Sermon Series: “A Comparison between Christianity, and Other Religions and Cults!”

Sermon: “Introduction to Series on Christianity, Other Religions and Cults!”

Date:         May 8, 2022        

Praise the Lord Saints! You may be wondering why I am teaching “A Comparison between Christianity, and Other Religions and Cults?”  There are many reasons why.  Let me give you a few. The New Testament gives us two examples of why Christians should study other religions. First, in Acts 17:24-28, the Apostle Paul interacts with the non-Christian religions of his day. He knew their religions so well that he could   quote their spiritual authorities. The idea here was for the Apostle Paul to build bridges with them to help them to better understand the gospel. Second, in Paul, Peter, John and Jude’s epistles, they too engaged with the counterfeit gospels of their day. These New Testament writers had to be familiar with the teachings of the false apostles and prophets, in order to warn and instruct Christians about their erroneous teachings.    

We are living in the 21st Century, during a time like none other in the history of the world, where we are faced with more religions than ever before. What with advanced technology, and the internet that has the capability of reaching countless people all over the world. This allows other religions and cults to evangelize in nations and areas of the world that may have been inaccessible to them in the past. Then, you have another group of people who can set up and conduct blogs that are seen all over the world. This group of people are able to, with little or no money, set up and begin a ministry based on their belief system and viewed by people all over the globe, thereby, possibly gaining converts. As a result, we need to be able to engage with world religions and cults effectively and compassionately using the methodology of the apostles and other biblical writers.

 While I was preparing this series, the winter Olympics in China was taking place. The eyes of the world were on China and the winter Olympics. While they were enjoying watching the games and supporting their favorite athletes, China was using this opportunity to take the world’s attention away from their increasing human and religious rights abuses.

 China was in the midst of a well-coordinated, multi-year, systematic plan to “Sinicize” Christianity in China. This means that they were working to bring Christianity under the influence of Chinese culture and ultimately the Chinese communist party. China is even rewriting the Holy Bible, making it more culturally relevant to their communist ideology, and even depicting Jesus as a “sinner and killer.”

Christians in China are seeing more restrictions, increased persecution, and arrests of Christian leaders who dare to preach the Gospel. By the time, I preach this series, this will have already occurred.  One week after the winter Olympics, on March 1, 2022 China made any online Christian activity illegal. As mentioned above, China sees the potential in social media and online broadcasts to promote Christianity, and they want to shut it down ASAP.

There is a large network of underground house churches in China that are continuing to report significant growth.  So far, these restrictions have only motivated more creative and secretive ministry opportunities. A group has developed a “Sunday School in a Box” resource kit for families, house churches, and youth leaders. The kit includes hours of quality Christian programming created specifically for youth, along with other resources, a video player and an animated film of The Pilgrim’s Progress in Mandarin. The Chinese government has a short list of Christian books that are strictly forbidden in China and guess what book is on the list?  The Pilgrim’s Progress.  In spite of the persecution, the Chinese house churches are lining up to be included in this year’s distribution of the Sunday School boxes.

 China is not the only Communist nation persecuting our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is Vietnam where Christian worship is illegal. The government restricts worship and views believers and churches as a threat to its power and control. As a result, certain tribes in the rural areas face the harshest persecution, while Christians in the urban areas experience pressure and harassment.

Then, there are the Christians in Laos who are not membered to the Lao Evangelical Church, that are persecuted by the Communist government along with the Buddhist monks. Again, the government leaders view Christianity as a foreign religion and a tool used by the West to undermine the Communist Laotian regime.

Despite a change in leadership in 2018, the Cuban government continues its unrelenting pressure on Christians. The government remains committed to communism’s atheistic ideology and views churches as a threat to the revolution begun by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in the 1950s.

 As Christians, we have religious competition from other missionary religions, such as, the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.  In fact, Islam is the fastest growing religion in not only the United States but in the world. As it stands today, most of you, if not all will encounter these other religions and/or cults. They could knock on your door at home, work in your office, be a member of your family, friend, etc. The possible connections are endless.

There are three types of injuries suffered by believers in the false beliefs of other religions and cults. They are: physical, emotional and spiritual.

 Physical= Some Christian Scientist followers have died because they believe sickness and death are illusions therefore, they reject medical treatment. Some Jehovah’s Witnesses have lost their lives by refusing blood transfusions, vaccinations, and organ transplants because their cult teaches that receiving blood transfusions violate Jehovah’s law and organ transplants were cannibalism. In these and other religions and cults, people have unwittingly held these erroneous beliefs and lost their lives needlessly.

 Emotional= Members of other religions and cults often feel extreme guilt because they are trapped in a religion where they have to earn their salvation. The qualifications are so high that they can never measure up. They are required to follow the organizations’ rules to the letter and if they don’t, then they are not saved.

Spiritual= Other religions and cults proclaim a different Jesus by denying what the Bible teaches about who Jesus is and what he did for us on the cross. By doing so, they have redefined the gospel of salvation. This results in people having a counterfeit Jesus with a counterfeit gospel that leads to a counterfeit salvation.

This series is intended to give you a basic understanding of other religions and cults and how they differ from the beliefs of Christianity.  My desire is to equip you so you will be able to dispel stereotypes, and be able to identify other religions or cults. I want you thinking biblically, so you will be able to evangelize the person with clarity, conviction and compassion. Especially, after learning the physical, emotional and spiritual injury caused to members of other religions and cults. As well as, remembering the sufferings, persecutions, imprisonments and deaths endured by our brother and sisters in Christ around the world for their soul winning and for just being Christians. In order to accomplish this, I must first lay a Biblical foundation. The following is a Biblical foundation upon which we stand in ministering to members of other religions and cults.

 

As Christians we are told in our foundational scripture of: 1 Peter 3:15 = “Be ready always to give an answer [a “ready defense”] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you …” To be ready to give an answer, means that you have to prepare and that is what this series is going to do.

Jesus gave Christians an assignment and instructions in: Matthew 28:19= The Great Commission= we were told to do three things:  1) Go into all the world. 2) Teach or declare the Gospel and defend the faith. 3) And make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Christians were warned by Jesus and His disciples that there would be false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing and we were given instructions, such as in:

 

Jude 3-4: In these two verses, Jude warns us and we are given four things to do:  We are to: 1) earnestly contend for 2) the faith. Why? 3) because the faith has enemies and 4) because it is immutable or unchangeable.

Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24:  Jesus warns and tells us, what to expect: 1) Let no man deceive you, for many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ and shall deceive many. 2) Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. 3) These false prophets and false Christs will show great signs and wonders and if possible, shall deceive the very elect.  

Acts 20:28-31a: Paul warns the Ephesians (Christians) 1) Feed the flock that God has made you overseers. 2) After his departure, he warns that grievous wolves will enter in not sparing the flock. 3) Even some men among them will rise up and speak perverse things in an attempt to draw away disciples after them. This is happening in many churches today.  4) Paul says watch or be on guard.

 

2 Cor. 11:3-4: Paul warns the Corinthians (Christians) 1) That as Eve was beguiled by the serpent, their minds may be corrupted and led away from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2)  In this state of mind, Paul felt that: If one preached another Jesus which he had not preached; or you received a different spirit from the one you received; or a different gospel from the one you accepted; you would welcome the deception.

 

Gal. 1:6, 9: The Apostles didn’t have any problems calling false prophets out and identifying them. Paul was amazed that the Galatians (Christians) were 1) so soon removed from the grace of Christ unto another religion.  And, 2) with a boldness, Paul reiterated, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

 Next, we need to cover some Practical definitions such as:

a. What is a religion?

Religion: “A set of beliefs that answers the ultimate questions. According to Dean Halverson, he believes that all religions should answer the five ultimate questions, which are:  What is ultimate reality? What is the nature of the world? What is the nature of humanity? What is humanity’s primary problem? What happens after death?”

I will answer these five questions, for Christianity.

What is ultimate reality?  Ultimate Reality as defined by Merriam Webster “is something that is the supreme, final, and fundamental power in all reality, in Christianity, it is God. God is the ultimate reality—the absolute foundation of everything that is and the end toward which all points!”

Two distinct characteristics define Divine ultimacy that make God, unlike any reality, other than God: 1) self-sufficiently and 2) control over all things. All things, God and non-God, exist and have a nature but the difference is God has His existence and nature from Himself. He is a necessary being, one who could not have failed to have the nature He has or to exist. In contrast, everything else’s nature and existence are not from itself, but outside of itself, and from God. The Doctrine of Creation demonstrates the relationship between God and everything else.

b. What is the nature of the world?

What is the nature of the external reality, that is the world around us? In Christian theism, external reality is the world that God created. He created all the people and things in the world and all the rules that govern the world.

 c. What is the nature of humanity?

Most theologians have said that the ways in which humans are like God (but not God) include our capacity for a right relationship with God, ability to reason, creativity, sociability, dominion over creation, and freedom of choice.

d. What is humanity’s primary problem?

Every problem humanity has faced throughout history, be it social injustice, greed, slavery etc., has stemmed from one underlaying problem – sin and death (Rom. 5:12).

e. What happens after death? For believers in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death their souls/spirits are taken to heaven because their sins have been forgiven having received Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). The physical body remains in the grave “sleeping” while the believers’ souls/spirits go to be with the Lord immediately. At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This resurrected and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heaven and new earth (I Cor. 15:50-54; I Thess. 4:13-17 and Rev. 21-22).

On the other hand, those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting

punishment. Similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers are sent immediately to a temporary

holding place in hell to await their final resurrection, judgment and eternal destiny in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).

 1. What is a cult?

 A cult is an organization that is held together by certain beliefs and behaviors and run by charismatic people who demand total commitment. Total commitment is a trademark of cults. A religious cult has its beginnings as diametrically opposed to the tenets of Christianity and fervently maintains that heretical commitment.

An example of a Christian cult is a group representing themselves as Christians who follow a leader or group of leaders whose teachings deny or are in opposition to the central doctrines of the Christian faith in one or more areas.

  1. What is a heresy?

Heresy is a teaching that goes against the very foundational basis of the Christian faith, so much so, that Christians must separate themselves from those who hold these beliefs. In heresy, you may hear that something is like a Trojan horse. A Trojan horse, in heresy, is a host that has been impregnated with a different belief system that appears to be Christian but is really an enemy of faith sown to destroy faith.  The Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God!

 

We need to know what are the areas of false teaching?  There are six categories of false teaching. At this point, I will mention them and give a brief statement about each. When I cover each religion and/or cult covering their beliefs/tenets, you will realize what is a false teaching in comparison to what is taught in the King James Bible. The six categories are:

  1. Revelation= Many religions distort or add to the Scriptures. The Mormon’s and Jehovah’s Witnesses have done this. When I cover their religions, I will bring it to your attention.
  2. God= Teachings about false gods or a distortion of God. Many of the religions and/or cults have numerous gods, some in the millions.
  3. Jesus Christ= Teachings that deny Jesus’s lordship, the Trinity, that He is Michael the Archangel, not born of a virgin, etc.
  4. d. Salvation= Teachings that deny the need for salvation; must be baptized in their religion; and you are already eternally saved, etc.
  5. The church= Teachings on meetings that must be held in Kingdom Halls, Secret temples, Unity churches, no need for one, etc.
  6. The future= Teachings that deny a hereafter or eternal life, reincarnation, and no heaven or hell.

Cults: I will discuss why people are drawn into cults? And, the tactics used to recruit, convert, and hold members. Not all cults are religious: some are political, therapy-based, focused on self –improvement or otherwise. Most cults share some basic characteristics, such as a “high-level of commitment from its members,” a strict hierarchy and “claims to provide answers to life’s biggest questions.”  Cults have little tolerance for dissent from either the inside or outside. The difference between cults and religions can seem slight, but cults separate their members from the larger society and seek direct and total control over their lives. While most mainstream religions do not. Religions may proselytize but cults use methods to pressure recruits into personally identifying with their ideology and spreading it. By exploiting our desires for connection, comfort, meaning and belonging, they create the term “identity disturbance due to prolonged and intense coercive persuasion.”

The Bible talks about the personal vulnerability of the potential recruit in:

Prov. 27:7 “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

Prov. 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

These scriptures let you know that a hungry soul is not satisfied and will be searching for something that is sweet and will take paths or roads that seem right but end in ways of death.  These ways of death are cults in many of the following cases. Many cult survivors have told Therapist Rachel Bernstein the three reasons why they joined cults.

 

  1. They were never given all of the information about a group from the beginning.
  2. They wanted to better themselves, either professionally or personally, make themselves susceptible to joining a cult. Cults usually market themselves as self- improvement organizations or promises of enlightenment or the skills to make all of your professional dreams come true. People who are trying to heal from childhood or past trauma or those desirous in becoming more productive and successful in their careers might be persuaded to join a cult.
  3. Close relationships are a human need. So, people who want a greater sense of community, a human connection—especially people they may have something in common with, are more likely to become a victim of an insidious cult. Community is a trademark of cults because it allows cult leaders to create a pack mentality, building peer pressure.

A cult provides instant community, love-bombing and a language you all speak. Each cult has its own language. Converts are in a state of extreme vulnerability.

Don’t forget about timing! Former cult members said that they were going through a difficult life event at the time they were approached. For example: they were diagnosed with terminal or chronic illnesses; living on their own for first time; experienced death of a loved one, or had a serious career blunder that put them in a fragile state. Therefore, they might join a group they might not otherwise have joined or even acknowledged.

 

How can we respond to cult messages or members?

We respond by having a mature grasp of Scripture= by rightly discerning and dividing the Scriptures.

Heb. 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Ephes. 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Be vigilant:= Examine every prophetic message.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 

 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 

Practice caring outreach to those caught in deception.

2 Timothy 2:25 “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”

 

In conclusion, I was looking at a map of Asia and Africa that recorded the countries that restricted and/or were hostile toward Christianity. I am sorry to report that 3/4ths of the countries color coded black restricted Christianity. One fourth of the countries color coded light and dark gray were hostile toward Christianity. These are examples of the countries in the world where Christians endure all kinds of persecutions, imprisonment, sufferings and death as Christians. But, Praise God, these churches are growing because of the faithfulness of the Christians to witness for the Lord in spite of the perils they face.

 

As we study these false religions and cults, I want you to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering persecution, imprisonment and dying, all around the world for their witness, testimony and/or for just being a Christian. Surely, we as Christians in the United States that are not under persecution or any of the perils listed above can make a pledge not to remain Silent Witnesses any longer. Let’s reach out and minister to the “lost” whenever the opportunity presents itself! Give the Lord a praise offering for His Word!!