The Church of Christ: Cult or the True Church?

The Church of Christ: Cult or the True Church?

(Matthew 16:24)

Logan Peters

Thesis: The church of Christ is the body of Christ and in no way resembles a cult.

Purpose: To shed light on the accusation that the church of Christ is a cultic organization.

Introduction:

1) Is the church of Christ a cult?

2) This question was first asked to me as a fourteen-year-old in a 9th-grade history class.

3) Perhaps you have been asked the same question, or you have read an article claiming the church of Christ to be a cult.

4) Some here have probably seen different tragedies and mass homicides occur due to cults.

5) It can be discouraging to hear the world mention the body of Christ in such a way that gives this kind of connotation. While untrue, this kind of statement can provide the world with an idea of the church that can harm the reputation and community standing of the body of Christ.

6) This sermon aims to examine the aspects of a cult and what it truly is, as well as compare it to the church of Christ, investigating Scripture.

I. A Cult Involves a Charismatic Leader Who Enforces Control, but The Church is Made of Many Members.

A. The first thought that comes to mind when a cult is mentioned is how a cult’s leader is a single type of “ruler” who makes the laws and regulations and is not to be questioned.

1. There are examples out in the world, such as Jim Jones and David Koresh, that can be examined to see this quality.

i. These men were violent, power-hungry individuals who forced their ideals and control upon those who followed.

ii. These men ruled completely and in a tyrannical fashion.

iii. Those who would follow a single man without question fall into this category.

2. The church of Christ does not cling to this system.

i. Elders, pastors, shepherds, or overseers (plural) were established at every congregation. (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5).

ii. These men labored under the authority of Christ. It is safe to say that the purpose was to keep a single man from having authority over all within each congregation.

iii. Even within the eldership, each elder is still under the authority of the eldership.

B. The idea of a single leader enforcing his will upon others does not give way to free will. Once within the cult, one is under the strict desires and control of the leader.

1. Jesus offers a choice to be made (Matt. 7:21; John 7:16-17).

i. Man has the choice to follow Jesus or to despise Him. God does not force man to believe and follow Him.

ii. Different cults used psychological and fear tactics to enforce the will of the leader, making it nearly impossible to have a free will mind.

2. Rich young ruler had free will of choice (Luke 18:18-23); we have a choice as well (Matt. 16:24).

II. A Cult Isolates Members from the World, but The Church is Commanded to Go.

A. The main goal of a cult is to brainwash its followers.

1. This is done in a way that completely cuts the follower off from the world.

i. The members of the cult are withheld from the rest of society.

ii. His communications with the world are withheld from him.

iii. He is continuously force-fed whatever doctrine the cult associates with.

2. The idea is to make one forget the outside world and focus only on the involvement of the cult.

B. The Christian is taught the opposite of this.

1. The Christian is to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).

i. How can the Christian be the light of the world if he is not in the world?

ii. If the church of Christ is a cult, then this would be discouraged through teaching and would negate Scripture.

2. Christ is recorded telling the Apostles to go into all the world and to teach the Gospel (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

i. The Master does not desire to cut the Christian off from the world but desires that His soldiers go into the world proclaiming the Gospel.

ii. Within the Book of Acts, the Apostles and other disciples went to the entire world with the Gospel (Acts 1:8).

iii. Jerusalem to Judaea – Acts 1-7

iv. Samaria – Acts 8-9

v. The uttermost parts of the earth Acts 10-28

III. A Cult Claims Exclusive Knowledge, but The Church Encourages Self Study.

A. The third thought that comes to mind is that a cult will claim to have some sort of special knowledge, but one can only obtain that knowledge by pledging allegiance to the organization.

1. The idea presented is that one becomes enlightened or receives special knowledge once becoming part of the cultic organization.

2. This is a way for the organization to trick and trap people into being part of the group.

B. All men can come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).

1. The Scriptures can be understood by all men.

i. There is no special knowledge one can receive by becoming a member of the church of Christ.

ii. One can come to know the truth simply by reading the Word of God.

2. The mystery of the Gospel has been revealed to all men (Rom. 16:25-26).

i. The mystery of man’s redemption has now been revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 3:16).

ii. It was once a mystery to man but is now made plain to all.

3. Searching the Scriptures is encouraged and a noble thing to do (Acts 17:11).

Conclusion:

1) Is the church of Christ a cult, or is it simply the body of Christ trying to be Christians (1 Cor. 12:12-13)?

2) The Gospel allows for the freedom of choice, commands one to go into the world preaching, and knowledge of the truth is available to all men.

3) The church of Christ was prophesied (Joel 2:28-32; Isa. 2:1-3; Dan. 2:44).

4) The church was established upon Jesus Christ (Matt 16:18).

5) Those who obeyed the Gospel were added to the body of Christ, the church of Christ (Acts 2:36-47).

6) The church established in Acts 2 is the true church, it is the church of Christ.

7) It is His church because He purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28).