On November 18, 1978 the world watched in horror as photographs revealed the remnants of Jim Jones’ People’s Temple cult. About 900 people were killed or committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Kool Aid at his Jonestown, Guyana compound. Then, on February 28, 1993, a firestorm consumed almost 90 of Branch Davidian leader David Koresh’s followers in the events at Waco, Texas. Four years later, in March of 1997, Marshal Herf Applewhite, leader of the “Heaven’s Gate” cult, convinced almost 40 people to commit suicide in a mansion in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe, California. These tragedies prompt us to ask: Is there a way to prepare against this cult carnage, both physical and Spiritual?
Cults and their activities often shock us, but they are nothing new. False religions have been around since Cain tried to appease God with his religion of works in Genesis Chapter 4. The patriarchs and their families, as well as the nation of Israel, were subjected continually to the temptations of the cults of Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, and others, which tried, and often succeeded, in leading them away from the I AM God, who redeemed them from Egyptian bondage and led them to the Promised Land of Israel.
The belief in aliens by Heaven’s Gate members seems worlds apart from pagan Baal worshipers, but herein lies the key – all cults work in the same way. They try to exchange the Truth for a lie. Understanding their approaches and tricks can help anyone from falling for their false claims and outright lies.
Exchanging God’s Truth for a lie is spiritual counterfeiting. Whereas the problem of physical counterfeiting is rampant and well-recognized in the financial, art, and other communities, spiritual counterfeiting frequently goes unrecognized or unchallenged. Fortunately, studying the techniques used in worldly counterfeiting can assist us in counteracting spiritual counterfeiting.
Professionals in finance and art are taught a simple technique to recognize counterfeit items. They do not study all the different methods that have been invented and attempted by criminals to perpetrate fraud. Instead, they devote themselves completely to learning every detail of the genuine article. Then, when a counterfeit item comes their way, they can recognize it instantly as deviating from the original they studied.
Studying the genuine article is also the best way to cult-proof ourselves and other Christians against the onslaught of cults. We do this by learning every detail of God’s Truth. He gave us the Truth in His Holy Word and He expects us to be intimately familiar with it. Cults always deviate from the Truth. If we know our Bible inside and out, we are far less susceptible to trickery from spiritual lies. Not coincidentally, Satan is the father of lies and is always on the prowl to use the Truth as well as lies against us (John 8:44). No one on Earth is immune from his attacks.
Scripture tells us the devil tried boldly to tempt Jesus Christ during His 40 days in the desert. Cleverly, the devil perverted the Truth of God’s Word to try to fool Jesus. Jesus showed us how responding with Scripture is the best way to refute the lies of those under Satan’s control. Jesus also gave us further warnings in Matthew 24:3-14 and 24:21-27 that false prophets would arise. Peter speaks of false prophets in 2 Peter 2:1-13 and John warns us as well in 1John 4:1-6.
Dangerous and devilish cults are as old as man and they are working actively in society today. Jesus alerted us that false prophets and cults are common, but not normal. We as Christians should follow the lead of the Bereans, who ”examined the scriptures every day… to see if Paul’s teachings were true”. We have the obligation to do this in order to identify the false prophets and to keep on a straight path close to Him.
God gave us free will. We can choose to prepare ourselves using His Word or we can choose to indulge in Earthly pleasures, which cause us to succumb to Satan’s lies. The normal thing to do is to take time each day to study God’s Word so when temptation comes, you will recognize the lie. Lies aren’t normal, only the Truth of His Word is.
In His love and service,
Jeff Myers
A servant of Jesus Christ
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