CULT or SPIRITUALLY & ABUSIVE?
by Bruce F. Levi, ICARE Ministries
What is a cult? What is a cult-like and spiritually abusive organization? How do cults differ from cult-like groups? How are they similar? In our previous prayer letter, we promised to cover the topic of spiritually abusive groups. We begin to cover this topic below. First, a quick review of cults.
Doctrinal Deviation
Conservative, Bible-believing Christians designate certain religious organizations as cults. Another term for cults is cult of Christianity, since they are counterfeits of true Christianity.
Commonly recognized cults are Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Unification Church. Why do we name such groups cults? There are various definitions and uses of the word cult. However, from an evangelical Christian point of view, cults are groups that deviate from orthodox Christianity, first and foremost, in at least one major area of doctrine, such as the nature of our Trinitarian God/Jesus Christ/The Holy Spirit, Salvation by Grace through Faith alone, and the Bible alone as the source of doctrine.
For example, with the edicts of its prophets and other books that claim to be scripture, Mormonism adds to and takes away from the only source of sound doctrine - the Bible. With its teaching that Jesus Christ was not always God, Mormonism also denies the Bible. Mormonism’ s salvation comes by a combination of God’s grace plus human effort toward perfection. In fact, Mormonism and other cults, define virtually all theological terms and topics differently than Christianity. Cults usually differ from orthodoxy in several areas of doctrine.
Authoritarian Leadership
In addition to deviant doctrines, and because of reliance on them, each of the hundreds of cults in the world today was started by a charismatic leader who claimed to have new revelations, direct authority from God, or special interpretations or insights.
All this is true of Mormonism. Like Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, cult leaders may appear gracious, educated, and loving. However, under this façade, they are controllers, deceivers and manipulators, who hold themselves up as the authority, rather than point their flock to the authority of the word of God. Cult leaders, like Joseph Smith, use these claims of authority and new knowledge to gain a following and to exert control over the lives of their membership.
This kind of control is authoritarianism: “of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority; or a concentration of power in a leader or elite not…responsible to the people” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1972). This causes cult members to revere their leader in ways that are to be reserved only for God. Most Mormons see Joseph Smith as a virtually perfect man. To speak or write anything that calls his actions or teachings into question, may result in excommunication.
Some newer cults are still lead by their founder, such as Sun Yung Moon and his Unification Church. Others are lead by a domineering leader along with a hierarchy of men, as seen in Mormonism’s so-called prophet and his apostles, seventy, bishops, elders, etc. Such leadership structures are like “good ole’ boy” clubs where membership is by invitation only. The members have no voice in choosing the leaders. Nepotism and cronyism are the norm, as seen in Mormonism where the majority of the top leaders come from a handful of interrelated families. However, Jesus plainly taught that authoritarianism is not to be the leadership method of His Church ( Matthew 20:25-28; Luke 22:25-27). He strongly condemned the actions of the authoritarian Pharisees and Scribes (Matthew 23:2-33; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:45-47).
Although many cults exhibit flagrant licentiousness, such as Mormonism’s past practice of polygamy, cult leaders always exert authoritarian control over cult followers with a false “gospel” of legalism that includes one or more of the various kinds of legalism.
- Earning salvation by works.
- Keeping salvation by works.
- Earning God's special favor or special gifts, such as the "gifts of the spririt" by works
- Earning the leader’s and/or the group’s approval by conforming to certain spoken or unspoken behavioral rules.
All these forms of legalism are practiced in Mormonism’s focus on becoming literally perfect in thought, word, and deed. One can readily observe Mormons’ legalistic adherence to extra-biblical rules that dictate dietary habits, clothing, hairstyles, proselytizing, marriage, and other personal practices. Indeed, Mormonism is known by these practices that are to be done by all Mormons. This is known as uniformity.
Human effort to please God is in opposition to the Bible’s clear teachings on grace (Acts 15; Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:15-3:10 ; Titus 3:5-7). Such control is damaging to the souls of cult members. Therefore, this kind of leadership is spiritually abusive. It is real. It hurts. It damages.
Now that we have described some ways to recognize cults, what are cult-like or spiritually abusive churches and groups? How do they differ from, and how are they similar to, cults? For the authority to write this article, this author spent eight years studying the written material of the several Christian writers who have written on cult-like and spiritually abusive churches, and directly observing such groups. He also draws on his personal experience of being raised in the cult of Mormonism, followed by 12 years in two cult-like, spiritually abusive Baptist churches.
Cult-Like & Spiritually Abusive?
First, cult-like or spiritually abusive groups are not outright cults, because they affirm the major doctrines of Christianity. Cult-like groups have an evangelical, or even a fundamental, statement of faith. Technically, they are doctrinally mainstream or conservative and therefore fall within the boundaries of orthodox Christianity. Many spiritually abusive churches or groups are especially zealous in their preaching, outreach, prayer, singing, etc. Ironically, this is often a sign that a group is abusive. However, cult-like groups elevate minor doctrines to the level of the major doctrines – they major on the minor and minor on the majors. In this, they misuse doctrines and abuse their members.
Cult-like and spiritually abusive churches are not limited to any one theological system or denomination. However, they do tend to be found more among loosely- affiliated fellowships and non-affiliated independent churches where there is little or no ecclesiastical oversight to keep them in line. It is possible for individual congregations to be cult-like, while the majority of congregations in their denomination remain orthodox. Such groups have appeared throughout the history of Christianity. Non-church, or parachurch, organizations can also be cult-like and abusive.
If one looks only superficially at these groups or churches, one may see only what they have in common with orthodox churches, and it will be impossible to identify them as cult-like and abusive. No wonder the Bible tells Christians to “Prove [test] all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). With awareness and application, one can determine whether any group in question is cult-like or abusive.
Therefore, the terms cult-like and spiritually abusive are applied to churches, organizations, and movements that affirm the major doctrines of Christianity, but which, at the same time, have certain characteristics of outright cults. In other words, such groups are like cults in some ways - they are cult-like. They are also termed abusive ( “to put to a wrong or improper use; deceive; to use so as to injure or damage; maltreat; corrupt practice; deception” Webster’s) in their improper and deceptive authority and teachings, which spiritually hurt and damage people.
There are several signs that indicate a church or group is cult-like or spiritually abusive. Having just one characteristic does not make a group cult-like, rather a plurality of them. In 1998, this author left a church after observing several serious doctrinal and behavioral inconsistencies on the part of the pastor and his board of trustees. On a personal hunch, I ordered a two-cassette tape set and book, Recovering From Churches That Abuse, by Ronald Enroth. As I listened to the first tape, I was shocked at the descriptions of actual abusive churches. When I listened to the second tape that provided a list of six characteristics of abusive churches, I realized that the church I had left exhibited every one of those characteristics! This realization was life changing as I learned the cause of the church’s dysfunction and began to further study the phenomenon of spiritual abuse in both cults and in cult-like churches and groups.
Take-Charge Leaders
The number one way in which cult-like groups are similar to cults is with authoritarian leadership. Like the cult of Mormonism, cult-like groups have an authoritarianism central leader - usually the pastor. Such pastors are take-charge leaders and tend to be loners who shun fellowship with others. Similar to cult leaders, they twist scripture to establish uniformity (”having always the same form, manner, or degree; not varying” - Webster’s). It is when just about everyone looks and sounds alike. This author frequently observes uniformity in a particular cult-like church when its members constantly say things like, “The preacher (or Brother so-and-so) said ________ ,” as they parrot his same opinionated views on a variety of political topics, books, movies, and secondary doctrines. Christians are to have unity, which is harmony and accord existing in a diverse body (church) of Christians (Romans 12:4-8).
Hierarchy
Similar to Mormonism’s abusive hierarchy, authoritarianism in cult-like groups may exhibit itself in the form of a controlling and inclusive board of elders, deacons, or trustees. This club of cronies tightly controls admission to their board and rules the church with little regard for the opinions and feelings of the members at large. They make virtually all the decisions and implement them without first learning the membership’s thoughts and presenting various options for discussion and a vote. Since board members hide behind the anonymity of the board as a whole, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly which board member(s) is the source of the authoritarianism. They control in a subtle and measured manner. Whereas leaders of extreme cults act with malice, leaders of cult-like churches seldom have intent to hurt. They act out of narcissism, ignorance, or tunnel vision on what they are doing for God. Nevertheless, it is still an abuse of power. Minor and sporadic abuse, or mere rudeness, thoughtlessness, or arrogance is not authoritarianism.
God's Man
Like members of cults, to counter the charge that their leader/pastor abuses authority, members of cult-like churches often say something like, “It is wrong to speak evil of God’s man.” In this, they err. First, they are overlooking the fact that a leader who is truly “God’ s man” will comply with Matthew 20:25-28 and Luke 22:25-27 and be a servant-leader who ministers (serves), edifies (builds up), and speaks the truth in love to the church, not one who “rules over” it ( Ephesians 4:11-15). Secondly, they are overlooking God’s command that Christians are to hold their leaders accountable (Matthew 18:15-18; 25:26; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26) and that they are to test all things ( 1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Why Should We Care?
Why should Christians want to be able to identify cult-like and spiritually abusive groups and churches? Christians are to hold to all the doctrines of the faith (Matthew 28:20). This includes the proper kind of leadership (Matthew 20:25-28) and a proper understanding of grace (Galatians 3:1-15), both of which cult-like groups twist and abuse for their own purposes. Christians are to avoid entanglement in a yoke of bondage, or legalism (Acts 15; Galatians 5:1-4). Christians are to follow the example (Philippians 3:17) of Paul, who addressed hypocritical leadership and false doctrine in a direct manner (Acts 15; Galatians 2:11). Christians need to be knowledgeable in order to hold their leaders accountable, as Paul tells the whole Church to do in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and 6:1-11. Similarly, Jesus told his followers to go directly to an offending brother (Matthew 18:15-18). Would not every Christian, out of love, want to warn other believers about the dangers of entanglement in a yoke of bondage, from which Christ set us free?