1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Cultic Oppression Selected Scriptures
The Importance of Truth
Truth is that which conforms to actual reality.
Faulty perceptions can result in disaster

3. The Bible as the Source of Truth
The Bible claims to be the Word of God.
The Bible is historically accurate
The Biblical writers were of the highest integrity
Fulfilled prophecies attest to divine origin

4. The Bible as the Source of Truth
The internal character and preservation of the Bible demonstrate God’s hand upon it.
The Scripture’s description of the physical world reveals what could have only been known at that time by the creator.

5. Demonic Deception
Claims of angelic origin must be matched by teaching that matches Scripture
If it is different God, Jesus or gospel then it comes from a demon

6. Eastern Mysticism
They claim you must know their hidden knowledge to know the truth and become what you want to be
God has granted us the knowledge we need to know Him and how to live - 2 Peter 1:2-4

7. Cults
Those who “adhere to an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices.”
“Any Christian sect that has a source of authority that it considers to be superior to the Holy Scriptures.”

8. Cults
That authority may claim to supercede the Bible, or just be the only means to rightly interpret it.
Cult members may think they are following God,
but they are following either men or demons

9. Protection from the Cults
Know the Bible well enough to recognize when something does not match it.
Psalm 1
2 Timothy 2:15

10. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Doctrine
Subtle doctrine may get by your first line of defense - be prepared to examine doctrine carefully
Be like the Bereans - Acts 17:11
Any man can err; God’s word does not
Christian cults prey on those who have a some nominal Christian background

11. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Doctrine
Cults are experts at twisting the Scriptures to seem like only they that really understand it.
They do not encourage people to be Bereans, but only to study the Bible according to their interpretation
The goal of a cult is to get the victim to trust the cult as the source of truth
and submit to their authority

12. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Authority Structure
Legitimate churches may abuse authority,
but there is a means to challenge it and call it back Biblically
Church authority is in Christ as its head and then the elders as under-shepherds to oversee the flock

13. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Authority Structure
Elders must have certain godly character qualities and sound teaching ability (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)
Deacons & deaconesses assist the elders and must have certain godly character qualities (1Tim. 3:8-12)
1 Peter 5: Peter’s instruction to elders

14. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Authority Structure
Acts 20: Paul’s warning to elders to be on guard for the flock
2 Timothy 2: Paul’s instructions to Timothy.
Rebuking an elder - 1 Timothy 5:19-20
Hebrews 13:17 - Instructions to the congregation to obey its leaders - and the reasons why

15. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Authority Structure
Cults are authoritative and generally do not allow correction or rebuke of its leaders
They demand obedience based on authority position rather than the example of godliness

16. Protection from the Cults Exposing Cult Authority Structure
Godly leaders look out for the flocks best interest while cult leaders exploit their flock
Strong relationship bonds within the cult make it even more difficult to break free from it

17. Summary
Know your Bible well
Be a Berean and compare the teaching with the Bible
Determine if the Bible is the group’s source of knowledge and authority or if it considers something else superior

18. Jehovah’s Witnesses
Authority: New World Translation
The Governing Body
God: Reject trinity, deity of Jesus, and personhood of Holy Spirit
Salvation: Faith + Works
Living on an eternal earth for good
annihilation for the wicked

19. Unification Church
Authority: The Divine Principle & speeches of Sun Myung Moon
God: Reject trinity, deity of Jesus, and personhood of Holy Spirit
Salvation: Works
Goal – to become like god

20. The Way International
Authority: The writings of V.P. Wierwille
God: Reject trinity, deity of Jesus, and personhood of Holy Spirit

21. Unitarian Universalists
Authority: The individual himself
God: Deny existence of God, deity of Jesus (if he existed),
Salvation: None – reject concept of sin, heaven and hell

22. Christian Science
Authority: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
God: An impersonal, all powerful force. Deny Jesus’ death & resurrection
Salvation: not deliverance from real sin, but “boundless freedom and sinless sense” to be realized, not obtained.

23. Conclusions
Be on guard
Acts 20:28-30
2 Peter 3:17

24. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ