lot of things that will do nothing for me eternally or spiritually does not mean that I cannot have meaningful relationships and conversations with people. Being salt and light and making a difference in the world comes through our relationship with God***** and nothing else. I can honestly say that back in the day I used to idolize TV and movies, and they choked out my desire to know God more and grow up in Christ because I was too focused on stuff that doesn’t last.

The first Psalm says that whoever walks in the counsel of the wicked, sits in the seat of sinners, and stands in the way of mockers will be like chaff that the wind blows away.

Think about it, say when you get married you only spend 10 minutes a day with your spouse and hours on end in front of the TV…your partner would not be too happy, and she is not even the one who gave us salvation and forgiveness, the greatest gift anybody could imagine.

I think our desires and delights should come first and foremost in God (Psalms 1:1-3, and Psalms 37:4)****** and that we shouldn’t care a whole lot about other stuff, because nothing else brings life or salvation.

Hope you enjoyed my ramblings and take to heart what God has for you guys.

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Footnotes:
* Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?

**You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

***Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

****Romans 2:15

***** John 15:5

****** Psalms 1
(1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.)

And Psalms 37:4 (Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.)