I think some of my friends and I may be in a religious cult ? What can I do ?

Question

I was raised in a Baptist church and I have very strong opinions on certain issues. This church that we have started attending doesn't believe in the Trinity - I do.
They don't believe that Hell is eternal - I do (they believe it will burn itself out and all in it as well).
They don't believe in the Rapture - I do.
They believe in Sabbath worship and that those don't are condemned - I don't.
They believe that you must continue to work for your salvation even after you've accepted Christ as your personal Savior - I don't.
They don't believe that once you're saved you're always saved - I do.
This church has already convinced my very good friends and I don't want to lose them and they keep asking me to go with them to services but when i tell them that I'm upset with some of their beliefs they just tell me that they can prove what they're saying in the Bible and to keep on studying the Bible.

I'm not certain of the church they're affliated with but I know that my friends believe in the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong and when we attend services at this church in Hot Springs, which is a Sabbath keeping church, everyone dresses informally, everyone eats together either at the church or together at the same restaurant after the services, and if we stay in town over night or for more than one night my friends and I stay at the same hotel in rooms . The members of the church go out their way to make a new person feel extremely comfortable and then go on to explain what is wrong with any beliefs you may hold and then they actually make fun of members of other religions - such as Baptists. They also asked me why I wanted to go to Heaven. I said to be with Jesus and to be reunited with those that I had lost who had gone before me. My friends said I really just wanted to go for a reward, and if I worked for my Salvation here on earth while I was alive I would get it.

David N: I asked my friends about the Armstrongs as you suggested and they told me about Herbert, I think, being caught in a hotel room with a woman who wasn't his wife - actually it seems she was paid to be with him. My friend didn't seem to think that this was too bad because other religious leaders had done the same thing.

When I mentioned that I heard that Herbert had made prophecies (and I did - from another source in my home town ) and that none had come true , she said that the Jehovah's Witnesses had been doing the same thing for years.

Answer 1

That's a great question. Schneb has a good answer. Phyllis' answer is obviously worthless. Obviously, some of the answers here have little idea of what a cult really is. You obviously have had some solid Bible teaching and the hackers who have been brainwashed by secularism can't contribute to your dilemna. The only thing you can do is pray for your friends who have fallen prey to a false gospel. The books of Galatians and Romans clearly spell out what is means to be justified by faith alone in Christ alone. Romans 3:22-24. I wouldn't break off total fellowship yet but just as lovingly as you possible can tell them why you can't be a part of this church. You still love them, but you love God and His Son and His Word more. You cannot be spiritually impoverished just because you don't want to offend your "friends" Hopefully, they are not friends like Job had but will come to their senses and will seek to compare Scripture with Scripture. My only disagreement with you is I wouldn't put the pre-tribulational rapture the test of a true faith. We can disagree on that. I would not make eschatology the final test but most of the other things are opposed to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. God bless.

Answer 2

Be respectful of them, but show them that you have a close relationship with God outside of their church. Try to get them to look at both sides before they commit, such as on an opposing website. Do research on the internet. Try to reason with them that if it really was the truth, then researching it would not change that.
A cult is any organization that controls the information their members have access to, that forbids them from talking to former members, that judges spirituality by following man-made rules, that uses fear to control people, that has no honorable way to leave, and that can end up breaking up family and friends. True friends accept you for who you are, not that you believe the same as they do.
A good website is Steve Hassan's www.freedomofmind.com.

Answer 3

The beliefs this church holds will not harm you, so do not worry about it being a cult or against the truth.
Although I do not agree with all of the beliefs you have stated the church is holding to, I do believe it is a higher understanding of God than the Baptist beliefs. Ultimately, you will go where you are comfortable. Change can take time, but it can also be instantaneous.

Answer 4

Here is a definition of a cult:
a cult is a term designating a cohesive group of people (generally, but not exclusively a relatively small and recently founded religious movement[1]) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be outside the mainstream. Its status may come about either due to its novel belief system, its idiosyncratic practices, its perceived harmful effects on members, or because its perceived opposition to the interests of the mainstream culture. Non-religious groups may also display cult-like characteristics.

Sounds like most organized religions to me. Work on your personal relationship with God instead of that with a church

Answer 5

Sigh. Armstrong used to be associated with the "Bible Students" who became Jehovah's witnesses. I know Herbert died a few years ago. I also know that as a church they made some significant changes to their doctrine. Looking at the link to "watchman.org posted above is quite enlightening about that. It would appear they have many negative similarities with the JWs, including the practice of disfellowshipping. Be very, very careful!

Answer 6

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" - 1 Tim 4:1

CULTS – FALSE CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS GROUPS
1) False Prophets – Matt. 7:15, 24:11, 24: 1 Jn 6:1
2) False Christ – Matt. 24:24
3) False Teachers – 2 Pet. 2:1
4) False Apostles – 2 Cor. 11:13
5) False Brethren – 2 Cor. 11:26, Gal. 2:4

The problem with these people is that they stand before God maintaining that they are worthy to enter into heaven based upon their own good works - not based upon JESUS' "FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS."

PRAY FOR YOUR FRIENDS. YOU KNOW ALREADY THE TRUTH, LEAD THEM TO THE TRUTH AND BE EXAMPLE TO THEM. SO THAT YOU CAN LEAD THEM TO CHRIST - THE REAL TRUTH.

Answer 7

From my own experience, I can tell you that arguing with someone in a cult only strengthens the hold it has on them. The cult leaders only smile and say that your insistence that they are wrong only proves that they are right according to God. Doesn't matter how ridiculous the doctrine they are teaching is, they will find a few verses they can twist around to prove that they are right, and the followers will swallow it.
The best thing you can do is to quietly explain that you are happier as a Baptist, that, although you may not agree on certain points of doctrine, you all believe that Jesus is Lord, and perhaps, if you will agree to respect their right to believe as they choose, they will return the courtesy.
Do that, and pray.
God bless you!

Answer 8

Follow your heart, not your friends!

EDIT:
The Worldwide Church of God -- Herbert W. Armstrong's denomination -- is considered to be a "cult" by most organized Christian Churches.

I have seen them use dramatically opposing interpretations of the same verse of scripture depending on which dogma they are bashing. (Especially in their magazine "The Plain Truth")

IMO: How a person interprets scripture is according to their own insight... HOWEVER a person's interpretation should be CONSISTENT!

I once knew a person who was a member. He seemed to have been taught that anybody who gave less than 20% of their gross income (BEFORE taxes) to the church was shirking their religious duty.

Extravagant FINANCIAL DEMANDS are one of the indications of a cult!

Ask them about "Garner Ted" (Herbert's son) sometime and why he was a prophet one day and a demon the next!

EDIT2:
Sounds like they avoided the issue of GARNER TED!
I thought that he was given the boot and started a splinter group.
.

Answer 9

I think Herbert Armstrong's group is the Worldwide Church of God. I'm not too familiar with them, but the cult-awareness ministry at the first link below should be very helpful for you.

Answer 10

Well, what matters most to you? Your salvation and God, or your friends? If this church is not the same as what God has taught you all these years then you should turn away from it. This sounds like a church that one of my friends goes to and it is using "cult" practices and teachings although it claims to be Christian. The bible says that many believers in the last days will fall away from the truth and be deceived. Looks to me like the Holy Spirit is giving you discernment, so please Sweetie listen to His voice and not the voice of men (or friends) and get away from that church!