January 23b, 2024

Version 1.1

About 4 - Erroneous Beliefs

The About series is an optional website position statement. For a description of the About series, go to the end of the article.

World Religions and Cults

Introduction

This article is not core content and does not meet the purpose for why this website was created. This article describes the relationship between website content and other beliefs, including those some would say are erroneous.

Bias

Statements on error should always include the perspective from which they were written. Perspective always exists as a result of one context or another¹. The context has many parts, such as cultural norms, prevalent ethical codes, etc. These can be the basis for bias and filters, limiting our ability to understand from another’s perspective.

Men and women have issued messages inspired by the Holy Spirit. These might be considered without bias, except where they depend upon a specific cultural context (hygiene standards, commonly educated groups in society, and more).

Sometimes, sharing or discussing beliefs goes beyond informative; it can lead to salvation or hurt a friendship. We plan to warn you before every discussion of a divisive topic. Furthermore, those topics will only have an incomplete case to support them. This website is not about doctrine, theology, etc; it is about helping Christians who know they are becoming “lukewarm” change that trend, entering the vitality to fulfill God’s plan. Everyone is welcome, so please continue as you like.

Beliefs List (partial)

If we could have a diagram of everything there is, we would place God, who represents Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the center. Everything else exists some distance out from the center. Some beliefs we classify as incorrect could be the concepts that another Christian relies on to choose to grow in the faith. This will be covered much later in an article.

• No object is God. Objects are not alive.>
• The God of Abraham and Moses is represented to people in three ways. >
• The God of Abraham and Moses is alive. >
• No person who has ever been alive on earth, or is now, is God. There is only one exception: Jesus Christ as revealed in the New Testament.>
• Salvation, or the absence of salvation, is primarily a matter of each person’s heart in relation to God and has something to do with spiritual enlightenment imparted to them.
  We intend for the core content to be from mainstream Christian beliefs. However, we may state it differently.

Three Unresolvable Mysteries

Three or more areas are impossible for people to understand completely, so proof in these areas will always fail one test of reason or another.

Below are three statements believed, through faith, to be true that we cannot prove.

1. First, there exists a supernatural realm for which no scientific instrument exists or will ever exist to quantify (detect and measure). Generations of Christians have reported that God makes a difference in their lives. Countless Christians report having had an experience of God. God currently exists as a spirit (in spirit) to the Christian.

(Joh 4:24 NIV) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

2. We can know something about God during this lifetime without fully comprehending Him.

Many testify to the knowledge that God loves them, and it is possible to love Him.>

(Deu 7:9 NKJV) Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

God answered Moses’ request for His name, “I AM.” This defies understanding. Commentaries offer ideas that some will find satisfying. (There will be a weblog on this in the future.)

(Exo 3:14 KJV) …I AM…

3. Based on the Holy Bible and Christian experience, we support the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The Trinitarian doctrine states that one God manifests in three ways: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The “Holy Trinity” is a standard reference. It is relatively easy to find wordplay as informal support, but that is outside the purpose of this website.

Communication

Paraphrasing plays a role as a tool to make clear, specific interpretations.

A glossary is being composed for some of the words on the website. The intent is that every word in the core content is used in compliance with one or two general dictionaries.

When evangelizing, eloquence can be used to enhance the explanation of the Gospel and salvation. When teaching, eloquence can attract the audience’s attention and hold it. Eloquence is a powerful tool that is often used to the benefit of the audience. But when a powerful tool is applied to incorrect ideas, it can confuse and deceive—more on this in a future article. We should test what we hear and learn to identify God speaking through a speech or writing. Well-intentioned presentations may include human error, and eloquence in their presentation can predispose the audience to believe.

Excluded Topics

Some topics are outside the core purpose of the website.

The Major World Religions

The content of this website is written in the context of Christianity and for the support of Christians. Followers of other world religions may find the content beneficial. Everyone is welcome - in whatever spiritual or belief state you are.

(1Tim 2:3-4 NRSV)  This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4)  who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God alone saves people from their sins. However, God uses His followers to testify and evangelize. A core principle of this website is that we reject keeping secret information that may lead to someone’s spiritual growth, reserved only for the “chosen” or “elders” or the founders. If we possess knowledge that may help others move forward in the faith, it will be included where appropriate.

All knowledge that may help others grow spiritually will be presented when pertinent to the article topic. This position statement is a derivative of the fundamental principle that we serve a living God (if He revealed it to us, and we hold it in, He will reveal it to someone else).

(1Cor 3:6 GNB) I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.

Cults with Beliefs Contrary to Christian Theology

Groups that declare their adversaries are the God of Abraham, Moses, and, in the New Testament, the Son of God, are outside the scope of our purpose.

One reason a Christian may turn to a cult is when God seems far away. When God is silent, some Christians seek to understand or experience the supernatural outside of the Christian faith. A future article will discuss the spirituality of objects and touch on beliefs contrary to Christianity. When God seems distant and silent, keep doing what you know to do. This usually includes fellowship with other believers (in the name of Christ), praying, and Bible reading. Perhaps find a small bible discussion group of Christians and participate.

(Mat 24:46-47 NRSV) Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. (47) Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.

Christian Cults

This website has been written for people who think of themselves as Christian. Therefore, the cults of interest to us claim to be Christian. Still, something about their practice of the faith is characteristic of a cult, or they hold a unique, extraordinary belief that conflicts with a significant Christian position.

Cults: Group Social Dynamics

• Elevating Fear or Guilt to Control and Instill Self-doubt

Does teaching regularly include warnings of doom? What about leaving presentations with a sense of impending doom if you disobey the church hierarchy? This can exist in or outside of Christianity because the presenter subliminally or explicitly transfers tension and anxiety to the audience. What about guilt? God uses our emotions, and sometimes that includes a feeling of guilt, which we will attempt to explain in a separate article.

(1Joh 4:18 NRSV) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

• Social Pressure, Coercive Tactics to Force or Enforce a Perspective

• • Is there extreme social, relational, financial, or legal pressure on members to donate or stay in the group? Do leaders shame people who disagree with them? Is there a misuse of scripture, such as the verses below?

(Mat 18:15-17 NKJV) “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. (16) But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.’ (17) And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

These, in combination with other verses, have been used to control people being abused so they do not or cannot report it. A related concept advocates separation from Christians who are members of a different kind of church.

• Secret Knowledge Reserved for the Elite

• • There are reasons for confidential information to exist. However, the guidance to grow spiritually should only be held back when the listeners are feeling overwhelmed and only until they are ready for more. No leader should hold back Salvific teaching to position themselves as the gateway or gatekeeper to the other’s salvation.

• Deifying Leaders

• • All humans make mistakes. For the era we live in, everything made by people is imperfect. Whatever role humans play in steering a congregation, we must pray that those in authority seek and submit to God’s will.

(Act 17:11 NET) These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.>

(Pro 27:17 NIV) As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.>

• No person on Earth today is God. We are all creations, not the Creator-God; God has not provided a way for this to change. This is based on scripture.

• No person alive on Earth, since or before Jesus Christ’s resurrection, could change God’s mind about other people being guilty of sin. We all need a savior. Here, a savior is a person who has no sin but accepts and receives the punishment for sin. Because they are innocent, their willful acceptance of punishment may be applied to others who believe in them.

Cults: Common Characteristics of the Followers

Does the group seek new members regardless of their nationalities, cultures, or ethnicities? Specifically, drawing in new members who are intellectuals, rich, powerful, or famous is not the problem. A group may be uniquely qualified to deal with a specific subgroup of the general population, such as prison ministries or business owners. Christian churches should be inclusive of everyone and not filter who receives spiritual guidance and who does not. A related concept is exclusivity, but this is outside of our purpose.

Do members seem docile, unusually timid, meek, mild-mannered, sheepish, compliant? We all have different personalities, but for any culture the person was reared in, there is a spectrum representing healthy people. There are degrees of intensity which are outside of the normal range. Look for the characteristic of unusual meekness or a significant personality change when a specific person walks in. This is not evidence of abuse but can be caused by abuse.

Groups that transfer hate as a part of the new members’ initiation process are suspect (get external advice if you are in this type of group).

(Mat 5:44 NKJV)  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

Punishment should never injure physically, mentally, or spiritually.

Accidentally Supporting “Christian” Cults

The possibility of some particular truth being used to support a cult always exists. Harmful cults twist and corrupt truth to support lies and deceit. After basic research into the developmental stages of cult leaders, there seemed to be some patterns. We try to alter website content to interrupt some of those patterns where possible.

Here is an example of a good saying and how it could be misused: believers should grow in a submissive attitude toward God. We believe that God is not materially here. If the man or woman leading the group claims to be God, our well-intended saying may be abused.

(Joh 1:18 GNB) No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Advice should be worded so that it and cult practices are mutually exclusive; they cannot both be correct. However, some cults redefine words, which is why definitions are so important.

On moral grounds, no one should hold back knowledge that could move others forward in the faith. We acknowledge that God’s timing plays a role in this. So, sometimes, we have to wait. But regarding spiritual salvation, now is always the right time to testify to the love of God through attitudes and actions. It is not always the right time to challenge someone to “give your heart to Christ.">

(Col 1:26-27 NKJV) the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (27) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Some Christian groups believe that they, and only they, have been gifted a secret knowledge. A knowledge that could propel believers forward in the faith. Consider the following principle: if God revealed it through the Spirit-to-your-spirit, He can and probably has revealed it to others; see John 10.16 below. We are all responsible for submitting to God’s known will.> (Joh 10:16 NKJV) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Characteristics of Spiritually Healthy Groups

• Spiritual growth over time as demonstrated (or experienced) in the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
• Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize, perhaps a specific target population if you are well suited to reach them, and accept all who respond favorably.

(Luk 19:10 NIV) For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.>

(Mar 2:15 NIV)  While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.>

(Joh 13:35 NRSV) By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Summary

Christianity has particular beliefs that are different from non-Christian groups. As we discuss various challenges Christians face, we hope and pray for the ideas presented here to be incompatible with the support of cult formation.

Conclusion

There exist wrong beliefs which relate to salvation or are extraordinary. There exist groups who base their existence on these. There exist groups that oppose essential Christian beliefs. This website is for those who align with Christianity but we warmly welcome all who come here.

For those commonly accepted beliefs in Christianity, another well-accepted alternative may exist that can be shown to be in compliance with scripture.

The right approach for every Christian is to find your church role and spend time there. Add to this personal spiritual nourishment, such as going to church, reading the Bible, and praying. Sometimes, God directs a specific Christian to contemplate various beliefs. Sometimes, we face a challenge where the solution requires rethinking how a belief is worded or interpreted.

Notes / Additional Information

False Doctrine Classification

Briefly, each person decides if a specific belief is false. We properly learn this by submitting to Christian teaching and preaching. Also, Bible reading, prayer, and sometimes aids such as devotional, inspiring biographies, or theological books. But there are many other factors in our history that also work together to create a context or framework by which each of us judges a belief as false or not.

Jesus

The following is an attempt to explain salvation. It is not a classic statement but provides context for this website. Regardless of the rewritten iteration, it always fails one test or another. This will be removed.

• Sin is contrary to God Because God is in harmony with Himself.
• Jesus is God. Could Jesus sin? The answer below may not be correct.
• We believe Jesus had free will and was tempted by Satan to sin.
• Jesus was born as a human baby, but His identity was the Son of God.
• Some say He had a dual nature (in modern English, this might be two aspects existing independently, yet both true in the person of Jesus).
• Jesus was physically a human and could be tempted to sin.
• HIS free will made sin possible, or at least the devil thought there was a chance, but He remained sinless.
• Everything that makes the guilt of sin possible, susceptible to the temptation to do wrong, and a free will, applied to Jesus.
• Because He resisted temptation and did not sin, He was innocent. He was the innocent lamb of God, slain for a sin He did not commit.

(Joh 1:14 NET) Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.>

(Col 2:9 NET) For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,

Isolation

Some cults maintain their hold over members by choosing to isolate. This refers to isolation or exclusion for religious reasons. This topic is outside of our scope.

Matthew 7.6 is an important verse for some groups.

(Mat 7:6 KJV) Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

(Mat 7:6 NIV) “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

(Mat 7:6 YLT)  ‘Ye may not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, that they may not trample them among their feet, and having turned—may rend you.

                                                                                               

The “About” Article Series is Optional Content

Each church participant has a different role, so you must decide whether the About series interests you. Some challenges in the faith existing in one perspective do not exist in another, or there is a straightforward solution when viewed differently. The About series does not contain core content for which this website exists. Consider these articles as optional, providing context for this website.

The context is predominantly protestant with a hope to be compatible with Catholic perspectives.

About 1 - Strategy

This website exists to help Christians who are struggling in matters of faith or whose faith has become a mediocre experience. The article About 1 - Strategy, explains the website’s approach.

About 2 - Intersection

A Venn diagram has circles where parts overlap, defining the region of intersection of two or more parts. This website exists at the intersection of several conditions. These include the availability of help, the availability of the author or authors, and other time factors, along with insight into human strengths, frailties, weaknesses, and more.

About 3 - Analysis

This website approaches Christianity from the belief that Christianity is real, for today, and makes a difference in people’s lives. Therefore, most Christianity can be codified as a set of tenets (assertions) that pass some test of reason.

About 4 - Error

This is a brief statement on Christian cults, and Cult group social dynamics.

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