Resources

Unsure about a group?
Here's a few questions to consider

Does your church/study/group oppose critical thinking?

When you ask questions are you encouraged to take what the leader says on faith? Are Bible references displayed in support of statements made from the pulpit? Do they welcome historical exegesis of text? Is there open forums and opportunity for criticism, questions and dissent? If not, they are displaying signs of authoritarian behaviour.

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Does your church/study/group isolate and punish dissenting or departing members?

When people question the direction of the leader are they isolated? Are other members of the congregation told not to speak to them? Is it possible to disagree with the leader on a secondary issue (something that wouldn’t show up in a historic creed or in the church’s doctrinal statement) and still serve in a ministry role? If the leader is never to be questioned and disagreement is punishable by exile, they are displaying manipulative behaviour, coercing submission through threats of and actual isolation. 

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Does your church/study/group emphasize doctrines rooted in extra-biblical sources?

Are the majority of sermons in your church based on issues not clearly or obviously addressed in the Bible? Are other sources (cable news pundits, the dreams of the pastor, books by non-biblical authors) treated as co-equal authorities to the Bible? Does your church make a major deal out of minor themes in the Bible? Are certain topics emphasized again and again and again, over and above the central truths of the historic Christian Gospel? Is so, they are asserting their will, as equal to or greater  than the will of God.

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Does your church/study/group require inappropriate demonstrations of loyalty to the leader(s)?

Are church staff required to sign non-disclosure agreements and forbidden to speak a critical word about the leader? Are church deacons and property managers required to give preferential treatment to the family members of the leader in terms of outside contracts and tenders? Are the sins of the leader swept under the rug so as not to detract from the respect he is owed by congregants and followers? Does the leader set his own compensation without oversight and limitation imposed by other non-related leaders in the church? Any leader who takes privilege, cultivates a toxic space with one sided, selfish relationships. A Christ-like leader operates with transparency, accountability and oversight.

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Does your church/study/group encourage members to break ties with family members outside the group?

Are members encouraged to sever relationships with non-aligned family members, including older parents and adult children? Is there an undervaluing of the intimate family ties commended in Scripture, such as the particular love of husbands for wives and the particular respect of wives for their husbands? Does the church seek to supplant biological family as the primary means of support and nurture? If so, they may be attempting to manipulate you into creating a support system that relies solely on them and leads to further isolation.

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Does your church/study/group engage in practices that contradict biblical behavioural norms?

Does your church forbid what Scripture permits? Does it forbid marriage or eating certain foods? Does it encourage that which Scripture forbids? Does it encourage or celebrate certain forms of sexual activity which the Bible condemns? Does it require things that Scripture is indifferent to? Does it mandate a style of dress or a certain type of music or a certain approach to dating and courtship? Legalism within groups can be a sign of a cult, especially if they pick and choose what to apply. 

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Does your church/study/group effectively isolate itself from the wider Body of Christ within the world?

Does your church discourage interaction with Christians from “that other group”? Does your church only permit congregants to read from a very narrow list of approved authors? Does your church insist on singing only the songs they have written or endorsed? Does your church only support missionaries that have come from their congregation or congregations within their particular movement? Does your church generally consider believers outside the church or the movement as apostate, fallen or unregenerate? If so, you might be involved in some kind of Christian cult.

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Does your church/study/group put an enormous amount of pressure on people questioning the group, or considering leaving? 

Some groups have been known to track peoples movements when they feel this person may be beginning to question the group, it's actions and doctrines. If you've ever felt or experienced the group displaying intimidating behaviour, this is a clear sign of cult behaviour and manipulation.