I think my friend is being lured into a cult posing as a Christian church. How can I help her?

Question

She is donating obcene amounts of money. She is traveling around the world to meet the elders of this organization but when she gets there, she has to take them out to wine and dine them. She was told she was chosen by God to be the anointed one to help lead our community. She sent the "church" pastor and his wife for an all expenses paid vacation to Bali where they stayed in a luxury villa. I went to one of their sunday services where people kept breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably. They make claims that since they have started on their mission to convert people to Christianity, crime rates, murder rates and obesity have gone down in the city while the economy, birth rates and SAT scores have gone up. My friend now claims that because she prays to god, her eczema has healed, her marriage has improved and her kids are well behaved. We used to talk about our kids, their education, cultural events, traveling, movies etc. Now, when we get together, all we talk about is God.

Answer 1

Ouch! That's a very difficult question.

Try to research the cult. Find stories of their reputation and share it with her. See if you can find organizations or people who have gotten out and ask how they did it.

Depending on how far she is into it, it may be difficult to save her. Particularly if her husband is into it as well.

Tell her that you do not want to discuss God (because you don't believe in God in the same way, or find another excuse). See if that leads the discussion back on track.

Good luck

Answer 2

I've seen this happen many times before. I reccomend contacting the authorites and telling them to keep a close eye out on this so called "church". These kind of places are started by people who want to make money and they do that by manipulating people's belief. God is not the one blessing her it is the work of Satan and he will end up destroying your friends life if you don't slap some sense into her. Have a serious talk with her. I recommend taking her to a real preacher in the area and telling him about this so called "pastor" who runs this church and see if he can help. There's been a large increase in these Christian based cults and it's not helping but ruining the economy. This reminds me of an episode of full metal alchemist..........

Answer 3

I do think she is being taken advantage of here and it is alright to help others, but my question is, how many people could these so called elders have helped if they stayed in a low cost hotel. because one is is christian doesn't mean people have the right to walk all over you and then claim" you're a good christian if you do this or a bad one if you don't. as far as helping her see the light, may be a difficult one as reasoning with here most certainly be useless. unfortunately, she may start to see the light when they empty her bank account and they no longer see a use for her. and i'd like to know why they don't perform these wonderful services in their own community... good luck..

Answer 4

Them comming to her and telling her that she was chosen that does not sound right at all and sending them on vacation that is not right either. She does need to get out of there she still can have a relationship with God but you need to tell her that is not how it works he comes to you not people and tells you. She needs to pray about certain things and Pasters SHOULD not get there church goewers to pay for there vacations Tell her it is ok to tithe but give it to the WHole church and for the bills and things but not that. Yea She does need to find a different church. Just tell her you are happy that she has found God but tell her those people are no OF GOD they are crooks and they are wolves in sheep clothing and tell her that is in the bible that people will pose as saved people but truely in there hearts are not and that is what these people sound like.
Find anther church if you go that would help if you are church goer invite her to yours and maybe have your preacher talk to her and let her see how a real true God fearing church works.
I HOPE THIS HELPS

YEAH GET HER OUT OF THERE

Answer 5

Sadly, there's not much you can do. If she refuses to see that the people of this "church" are using her for her money, then you can't make her see it. Just hope one day she'll wake up. It's a sad situation she's gotten herself into, but the only thing you can do is be there for her.

Answer 6

She is being sadly misinformed and taken. It won't last. God is not about money...it is about faith. She can gain the same amount of return with trust in GOD. not a cult. Heck, even being Catholic is alot cheaper than that. She is looking for the sense of belonging, not GOD. her heart is lonely.

Answer 7

It sure sounds like a cult to me. What is lacking in this person's life that she was vulnerable to being pulled into this? I don't know what you can do besides trying to talk sense to her. It's not against the law to belong to a cult.

Answer 8

Wow, that sounds like a mess. I'd speak to her family if you can, they might have some influence over her that you won't be about to exert yourself. You might consider speaking to her husband too, if you're truly that concerned. Religious cults have tremendous control over their members, and it sounds like shes fallen prey to that type of psychological domination. You won't get anywhere by speaking badly of the organization itself, but you might get through to her through other channels. Good luck!

Answer 9

All Christianity is deceptive, fraudulent and a racket. The only thing to do with cults is to get the person away from them.

Answer 10

You need to sit her down and tell her that she has became overzealous and needs to stop being so fanatical.. and that its okay to believe but its not required or appropriate to behave like that. Just do it, thats what friends are for.