Category Archives: Cults

Why Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity

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‘Should you believe in the Trinity?’ asks this JW article.

‘IF PEOPLE were to read the Bible from cover to cover without any preconceived idea of a Trinity, would they arrive at such a concept on their own? Not at all.

‘What comes through very clearly to an impartial reader is that God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, separate and distinct from anyone else, and that Jesus, even in his prehuman existence, is also separate and distinct, a created being, subordinate to God.’

…

John 14:28 – “The Father is greater than I am”

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John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. 14:28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.…

Cults – lessons to be learned from

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The cults and their adherents can teach a number of valuable lessons to those of us who regard ourselves as orthodox Christians.  For example:-

1.  The importance of having strong convictions.
2.  The importance of knowing the Scriptures.
3.  Zeal for witnessing.
4.  Use of the printed page.
5.  Strong sense of urgency.
6.  Large role assigned to laypeople.
7.  Sense of dedication.
8.  Definite techniques for witnessing.
9.  Willingness to endure ridicule.
10. Promotion of good health.…

Cults – Christian Approach to

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Some general principles for approaching or responding members of cults:-

1.  Genuine love.
2.  Humility.
3.  Recognise lessons to be learned from the cultist.
4.  Knowledge of the teachings of the cult.
5.  Positive testimony to the truth of God’s Word.
6.  Face the question of the source of our authority.
7.  Present the evidence for the major doctrines of the Christian faith.
8.  Follow up contacts.
9.  Keep on praying.

(A.A. Hoekema, The Four Major Cults)…

Cults – characteristics of

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The general characteristics of the cults may be set in summary form as follows:-

1.  Exaggerating one part of Christian faith at the expense of other parts. Eg Christian Science and its emphasis on healing.
2.  Over-emphasising the Old Testament at the expense of the New Testament. Eg Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christadelphians, Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists.
3.  Seeking for greater assurance in the religious life than Christ actually offers.  Eg Spiritism, with its attempt to get proof of life after death.…

Cults – appeal of

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The appeal of the cults may be summarised as follows.  They offer:-

1.  warm and brotherly fellowship.
2.  a centre of integration and personal fulfilment.
3.  a sense of security.
4.  an outlet for the drive towards intensity and radicalness in the religious life.
5.  specific instruction on practical matters.

(A.A. Hoekema, The Four Major Cults)…

A typology of the major sects & cults

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From the perspective of Christian orthodoxy, the major sects and cults can be classified according to their attitude towards the authority of the Bible and towards the Trinity and the incarnation.

1.  The Bible as the sole authority, but newly interpreted

Jehovah’s Witnesses – deny that the Bible teaches the full deity of Christ.  They adopt the Arian heresy of maintaining that Christ was the first created being, and not the eternal Jehovah.

Christadelphians – believe that the Son came into existence only when the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. …