The Countercult community, along with secular institutions that study cultic behavior have been warning the public for quite sometime regarding the characteristics of cults. The Countercult community mainly addresses doctrinal concerns, but doesn’t throw the baby out with the bath water (i.e. there are sociological characteristics as well).
For example Ron Rhodes agreeing with Alan Gomes sites him as he defines a cult as “a group of people, which claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which [system] denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible.” (Rhodes, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions: The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001), 22.
And while the term cult as fallen on hard times as late, I am in full agreement with Dr. Rhodes and Gomes. A few years ago IVP published A Guide to New Religious Movements. Ed. Ron Enroth (2005) in which Enroth seem to want distance himself from cult term (when speaking of groups such as the LDS and WTBTS). But if you read the book, which contains authors such as Ron Rhodes and Robert Bowman, one can not get away from the fact that we are dealing with groups, who claim to be Christian, but deny some of the fundamentals of the faith. So, for the most part, the ground where Christian are going to be doing battle, is over doctrine (i.e. refuting those who contradict, Titus 1:9).
In the book Encountering New Religious Movements A Holistic Evangelical Approach the editors want to stress the fact that there is more to “cults” then arguing over doctrinal issues. While I am not aware of anyone in Countercult ministry who has as their goal, to ague with the “cultist” over doctrinal issues, the author of Encountering certainly make a good point that people are people (i.e. they are not made up of arguments). Enough said on this point for now. Perhaps I’ll have to come back later to clarify some of my thoughts regarding this “new approach” found in Encountering.
Rhodes, again, in his book The Challenge states the following “…we can nevertheless gain valuable insights into certain aspects of cultic mentality from sociology.” This characteristic “include such things as authoritarianism, exclusivism, dogmatism, isolationism, and threats of satanic attack.”
Again, neither the sociological definition nor the theological definition (which I would prefer) are new to those in Countercult ministry. I remember back in 1994 when I attended my first EMNR Conference, Norman Geisler spoke on “The Cults: Their Draw and Their Danger” in which he addressed the sociological aspects of cults. Now for me, 1994 was (or at least it seems) a long time ago! But I believe I can safely assume that others in Countercult ministry have addressed this as well (Watchman Fellowship, CRI, and PFO come to mind).
Because of both the theological and sociological aspects/characteristics, Christians have been calling members of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter-day Saints, the Unification Church, et. al. to leave these groups. Of course the all important reason is idolatry, and two (well perhaps I’d add more theological reasons between 1 and 2) are the harmful effects (temporal and eternal) cults have on the lives of the members as well as their families.
Let’s turn the page now. While I do not agree with much of what Mr. Greg Stafford has said or written over the years, one thing we can agree on is the fact that those who are currently members of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (the Jehovah’s Witnesses) should get out now!
Mr. Greg Stafford, who is a former member of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses), is currently telling members of this organization to leave their “mother.” For example on March 23 Mr. Stafford stated
The Watchtower Society is in turmoil in more ways than one, and there is great danger in many of the Society’s teachings and policies. I strongly recommend that those trapped within it break free as soon as possible (emphasis mine).
The reasons Mr. Stafford tells us that people should “break free” are some of the same reasons the Countercult community have been stating for years. Some of these reasons have to do with the mind control of the WTBTS, theological reasons, devotion to men instead of the Scripture, they lead by fear and intimidation, in post post# 291 Mr. Stafford tells us that “the Society regularly spreads fear and intimidation throughout the congregations and its elders enforce it to such an extent that there is NO contrary point of view permitted in the congregations, EVER” (emphasis his).
Again, it is quite interesting to Mr. Stafford repeating the same material that has been published (in either audio or books) regarding the dangers of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. It is good that he is recognizing these errors.
But is Mr. Stafford on the right path. After watch his debate with Robert Bowman, Jr. and the interview that followed, what come to mind was “we might have another cult (group) to deal with in the near future.” Reason being is that Greg stated (I’m going off memory from some time ago) that he could only fellowship with his family and a few friends, since no one else was thinking theologically like him. Sadly, this is exactly what has happened with Mr. Stafford.
We can only hope (and we do) that one day, Mr. Stafford will stop feeding at the swine trough of his long held (theological) beliefs and come to love the God of the Scriptures. We do know this will only happen if it is the Fathers good pleasure, so let’s pray to that end.
