Voyle A. Glover

One of the hallmarks of every cult is its propensity to gather closely around a leader and to elevate that leader to a kind of kingly status both in their minds and in their treatment of this leader. The leader's words and sayings becomes law. The leader is often viewed as being above reproach. In Christian circles, it is often viewed as "carnal" and "unruly" to be critical of the leader, particularly if that criticism deals with doctrinal positions taken by the leader or pronouncements that are viewed by some as contrary to Scripture.

In Christianity today I think we are witnessing a dramatic rise in the cult of the personality. Actually, this is not a new thing and the term has been used to describe many things (communist leaders of the past, for example). Today, we are seeing two distinct movements within Christianity. First, there is the fleshly, man-centered risings of certain churches where a strong leader comes to the fore and becomes, in a real sense, an "extra-biblical" manifestation of Christ and His Word. In other words, these men become so powerful that they are often able to turn the people away from God and lead the people completely astray from God's Word.

The second movement is one that is more difficult to see and more difficult to combat. Under the ruberic of "love," some Christian churches has begun aligning themselves and their people with other churches that are on the perimeters of Christianity (and some are beyond the pale). Some churches and Christians have moved into a stream of affiliations and ties that will soon become snares. They are attempting to mesh doctrinal differences or in some instances, deliberately avoiding the differences and concentrating on the "positives."

I contend that both of these movements tend to create churches that are cultic. Both of them lead to the same destination, albeit by different routes. But though the journey may take different turns and may have different sights, at the end of that road there is a final stop-- Idolatry.

Now a cult is a difficult thing to define in the English language. If you look at the strict dictionary definition, all of Christianity might be called a "cult." But in fact, historically, the term has been taken to mean those groups which are religious aberations, that is, they have abandoned traditional Christian doctrine and forged new doctrines that are both contrary to the Scripture and to doctrine long established and recognized by Christendom.

I have my own definition for a cult. Where a group of people place their ideas, their words and their persons in a position that cannot be challenged by the Bible and who refuse to accept the authority of the Bible, but instead devise cunning and clever doctrines that fit their fancy, then this group is a cult. Cults will always defy God. They may pay lip service to God, but they are nonetheless, defying God. They have rejected His Word, they have rejected His commandments and they have rejected Him. They have committed the sin of idolatry for they have built themselves a god they will serve and it is a god of their imagination. Slice that pie any way you want. It still comes out to idolatry. And that is the ultimate destination of any group that goes down the Cultic Path.

It is a contradiction of terms to call a Christian ministry a cult. A cult cannot be Christian but a Christian or a group can be cultic. A ministry may be cultic and still be Christian. In other words, it may retain all the trappings of basic, Baptistic Christianity, but still exhibit cult-like attributes. For example, a group may follow traditional Christian beliefs in most areas but may also adopt a doctrine or practice of handling snakes, or drinking poison, or some other irrational, strange doctrine which is, when all is said and done, a doctrinal abberation that is cultic and clearly not of God. They may be "born again" believers. But because of their doctrinal ignorance, they are on the Cult Path.

Erwin W. Lutzer described the beginning of a cult rather aptly, in my opinion, when he discussed the beginnings of idolatry which Gideon brought into the land. He said: "Once Gideon had set himself up as a high priest and placed the center of worship in his hometown, idolatry swiftly followed. The biblical account says starkly, "All Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping it [the ephod] there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family" (Jud. 8:27) [WHEN A GOOD MAN FALLS, Erwin W. Lutzer, Victor Books, 1986, p. 47.]

Idolatry, which is always built on a foundation of pride and covered with a veneer of self love, is easily the greatest single element in the corruption of a ministry. And there is probably one single thing that causes the cult meter to register completely off the scale in determining whether a Christian ministry is going down that path.

It has to do with how the members of the church treat a fellow member when that member has, by word or deed, shown disloyalty to the leader.

Now let me first lay some foundations before I continue. First of all, some definitions:
Unfaithful: "Not adhering to a pledge or contract." - Websters.
Disloyal: "...faithlessness." - Websters.
Faithful: "Adhering strictly to the person, cause, or idea to which one is bound: dutiful and loyal." - Websters.

Websters lists several words as synonyms, including "faithful, loyal, steadfast, constant" and "true."

We are commanded to love one another (John 13:34; 15:12, 17). We are told to love Jesus and that our love for Jesus shows love to God (John 16:27). He noted that if we loved Him, we'd do His commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." - John 14:15.

Thus, it follows that where a Christian sins by not being in obedience to Jesus, logic would tell us (or at least suggest degrees) of the following: (1) that person is not demonstrating love for God; and (2) that person may not love Jesus; and (3) certainly that person loves his or her sin more than God; and (4) at the very least, that person has been unfaithful to and disloyal to Jesus because that person has turned against Jesus' commandments (some of which is to walk upright, to be holy, to love God).

Say what you want, but when a Christian chooses to sin, he or she chooses not to obey God. That's the long and short of it. When such a person chooses to sin, he is saying he desires that sin more than pleasing God. He chooses to please the flesh instead of God. He has chosen sin over God. He has been unfaithful to God. He has been disloyal to God. If you hear I have gotten drunk, you can reckon that I chose to disobey God and you can assume, logically, that my desire for sin was greater than my desire to please God. And you could, with all authority and truthfulness say to me: You have been disloyal to your God and your calling as a Christian.

That said, I have a question for some pastors. Tell me, you pastors who seek the adoration of your congregation, ye who seek the prominent place in your congregation, which is worse: to be disloyal to you, the pastor, or to be disloyal to Jesus? Is it worse for a church member to betray you, or God?

Now few pastors would have trouble answering those questions correctly. I suggest many would not answer it truthfully, though. Their actions and the actions of their congregation betray them. If a church member in certain churches I know, backslides and gets drunk, or commits adultery or fornication he will not be voted out, will not be formally disciplined, and will not suffer any serious repercussions. Perhaps the pastor will quietly counsel with him and seek to encourage him back onto the path of righteousness. Or a friend will try and restore him. But he will not be shunned, nor will he be booted out the door. Oh, there are some churches that will expel such a one if he refuses to be repentant about the matter or shows no evidence of a change in his life. But mostly, nothing will be done to such a person besides perhaps getting several to pray for him, perhaps visit him, and perhaps, at worst, move away from him socially. He will still be treated in a friendly fashion at church. (Hey, in some churches, he will continue to hold a position of some kind in the church and held in high esteem.) Ah, but you let that same man say a bad word about the pastor or side with someone who has been critical of that pastor and suddenly, it's different.

Now, he's treated like a gay leper with AIDS. He may be told by security at the church that he cannot attend the services any more. He may even be voted out of the church membership. Why? Because of disloyalty to the pastor. They will, in defense, say it is dealing with an unruly brother, or separating themselves from one who doesn't follow the teachings of the Bible, or some other reason, like calling that person a disgruntled church member. Whatever it is, the bottom line is that person who has been so bold as to offend by being disloyal to the pastor is suddenly an evil person, a person to be shunned, and a person to be driven out of the church. And you know I'm right. And those of you who are in churches like this or who have been in churches where the pastor is held in a god-like esteem know what I'm talking about. You know what I've just said is true.

Well, for the record, let me say that I think such churches and the membership are cultic. I think the excuses they dream up for such unruly church members is often a disquised attempt to rid themselves of individuals who have seen through the facade and who refuse to commit idolatry any longer.

Sorry guys. Don't buy your excuses anymore. You are cultic and your membership is cultic.

YOU HAVE PREFERRED A MAN OVER GOD.