How Do Cults Begin?
In study, I read the beginning story of Joseph Smith who became the famed prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [the Mormons].
Joseph, when he was a young man, witnessed many “revivals” of religion in his town. He wondered which one or which Church was right, so seeking the answer, the story goes that Smith went into a grove of trees to pray and ask God.
While he was praying, two men reportedly appeared to him. Joseph Smith later claimed they were The Father and His Son Jesus Christ [and they both appeared in flesh bodies].
When he asked them which Church was right, they answered: “None of them! Go home and wait and we will show you the correct way, and restore the true Church to the world!”
The story says he was told that all the Churches or denominations were of man, and had left the true way of worship and faith.
First: It is clear that a cult is composed of religious beliefs in which some of the beliefs are based on the truth, and then many of the beliefs are not sound biblical teachings.
In other words, they are truth plus error, which when concocted, does create a mess of pottage which can damn a soul to eternal darkness and unbelief.
In the case of Joseph Smith, he fell into unbelief when he claimed he saw The Father and The Son in the flesh, and they were men like himself!
The Word of God declares that Jesus said: “Touch Me and handle Me and be not afraid, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have,” Luke 24:39.
The fact of scripture is: God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and truth.
Joseph Smith [based upon Bible truth] did lie about seeing The Father, because The Father does not have a body of flesh, but is spirit.
In most cases of the origin of a new cult, the beginning of the cult is when they tell you that everyone else is lying!
The fact is, most cults claim to have an edge on all believer groups . Their claims can be very way-out and strange, but then they use the Bible to draw men into their false views, in an attempt to claim kin to the Bible.
The Bible Word does cause many to fall for their false teachings, just by reference to the Book of God.
So it is safe to say, the cult begins with the claim they are right and everyone else is wrong.
As soon as this false teaching is brought forth, it should be noted how far they have departed from the truth of God’s Word, the Bible.
Second: A cult will always claim to believe the Bible, but then will turn from the truth of the Word of God, and teach man’s opinions. Today in the world there are so many hundreds of cults which claim the truth.
It is therefore very dangerous when you hear one teach false teachings, not based upon the Word of God.
The Word of God was given to the world to lead them in the truth and to keep them from becoming false. Yet today, so very many [some right there on those Facebook pages] are departing from clear Bible truth.
There are many false teachings but among the very worst are when men claim another way to be saved, other than Jesus Christ and faith.
Many right there on Facebook are teaching that men can be saved by doing good works!
It is clear that works cannot save a person, because every man is unable to do good enough works to bring him to acceptance with God.
Men are weak in the flesh, so Jesus Christ had to do something for weak and sinful men, which they could not do in their weak flesh!
Read it here:
“1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, 7 because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God,” Romans 8:1-8.
It is clear then that the flesh cannot work adequate works which would save them for sure. Yet today we have many claiming how good they work, and going around claiming they are saved by keeping the law.
The scriptures did just tell us that Jesus did something for man which the law could not do, because of the weakness of man’s flesh.
Jesus Christ had to come and live and die for sinners, to save the sinner from their sinful flesh.
If Jesus did have to die to save sinners, then let me ask you a question:
If righteousness came by the keeping of laws, then why did Jesus have to die?
If man can be saved by doing good works, then Jesus suffered for naught.
Men would not need what Jesus did for the sinful and weak man, to save him, if that man can save himself by doing good works!
A cult could begin right here then, as men depart from the truth of God’s Word. This is a most serious and real report then, because a cult could arise right there….. on Facebook.
In the study of Mormonism, I have found out that they teach the gospel of works. In the Mormon story, Joseph was reported to have been told by the Angel Moroni that the golden book of plates contained the fullness of the everlasting gospel.
The claim was that the gospel of the false Churches had been corrupted to the place that God had to restore the gospel truth.
In reading the way for a Mormon to be “Saved” was by doing many works, beginning with baptism, then keeping the word of wisdom, and a huge list of good works, such as tithing, etc, in order to gain salvation into their upper heaven, we learn of their works gospel [so called restored!].
The Apostle Paul said: if I or an angel bring to you another gospel, let him be accursed!…
“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,” Galatians 1:8.
The false cult of the Latter-day Saints then, are accursed by their false gospel of good works!
What is the difference, if one is a Mormon believing he must do many good religious works to be “Saved” than a person claiming to be a Bible believing Christian, who claims one must do good works to be saved and remain saved? The answer of course is: nothing.
This truth then, would [or should] cause all who reads it, to make sure that what they are believing is Bible Truth and Real Doctrine of the Word of God, or… Is what they believe a teaching of, is part truth and part error; a man made religion of works, which challenges salvation by the grace of God through faith in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ.
Do not be sucked into a cult!
Oh preacher, you may be saying… “Don’t worry about me, because I would never belong to a cult!”
Well, my warning to you is that all cults begin with false teachings about the Word of God, then lead into extra biblical beliefs.
Men are deceived by religion every day. Do NOT join them… but make your calling sure, and your salvation sure!
Believe in Jesus Christ and His Word. Depart from false teachers who are really “Cult Leaders” much like the so called prophet Joseph Smith of the Later-day Saints Church [the Mormons].
* * * * * * *
This warning teaching about cults and how they begin is written in direct obedience to The Holy Spirit who teaches.
~ Desert Prophet Ken Dewey
The light will shine in His glory… In the desert.
Evangelist/ Prophet/ Pastor Ken Dewey is the founder of “OUT OF THE DESERT MINISTRIES“ in Belen, New Mexico, USA. He writes on this Web Site, many Prophetic words, Sermons and teachings while leading people into true church settings and preaching in an End Time Gospel Ministry.
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Awesome. Thanks Brother.