Many Christians clueless when dealing with cults

Fear and ignorance holds many back from speaking the truth

KELLY HENSCHEL

CW Staff

— Abbotsford, BC —

Most people are quick to shut the door or offer ready-made excuses when the Jehovah's Witnesses come knocking.

However, that might not be the best approach, especially when the Bible's command to "always be prepared to give an answer" (1 Pet 3:15) is taken into consideration, says Marshall Almarode.

Almarode, one of several speakers who will take part in a counter-cult conference in Abbotsford next month, says Christians are giving the impression they just don't want to talk about the Bible and show "a really bad witness."

"We need to have a biblical answer, said in reverence and respect, but said in love," he says. "Deep down we're afraid to talk about Jesus. We know we don't have the answers."

When it comes to dealing with people involved in cults, Christians need to realize it's acceptable to ask questions and talk with people who have different beliefs. "If you've never been asked a question by a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon, or a Freemason, how do you know how to answer them?" he asks. "The thing we're missing is interaction with the lost."

Elmer Wiebe, executive director of CULTure Shock Solution, a counter-cult ministry that is hosting the Abbotsford conference, says one of the key goals is to "equip Christians with the necessary tools to communicate with the cult community. This is something in which most Christians are illiterate."

Learn the language

The principle is the same as for missionaries who are going to a different culture, he explains. They have to learn the language before they can communicate the gospel message and point out errors in false beliefs.

For cults, English may be the language, but religious terminology has different meanings. "We have to learn to scale their language," he says. "This is what trips a lot of Christians up. [A cult] may talk about Jesus and the resurrection, but they have totally redefined it."

Lorri MacGregor, a counter-cult expert with MacGregor Ministries, says not only are Christians unaware how to talk to those involved in cults, but are allowing cult influence into the church as well.

Worship is being reversed in the church so focus is taken off God, she says, especially in extreme charismatic movements where divine deliverance and prophesying take precedence over biblical truths.

"They've taken the emphasis off checking things out in the Bible and put the emphasis on living prophets. Whatever they say is revelation and above the word of God. That's very dangerous territory to be in."

Even some of the worship songs have the markings of turning people away from God, she says. "They're what I call ‘gimme' songs. Reign on me, fall on me, bless me, instead of saying ‘Lord, we adore you, we worship you. The emphasis has shifted from true worship to exaltation of self. This is one of the marks of a cult in the making when we see the humanizing of Christ and the deifying of man."

MacGregor is also concerned with the trend in many churches towards relativism. "There's been an absolute accepting of many things that the church would have stood up a hundred years ago and yelled heresy," she says.

CULTure Shock Solution's conference August 10-12 will focus on many of these issues, as well as medical ethics, creation and evolution and taking a deeper look at movements such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Oneness Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Freemasonry and the 2x2s.

More information is available from Elmer Wiebe at 604-857-1285 or cssolution@home.com