Unmasking the Cults – An Introduction

Big Idea: A Christian cult claims to be Christian but distorts core biblical teachings through authoritarian leadership and manipulative practices.

... but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect... (1 Peter 3:15)

Definition of a Cult

A cult of Christianity is a group of people, which claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible. (Alan Gomes) ¹

Some observations:

The term "cult" often refers to any religious group, including those within larger religions like the Nation of Islam.

All Christian denominations believe in the core tenets of the faith, although they may differ on secondary issues. These core doctrines have been upheld throughout history and are summarized in historic creeds like the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic Church; the communion of the saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

This definition assumes that sincerity alone does not equate to truth. Statements like "We all worship the same God" and "It doesn't matter what religion you follow as long as you do good" contradict Christ's teachings and traditional Christian beliefs.

The term "occult" differs from "cult" and typically refers to practices like spiritism, fortune-telling, and magic.

"Heresy" refers to teachings that contradict the core beliefs of Christianity, prompting true Christians to distance themselves from those who hold these views. Heresy represents a significant deviation from biblical teaching. ²

Common Characteristics of Cults

Theological

• Denial of the Trinity: Most cults reject the doctrine of the Trinity, either denying it outright or redefining it in unorthodox ways (e.g., teaching three separate gods instead of one God in three persons).
• Denial of salvation by grace through faith: Cults commonly teach that salvation depends on human effort, claiming Christ’s work was insufficient and must be supplemented by our own works. ³
• Denial of the bodily resurrection: The bodily resurrection, central to the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15), is often spiritualized or dismissed by cults.
• Reduction of Scripture’s absolute authority: Some cults undermine the Bible by accusing it of errors, labeling it “old light,” and elevating their own teachings or additional books as superior (“new light”).
• Redefinition of Biblical terminology: Cults frequently use Christian vocabulary but redefine key terms like Jesus, the gospel, salvation, and heaven to align with their beliefs.
• Exclusive belief system: Cults often claim to possess the sole truth, excluding all other perspectives.
• Other characteristics: These may include a focus on direct revelations from leaders, an obsession with end times, and an overemphasis on isolated Scriptures.

Practices of Cults

• Authoritarianism: Cults typically have a dominant leader and strict chains of command, often requiring permission for significant life decisions.
• Stripping of past associations: Members may be required to sever ties with past relationships, particularly with family members.
• Unusual degree of commitment and zeal: While commitment and sacrifice are not inherently negative, cults often demand extreme levels of both.
• Antagonism toward orthodox Christian denominations: Cults frequently invest significant effort in criticizing and denouncing other religious groups, especially Christian churches. ⁴
• Love bombing: Prospective members are overwhelmed with excessive flattery, physical affection, and a sense of belonging to create emotional attachment. ⁵
• Other characteristics: These may include communal living, the use of familial imagery, distorted teachings on sexuality, opposition to independent thinking, dietary restrictions, and enforced conformity in dress.

Why Do People Join Cults?

• Love: People are drawn to groups that offer affection, friendship, and a sense of being cared for. ⁶
• Family: Many, especially young people, join cults seeking a sense of family and belonging. ⁷
• Acceptance and self-worth: Cults provide members with a sense of purpose and a place where they feel valued.
• Idealism and spiritual hunger: These groups often appeal to those seeking spiritual fulfillment and a cause to passionately support.
• Answers to intellectual questions: Cults claim to provide clear answers to life’s difficult questions.
• Wholesome lifestyle: They often promote a lifestyle that emphasizes purity and moral living.
• High degree of commitment required: The demand for sacrifice and dedication can be appealing to those seeking meaning and purpose.

Becoming Cult-proof

• Know what you believe and why. Become grounded in basic Christian doctrine. "It is a sad fact that a ninety-day [i.e., newly trained] wonder from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society can turn the average Christian into a doctrinal pretzel in fifteen minutes." ⁸
• Meet people’s social and emotional needs. Cults meet needs many churches don’t. Churches should be places of love and acceptance. “Cults are the unpaid bills of the church." ⁹
• Meet spiritual needs. Many cults rightfully claim to be more "sold out" than those in the church. Many Christians could afford to be more zealous and committed. "A healthy church is the best weapon against losing people to cults." ¹⁰

Checklist of Cult Characteristics

• The group is focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment. 
• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. 
• The group is preoccupied with making money. 
• Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. 
• Techniques like meditation, chanting, and intense work routines are used to suppress doubts about the group and its leaders. 
• Leadership strictly controls members' thoughts and actions, requiring permission for dating, changing jobs, and marriage. They may also dictate clothing choices, living arrangements, and parenting methods. 
• The group is elitist, claiming a unique status for its leaders and members, often viewing the leader as a Messiah or avatar with a special mission to save humanity. 
• The group has a polarized us- versus-them mentality, which causes conflict with the wider society. 
• The group's leader is unaccountable to any authorities, unlike military commanders, ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis from mainstream denominations. 
• The group suggests that its noble goals justify unethical actions members would have previously rejected, such as raising money for fake charities. 
• The leadership induces guilt feelings in members in order to control them. 
• Members prioritize the group over family and friends, sacrificing personal goals and interests they had before joining. 
• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group. 
• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. 

Endnotes

¹ Alan W. Gomes, Unmasking the Cults (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 7.

² Gomes 17.

³ Gomes 26.

⁴ Ronald Enroth, "Churches on the Fringe" in Contend for the Faith, 196.

⁵ Citizens Freedom Foundation, The Cult Crisis

⁶ Richardson, "Conversion, Brainwashing, and Deprogramming," 37.

⁷ Doress and Porter, "Kids in Cults," 297.

⁸ Walter Martin, quoted by Gomes, 87.

⁹ Dr. Martin Van Baalen, quoted in Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1965), 14

¹⁰ Gomes, 90.