A Cult vs. A Church

[Esphes45]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

My simple way to tell the difference between a church and a cult: The true church of Jesus Christ will teach following and obeying JESUS. A cult is a group who says that the way to follow Jesus is to follow and obey them, as they "supposedly" follow Jesus.

No man can be a mediator between God and man, except for Jesus, and any man/group/fellowship/organization who steps into that position has essentially stepped into the position of being a cult leader. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and HE is the only mediator we need.

If a man/group/organization/fellowship teaches that you can't be saved unless you believe, and do all they teach, and do not teach you to follow Christ first, and be obedient to Him first, they are probably part of a cult.

Just to play the other side...

Wasn't Moses a mediator between God and man?

Didn't he leave Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven and say whatsoever you bind on earth is bound in heaven?

That would lead some people to think that God has given certain people that authority to rule over people. The bible does say obey them that have the rule over you for they watch for your soul.

[shag]

Moses was a type and shadow of Christ, not Joseph Smith or whoever.


And obey them that have the rule over you is so often taken out of context by those trying to rule over (while often getting 10% of their income too)

http://www.truthguard.com/Articles/s...lemma-a17.html

[Carl]

Originally Posted by shag

Moses was a type and shadow of Christ, not Joseph Smith or whoever.


And obey them that have the rule over you is so often taken out of context by those trying to rule over (while often getting 10% of their income too)

http://www.truthguard.com/Articles/s...lemma-a17.html

Good point! Likewise the "whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven" is often taken out of context as well. It does not mean God is obligated to back up something we decide on earth. Something would only be bound on earth if it was already bound in heaven to begin with. This is similar to "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".

[good samaritan]

I believe that the Holy Spirit will lead us to bind and loose according to His will. If a leader is being led of the Holy Spirit a person needs to obey. If a man is walking on his own then he has no authority. The authority belongs to God. Through the years many have felt they were to be submitted to, because of the title and position. No man has authority outside of the Holy Ghost.

Moses was the deliverer, but Aaron was the mouthpiece. Jesus is our deliverer, but the ministry is the mouthpiece. I want to be God's parrot. If he leads me then I can lead others. If church leadership say they have heard from God you better take heed. If they lie God will judge, if God has spoken we rebel against God and not man.

[shag]

What do you mean, "the ministry"?

[good samaritan]

For some reason I knew someone would bring that up. We have a sensitivity to leadership. Their is no one person better than another to God, but there is a difference in body parts. I don't mean to you must be a pastor or preacher to hear from God or to have a ministry. All are ministers, but the roles of ministry aren't the same. God has placed teachers, pastors, prophets, etc. in the body. The body needs to obey what it is God has called them to say. I am not telling anyone to be a mindless zombie.

So the ministry I am refering to is church leadership.

Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone:for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God

It is like this if you don't trust that a man is called of God then by all means pay him no mind. If a man is speaking the word of God and a person doesn't take heed they will have to stand before God. This is another foot washing issue with many. Many have the attitude I will not let another man tell me anything and that is called pride. I refuse to blindly follow anyone, but after much prayer and deliberation if I find someone to be true to me then I have no problem to follow.

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

For some reason I knew someone would bring that up. We have a sensitivity to leadership. Their is no one person better than another to God, but there is a difference in body parts. I don't mean to you must be a pastor or preacher to hear from God or to have a ministry. All are ministers, but the roles of ministry aren't the same. God has placed teachers, pastors, prophets, etc. in the body. The body needs to obey what it is God has called them to say. I am not telling anyone to be a mindless zombie.

So the ministry I am refering to is church leadership.



It is like this if you don't trust that a man is called of God then by all means pay him no mind. If a man is speaking the word of God and a person doesn't take heed they will have to stand before God. This is another foot washing issue with many. Many have the attitude I will not let another man tell me anything and that is called pride. I refuse to blindly follow anyone, but after much prayer and deliberation if I find someone to be true to me then I have no problem to follow.

I believe a simple summation of that, would be choosing to follow, versus choosing to be led.

[good samaritan]

I don't know that there is a difference, but if one sounds better, your choice. There definitely is a balance to things. I don't want people to just take my word for something, but find it out for yourself. Many times we try to win people to our churches instead of win them to Jesus. We settle for people to come and be another carbon copy number on our pew. The goal should be to bring people to Jesus and encourage them to have a personal relationship to Him. If you feed a man a fish you have fed him a meal, but if you teach him to fish you have taught him to feed himself for a life time.

I'm sure, there are leaders out there who like people depending on them and being the star of the show. We should be teaching people to become ministers themselves. Church should not be about how many are you gathering, but how many are you sending. I understand there is a balance to leadership, and people from every side should be balanced. I am not to proud to be led, but I will prayerfully decide what to follow.

[shag]

Where I attend it's often about Gods house attendance, fitting into the requirements to participate in Gods house ministries, and pastor pulpit yelling wanting the listeners to yell back aka helping him preach, and pay him("the ministry") 10% of your income for yelling at you his personal rules and interpretation of scripture and if you're not in agreement (even if u can prove its inaccuracy)keep it to yourself. Never miss a "service" without passing the offering plate so Noone misses a blessing..Obey those that rule over you so you can participate in Gods Kingdom by teaching, parking cars, or taking up offering at Gods house, anything to do within the 4 walls of Gods house, because that "set up" is exactly what God has designed according to "the ministry".

makes me sick lately.
Cult or church...? Well...

[good samaritan]

There isn't anything perfect in this world, but what are some ideas you have personally for church operations?