The Difference between a Cult and a Church

What is the difference between a church and a cult? This article provides information to the reader to help defend the truth against error.

Cults have taken advantage of the Christian Church's failure to know and understand its own teachings.

Without a solid foundation built on truth, it is easy for an individual to find the relationships and community of a cult appealing. After someone has invested time, money, and connection with the people in the group, they will slowly learn that the teaching runs counter to orthodox Christianity. Jesus warned “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24 ESV).

Cults have been an issue for thousands of years, and even with all the advancements in education and technology, cult leaders are still able to get followers. On September 23, 2020, Russian authorities arrested Sergei Torop in Siberia and charged him with running an unsanctioned religious organization and causing bodily and physiological harm to others.1 Sergel claims to be Christ and has over 4,000 followers that have shunned material possessions and followed the teachings of Sergei. For 2000 years there have been charismatic leaders claiming to be Christ or to be a representative of Christ that have led millions to follow their teachings. Some, such as Jim Jones, have even led their followers to complete suicide in the name of god.

The purpose of this article is not to humiliate or make fun of those who are members of a cult in any way. It is my prayer that the one reading this article may exam his or her life and religious affiliations. There are some people who sincerely believe that they are members of a true Biblical church and may not know that they are members of a cult. Some people may know that they are in a cult and just need encouragement and support to take the first step to leave the group.

The defining line between a cult and a true Biblical Church can be hard to define.

A cult is “a religious group of people who differ significantly on one or more areas of belief and or practice from the religious groups that are regarded as normative expressions of religion in a total culture.” Others add to this definition that a cult is a group that bases it doctrinal teaching on a specific person’s misinterpretation of Scripture. 2 In the Protestant Church, the term “cult” refers to a religious group that splits from mainstream Christianity with regard to their beliefs and behaviors to the extent that the group is dangerous to themselves and society. 3 In the world of academia, the word "cult" is no longer used, instead, scholars use the more politically correct terminology of "New Religious Movement" or "Religious Minority." It is the view of this author that these terms do not do justice or adequality define the groups that historically were labeled "cults".

It's confusing because there are differences among Bible-believing Christians in some areas of faith and practice, which is where we get the various denominations from. Christians can have differences in worship style and other practices and still be in agreement on the core foundational issues of Christianity. Cults do not agree with the core foundational doctrines of the Christian Faith, and have hijacked Christian terminology, and changed the definitions. Words must mean what they say in the context they are used or it is impossible to have an intelligent coherent conversation. Those of us who were alive when Bill Clinton went before the grand jury remember a vivid example of words and meaning when he said, "It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” 4

The four main words that cults have taken from Christianity and changed their meanings are: God, Jesus, Sin, and Salvation.

God- The Christian definition of God is the triune God revealed in the pages of the Old and New Testaments. The word "god" used by the Mormons can be one of the many gods or goddesses. The Church of Latter-Day Saints believes that God the Father was once human like us and that we have the ability to become a god. In the King Follett sermon, Joseph Smith said, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" 5

Jesus- The foundational, historical view of Christianity defines Jesus as "God in Flesh." Jesus is the eternal creator of all things who became man in the incarnation and dwelt among us. There never was a time when Jesus was not God and never was a time that He did not exist. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus was created by Jehovah God and that worship is reserved for Jehovah God and not Jesus. 6

Sin- The Christian view of sin is any act that violates God's Law. Christian Scientists view sins as an illusion or error but not as something that is real.

Salvation- The Biblical definition of salvation is the act whereby Christ reconciles sinful mankind to God through the atonement of His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Mankind has the guarantee of eternal life through His resurrection whereby we are able to have hope in this present evil world. In the New Age cult, salvation is the process of becoming one with the universe.

The Apostle Paul warned the church about this very thing when he wrote, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:6-8 ESV).

This is critical because Paul warns us that cults don't preach "another" gospel, rather they "distort" the gospel of Christ. Because of this, it is important for followers of Christ to know what they believe and how to identify the differences between Orthodox Christianity and false teaching. In conversations, it is likely that a cult member will say, "We believe in Jesus" or "We believe in God." That is why the first step in identifying a cult is to ask "What do you mean by the word God, Jesus, or Sin?"

Warning signs of a Cult

Cults also have common marks that make them easy to identify which I call "warning signs." These are red flags one should look for when considering a religious group. Be aware that a cult will never identify itself truthfully up front. They will always try to develop relationships first, and then spoon-feed a person the teaching in small increments. This process causes an individual to be in a position where they have already severed bonds with friends and family and established connections with members of the cult before they learn the truth about the group.

A Charismatic leader-

Every cult has a leader that developed the doctrine that the group teaches and preaches. Since it's a lot of work to get followers, write new doctrines, and set up new rituals, these leaders usually have lots of zeal and a charismatic personality. As noted earlier, Jesus said, "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Matt 24:24 ESV). These false leaders will be so convincing that Jesus said "if it were possible" they could lead the elect away from the truth. Joseph Smith founded the Mormon religion. Charles Taze Russell started the Jehovah's Witnesses. Mary Baker Eddy founded the Christian Scientists. L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author, established the Church of Scientology.

Unquestionable Allegiance-

When distinguishing between a church and a cult, it can sometimes be confusing because some denominations in Christianity and local churches have charismatic pastors with great zeal. In the Christian Church, there are some theologians and pastors that stand out and are looked up to by followers throughout the world. The difference is a cult demands unquestionable allegiance to the leader and his/her teaching. Followers believe that the founder or leader has a direct connection to God and that God tells them what to teach, or preach directly. You will often hear phrases in a cult such as "God told me to tell you" or "God gave me this vision." Cult leaders use the name of God as a way to keep their followers in submission and in allegiance to them.

In a true biblical church, there is no one above rebuke and correction. We have an example in the book of Galatians where Paul corrected the Apostle Peter publicly. Peter was showing favor to the Jewish followers over the Gentile followers of Christ. Peter would eat with Gentiles as long as there were no Jewish believers in the room but whenever the Jewish believers came into the room Peter would separate himself from the Gentiles. This issue was racism in the first-century church and it was coming from an Apostle! Paul writes, "But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed" (Gal 2:11 ESV). In verse 24 of this passage, Paul says that this confrontation happened before "them all."

In Paul's letter to Timothy, he writes that those who labor in the preaching and teaching of the word are worthy of "double honor" (1 Tim 5:17), but they are not above correction. Paul tells Timothy that if there is a charge or an accusation against an elder it is to be based on the evidence of two or three witnesses (1 Tim 5:19). If an elder does not repent but continues in sin, the church is charged to rebuke them in the presence of the congregation (1 Tim 5:20). These instructions show that the entire church is under the authority of God and his Word. The true head of the biblical church is Christ alone (Eph 1:22, Eph 5:23, Col 1:18). In a cult, the founder and leaders exercise absolute authority and demand praise and obedience that belongs only to the one true God.

Money-

Peter warned the church to be on the lookout for false teachers and false prophets who will "secretly bring in destructive heresies" (2 Pet 2:1 ESV). In this chapter of Peter's writing, he shows us one of the motives behind the cults. He writes, "And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words, their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep" (2 Pet 2:3 ESV). The Greek word that Peter uses in this passage for greed is pleonexia, which is the same as fraud, extortion, or covetousness. Cult leaders extort people for the sake of the Gospel. In order to do this, they tweak the message in a way that makes their group the only true "church." This method is used to attract and keep followers and take their wealth. The Apostle Paul said that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things (Phil 3:18-19).

In the book of Acts, a man by the name of Simon observed people receiving the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid their hands on them. Simon saw the potential to make money if he had the same ability so he went to the Apostles and offered them money if they would give him this same power (Acts 8 ESV). Peter rebuked Simon and said, "May your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor a lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you" (Acts 8:20-22 ESV). This teaching is in contrast to the cults which require money to be given and, in some extreme examples, all property to be signed over to the organization.

This author could outline the amount of wealth that various cults have stockpiled, but unfortunately the same can be said about some Christian denominations making it a moot point for this article. To see the warning signs of money in a cult, it is necessary to compare the statutory giving in a cult to the teaching of Scripture.

In a Biblical Church giving should never be mandatory.

The New Testament believer is told, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7 ESV). Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers at the Temple when they took advantage of the poor and made the temple a den of robbers instead of a house of prayer (Matt 21). When a person is part of a cult giving is mandatory. It is tracked and those who do not give do not advance through the various stages laid out by the cult. The highest level in the Church of Scientology is OT VIII. The cost to reach this level is over $100,000 7.

Lack of Freedom-

When the Apostle Paul compared the old covenant to the new covenant of the church at Corinth, he said, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Cor 3:17 ESV). In the context of a cult, freedom of thought and actions are not permitted. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a lot of information on its website that instructs its members on how to dress, how much money to give, how much food to store up in their homes, and how to conduct an evening at home with their families, what beverages to drink, etc.

In a biblical church, there is love, freedom, and grace, and the only authority that governs a believer's life is the Word of God. There is also room for freedom of thought. This issue might surprise some, but there can be unity in the church with people who hold different opinions. In the book of Acts, Paul went to the synagogue in Berea, and "these Jews were nobler than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11 ESV). The point is that they didn't just take Paul at his word, they studied the Scriptures with a desire to discover the truth. In a true church, there is room for people with different opinions because not everything found in the Bible is black and white. There is freedom and a place in the Lord's church for everyone who is seeking to discover the truth.

In a cult, every little detail is explained from hairstyle to clothing so that a cult member has no need to study and discover the truth because everything is already explained.

This is one of the appealing qualities of a cult. Every question is answered and every detail is laid out. The responsibility for the hard work of studying the Word to discover the truth is unnecessary.

Unholy view of Scripture

When comparing a cult to a church there is an easily recognizable difference in the area of theology. Instead of acknowledging the closed canon of Scripture, a cult will allow for special revelation, visions, dreams, and words of knowledge. The authority of the Bible is placed in a lower position and the revelations that are written by their founder and leaders are elevated to the same level and higher than God's Word.

In a biblical church, the Word of God is to be the only revelation from God.

• "preach the Word; be ready in season and out season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Ti 4:2 ESV).

• "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8 ESV).

• "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Rev 22:18-19 ESV).

The Berean's studied the Scripture to see if the things that Paul was teaching were true (Acts 17:11). It is common for a cult to use a little scripture mixed with the writings of their founders. Some cults, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, use their own translation of the Scripture that has been changed from the original meaning to fit their theology. A biblical church holds the Bible to be holy, inspired, and without error in its original form.

The doctrine of the church is found in Scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone, with glory to God alone.

False View of Christ

John gives us a simple, straightforward test to use when determining whether a group is a church or a cult. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already" (1 John 4:1-3 ESV). Jesus narrowed it down to one question, "What do you think about Christ? Whose son is he" (Matt 22:42 ESV)?

If you look at a cult's teaching on the person of Jesus, it will not agree with the teaching of Scripture. A cult will teach that Jesus was a prophet, or that he was created by God but, they will not teach that he is God in the flesh who atoned for the sins of the world on the cross of Calvary. The Apostle Paul said, "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9 ESV). The angels proclaimed at His birth, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)" (Matt 1:23 ESV).

It is my prayer that you will find this information useful in finding a true biblical church. It is possible as you read through this article that it has caused you to question the group or the organization that you belong to. If that's the case I encourage you to dig deeper into your study of God's Word in your pursuit of truth. Life is too short and eternity is too long to miss the real thing!

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/09/22/russian-authorities-arrest-messianic-cult-leader-who-believes-he-is-jesus-christ/#d1a2bdc52f34

2. Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults: the Definitive Work on the Subject (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 15.

3. Ken Cleaver, "THE PRACTICAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN LABELING A RELIGIOUS GROUP AS A 'CULT'." Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 11, no. 33 (Winter, 2012): 164-81, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F1284529079%3Faccountid%3D12085.

4. “Bill Clinton and the Meaning of ‘Is,’” September 14, 1998, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/1998/09/bill-clinton-and-the-meaning-of-is.html.

5. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng

6. https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/wp20130301/when-jesus-created-why-son/ https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/believe-in-jesus/

7. https://www.learnreligions.com/how-much-does-scientology-cost-95805