There are 34,000 different Christian cults from which to choose, how do you know yours is correct?

Question

"According to David Barrett et al, editors of the "World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 2200," there are 34,000 separate Christian groups in the world today. "Over half of them are independent churches that are not interested in linking with the big denominations.""

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_divi.htm

Are the other 33,999 cults no better than atheists or agnostics?

What if you are wrong and one of the others is correct?

Does that mean you are going to hell?

Okay, so you are all correct and everyone else is wrong including the other people claiming to be correct.

How can we know you are correct since you all claim to be correct?

I think it's safe to assume they all follow the bible and all claim to be spiritual. So, how do we, or you, know you are correct?

DISCLAIMER: I am an atheist and do not believe any of them, or you, to be correct.

You cannot all be correct, but you can all be incorrect.

I choose the latter option.

I know of no religious organization that does "bad" stuff. Most all groups with which I'm aware attempt to do "good" stuff, so it's hard to claim "by their fruits you shall know them."

By that standard, BIll Gates & Warren Buffett are Godly men since they have given far more to charity than most.

Which is odd since they are both atheists.

To LuckyF:

That is one small reason I am an atheist.

"None of the above" is the only logical choice.

Barrett's book was published in 2001.

Just my evil nature AC....

:-)

Vampires are just that way...

All Christian sects or denominations are cults if you use the dictionary definition of cult.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cult.

Answer 1

I see that the preceding 24 answers have failed to provide you a direct answer to your original question: "how do you know [your church] is correct?" I hope to answer this question.

First of all, I cannot say that I know with a perfect knowledge that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I do, however, believe it is the true church for several reasons. I have felt what I believe to be the Spirit of God testify of the truth. I think most Christians will say you have to compare a church's teachings to the Bible to know if it is true. But so many people have such limited knowledge and understanding, that it would be impossible for most to know which church is true just by reading the Bible, and studying the complete doctrine of every church. I imagine that is why there are so many different churches; everyone has their own interpretations. Interestingly, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (AKA Mormons) is the only Christian denomination that I know of (besides its splinter groups) that has another book of scripture in addition to the Bible: The Book of Mormon. Anyone can read the Book of Mormon, and gain a testimony of its truthfulness by the power of the Spirit of God. I believe God prepared the Book of Mormon as a tool for conversion in the last days. A testimony of the Book of Mormon helps one to know which church is true (as there are only a few that use it). Therefore, the 34,000 can be narrowed down to a very small number of possible candidates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also the only religion (that I know of) that has a modern prophet and 12 apostles in its organization. The Church also teaches that because not all people will have the opportunity to accept the Gospel in this life, they will be taught the Gospel in the Spirit World (which is where we go after we die). There they will also be able to either accept or deny a vicarious baptism done on their behalf. Because Jesus taught that all people need to be baptized in order to enter the kingdom of God, it only makes sense that everyone should be given a chance to receive baptism (based on the assumption that God is fair and loves all his children). As far as I know, the Mormons are the only ones who practice baptism by proxy for the dead. Many other Christians believe if you die without baptism you are damned. I could go on listing more reasons why I believe this church to be true, but this should suffice.

Answer 2

You go looking for statistics like that but you don't even bother to find out what the churches of Christendom believe about each other? And you say we are intolerant... I am an independent christian. The Lutherans, the Baptists, the Catholics, any of the Christian churches teach the basic same thing about salvation. That it comes by faith in Christ plus nothing. It is the cults that there is trouble. The cults in my narrower definition than yours is a religious group with two major differences from main stream Christianity. 1. Extra biblical revelation and 2. strong central control of all members. They are out on the fringe and their salvation is most commonly faith plus works. Saying that God couldn't manage to do that work and they have to help Him.. Before you attack again make sure your facts are straight or you are too easy to shoot down...Jim

Answer 3

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, the One above all and through all and in you all.

How many of these "Christian Cults" are still around today? I can think of two, Mormonism and JW's. A different denomination or independent Bible church does not constitute a cult. If a body of believers accept the basic tenets of the faith i.e. God exists and is creator of all, Jesus is God as is the Holy Spirit, Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died and was raised again, the Bible is the inerrant word of God in history, doctrine and ethics and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, then they are part of the Church and therefore not a cult. Any group that does not accept these basic tenets of the faith are considered a cult. I trust the words of Scripture first and foremost, that never changes.

Answer 4

Just like Jesus said - you can recognize it by its fruit. If it doesn't honor your God and your Neighbor 's welfare above all things, walk away. Especially walk from specific churches with charismatic leader-types who are probably fooling around with someone's wife or where the youth pastor has been seen chewing plug and drinking whiskey on Saturday night. I am dead serious - I've seen both. Also be careful of the "Tithing" churches that make you feel guilty if you can't contribute. I personally have been a giver to charities all my life, winning awards for (anonymously) giving at work, etc., but at the present moment a marriage mistake has landed me near the poorhouse. I know that in this time, besides for a token handout to a homeless person, I am really begging trouble to give too much. Anyway, all the best on your search.

Answer 5

God promised us the help of the Holy Spirit to decide what is good and what not, and how I should live my life.

That explains why some people read the bible and are truly convinced that some verses are directly written for them to invite them to go to Africa and tell people about Jesus. Others read the same texts and think that the verses are written by St Paul to the Corinthians.

This help by the Holy Spirit helps us to interpret the bible and other sources of information to decide how we should live our lives.

I really believe, that no Christian should ever judge anyone else in the world. Even Jesus didn't judge us. The only thing we could do is ask the others why they believe that they should live their lives this way, and maybe give some reasoning to help them to see if their reasons are correct. But even so: if the other believes that God wants them to live that way, who am I to judge?

Answer 6

First it might be helpful to define religion vs. Spirituality

Actually this might take a little research, Hold on...

So, I define spirituality as our relationship with Creator. Religion is how we do that in community.

Are there some christian denominations that I disagree with? yes.

However I try to use to look at this from the viewpoint of Jesus. In the Bible, there is a passage which says that the disciples came to to Him, and there are people driving out demons in your name that are not one of us. Jesus responds by saying someting like. Those who believe and follow my ways are blessed. Those who are not against us, are with us.

I interpret that to mean that a Christian, by any other name, is still a Christian. To say that one is going to hell, and one is not, sounds stupid to me.

When Jesus came to be with us, He did not link up with any of the organized religions of the day. Granted he did follow the Jewish observances, but he certainly did not become a rabbi in the Temple.

I think that, in this light, we must consider that each denomination is more like a flavor. As long as the teaching of that church (of your choice) reflects what Jesus taught (in the gospels, the tradition of the Church of the Christians that came before us, and our own reasoning capability) then the specifics are not that important.

Hope that helps,
Vic

Answer 7

A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith. Cults often teach some Christian truth mixed with error, which may be difficult to detect. There are some features common to most cults:
They do not adhere solely to the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. They add their "special revelations" to the Bible as equally authoritative.
They do not accept that relationship to Jesus Christ is a reality "by grace through faith" alone(John 3:16). But practice instead a salvation by works.
In Ephesians 1:7 says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,"
They do not give Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, full recognition as the second Person of the Trinity, composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Meaning that they do not acknowledge Christ as God.
One can study the Word of God again and again but still can be blind because "they may have eyes but they cannot see, or ears but cannot hear" God alone can discern man's heart and the motives behind their actions.
Oh, by the way, I, think your questions are very challenging, which is a good thing. Your questions bring me to an attitude of really searching more about God and seeing myself if I am spiritualy growing in my faith in Christ. God is using you for good even though you are an atheist. Thanks for the tough questions. God Bless.

Answer 8

Instead of looking "out" to the world and all the different religions and traditions, why don't you just look "up", and seek a personal one-on-one relationship with him?

God doesn't want us believers to be divided, but sadly to say, we are. God doesn't want us to be bogged down with rules, regulations and customs (that's what he criticized the Pharisees for), but sadly to say, we are doing just that.

So many religions think they can get to God by their good behavior and "works", but it isn't that at all. You take one step towards God, by accepting His Son, and he comes the rest of the way.

We are in the last days, Friend. Time to make a decision: You have to decide whether you are for Jesus Christ or against Him. There's no middle road here.

Not talking Church. Not talking religion, customs, rules, regulations, traditions, labels..... or anything that man has drummed up.

Talking about what will go on between just you and Him.

Answer 9

This is true and the key word is Cult or Cultures . all Christians that are Anointed with Gods Seal , the Holy Spirit are a Member of the Body of Christ, No Chur-ch is needed they are the church, all others are Social Clubs and some get smart enough to move on others do not.

Answer 10

no doubt about, there are a lot of religions and cults, which one is the correct one.....well jesus Christ on matthew, he stated that the true christian can be identify, but many don't want to find it, because they don't want to make changes and live the way God wants.....and also Satan is misleading by means of all the religions, so not to find the true and only Organization that God approves.....so you need to read the bible and consider what the apostles did and what other religions are doing, those which are not doing what the apostles did, they are not true....and the thing is that there is only one, true religion, ....you need to look harder...write back at [e-mail]