Am I in a cult? How to discern a cult.

Calling a church a cult is pretty extreme so I need to suggest some criteria for such a label.

One definition of a cult-like church is that there is spiritual abuse.  Spiritual abuse also needs to be defined because that is a strong term.  Spiritual Abuse is when the agenda of the church or the pastor overrides the needs, gifts and calling of the person.

Unfortunately that is a very abstract and general definition.  Unfortunately most institutions calling themselves 'Churches' will tend to fit into that definition to some extent.  Unfortunately, most churches exist to some extent, for their own sake or to benefit the pastor more than they exist to nurture, encourage and equip the Christian to live out their life in their home, community or workplace in victory.

Let be more specific in guidelines or markers.  An unhealthy church does not leave you feeling encouraged and built up but you leave the Sunday worship service feeling burdened or guilty.

Jesus said "come unto me you that are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest."  If the service ministers that Jesus then you will find relief from guilt and pressure to perform 'religious' duties and encouraged and empowered to live your life with Christ in you and the Kingdom of God invading your places of home, work and study.  This will happen without striving.

Freedom is present where Christ is present for he came to set us free.  What that looks like in the local congregation is that everyone is expressing themselves in their own unique way.  People dress different.  You can look around and see many different ages, colors, genders, dress, financial levels.  The people are not all dressed the same.

In some churches there is a drift toward a 'deliverance' ministry or to 'spiritual warfare.'  It is a danger sign if the focus of prayer, preaching and song is on attacking evil, binding demons and naming different powers of darkness.  Flee such a place because they are attracting demons by giving them so much attention.

Are people in leadership so 'super spiritual' that they do not manage their everyday affairs well.  It is unhealthy to be so focused on 'saving the world' that you neglect your family.  It is unhealthy to be so focused on 'spiritual things' that you neglect your earthly responsibilities.  You need to feed your rabbits, take the dog for a walk and have food in the refrigerator for the household.  Practical stuff, believe it or not, is spiritual stuff.

A healthy church will have healthy small groups.  People will be able to study the bible and not always the sermon notes from the pastor's sermon.  There should be some personal sharing and getting to know one another.  If you can sense a healthy refreshing sense of freedom and encouragement.

As a church becomes more controlling it comes closer to being an unhealthy church or a cult.

1. The teaching suggests that other groups are wrong and you would lose out by leaving this church.
2. More extreme, the teaching suggests you are lost from salvation if you leave this church.
3. The pastors speaks and teaches that bad things happen to those who leave the church.
4. The pastor or others pray negative prayer (curses) against those who leave their church.

I have talked about 'exit control' in another blog.  These are some guides as to whether you are in a healthy or unhealthy church or a cult.  Learn to discern and to trust your gut feeling.

Control Exit with Threats - Demons #7b

(This continues my discussion of Chapter 7 of Demons in the Sanctuary by Mariam Bellamy, Trafford Publishing, 2008)

Exit Control through Threats and Fear

Some pastors suggest people leaving their flock are in danger. They teach that harm may befall those “out from under his covering.”

To imply that some harm may happen if you leave is to play on people’s doubts and fears. It would then take a lot of self confidence to exit.

One’s pastor is respected, his word heeded. When your beloved pastor creates doubt and fear – in fact suggesting that God will punish you if you leave – of course you will hesitate about leaving.

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A selfish pastor may use manipulation, control and intimidation to stop people from leaving his church. The selfish pastor is out for gain and will miss the financial and volunteer time of those that leave.

A true shepherd pastor who has a heart for his people is hurt when people leave. The reason is that they care about their people and will miss them. They will not use Control and Manipulation to hold on to people because that is not compatible with love.

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Rick Godwin “Exposing Witchcraft in the Church” (Charisma House, 1997) argues that the use of manipulation, control and intimidation is witchcraft. I do know that people who turn to witchcraft often do so to gain control.

Those in witchcraft use dark forces to gain power. The use of dark ungodly forces to gain power over others is a form of control and is rebellion against God.

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It is painful to admit that any pastor could stoop to informal witchcraft to control people and block the exits from the church. Pastor Rutherford uses informal witchcraft when he makes a connection between a boy who turns to murder and his parents opposing Rutherford six years ago: “His father rose up against me, you know. He was one of those who tried to get rid of me six years ago.”

I call it ‘informal witchcraft’ because there is the implication that those who confront or question their pastor could receive such an extreme ugly consequences such as a son who murders an elderly loving Christian couple.

Mira sensed his belief that those who oppose him will suffer untold agonies and perhaps even death as a result of their obedience. She understood that he was sending her a message.

Pastors who resent those who oppose them may speak curses against those that stand up to them, question them or leave the assembly. I have written about this on www.listening-prayer.com in writing about how to break a curse.

Pastors sometimes join in 'prayer' against those that oppose them and generate a Christian curse. Dennis Cramer writes of this in "Breaking Christian Curses: Finding Freedom from Destructive Prayers."

The most horrible and deeply evil practice is for Christian Pastors to stoop to the actual use of witchcraft to attack those who might interfere with their empire and ambitions. I am talking about personally using voodoo dolls and generating spells against other Christians. An alternative to this is contacting a group of witches and giving them names to pray against. I believe that there are pastors who have reached this level of deprived spirituality.

Other posts in this series on Demons in the Sanctuary: 1. Masculine Tough and Feminine Soft, 2. Narcissistic Personality Pastor, 3. Nicolaitanism – triumph over the lay people, 4. Church Scandal and Financial Wrongdoing, 5. Attitude of a Good Pastor.  6. The Blessing of Unity. 7. Touch Not God's Anointed, 8. Spiritual Covering, 9. Control Exit with Threats,
See also the blog on "What do we know about Ralph Rutledge?"   The wolf in Sheep Clothing,  Character Issues to Observe,  Good Boundaries make Good Ministers, Thesis, Method, Observations and Conclusions about Ralph Rutledge, Ralph Rutledge Defrocked