Are Lutherans, Methodists, and Baptists
considered as cults?!?
considered as cults?!?
A well known vlogger announced that Episcopalian, Baptist, and even Lutheran religious groups are considered as cults. Wow!
Wait a minute...What is a definition of a cult? According to the official definition: Cults are groups that deny the central articles of Christian faith, such as the Trinity and Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Although some Christian churches have minor theological differences, that doesn’t mean that they are cults. The main point that they don’t reject the Trinity (God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit). Most cults deviate significantly from Christian teachings.
Some arguments point out that the churches have ritual rules. In the Bible, Jesus really referred to religious groups like Pharisees, who don’t believe in Jesus Christ, forced the members to follow the burdening man made rules rather than God’s and further made unnecessary rules that outweighed God’s rules. We have customs that guide our worship procedures to serve God’s will. Some rituals are optional like wearing a tie in church or not. It is up to churches to decide, but they don’t overrule God’s rules.
Now, why there are too many cults?
It looks like that people are not satisfied in life and in world. Churches don’t serve their needs and interests. They need security and a sense of worth such as community support to heal hurts and share joys. Many people think that church doesn’t give healing, so they go to a cultic group for healing. Their thinking is irrational and untruth. They believe whatever they want. It causes cult groups to form. Although they say to “follow OUR truth,” the main issue is who has authority to teach truth?
Jesus gives us true worth. He gives us ways to serve in His kingdom. We need to show that. If we don’t, the cults will try to satisfy peoples’ needs. We need to be ready to show right interpretation and teaching of the Bible. We must recognize people need to see how God says their life is important.
1 Thessalonians 5.21 says, “Test every. Hold on to the good.” The Bible warns us that we will see conflicting information from many new religious groups like cults after John wrote the last chapter in the New Testament. The last chapter of the New Testament warns not do add any new to the Bible as the Word of God. The Lutheran Confessions focus on John 8.31-32 that emphasizes that the word of God will guide us to find the truth. One pastor mentions, if you recognize the real U.S. Dollar, you will be able to tell which dollar papers are fake or not.
Examples of modern cults even though they look friendly and “Christian-like” appearance:
Can you find wolf in this pack of sheep? It is work of Satan to promote the cult groups:
Wait a minute...What is a definition of a cult? According to the official definition: Cults are groups that deny the central articles of Christian faith, such as the Trinity and Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Although some Christian churches have minor theological differences, that doesn’t mean that they are cults. The main point that they don’t reject the Trinity (God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit). Most cults deviate significantly from Christian teachings.
Some arguments point out that the churches have ritual rules. In the Bible, Jesus really referred to religious groups like Pharisees, who don’t believe in Jesus Christ, forced the members to follow the burdening man made rules rather than God’s and further made unnecessary rules that outweighed God’s rules. We have customs that guide our worship procedures to serve God’s will. Some rituals are optional like wearing a tie in church or not. It is up to churches to decide, but they don’t overrule God’s rules.
Now, why there are too many cults?
It looks like that people are not satisfied in life and in world. Churches don’t serve their needs and interests. They need security and a sense of worth such as community support to heal hurts and share joys. Many people think that church doesn’t give healing, so they go to a cultic group for healing. Their thinking is irrational and untruth. They believe whatever they want. It causes cult groups to form. Although they say to “follow OUR truth,” the main issue is who has authority to teach truth?
Jesus gives us true worth. He gives us ways to serve in His kingdom. We need to show that. If we don’t, the cults will try to satisfy peoples’ needs. We need to be ready to show right interpretation and teaching of the Bible. We must recognize people need to see how God says their life is important.
1 Thessalonians 5.21 says, “Test every. Hold on to the good.” The Bible warns us that we will see conflicting information from many new religious groups like cults after John wrote the last chapter in the New Testament. The last chapter of the New Testament warns not do add any new to the Bible as the Word of God. The Lutheran Confessions focus on John 8.31-32 that emphasizes that the word of God will guide us to find the truth. One pastor mentions, if you recognize the real U.S. Dollar, you will be able to tell which dollar papers are fake or not.
Examples of modern cults even though they look friendly and “Christian-like” appearance:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses: Rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus is not God.
- Christian Science: Replaces the Trinity by the triple divine principle: Life, Truth, and Love.
- Mormons (Latter-Day Saints): Believes that some will succeed in becoming gods by their works and will rule on rule.
- And sadly many more cult groups...
Can you find wolf in this pack of sheep? It is work of Satan to promote the cult groups:
~~ Pastor Andy
Facts about John
1. Who were John's parents?
1. Who were John's parents?
- Joachim and Anna
- Zebedee and Salome
- Clotilda and Clovis
2. In what business did John and his brother James work?
- They were farmers
- They were fishermen
- They sold cloth
3. After John and his brother answered Jesus' call to follow Him, which was the first major city in which they stopped in the Gospel of Mark?
- Capernaum
- Lod
- Tel Aviv
4. In Mark 5, John, along with Peter and James, was present when Jesus performed a miracle. Which of the following miracles was it?
- Jesus made a mute boy able to speak
- Jesus healed a man who had been injured in a fall
- Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead
5. While Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, What did James, John and Peter while Jesus prayed?
- They fell asleep
- They were attacked by a badger
- They got hungry and started to eat
6. John spent many years in Jerusalem. In what city of Asia Minor did he spent the last years of his life?
- Damascus
- Ephesus
- Riyadh
Letters From Prison (part 6)
In the New Testament we find five letters which the Apostle Paul wrote in prison. We have already touched on the first four of those letters:
Paul’s 5th letter from prison is his 2nd letter to Timothy. It is also the last letter Paul wrote which appears in Bible. (The New Testament does not give us Paul’s letter in chronological order; they are in the order of size – longest to shortest. That is why Paul’s letters to Titus and Philemon appear after 2 Timothy.)
Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy is in some ways a sad letter. Paul says that he expects that he will soon be executed for his testimony for Christ. “My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day—not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NCV) Paul also begs Timothy to come visit him in prison (probably in Rome) ASAP, “Get Mark... bring my coat... and come before winter.”
Paul again encourages Timothy to continue to trust Christ with all his heart, to endure suffering for Christ, and to teach the Scriptures faithfully. “Since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:15-17)
In the New Testament we find five letters which the Apostle Paul wrote in prison. We have already touched on the first four of those letters:
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- Philemon
Paul’s 5th letter from prison is his 2nd letter to Timothy. It is also the last letter Paul wrote which appears in Bible. (The New Testament does not give us Paul’s letter in chronological order; they are in the order of size – longest to shortest. That is why Paul’s letters to Titus and Philemon appear after 2 Timothy.)
Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy is in some ways a sad letter. Paul says that he expects that he will soon be executed for his testimony for Christ. “My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day—not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NCV) Paul also begs Timothy to come visit him in prison (probably in Rome) ASAP, “Get Mark... bring my coat... and come before winter.”
Paul again encourages Timothy to continue to trust Christ with all his heart, to endure suffering for Christ, and to teach the Scriptures faithfully. “Since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:15-17)
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3
Reprinted from July 2011 Mustard Seed
It's too hot to think about writing a column this month.
Have a great and blessed summer!
It's too hot to think about writing a column this month.
Have a great and blessed summer!
See you in September
Deaf Culture of Maryland
Maryland Association of the Deaf (MDAD) was officially founded in 1956. Many old-timers like myself have fond memories of the first ten presidents who are not living today. In our May-June issue we published Ruth Peterson’s 1998 illustration of Mount Rushmore with these first ten MDAD presidents added. I challenged you to identify them by name.
Answers:
|
1. David Neill
2. John Kubis 3. Leon Auerbach 4. Robert Nicol 5. Gertrude Galloway |
6. Thomas Cuscaden
7. Frank Hutchinson 8. Rudolph Hines 9. Alexander Fleischman 10. William Stevens |
US Presidents (left—right)
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln
This is my last article for the Mustard Seed,
as now I focus my energies on other projects.
Alice Hagemeyer
Friends of Library for Deaf Action (FOLDA)
as now I focus my energies on other projects.
Alice Hagemeyer
Friends of Library for Deaf Action (FOLDA)
