home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The California Collection
/
TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr
/
his073
/
ex_membr.arj
/
EX-MEMBR.ED
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-09-21
|
5KB
|
91 lines
WHAT DO EX-MEMBERS DO?
Although many cults continue to grow, many of their members
leave after becoming disappointed by problems and errors in the
groups. This has increased in the last 20 years with the
increase in publication of evidence that cult leaders often use
plagiarism, false prophecy, immorality, deceptive scholarship,
manipulation, dishonesty, greed and authoritarianism to advance
their interests.
Some who leave theses cults become Christians. The majority
drift off alone or stay in contact with just a few friends who
are ex-members.
Others form groups composed largely of ex-members of the mother
cult. Among the offshoot groups are the Christian Educational
Services (The Way International), "Fundamentalist" Mormon sects
(Latter-day Saints), Seventh-day Adventists (from the Millerite
movement) and Christian Renewal Ministries (from the Jehovah's
Witnesses). These people typically see their group as different
from the cult they left. Selected beliefs are rejected.
Authoritarianism often is discarded, along with some minor
practices of the parent group.
However different members of these groups believe they are from
the parent cults, the similarities are obvious to outsiders.
Members accept and defend most of the parent group's teachings
and practices. Consequently, some of the same problems arise
again, although it may take a decade or two.
Jesus Christ offered wise counsel on what to do when one comes
upon such a group:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you
will recognize them. ... Every good tree bears good fruit, but a
bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and
a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ... Many will
say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name ... ?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers.'" (Matthew 7:15-19, 22-23, NIV)
Members of these groups err by pruning the tree of the cult's
teachings instead of cutting down and burning the whole thing.
Just as a color-blind person cannot discern certain hues, so an
ex-member of a cult cannot accurately discern some of the cult's
most critical errors. As a result, these groups frequently mimic
the parent cult's errors such as distrust of Christianity and
its leaders, rejection of the deity of Jesus Christ, rejection of
the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit and salvation by
grace through faith alone. Even worse, members unknowingly
retain practices learned in the old group, such as their methods
of interpreting Scripture; attitudes, such as pride or
materialism or the view that all clergy are corrupt; sources of
teaching; and ways of thinking. Former members of these cults
have been so saturated with the sap of the corrupt tree that they
do not realize how much bad fruit they carry with them when they
leave.
Ex-members need the Holy Spirit and help from Christians who
were never members or from ex-members who are well along in the
process of putting off the old ways. They need to reject not
only the errors that led them to leave the cult, but also the
attitudes and approaches that enabled the bad fruit to develop.
Pride must be eliminated so as not be a hindrance to the wise
counsel of mature believers. One's whole relationship with the
Lord and His people must be reworked or replaced.
Christians who minister to those in the cults and new religions
should continue to use evidence of false prophecy, plagiarism,
deception and so forth to help people leave these groups. Yet we
need to be careful to match this with biblical instruction that
guides these people into new life and away from the old.
Satan has used human groups and religions to distract people
from the true faith. We must never be so distracted by concern
about cults and new religions that we do not focus on and
accomplish the foremost goal of making disciples of our Lord
Jesus Christ, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that
He has commanded.
-JPJ
(c) 1990 - PFO. All rights reserved by Personal Freedom
Outreach. Reproduction is prohibited, including BBS, except for
portions intended for personal use and non-commercial purposes.
For reproduction permission contact: Personal Freedom Outreach,
P.O. Box 26062, Saint Louis, Missouri 63136.