Beware!
Imagine if someone approaches you in a very friendly manner, saying that s/he is a Christian and can quote the sayings of the Bible. Will you consider him/her a real Christian? I remembered once upon a time a friend of mine asked me, "aren't all churches are good?" Unfortunately the answer is NO.
Just a few weeks ago I have attended a seminar organized by our own church. The topic is about the recent trend and development of cult in Hong Kong and other parts of the world. It is pointed out that a new religious organization called the "Christian#$*^y" is highly suspected to be a cult. -That- organization is very active in North America, Japan & Hong Kong over the past few years. Due to benefits of the doubt, Christian churches in Hong Kong and all over the world are still gathering evidence of their wrong beings.
Today's newspaper is striking: Most Christian churches in Hong Kong have already drawn their borders against -that- organization. A pastor of a Christian church has also sent letters to the Christian churches in North America to be aware of -that- organization. Since -those- organizations often change their names once they are being identified as cults, the best way to tell whether a church is a cult or not is by judging their doctrine and their practice.
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DISTINGUISH A CULT FROM A NORMAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH:
1. If they tell you to worship any leader(s) of church instead of worshiping God alone → it's a cult
2. If they said that the Bible cannot be read alone without referencing to other authoritarian source → it's a cult
3. If they said Jesus Christ is only a human being, not God himself → they are either a cult or atheist
4. If they said that women cannot go to heaven without having sex with men → this totally violates the teaching of the Bible, surely it's a cult
5. If they encourage their believers to donate most of their money to church, and the application of those monies is confidential and unknown → very likely to be a cult
6. If they encourage their believers to keep a distance from their friends and relatives → very likely to be a cult
7. If they do not allow you freedom to leave their "organization" → very likely to be a cult
"when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:3-5)
May God's love and wisdom be with all of you in this wicked generation.