Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
TO CHRIST
A HANDBOOK FOR
INDIAN CHRISTIAN WORKERS
ON CULTS, HERESIES AND ISMS
AND
A REFERENCE BOOK FOR
THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS
PUBLISHERS NOTE
The
PREFACE
I
Spiritualism
Mormonism
Joseph Smith
Jehovahs Witnesses
Charles T. Russell
Theosophy
Helena Blavatsky
Ellen G. White
Christian Science
Christadelphianism
Satanism
Anton LaVey
:8:
FOREWORD
This
: 12 :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In
: 14 :
DEDICATION
This
CONTENTS
Introduction:
Winning Cultists to Christ.......................................... 17
Part - I :
The Cultist Groups (Counterfeit Churches)
1. Jehovahs Witness .................................................... 29
2. Seventh-day Adventists .......................................... 50
3. The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints (Lds) ......................................... 58
4. Christadelphianism ................................................... 79
5. United Pentecostal Church (U.P.C.) .................... 92
6. Faith Healing Movements ................................... 107
7. Satanism ................................................................... 126
Refrences........................................................................ 213
: 16 :
INTRODUCTION
Winning Cultists to Christ
What is a cult?
A cult is a religious group or movement which
misrepresents, misinterprets and distorts the central
message of Christianity.
A cult is different from a religion. A religion is a
system of faith and worship; it involves a world-and
life-view. Religion is a lifestyle. A religious man tries to
live a lifestyle harmoniously with the power or powers
he believes control the world.
A cult is a deviation from a world religion. It denies,
misinterprets or perverts the orthodox creeds of faith
of a religion. Most of the cults are deviations from
historic and Biblical Christianity.
Cults claim the support of Christ and the Bible.
Cults contain elements of truth and error. It is difficult
to identify cults because they claim Bible as their
foundation and they hide their beliefs that are contrary
to the Holy Bible. Untrained Christians often mistake
some cultists as evangelicals.
There are two layers of people in every cult. The
top leaders are the deceivers. They are not open to
changing their stand. The lower layer is the deceived.
: 17 :
Clarification of Cults
1. Bringing New Truth:
Bringing new truths previously unrevealed, which
supersede or contradict prior revelations.
They claim they have something more than just
the Bible and its inadequate message.
They give no choice of testing their teachings
and practices, but assert strongly that their
exclusivity proves their anointing by God.
2. Scripture interpreted differently:
Claim extra-Biblical revelations.
Claim they alone interpret the mysteries in the
Bible.
: 21 :
: 26 :
DEVALUATION
OF CHRIST
Opposes Christs deity.
Makes Him inferior to
God the Father.
DENIES JUSTIFICATION
BY GRACE ALONE
Adds something
else for salvation.
EXCLUSIVITY
They alone will be saved.
They are the central community
in eschatology.
ELITISM
All other groups are inferior
and apostates.
: 27 :
PART - I
THE CULTIST GROUPS
(Counterfeit Churches)
: 28 :
1
JEHOVAHS WITNESS
Introduction:
Jehovahs Witnesses claim they are Christians. This
article aims to prove they belong to a cultist group
promoting several heresies. Our goal is not to ridicule
or insult them. Our desire is not to argue with them.
Our sincere passion is to witness to them and win
them to Jesus Christ, for their salvation. Our hope is
to equip every Christian for witnessing to Jehovahs
Witness followers.
History:
Charles Taze Russell, the founder of Jehovahs
Witnesses, was born on February 16, 1852 in
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in the USA. He grew up in the
Seventh Day Adventists. Its founder Ellen G. White
and leader William Miller predicted that Jesus would
return in 1843. But He did not come. Then the date
was postponed until 1844. Christ did not come. Again
a new date was set for 1874. Because He did not
come even in 1874, Russell and his friends began to
clarify that Jesus Christ came spiritually and He will
take the saints after 3 years. But that also did not
happen.
: 29 :
Trinity:
Diety of Christ:
Death of Christ:
Resurrection of Christ:
Return of Christ:
Holy Spirit:
Death:
Hell:
Earth:
Jehovahs Witness: Earth will never be destroyed
or depopulated (Eccl. 1:4; Isa. 45:18; Ps. 78:69).
Christian Position: The present earth will be
burnt. It will be purified by fire. There will be a
new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1, 20:11;
2 Peter 3:10-13; Rom. 8:19-23). This present earth
is polluted by the sins of humanity. It is under the
curse because of mans sin. The earth is waiting
and groaning for the day of redemption that will
take place when Christ comes again.
144,000 chosen ones to Heaven:
Jehovahs Witness: Heaven is limited to 144,000
individuals of the Jehovahs Witnesses. These
individuals are called before 1935. They include
male, female; married, unmarried; and also children.
They include non-Jews also. Some of them may be
alive even today, about 8,000. The other believers
of Jehovahs Witness will be part of the great
crowd who will occupy paradise earth.
Christian Position: The 144,000 are Jews from the
12 tribes of Israel. They are virgin males only with no
deceit found in their mouths (Rev. 14:1-5, 7:3-8).
: 37 :
The Atonement
Stripped of any expiatory element.
Idea of substitution is entirely absent.
It is bringing into harmony with God so many
of His creatures under full light and knowledge
to avail themselves the privileges and opportunities of new covenant.
The ransom does not guarantee everlasting life
to any man, but only a second chance.
That which is redeemed is that which was lost.
One un-forfeited life could redeem on forfeited
life but no more.
All what Christs atonement achieved was to
purchase for man the right of continued
existence.
As a human being, He gave himself as a ransom
for men.
Resurrection
Denies physical resurrection.
Teaches spiritual resurrection.
After His death and resurrection Christ became
a quickening spirit and took on different
materialized forms.
Sin and Judgment
Death is annihilation. Hell is tomb/grave which
is retribution for sin of the perverted.
: 40 :
Biblical Examination
Three persons in the God
head are given equal
teaching standing
(Matt. 28:15; 2 Cor:14)
Word became flesh
(Jn. l:14; 1:1).
Son of God (Jn. 20:31).
Christ accepted worship
(Jn. 20:28; Matt. 8:2, 9:18,
14:33, 15:25, 28:19,
Mk. 5:6; Lk. 4:8; Jn. 9:38;
Heb. 1:6,8; 1 Jn. 4:2,3).
Christ is the one referred
to in the Old Testament
as Jehovah (Ps. 110:1;
Mk. 13:35-37; Heb. l0:13;
Ps. 102:35-37; Heb. 2:10-12).
1 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 5: 6-10;
1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Thes. 5:10
Personal pronoun He is used
(Jn. 16:14).
Christ performs the acts
of a person (Gen. 1:2, 6:3;
Lk. l2:12; Jn. 16:8; Acts 2:4,
8:11; lsa. 6:10; Acts 5:3,4,9;
Matt. 12:31; Acts 5: 3,4;
1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 4:30).
: 43 :
7. Jesus is a god
but not God.
Finished, perfected,
sanctified (1 Pet. 3:18;
Jn. 19:30; Heb. 10:14).
Punishment is appointed
(Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:15).
Everlasting destruction
(2 Pet. 3:7; 2 Thess. 1:8,9).
: 44 :
: 47 :
Proven false
The charge
against JW
Behold He cometh
with clouds; and
every eye shall
see him
(Rev. 1:7).
Pastor Russell
claimed that the
second coming had
already occurred. In
1888 he prophesied
that by 1917 the
world would pass
away. Who are the
false prophets now?
Jehovahs witness
deny both the
Trinity and the
divinity of Christ.
Are they not the
liars? Bible prohibits
hospitality and Godspeed to counterfeit
Christians who
deny the Deity of
Jesus Christ
(2 John 9-11)
: 48 :
Christ
Holy Spirit
Man
Atonement
Resurrection
Salvation
Church
Second Advent
Earthly
Governments
Satan
2
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
Introduction:
Seventh-Day Adventists love to be known as
Christians. They are not. Seventh-Day Adventism
(SDA) is a cult with several heretical teachings. The
burden of this article is not to expose them with a
goal to insult or ridicule. The aim is to educate and
equip true Christians to witness to the members of the
SDA and win them to the Lord Jesus Christ.
History:
William Miller, a Baptist minister, interpreted Daniel
8:14 to mean that Christ would return between March
21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. His prophesy failed to
come true. A new date, in October 1844, was set. But
Jesus did not follow Millers prescription. Later Miller
confessed his error of setting dates and he died in
1849. He was honest to admit his mistake.
Ellen G. White and her husband James White were
part of this date setting with Miller. Mrs. White was
accepted as the prophetess of Millers followers and her
inspired counsel and visions were considered equal
in inspiration and infallible like the Bible. To save face
concerning the failed prophecies, she interpreted that
: 50 :
Consulting the Dead: White engaged in necromancy, communication with the dead, which is
expressly forbidden in Deut. 18:10-12. This took
place after the death of her husband (Recorded in
Retirement Years, Pages 161-163). Her dead
husband appeared before her, communicated to
her, gave her advice and both of them agreed to
keep in touch.
It is surprising that there are 10 million SeventhDay Adventist followers now, in spite of these many
failed prophecies of the false prophetess.
Seventh-Day Adventists links with other Cults:
: 57 :
3
THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER DAY SAINTS (LDS)
(Mormonism)
Mormonism,
Doctrines of Mormonism
(Quotations from The Plan of Salvation booklet
published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
saints.)
Sacraments: Sacraments (baptism & Holy Communion) are required for completing salvation. In
sacrament bread represents the physical body of
Christ and water represents the blood of Christ.
Grape juice or wine are not used. (Note: Water is
used instead of wine. Grape juice represents blood
much better than water! Juice comes out when a
grape is crushed. Jesus was crushed. Why is feet
washing not practiced? Jesus said that we should
wash one anothers feet. If salvation can be
completed only by rituals, is that not ritualism? Is
: 68 :
: 76 :
Jesus Christ
Holy Ghost
Man
Sin
Atonement
Salvation
Baptism
The Church
The Devil
Miracles
Scriptures
Hell
Theological
Institutes
and
Saminaries
Create and
maintain a
wholesome
public image
Locating Religious
Institutions adjacent
to Secular Schools
and Colleges
Getting some of
their courses
accredited by Public
School System
Mormons
cares
for
others
Mormons
are
patriotic
In order
to conserve
the Youth
for
Mormon
Faith
Mormons
care
for
their
own
To advertise
Annual programes of Mormons
: 78 :
4
CHRISTADELPHIANISM
(A quick look at Christadelphianism)
There
Church: The word ecclesia is used by Christadelphians instead of Church. A Greek word, it is
usually translated church in English Bibles. It also
means a people called out which is the assembly
of believers. Christadelphian is a word created from
the Greek for Brethren in Christ (Brothers of
Christ). The name was coined by John Thomas,
the founder of this sect. But this false religion
: 86 :
5
UNITED PENTECOSTAL
CHURCH (U.P.C.)
Although
: 106 :
6
FAITH HEALING MOVEMENTS
Sickness is a universal problem. From time immemorial man has been in search of cures for his various
illnesses.
Some Christians who are labeled charismatics do
make claims that they have the special gift of healing.
They publicize their healing campaigns, boast of
miraculous healings and project sensational reports with
exaggerated statistics of miraculous healings. Large
crowds gather in such public meetings expecting to be
healed or to witness healing Caught up in emotional
ecstasy at times, the healer and the sick announce a
miraculous healing, only to be proved false in a day or
two.
In India, public opinion has often come down
heavily upon these kinds of campaigns, resulting
in a prohibition of Christian public meetings by
the government. This is one of the causes for the
increasing restrictions against Christian gatherings in
public places in India. We Christians have brought
harm upon ourselves because of such deceptive claims,
sensational reports and false promises.
This is one of the reasons that motivated me to
write on this topic of Divine healers and their
miraculous healings.
: 107 :
And from Catholic Charismatics we have:- Father John Bertolucci [?? I couldnt find the
spelling you had in a Google search, but not
sure this is the same guy]
- Francis MacNutt
They all headlined healing in their meetings. But the
probable results of faith healing varies by healer!
deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before (Matt.
24:24,25).
It pains my heart to see this happening in my own
country. When Benny Hinn visits India to perform his
so-called miracles, Evangelical Christians from all over
the country travel hundreds of miles to throng to his
campaigns in the cities of India. Gods strict punishment is reserved for these false prophets, though they
are successful and popular for the moment.
Zathangvunga and Laldenga were two self-styled
evangelists who crept into the evangelical churches of
Manipur state while I was living in north east India.
Both of them claimed hundreds of miraculous
healings. But not a single incident was proved. Neither
survived long. They have disappeared into oblivion,
though they wreaked havoc among the innocent and
sincere Christians who were not well founded on the
word of God.
Please do not misunderstand the meaning of my
treatise. Healings are happening today. God heals
whom He wills. God heals where He wills. But I do
not believe the Biblical gift of healing is present today.
GIft of Healing
Facts
Talents
Gifts
Have to do with
techniques and abilities.
Depend on
natural power.
Relate to instruction,
inspiration.
Have to do with
special methods.
Depend on spiritual
endowment.
Relate to building up
of the saints.
: 114 :
Entertainment on a
natural level.
Spiritual benefits to
Saints.
In performance
nothing supernatural
happens.
In ministering
something supernatural
happens.
Present from
natural birth.
Present from
New Birth.
Sterilization
Guarding against
contagion
Lev.
11:32,39,40
Quarantine
Isolating infectious
diseases
Num. 5:4;
30:22,23
Hygiene &
Dietetics
Living, food,
clothing
Physical
Culture
Work &
Exercise
Deut. 16:16
7th Day;
7th Month
(Ref: Dr. R.V. Bingham - The Bible and the Body quoted from Cults & Isms by Oswald Sanders, 1980.)
Often people fall sick because they neglect these
laws of health from God. There is no miraculous
healing for callous, careless, dirty living.
God does not will to heal every one
in answer to prayer.
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7
SATANISM
(Church of Satan)
W hen
Dates:
January 17
Satanic Revels
February 2
Satanic Revels
March 20
June 21
August 3
Satanic Revels
September 7
September 22
November 1
November 4
Satanic Revels
December 22
January 7
February 25
March 1
April 26 - May 1
Grand Climax
July 1
Demon Revels
September 20
Midnight Host
October 31
December 24
Satan
Satan (the Devil) is not merely a mythological
figure. He is not a character from someones imagination. He is a person and has personal existence.
He had a beginning and will be judged by God.
He is alive and working.
1. Devil
John 8:44
Accuser, Slanderer
2. Satan
Matt. 12:26
Resistor, Adversary
3. Tempter
Matt. 4:3
4. Father
of lies
John 8:44
: 138 :
5. Lord of
Death
6. Beelzebub
Heb. 2:14
Mark
8:22 &23
7. Evil One
1 John 2:13
8. Ruler of
the world
John 14:30
9. Belial
2 Cor. 6:15
A wicked person, an
embodiment of worthlessness
Eph.
2:1,2
10.Prince of
the power
of the air
: 141 :
PART II
EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES
: 142 :
1
ASTROLOGY
All
Who am I?
What is going to happen to me?
What will be my future?
What will be the future of my child?
Many people are worried about these questions.
Astrology claims to have the answers
Astrology, an ancient occultist art, resurfaced in the
20 century via widespread daily horoscopes in major
print and electronic media.
th
What is Astrology?
Astrology is an ancient practice which accepts that
the position of stars and planets has direct influence
upon a person and events related to his life. These
events can be determined from the position of stars
and planets through an astrological chart, known as a
Horoscope.
How is ones horoscope charted?
Steps:
1. The moment of ones birth.
: 143 :
2
NEW AGE MOVEMENT (NAM)
T he
Pantheism
Reincarnation
Change of
consciousness
Moral relativism
Conclusion
In the introduction we discussed the impossible
claims of New Age Movement followers. One such
claim is that all religions are true. Because of this,
the New Age Movement is seen as tolerant of all
other faiths. However, the New Age Movement does
not tolerate Christianity. Its followers say that
Christianity is narrow minded in its belief and
practices. Christianity directly contradicts the New Age
Movements core beliefs. Jesus Christ claims to be the
only one path to salvation. Jesus is the only way to
God (John 14:6).
Therefore, dear reader, beware of the New Age
Movement. They may approach you praising the Bible,
Jesus Christ and some of His teachings. They will not
disclose their in-depth teachings at the outset. By the
time you slowly realize the dangers of their doctrines,
you maybe already deep in their cultist beliefs and
behavior. Our churches, homes and children should be
protected from this dangerous cult (2 John 7-11).
: 157 :
3
HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT
T he
ISKCON Teachings
The cult originated in North India in the 16 th
century, and is based on the Hindu Scripture, the
Bhagavat Gita.
Therefore ISKCON seeks to de-emphasize differences when proselytizing Christians. They paint the
differences as a matter of semantics. But in truth:
Iskcon
Christianity
Authority:
Swami Prabhupadas
interpretation of the Gita.
: 165 :
4
YOGA
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a school of Hindu Philosophy advocating
and prescribing a course of physical and mental
discipline for attaining liberation from the material
world and union of the self with the Supreme Being
or ultimate principle called Brahman.
It is an ascetic Hindu discipline involved controlled
breathing, prescribed body positions and meditations
with the goal of attaining a state of deep spiritual
insight and tranquility.
Hatha Yoga is the most commonly practiced
exercise in the west and it is a combination of difficult
postures with controlled breathing which focus the
mind to withdraw from the outside world and pave
the way for a mystical union with the ultimate
Brahman by losing self-consciousness, which is called
Moksha or Nirvana and this is commonly followed in
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
In other words, Yoga is to suppress all activity of
the body, soul and mind to obtain freedom from the
visible world (Visible universe/material world is only an
illusion to Hindu philosophy) and be absorbed in
: 166 :
Concentration.
Meditation.
This includes:
@ Chanting of Mantras.
@ Worship of Krishna, the supreme reality.
6. Tantric Yoga:
Encourages using natural impulses of the body
to help experience ultimate reality.
Sexual relations are considered as a special means
to experience the ultimate oneness of universe.
Should Christians practice Yoga?
with the feeling that you are the infinite and allpervading. Mere repetition of Om will not bring the
desired result. Keep the meaning of Om always at
heart. Feel Om. Feel that you are the pure, perfect,
all-knowing, eternal, free, Brahman. Feel that you are
absolute consciousness and the infinite, unchanging
existence. Every part of your body should powerfully
vibrate with these ideas. This feeling should be kept
up all day long. Practice regularly and steadily with
sincerity, faith, perseverance and enthusiasm in the
morning, midday and evening.
2. Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation)
Following is a quotation from the Hindu Scholar
Shri K. Pattabhi Joise:
let me repeat that no asana practice is complete without
sun worship. Without its focusing of mental energies, yoga
practice amounts to little more than gymnastics and, as such,
loses meaning and proves fruitless. Indeed the Sur ya
Namaskara should never be mistaken for mere physical exercise
- for something incidental, that is, that simply precedes the
asanas of yoga. Therefore, it is necessary, before beginning
the sun salutations, to pray to Surya to bestow upon us the
good fortune of having only good thoughts, of hearing and
speaking only good words, and of attaining a sound and strong
body, so that we may have a long life and, one day, achieve
oneness with God.
For thousands of years Hindus have revered the
sun, which they call Surya, as both the physical and
: 202 :
Conclusion:
This article comes to you to give you some light
on Yoga and enable you to make right choices on
the matter. Therefore, let me conclude with few
questions to you:
@ If you are a Christian, what shall you do about
Yoga?
: 210 :
: 212 :
REFRENCES
1. Goldsmith, Martin & Harley Rosmary; Who is my
Neighbor. O.M. Authentic, India 2006.
2. Miller, Stehen M; Misguiding Lights, Beacon Hill
Press, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, 1991.
3. Mcdowell, Josh & Stewart, Don; Understanding
the cults campus crusade for Christ; Heres Life
publishers, San Bernandine, CA, USA. 1983.
4. Irine, Wm C; Heresies Exposed; Loizeaur Brothers,
Neptune, NJ, USA, 1664.
5. Starkes, M. Thomas; Compatingpoular cults;
Broadman Press, Nashvillem Tn, USA 1972.
6. Sanders J. Oswald; Cults and Isms, Lakeland,
Morshall, Morgon and Scott, London, 1980.
7. Bickel, Bruce &Jontz, Slan; Wolrd Religions and
cults 101; Harvest House publishers, Oregon, USA
2005.
8. Carroll, Winona; False Prophets, The clergy or the
Jehovah Witness, CLS Press, Bangalore, India 1965
9. De Haan, Mortin R; What about those dangerous
Religious Groups; Radio Public Class, MI, USA
1982.
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