Posted on 12/28/2010 3:17:20 PM PST by Colofornian
With the leaders of thousands of different religions and churches attempting to make their beliefs appear authentic, it behooves a person to carefully ascertain truth from error. In fact, many leaders of these faiths may call themselves "Christian" and even attempt to convert Christians into their churches.
After all, Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." This is why John warned the believers in 1 John 4:1 to "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." And 1 Thessalonians 5:21 adds, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27 that they were "like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." How can we tell whether or not a particular religious leader (like the Pharisees) ought to be believed, especially when such a person may appear authentic and even claim to be Christian? Let's then consider eight basic doctrinal characteristics of counterfeit groups.
The rejection of fundamental Christian tenets such as the historical definition of God should be a major warning sign to any perceptive believer. Groups that deny the Christian viewpoint of the deity of Christ and the Trinity typically follow in point-by-point succession each of the other characteristics in this article. One example is The Way International, a group founded by Victor Paul Wierwille, (He once served as a former evangelical pastor. In fact, several cult leaders had their start in authentic Christian denominations and churches.) Wierwille's view of God is Unitarian rather than Trinitarian as he denies that there are three persons in the Godhead. He also claims that Jesus was not God, teaching that the deity of Christ was not a Christian teaching for the Christian church's first 300 years. This is a common (though false) assertion of many cult leaders. Because Wierwille and his church deny the very essence of what makes God who He is, this is a group to avoid.
Although a counterfeit's doctrine may include the idea that God's grace is important in the role of salvation, the leader normally emphasizes the idea that "salvation" ultimately comes through one's own efforts. Take the Hare Krishna devotees, for instance. These dedicated followers believe that they are in the middle stage of their reincarnation cycle. The way for a dedicated devotee to be born into the next level of existence is to deny himself on this earth while performing good works, including the repetition of the Hare Krishna mantra a total of 1,728 times a day. It may take a devotee who wakes up at 4 A.M. several hours a day to maintain this goal. Those who belong to such work-oriented groups are normally told that they can never know if their works are good enough to please God; instead, they are told to keep trying even harder.
Counterfeit Christian churches often make it a point to cast doubt and suspicion on other churches or denominations, with the leader oftentimes claiming that only his church is true. While many groups hold that the Christian churches do have partial truth, it is taught that full truth has somehow been lost and can now only be found in the "one true church." This may involve utilizing Christian terminology while having a different meaning behind those particular words. An example is the Watchtower Society, also known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. This group, founded by Charles Taze Russell in the 19th century, teaches that those who belong to any church outside of "Jehovah's" church are doomed to annihilation. Only those who belong to the Watchtower organization have a chance to attain "Paradise Earth." This is why Jehovah's Witnesses are adamant in sharing their faith door to door, even attempting to convert those who already attend Christian churches. The Jehovah's Witnesses will often use words that sound reasonable to a nominal Christian (i.e. "Jehovah's Christian Witnesses," "salvation," "Jesus Christ," etc), but they are usually reluctant to tell potential converts that the meanings behind these words are completely different than what has been historically meant.
A group where the leader(s) has an authoritative role, even to the extent that they say they speak for God, is another cause for concern. Such leaders claim to have special revelation with God, and their words hold special precedence over their followers. A classic example is Jim Jones, who led almost 1,000 followers to their deaths in the jungle of Guyana in 1978. When men in his charge killed Rep. Leo Ryan (D-CA), a congressman who was visiting "Jonestown" in response to complaints from the relatives of church members, Jones called for his followers to drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. The majority of the people willingly followed his commands because they had come to accept his words as truthful and from God. Those who refused were shot. Trusting someone so much that you listen to any command, even to the point of moving to another country and then taking your own life, is something that God never intended.
Another heretical trait is when a church regulates the giving of its people or requires a certain amount of financial giving in order to receive certain privileges related to salvation. For example, the Church of Scientology teaches that people need to discover their true nature through a process called "auditing." This is accomplished by "clearing Engrams" from one's life. One Los Angeles Times article on Scientology religion estimated that it would cost a full "Operating Thetan 8" participant between $200,000 to $400,000 from the beginning of the lessons to the completion. Without these courses, the adherent is unable to clear himself of these unwanted "Engrams." Using finances as a requirement to reach salvation goals is much different than what Jesus, Paul, and Peter preached.
Many counterfeit Christian churches insist that if a member decides to leave the group, for whatever reason, they jeopardize their salvation before God. An example is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As long as a person continues to remain Mormon and works hard to attain salvation, including the performance of work at one of the temples, salvation is just around the corner. But if a person leaves the church, he not only could lost his family relationships, including marriage, children, friends, etc, but the celestial kingdom--the very best a person can desire--is also lost. In fact, while it is believed that most people will not be sent to "Outer Darkness," which is a hell-like eternal state mainly reserved for Satan and his followers, early Mormon leaders claimed that this was a place apostates could go, especially if they said bad things about the Mormon Church. Holding a person's salvation hostage in such a way is certainly not biblical.
Although the Bible is sometimes utilized and even considered beneficial by a number of counterfeit groups, it is not considered as a completely authoritative scripture. Therefore, extrabiblical writings are necessary. Normally these scriptures are considered to have more authority than the dated Bible. The Christian Science religion is one example. Those who inquire into this religion are told that Mary Baker Eddy's 1875 pantheistic book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is a "reference book for life," which is needed by a person who hopes to discover "practical, spiritual answers for health and healing, security, and lasting relationships." This book must be studied in order to ascertain full truth. When the Bible contradicts Eddy's book, then the Bible is considered to be wrong or misunderstood.
The idea that a hidden mystery or new truth is available through a particular church should be taken as a strong sign that this group is a counterfeit Christian religion. In addition, many such groups may change their doctrines over time. Christians believe that God has very clearly shown His truth through the pages of the Bible; therefore, new or fluctuating doctrine—especially that which contradicts the Bible—ought to be taken with a great deal of caution. The Unification Church (numerous front names include "Association of Families for Unification and World Peace" or "Family Federation for World Peace and Unification") was founded by Korean "Rev." Sun Myung Moon. He teaches that Jesus never fulfilled his mission. Therefore, Moon says that he was commissioned to finish the job that Jesus never finished. Moon's followers (often known as "Moonies") accept Moon as a Christ-like representative on earth whose teachings supersede the Bible. The Unification Church theology has evolved over time, and there may be some drastic changes once he dies in the very near future.
Not all counterfeits may be characterized by every one of these traits. However, a person should be cautious when considering a church that is marked by one or two of these characteristics, especially any of the first three in the list. Churches with three or more of the above characteristics ought to be avoided at all cost. In addition, there are some Christian churches that may not have doctrinal problems but are rather sociological abusers. For instance, some churches have controlling "discipleship" programs or church memberships with high levels of guilt or feelings of inadequacy. These types of groups also ought to be avoided. If you believe that your church has problems in either doctrinal or sociological areas, you would be wise not to get involved. If you are already a member, you need to consider leaving. As John 8:32-33 says, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
They got it right on the Creed because it is clearly biblically sound. They got it wrong on celibacy because it clearly is not biblically sound.
I will leave it to God on whether He inspired any of it (my guess is “no”).
Based on the “authority beyond the Bible” one...not so hot.
JC had two commandments: 1) Love the lord with all your heart; 2) Love your neighbor as yourself.
Happily, those who can't live up to those two, simple rules can no longer burn people at the stake. But watch how many flames I get for stating the obvious.
A, please know that:
* All Christian churches have tares (weeds) in their midst
* Even in Matt. 25, where 10 virgins were waiting for the return of the Messiah...half weren't ready/lamps filled w/oil -- given that "Oil" was a symbol of the Holy Spirit...I take it they lacked His Presence & energy...these were denied to be with the bridegroom...IOW, will half of self-identified Christians even be saved?
B Some of the things I say below about the RC Church doesn't necessarily apply to grassroots Catholics. Besides the true underlying Greek NT term for "church" = "called-out ONES"...meaning the true church is an organism, not an organization; flesh & blood -- not brick & mortar.
Let me jump around a bit:
#1 You see a prob here?
#5: Ever since the RC church moved away from selling indulgences, as far as I know on #5 is fine...but I'm open to enlightenment on that.
#3 & #6: Let me deal w/those in tandem. The Primary issue here isn't what the Evangelical or Protestant view of the RC is...Rather the reverse.
The current pope says that Protestant churches don't have the "authority" to administer the Sacraments. Therefore, the RC church doesn't regard the Protestant church leadership structure as of the "one true church" -- even if it may regard individual Protestants to be of the Christian church.
Therefore, re: #6 -- if a RC leaves & attends a Protestant church, you tell me what the RC position is re: impact on a person's salvation -- given he/she is now taking communion at a supposed "authorityless" church.
#4 & #7 (again in tandem) I agree with Fiji Hill in that the author should have said "authoritarian" -- not "authoritative".
Is the Pope an "authoritarian?"
Is the Pope a "personality cult figure" -- or could a future Pope exceed certain boundaries as such a figure?
IOW, is the position itself subject to potential abuse -- vs. the series of men who have attempted to faithfully discharge their responsibilies?
And nothin' new re: the regurgitated ground of "final authority" re: #7 -- RC claims the Church (i.e. Pope) interprets Scripture & has authority over it; Protestants claim the reverse.
Well, those are all worth discussing as issues of dialogue, are they not?
That leaves #2 & #8. Well, for me these are the "heart" of where disagreements with RC have occurred over the centuries. Yet I've also found...
...Grace-focused RC...
..Who have de-emphasized adding mediators to the 1 Timothy 2:5 math,
...@ who reverence God alone,
...And who haven't accepted subjective visions given through the centuries.
Do RC who veer from these RC I've known -- does that make them counterfeit?
Well rather than "shotgun" this toward ALL RC...let me say one for Jesus or for God...
...That entity becomes a subjective counterfeit...
...(doesn't matter if it's your wife, your dead mother, your lucky charm venerated saint for St. Patrick's day, or who)
...Anytime we worship any one instead of Jesus or God...
...That entity becomes a substitute focus of worship.
That's like the Muslims saying that there is no authority other than The Quran.
Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be also....
Thats all the church I need.....
What are Christians to do when Mormonism or Islam is seeking to convert Christian Americans to their religion, nothing?
So which ones are the ELCA guilty of? Seriously.
Filled with something...magritte
Why didn’t you just say in parenthesis after the title that you posted this article in service of being an anti-Mormonism thread. As a Christian I don’t find this sort of self righteousness, underhandedness very Christian like behavior.
One characteristic of a counterfeit Christian: Deranged obsession over what others believe. :-)
“Anti-Mormon Caucus”....has a nice ring to it....magritte
:->
A lot of cavemen on this site haven’t advanced past level one: Making fun of Mormons.
Peter principle, I guess. :-)
**3. The true church**
Which was the one and only Church that Christ founded — the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
#4, #7, #8...#8...redefining sexuality according to extra-biblical contemporary standards...
#4 & #7 - going beyond their authority to manipulate what happened at their convention...
I mean, c'mon...the pro-homosexual pastors "won" by ONE vote!
Absolute Truth!
God Bless
BINGO!
It was to the 11 disciples as He Commissioned them post-resurrection that Jesus said:
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
We know from v. 20 that Jesus was talking about His Presence going beyond just 11 disciples -- 'cause they wouldn't be around at the "end of the age." And yet, He gave the commission to 11 disciples.
We sometimes forget that. He gave the commission to those sent-ones...not an institution or organization...but flesh&blood disciples who embodied the Holy Spirit, through whom Jesus' Presence would also reside.
IOW, the "promise" is to a flesh & blood corporate temple...a living dynamic people created by God, born from above by God, and sustained by God...
The NT emphasis isn't upon the Spirit indwelling...
...Temples built with human hands...
...Or a certain building (i.e. The Vatican)...
...But people.
Furthermore, Jesus distinctly said "ALL authority" has been given to Him...and that His presence was a reality here until the end of the age.
That tells me this:
We don't need an earthly authority figure to replace Christ...'cause He hasn't left fully...as His "Other Self" -- the Holy Spirit -- is still fully Present!
All the authority STILL resides with Him...
He is Present...
He is our Living Prophet & OverSEER (Hebrews 1:1-2)...
He is our Living Pope in the Best Sense of that word!
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