what’s the difference: the occult

April 29, 2023

the occult

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occult
occultə-kŭlt′, ŏk′ŭlt″

[adjective]

1. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural or magical influences, agencies, or occurrences.
2. Available only to the initiate; secret or mysterious: synonym: mysterious.
3. Beyond the realm of human comprehension; inscrutable.
   (wordnik)

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Where did the cults come from?

~ The word “cult” is defined as a “religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious”, from the Latin for “worship”.
~ When Christians speak of the cult, they mean groups which they believe do not hold “orthodox/Biblical Christian views.
~ the label “cult” used here is not intended to be derogatory but only a sematic way of recognizing the difference between biblical Christianity and beliefs that certain groups might hold
~ some cults, like Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses, might call biblical Christians “cultists” because of their belief in creeds that are based more on Greek philosophy than on the teachings of the New Testament
~ Early Christians were seen as a cult by much of the Jewish community from which it sprang, as well as by the Roman government, which found Christians to be a pesky bunch that wouldn’t conform
~ Water Martin defines cults as groups which hold doctrines “contradictory to orthodox Christianity” yet claim to trace their origin to orthodox sources and may even be in harmony with some Christian doctrines or sources; aslo “a group of people gathered around a specific person or person’s misinterpretation of the Bible

Five Major Characteristics

~ reject the Trinity
~ usually believe that all Christian churches are wrong and that their group has the only real truth
~ claim to believe the Bible but distort its teachings to suit their own peculiar view of mankind, God, the Holy Spirit, heaven and hell, and salvation
~ deny that people can be saved by faith in Christ alone
~ are skillful at using Christian terminology but are not talking the same language as Biblical Christians

Beware of the semantics barrier.
commonly understood words like
God, Christ, faith, sin, salvation,
mean entirely different things to a cultist and a Christian

Why Cults Grow So Fast

~ cults offer answers to human needs that aren’t being met by Christian churches; many Christians end up in a cult because that cult seems to offer practical solutions to problems like loneliness, spiritual emptiness, and the desire to find a way to please God
~ offer counterfeit salvation, no matter how real it may seem
~ fellowship in many cults is conditional – you must stay in line, express even the smallest deviation in doctrine and you will usually be rejected or expelled

~ being in a cult is hard work – keeping pace with the demands that are expected can easily wear a person out physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally
~ be aware that the first line of defense against the cults lure is to know God’s Word and be able to test all things with Biblical truth
~ by knowing the real difference between what you believe and what certain cults believe, you can reach out to them with the all-fulfilling truth and power of the gospel

It has all been done before
nothing under the sun is truly new
Ecclesiastes 1: 9

Some religions I will touch on in this section:

~ Jehovah’s Witnesses
~ Mormonism
~ New Age
~ Baha’i
~ Christian Science
~ Evolutionism
~ Freemasonry
~ Hare Krishna
~ International Churches of Christ (a break off the Church of CHrist)
~ secular Humanism
~ postmoderism
~ unification church (the Moonies)
~ unitarianism
~ wicca

source: So What’s The Difference by Fritz Ridenour

source: So What’s The Difference by Fritz Ridenour

…I personally don’t believe in religion, not as it has been defined in society. All it is, is a tool to divide us. I grew up a Baptist and went to a Christian school. To this day I have questions, but I still believe – and I keep looking for answers. Having faith that God is in control and believing that He sent His son to die for our sins is all that is needed to be saved. One doesn’t need to pray on the rosary, live a life of celibacy, or not eat certain foods to be saved. Jesus paid it all!

hope you have a great day!
thanks for stopping by!!