DEALING WITH THE CULTS (PART 2)

side to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3–4, NIV).

WHAT IS A CULT? 
A cult can be defined as a religious group which teaches doctrines or beliefs which deviate from the broad consensus of orthodox Christian doctrine down through the ages. A cult is any group that claims to be Christian but really is not. It is a religious group, by and large, which looks for its basic and peculiar authority outside the Christian tradi tion (American Culture and Religion, page 92). While most cults make a pretense at correctly interpreting the Bible, they usually have high regard for some supplemental literature without which (they believe) the Bible cannot be properly understood.

  A cult will accept the authority of the Bible, but yet they will insist upon the use of these other materials as necessary aids to interpreting the Bible. Cults either  distort truth or focus on half-truths.
The small amount of truth which they do proclaim is often mixed with doctrinal error and is therefore dangerous. Cults succeed in deceiving many. As Paul warned, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. . . . They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3–4, NIV). Jesus said, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many” (Mark 13:6)