Are You in a Religious Cult?

Recently, I found an article that made me think of the heart and core of Christianity as a belief system. The title of the article is, Are You In a Religious Cult? It's from an organization named Cult Escape, if you're interested in finding it on the web. The brief article had a number of questions about a church environment that a person may belong to, and encouraged everyone to take this brief test to determine if you are in a cult. The format is that they make a few comments or questions followed by a simple sentence that is to be answered yes or no.

It's an anonymous test people can take on the web, and then at the end of it there are ten questions. It offers further options for the test taker. So I thought I would take the test. Why not? I've been called a cult member for 50 years. Go for it! Why not? So that's what I decided to do. You know, the history of the word cult is very interesting. Originally, it came from the Latin word from cultus, and it meant tilling or cultivation. And then in time it meant learning or education. And it wasn't really until like the 19th century that it took on a negative meaning.

A meaning meant to be offensive to someone. Oh, you're a member of a cult. So it hasn't always meant that. There's a similar word in the Bible, sect. Today, when people refer to you as being a member of a sect, it is tended to imply negativity. But the truth is, just like the word cult, originally sect referred to a branch of a religion. A party, a particular party of a religion. That's what both the word cult and the word sect means originally.

In Acts 15, verse 5, it refers to the sect of the Pharisees. The word sect there is heresis, in which we get the word heresy. So it says that they were of the heresy of the Pharisees. That even rhymes. What do you think about it?

But that wasn't meant to be negative. It just meant that the Pharisees were in a particular party or branch of Judaism. It wasn't meant in a negative light at all. But the word cult has grown and evolved, if I can use that word, in our Western culture.

Now it would be something that's a pejorative, that's negative, that someone makes in kind of an accusatory manner. So I think it would be good for us to take this test today together as a congregation. But actually, I have to provide two perspectives for each question, and let me explain why.

There is the completely spiritual well that is revealed in this book. It is spiritual, the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. This book comprises an understanding of God, all spiritual knowledge and truth, and it's spiritual. So that's one perspective. Another perspective that we have to look at is the Church of God. The Church of God dwells in a physical world, and we live in a different dimension than totally the spiritual world listed in this book.

Jesus proclaimed to the Father in John 17, verse 11, He said, He said, So we're stuck here. Right? We have to live in this world. We're not of the world, but we definitely live in this world. And because the world is physical, because human beings are carnal, our perspectives and the things that the physical church has to do here on this earth may have different responses than the other perspective, which is totally spiritual, and comes directly out of this book.

Paul humbly stated about himself in Romans chapter 14 and verse 15, he said, He said, For what I am doing I do not understand. Sometimes I don't even understand myself. Have you ever felt that way? I know I have. Sometimes I don't even understand why I did something or said something. That's our carnal human nature. Verse 15, So we all have that internal struggle. That is the perspective of someone who has to live in this physical world. And that perspective, because we are physical carnal, is different than the perspective, a spiritual perspective, of what's in this book.

So with that being said, what I would like to do today is answer these questions from both perspectives so that we can understand and come to a determination whether we are in a cult. The spiritual realm and the physical organization is comprised of many people who are led by the Spirit of God. So obviously the physical perspective I'm going to be talking about is the United Church of God. So here we go. Here you are. And here's the question. Are you in a religious cult? Let's take the test. Let's analyze together these eight questions. There were ten in the original test. Two of them were redundant. I felt that the author just...somebody told the author, you need to have ten questions. So basically duplicated. A couple to come up with ten. But these eight are the heart and core of this test. Alright, here's number one. Cults. Begin or evolve with a charismatic leader who claims supreme knowledge. These leaders are able to influence their followers to believe their perspectives and obey their dictates. Question number one. Is your leader the ultimate authority of your group? Well, let's find out. Let's first of all begin with the spiritual perspective. Matthew chapter 28 and verse 18. Matthew chapter 28 and verse 18. One of the final verses of the book of Matthew chapter 28 verse 18. If you'll turn there with me.

And Jesus came and spoke with them, saying, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. So the answer to that question is yes. We believe that Jesus Christ is our leader. And the Father has given all authority to the Son to do the Father's will. Jesus is sinless and perfect. We believe in His perspectives and we strive to obey Him.

So according to the first question, is your leader the ultimate authority of your group from the spiritual perspective? Yes, Jesus Christ indeed is the ultimate authority and leader of our group. Now how about from a physical perspective? Well, from a physical perspective, under submission to Jesus Christ, the United Church of God has ordained elders. Collectively, they're part of something called the General Conference of Elders. And they select 12 individuals to be a council. This council chooses a president. This president can be removed for just cause if it's necessary, and that has actually happened in our history.

So the ultimate physical authority in the United Church of God is shared and balanced between the General Conference of Elders, the council, and the president, along with his administration.

In the Old Testament, I don't know if you've ever considered this, the authority or influence of Israel was also divided, and God divided that on purpose. Why? Because God knows human nature. He knows the potential for abuse.

God divided influence and authority in ancient Israel to the Levites. Alright, they were the religious purveyors of religion and authority from the Bible.

Then there was the monarchy. God never allowed a Levite to become a king, because that would have been too unbalanced, too much influence in the Levites.

The monarchy was from Benjamin, and then from Judah, and then when the northern tribes broke off, for example, Jeroboam was from the tribe of Ephraim.

But God purposely split the power and influence in ancient Israel, so no one group or tribe would become too powerful, because that creates a culture and an environment for abuse.

Then God had the wild card. Beside those two, he had the prophets. The prophets could come from any occupation, they could come from any tribe, and they had the authority to march right in and confront the king, or Levite, or anyone who needed to be dressed down.

We of course know the story of David and Nathan coming in after David tried to hide his act of adultery with Bathsheba and plotted to have her husband killed.

He was confronted by the courageous. I'm sure glad I didn't have to do that job. The courageous prophet Nathan.

So that's the answer. Spiritually speaking to the first question, is your leader the ultimate authority of your group? He is.

And from the perspective spiritually and also the physical perspective of the United Church of God, it is Jesus Christ and no other.

Alright, second question. Most cult leaders give themselves impressive made-up titles or names which elevate their status to their followers.

They may call themselves the man of God, pastor, prophet, messiah, messenger, enlightened teacher, guru, apostle, etc.

And I can relate to this. I understand this. As I think I've told you before, I have met all eight of the two witnesses. So I know that people tend to do these kinds of things. I even met Elijah. I knew Elijah.

One of these two witnesses told me he had a split personality and he was both of the two witnesses.

So I understand that this goes on and these kind of things happen. So the question is, does your leader have impressive made-up names or titles?

First, let's begin with a spiritual perspective. Hebrews 4 and verse 14. If you'll turn there with me. Hebrews 4 and verse 14.

The author of the book of Hebrews, who I believe was the apostle Paul, says this, seeing that we have a great high priest. Well, there's a pretty good title there.

Passed through the heavens, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, Let us hold fast to our confession, for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin.

So from a spiritual perspective, yes, Jesus Christ has many well-deserved titles in the Scriptures, and we apply all of them to him. He's given over 15 names and titles in both Testaments, including one that I mentioned on the Bible study Wednesday night about regarding baptism. One of the terms of Jesus Christ, the same term that he used for the Holy Spirit, is paracollectos. He's referred to that as an advocate, using that Greek word in 1 John chapter 2 and verse 1.

He's also called the apostle and high priest in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 1. Jesus asked the disciples who he was, and Peter replied. You may recall in Mark chapter 8, Peter replied, you are the Christ.

So whether you want to call those made-up names or titles, they are legitimate names and titles that we apply to Jesus Christ. So that's the spiritual perspective. How about the physical perspective? The elders who have leadership positions in the United Church of God are given titles like pastor, president and chairman. These are commonly accepted titles of leaders. They're not artificial titles. They're titles that are commonly used in the business environment, in profit and non-profit organizations. There's no attempt to give artificial preeminence to a human being.

And this is a reason that we traditionally have never used the title reverend for any of our ministry. Only God is reverend. I personally have known a few people in my lifetime. I have never met a single human being who was worthy of reverence. Not a single one.

So we don't even use that title in the United Church of God. So let's go to the third question. Question number three. Cult leaders convince members to forfeit their critical thinking ability in return for a sense of belonging, authority and purpose. To members, it doesn't matter what the evidence or logic may suggest. The leader is always right, and their misdeeds are always justified. Criticism of the leader is forbidden. So then I ask this question.

Is your leader always right? And therefore, you are not allowed to criticize him or her, even if the criticism is true? Alright, good question. Let's answer this first of all from the spiritual perspective. John chapter 14 and verse 2. Let's go to John chapter 14 and verse 2. Is Jesus Christ always right? John chapter 14 and verse 2, In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you.

So Jesus says there are many positions, many rooms, many positions of authority and responsibility that belong to the Father, that he's going to share with us. I go and prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you're going, and how can we know the way? And Jesus said to him. All right, so do we believe that Jesus is always right? I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you had known me, you would have known the Father also, and from now on you know him and have seen him. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it'll be sufficient for us. And Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father.

So how can you say, show us the Father? And as I've said before, if you want to know the Father, you won't learn much by going through the very few vague scriptures in the Old Testament that show the presence of God the Father.

If you want to truly know the Father, Jesus says to study the life, the teachings, and beliefs of the Son. That's why we're given four Gospels. That's why the writings of Paul and Peter and John are all Christ-centered. Because if you want to know the Father, the only way to do that is to study the teachings and the life and the example of Jesus Christ.

Yes, we believe Jesus Christ is always right, and the Father's will is always desired. Another question I have that kind of bothered me with this is so-called critical thinking. You know, that phrase today is used a lot, and that's really open to interpretation. We hear a lot of suggested critical thinking today in our culture, in the woke environment, and a lot of other things.

And in my own opinion, a lot of so-called critical thinking is downright stupid and actually very illogical. So it's a relative term, and when you start throwing it around like the questions they ask here, relative thinking is believing what they want you to believe. And if you don't believe what they want you to believe, then you are not using critical thinking. That's usually the way that it works. Now, from a physical perspective, is your leader always right? Within the UCG, the things said and done by our president and our chairman are not considered to always or automatically be perfect or correct.

Within the UCG, brethren are permitted to respectfully disagree with anyone in a leadership position. And we all get emails all the time from people that are challenging or questioning something that the ministry says or does. The only comment I will make here is try to have an open and free environment.

When one is truly led by the Spirit of God, their comments should be intended to be constructive criticism. Not lashing out, not purposely becoming personal, using name calling, trying to be on purpose, hurtful, or accusatory. None of that is constructive. It's just someone's vengeful reaction to strike out and strike back at something they don't like. So, within the United Church of God, there is room for people to ask questions, do not agree with something that's said, because we understand that people are free moral agents.

We are not trying to control anyone. Alright, question number four. Cults generally only allow their members to study their organization through approved sources. They view critical thinking, there's that word again, as an infectious disease, and every effort is made to suppress it. Doubting members are encouraged to isolate themselves from outside influences and focus solely on the doctrine of the cult.

People who contradict the group are viewed as persecutors, often given labels like anti, apostate, rival. Members are discouraged from consuming any material that is critical of the group. So here's the question after they make those comments. Are members of your group discouraged from reading anything that is critical of the group? Alright, first let's answer it from the spiritual perspective. 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. chapter 3 and verse 12.

Paul wrote, yes, and all who desire to live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution, but evil men and the imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Verse 14.

Paul delineates here that there basically are two things that we experience in this world. There's truth, there's the will of God that is revealed in this, and then there are evil men and imposters whose goal is to deceive everybody. And they're in every segment of our culture. It's not just religious people who are interested in deceiving everyone. There are people in the medical field that are interested in deception. There are people, I know this will shock you in politics, who are interested in deception. Virtually every part of our culture has individuals within it who are trying to deceive others because they want to promote an agenda that they have. So, yes, spiritually, we are to interpret truth and wisdom through the lens of the revealed word of God. Things that the Scripture labels as evil or sin or negative or discouraging, we are to reject and avoid it and not allow it to enter our thoughts in our heads because it is spiritually harmful. In addition, there are some things we believe because of something called faith. We have faith because of what we're taught from the spiritual realm. Hebrews 11.1 says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. So faith means we believe something we can't prove with so-called critical thinking. Let me give you an example. Anyone with critical thinking would say that there's no resurrection. Why? Have you ever seen anyone resurrected? How many years have you lived? 20 years? 60 years? 80 years? Have you seen one person resurrected from the dead? The answer is no. That's what critical thinking would say. There is no resurrection. Fool! But our faith helps us to believe and understand that after we die, that we are going to be part of a resurrection promised in this book at the return of Jesus Christ. We could say the same thing about a belief in God. A critical, critical thinking would say you can't prove that there's a God and anything that you would say, oh, that's just coincidences. That's just similarities and coincidence. That's not proof. So there's a lot that we believe, according to our faith, that is contrary to so-called critical thinking. So let's take a look at this from the perspective of Scriptures. I just want to remind us again there are two dimensions. There's a spiritually led by the Spirit of God and a physical world that struggles with its carnality and humanity. And sometimes we also struggle with hostility toward God. The Scriptures teach us to come out of this world. Revelation 18 and verse 4 says, Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, unless you receive her plagues.

Paul also stated in Colossians chapter 2 and verse 8, Beware, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. So from the spiritual perspective, you answer that question by saying, yes, we do believe that there is one source of knowledge. Yes, we reject anything that is contrary to that source. Because there are deceivers, because there are traditions of men that have nothing to do with truth, there are human philosophies, including critical thinking, and there are all kinds of things to derail us. That is the choice spiritually that we make. We digest the good, the wholesome, the spiritual that is outlined and taught in this book, and we reject the other because it's poison. Now, from a physical perspective, the United Church of God uses the Word of God as the foundation of all knowledge.

We do not attempt to control the materials that individuals consume. Every one of us is a free moral agent. Most people have the Internet available, and they have access to whatever they want to read, whatever they want to study, and it would be, frankly, foolish to try to control people in the 21st century with all the access that we have anyway to all kinds of information. It has to be a personal choice. We often quote from, we use outside sources that complement the Bible revealed in the Word of God. On our programs, we talk about outside sources, we quote from scientific articles, we quote from mathematics. I use the Believer's Study Bible. I use other outside of the UCG references and sources in my messages. So we use the Word of God as the foundation of all knowledge, but we don't attempt, because we're a carnal and a physical organization, and the potential of abuse exists. We don't attempt to control what people read or want to believe. Question number five. Because religious cults consider themselves the ultimate authority on truth.

The members can't imagine anybody leaving the group with their integrity intact. Thus, they have to perpetuate a false narrative that former members are deceived, backslidden, demonic, bitter, evil, or have fallen away. And here's their question. As far as your group is concerned, would you say that there is no legitimate reason to leave them?

Good question! First John, chapter 2 and verse 18. First John, chapter 2 and verse 18.

The Apostle John is inspired to write. First John, chapter 2 and verse 18.

It is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming. Oh, he uses one of those terms. Bad John! Even now, many Antichrists have come by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.

But they went out from us, that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I'm going to read verse 19 from the translation of God's Word for today. God's Word for today.

First John, chapter 2 and verse 19. They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us, but by leaving, they made it clear that none of them were part of us. Now, in context, this is talking specifically about false teachers here in First John.

So I just want to make sure we understand the context. And the point is, yes, many people are attracted to the faith for wrong motives. The New Testament refers to some as tears. And tears in the New Testament were grassy weeds that were similar to wheat. You couldn't tell them apart. They grew together. They were mixed together. Jesus said that the evil one came and sowed the tears, implying that in the Church of God, there are people who will show up that are not here for the right motives. That's obviously what Jesus was implying. It's a good reason. Jesus said in Luke 9, verse 62, No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

So there are some who come and join us for a while. They came into the faith. They rejected it. And what Jesus is saying here is they'll need to go through some future experience to be prepared to serve faithfully in the kingdom of God. And we leave that in God's hands. We don't try to judge them. We leave that in God's hands. The Father calls. And if the Father doesn't call someone, they may show up here because they may be attracted to certain things.

I'll open my heart and tell you the plain truth about things that I saw in the early 70s. In the early 70s, I was part of an organization that many people wanted to be part of because they wanted to be perceived as in the winner's circle. The organization had a major magazine that was in multiple languages going around the world. It had a radio program that dominated radio. It was the number one most purchased religious broadcast in the United States at the time.

There were three college campuses, two in the United States, one in the United Kingdom. There was all of this power and influence, and tens of thousands wanted to be part of it until problems arrived. Problems came. Some of the leaders had issues. One was taken off television. There were some church splits.

Some things happened, and it all began to implode. Because Christianity is about a way of life, a faith in Jesus Christ that should never be built on a foundation of being in the winner's circle, or being with the happy people, or being with organizations that have all of this influence. All of that is, college campuses, gone. Everything that was part of this work, gone. But what remains is the truth found within this book. So yes, unfortunately, people come and go. From a physical perspective, I had many personal friends leave the faith over the years, but we should never, ever hold ill will towards them. Sometimes we see former brethren in the community, and that's happened to me.

We may see them at an event. We may even share a meal with them. I've had lunch with people who formerly attended the United Church of God, and now are somewhere else. Sometimes we, out of respect for them or their families, we attend their funerals from those who departed from the United Church of God. We should always, in every circumstance, remember the qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. All people should be treated with kindness and respect and dignity.

And let's allow God to be their judge, whether they were converted or never converted, whether they were a terror or not a terror, whether they had the right motives or not the right motives. Let's allow God to make those decisions. Let's allow God to be their judge. There is one exception, and Paul sometimes has to use that exception. He talks about a man named Alexander the coppersmith, who turned hostile towards him in the faith.

And in a rare, rare situation, Paul names names. But normally, and he did that to protect the church so that Alexander couldn't hurt other people in the faith, normally we should not be dropping names and naming names. Let's leave those things to God. Let's take a look at John chapter 6 and verse 63. John chapter 6 and verse 63. From a physical perspective, we're answering this question as far as your group is concerned. Would you say there's no legitimate reason to leave them? Jesus says it's the Spirit who gives life. This is John chapter 6, verse 63.

It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh prophets, nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were, who did not believe, and who would betray them. Of course, he was God. He can read hearts and minds. And he knew there were a lot of people who followed him who didn't get it. They wanted to be in the winner's circle. It was the Jesus who performed miracles, who fed thousands of people. They wanted to be part of that. And he said, Not a couple.

Their feelings were hurt.

The people who have the words of eternal life also. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Brethren, the reality is that people have been coming and going into the faith of God for nearly 2,000 years. If people left Jesus Christ himself, it's obvious that people would continue to come and go generation after generation, including ours. If you're not drawn to Jesus Christ of all people on earth and follow him consistently, what makes us mere mortal human beings think that there's not going to be people who come and go in the Church of God throughout all of our lives?

Paul mentions Alexander the coppersmith, who turned hostile and personally harmful to Paul. He states this is a warning for other believers. But my point is, this has always happened since the time of Jesus' ministry before there even was a church on the day of Pentecost. I've certainly seen it happen a lot in my 50-year association with the Church of God. Sadly, these things will happen until the return of Jesus Christ, because people are human and sometimes people are attracted to the faith for all the wrong reasons. But I will say, as I emphasize again on the Bible study regarding baptism on Wednesday night, we have to be very patient and make sure that we don't judge people too quickly. Jesus said, you shall know them by their fruits. He didn't say, you shall know them by their leaves. That's too early. Leaves come out first. That's too early. You've got to give them time. He didn't say, you shall know them by their flowers. Nope. Sorry. Too soon. Be patient.

You shall know them by their fruits. But eventually, as my dear mother used to say, it all comes out in the wash. Meaning, eventually it's all revealed into the naked sunlight. Who and what we are eventually becomes exposed. So we have to be patient with each other, and we have to be patient with people, particularly those who are new in the faith. Be patient, and we have to give them time.

All right, the sixth question. Does your group insist that the end of the world is near? Oh, I'm in trouble in this one.

Here's their statement. Cults position themselves as the sole refuge from an evil outside world that is intent on their destruction. Cults thrive on conspiracy theories, catastrophic thinking, persecution complexes, and in an effort to draw more paying members, cults are often very aggressive in their recruitment efforts, which are usually justified as saving people from the evil world. Those who reject the cult's message are condemned, unelected, damned, evil, goats. My favorite phrase, the great unwashed, which is one that I like. So the question is, is your group suspicious of the outside world? Well, actually, they say an awful lot before they get to the question, so I have to answer this in multiple parts. Let's begin with James 5 and verse 7, if you'll turn there with me.

So do we believe that the end of the world is near? Or, in contrast, do we have the urgency that someone would have if the kingdom of God will come a thousand years from now?

Or maybe people just go to heaven, and it's already here, which is what I've heard in some Protestant variation. Teach James chapter 5 and verse 7. James wrote, Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and later rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Uh-oh. Yes, the end of the world is near. We believe that. We teach that spiritually. And also in the United Church of God, Jesus stated, the kingdom of God is at hand. He used that phrase in Matthew chapter 3 and chapter 4 and chapter 10. Paul expected Christ to return in his lifetime, and he says in 1 Thessalonians 4, then we who are alive at his return. So that's something that Paul himself expected. So that's part of the answer to the question. Let's now go to John chapter 3 and verse 17.

John chapter 3 and verse 17.

It is written, for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved, as recorded by the apostle. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already. So I don't know about calling someone unelected, damned, evil, goats, or the great unwashed, but according to Scripture, if you do not have a Savior, you are condemned, because you are still living in your sins. The punishment of sin is death, and unless we have a Savior, we are automatically condemned. I can't sprinkle sugar on this or present this in any other way than what it says.

But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name, the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, referring to Jesus Christ, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. They don't want to stop doing evil. They don't want to stop thinking evil.

For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. So to answer this part of the comments and the question, yes, the Scriptures do condemn those who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

That's what the Scriptures say. And I guess if that makes the church a cult, then the church is a cult.

From a physical perspective, yes, our mission is to fervently preach the gospel. And we do preach the gospel of the kingdom of God fervently, following the example of Jesus Christ and his disciples.

But it would be unfair to say of us that we are aggressive in our, quote, recruitment efforts. We believe that the Father has to call someone to accept the faith. We also believe that most people are not called during this lifetime. Yet God has a plan in calling them in the future because his desire is that everyone is ultimately saved. So we are aggressive in our proclamation efforts, and we spend millions of dollars to do what we do and to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. But we are not aggressive in our recruitment efforts. All right, number seven. Cults believe they are right. They are the right group with the right decisions, the right leader, the right interpretation of their holy book.

And their leader is right in dictating what laws and rules they are to obey. Does your group believe they are the right religion, church, group, ones, or only ones who have right teaching knowledge? My initial reaction is, well, why would you be part of anything that doesn't believe it's right? Think of politics. Would you say this about a... Don't Republicans think they're right?

Don't Democrats think they're right? I mean, duh! Really, what a stupid question! Of course people think they're right. That's why they align themselves politically, socially, in a community, or with a church group, because they agree with that group.

Let's go to Galatians chapter 1 and verse 6. So does your group believe that they are right? The right religion, church, group, ones, or only ones who have right teaching and doctrine? Galatians chapter 1 and verse 6. See what the Apostle Paul tells us here.

Paul writes, I marvel that you were turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel. So Paul is delineating there's something right here, and Paul believes it's him, and there's something different that he's going to label as pretty bad in the next sentence.

Verse 7. Which is not another, meaning not another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. That's pretty strong words. If someone preaches a gospel about Jesus Christ different than the one that I preached, Paul says, I hope he's cursed. That's perverted, Paul says. Verse 9. And as we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. That's the Greek word anathema, meaning ostracized, cut off, banned. That's what Paul says. So he says there are different interpretations of Christianity. Even 20, 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there are already different branches of Christianity. Some believed in Jesus Christ, but they also believed that you had to be circumcised to be saved. That bothered Paul, because he didn't agree with that. That was salvation by works. Besides, that left out half of the human race. So Paul didn't agree with that idea at all. Paul calls it a perversion. He states it's a false gospel and should be cursed. These are pretty strong words, and they indicate that Paul believed he was right. That he had the right truth, the right knowledge, the right teaching. And that shouldn't be surprising, because why would you belong to anything if you didn't think they were right? So let's talk about the physical perspective. The United Church of God is an organization comprised of many individuals who have been given the gift of God's Holy Spirit. And we strive to be led by the Spirit of God in how we teach and how we relate to others. We certainly have the truth.

Yet we have humbly modified and balanced a number of doctrines from our previous association after we left it 25 years ago. And even in that association, it changed a lot of doctrines over a period of time. The Apostle Paul respectfully stated in 1 Corinthians 13, verse 2, For now we see in a mirror dimly, that's in his physical life, that's through the physical carnal eyes and perspective we have of life. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then, meaning after Christ returns face to face, he said, Now I know in part, this is the Apostle Paul himself saying this, but then I shall know just as I am known. So the point is that God is perfect, and we are merely human, subject to all the pitfalls of being fleshly and carnal. And if we're not on guard and humble and meek in our approach to loving the Word of God, then we can, and have in the past, proven we can stumble and have some errors.

So the eighth and final question. Here's the first of the comments. Cults exercise control over their followers. The leader determines the rules and laws and expects it to be obeyed, or else there are consequences. Rules, laws, can include what you can't wear, where you can't live, who you can't eat with, who you can't marry, what job you can do, or where you can't keep company with, what education you can't receive. And your stance is to those who have left the church or left the group, and many more. So the question is, are there any of the above such rules in your group? Does your group have rules? All right, let's first look at the spiritual perspective. Matthew chapter 19 and verse 16. Spiritually speaking, of course, the answer is yes. The church spiritually does have rules. I know we modern, independent, liberated Americans bristle at the thought there might actually be rules to something, because it stifles our creativity and our democratic spirit. But yes, there are rules that are expected in the faith, in the church of God.

Matthew chapter 19 verse 16.

Good question. What do I need to be saved? What do I need to do to live forever?

Now, just to make sure that, because the word commandment is pretty broad, which ones Jesus is talking about, he said to him, which ones? Jesus said, he goes to list all the commandments, the latter part of the Ten Commandments regarding our relationship with men, other human beings, men and women. You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness. Honor your mother or your father, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these things I have kept from my youth, what else do I still lack? And Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give it to the poor. I want you to notice what Jesus does not say, because I've heard religious hucksters and charlatans say this in my lifetime. Jesus does not say, Sell all you have and give it to me. He says, Sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come and follow me. But when the young man heard what he was saying, he went away sorrowfully, for he had great possessions. He loved wealth, and obviously that was a deal breaker for him. So yes, there are rules that are expected in the faith, and they are the spiritual application of the Ten Commandments. And that's primarily what Paul talks about in his many writings. The Apostle Paul himself stated in Romans 7 and verse 12, Therefore, he said the law is holy, and the commandment holy just and good. And we know from Scriptures that anyone who breaks those rules, laws, principles, whatever you want to call them, suffers the consequences, including death, if not repented of. Now, the Church of God perspective, it is important to have enough rules to do things decently and in order. Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 and verse 40, But everything should be done in a fitting and in an orderly way. And in order for anything to be done in a fitting and orderly way, there must be rules. To exist in a civilized society, there are rules. When you go to work, your workplace, guess what? There are rules. Your community, if you go into the community center and you're going to jog in a track or whatever, guess what? There are rules. The government has rules. Just try not paying your taxes for a while. You'll find out about them very quickly. Schools have rules. And, yes, churches also have to have rules. This is necessary to function and to do our work on earth and to do all things that we do as a church decently and in order. So that's it. How'd you do? How do you think the church did? Well, judging by the number of yes answers, the spiritual perspective of the church of God qualifies as a cult. It has a supreme leader with all knowledge and impressive titles. It has one accepted source of knowledge, the scriptures. It teaches there's only one way to salvation. It rejects information and so-called knowledge that doesn't reflect biblical knowledge and principles. It has rules. The supreme leader determines the rules and expects obedience. Rejection of the leader may ultimately result in eternal death. All the qualities you would find according to these questions of absolutely, positively a cult. Now, regarding the Church of God, the environment and the government of the United Church of God did not relate to most of the questions because we learned over a period of time that human nature can be very dark, human beings can be abusive, even ministers sometimes can be abusive, and we built within our governance checks and balances to mute the negative influence of human nature. So that's very important to realize. But perhaps to me the biggest thing to take away today is how far conventional Orthodox Christianity has absolutely eroded in its standards and beliefs in order to comply with a secular culture.

Of course, anyone who reads the Bible would answer yes on all of these questions. If you really believe what's in this book, of course your answer would be yes on every one of those questions.

So the next time someone says to you, you, you're a member of a cult. Wow! And you know, I've been called a member of a cult. I have an evangelical minister tell me once that I'll burn in hellfire for all eternity because I don't accept the Trinity.

I said, I'm sorry, I must have missed something. I thought I was supposed to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Are there books in the New Testament that I missed?

But people can throw that word around all the time. But the next time someone says that you're the member of a cult, I want you to think of the original meaning of the term cult. What it originally meant before it became a pejorative.

I want you to think about how the history and teaching of Scriptures are absolutely cult-like.

And the next time that happens and someone says you're a member of a cult, I encourage you to simply smile and say, thank you. Thank you very much. Have a nice Sabbath.