Is Your
Church Free from Cultic Tendencies?
A
checklist for Responsible Christians
The following checklist of
cultic tendencies by Charles Lesser was published in the October,
1991 Spiritual Counterfeits Project Newsletter. They are typical
of a number of aberrational cultic groups and churches on the
scene today.
- Is your pastor fully
accountable to a board of elders, presbyters, etc?
- Is loyalty to Jesus and to
one's own calling placed before loyalty to pastor and
church?
- Does your pastor encourage
questions and suggestions? Is he approachable?
- Does your pastor give equal
attention to all kinds of people in his congregation?
- Does your pastor readily
admit his errors?
- Does your pastor avoid
boasting or hinting at a "special anointing?"
- Is your pastor truly
humble?
- Are the sermons based on
clear Biblical truths, not on "original
revelations" or ax-grinding?
- Does your church interact
with other churches?
- Does your church staff
avoid secrecy?
- Is power shared in your
church (rather than preempted by a hierarchy)?
- Does your church see itself
as just one organ of the Body of Christ, and not the main
one?
- Is your church truly
friendly?
- Does your church emphasize
ministry to people rather than church programs?
- Are especially needy people
cared for lovingly in your church?
- Are church members
encouraged and loved even when they leave?
- Are relationships with
former members encouraged or allowed?
- Do the pastor and
congregation avoid attacking and using as object lessons,
former members or those who disagree?
- Are families encouraged to
stay together and spend time together?
- Does your family worship
Sunday service include children, at least for part of the
service?
- Are you encouraged in your
own calling?
- Are pleas for money rare
and unemotional?
- Are your children happy to
attend church?
- Are you happy to bring
unsaved friends to your church?
- Is there a diversity of
classes, races, dress styles, ages, and occupations in
your church?
- Are people encouraged to
hear from God for themselves?
- Is there a single behavior
standard for all people in the church?
- Are all types of people
considered welcome at your church?
- Is the joy of the Lord
present in your church?
- Are you free from fear in
your church?
- Do you think more about God
and Jesus than you do about your pastor and church?
- Does your pastor include
himself in any calls for repentance and forgiveness?
- Are you clear that the
pastors and elders never exaggerate or lie to make
themselves look good?
- Is your group encouraging
of each other and free from gossip and rumoring?
- Is there a humility of
doctrine that points to the grace of God and His mercy
for sinners?
- Are you encouraged to serve
in ministries or missions outside the local body?
- Is there ever any pressure
put upon members to give or lend money to leaders for
their personal or business use (exclusive of church
business or projects)?
Spiritual Counterfeits Project is a California-based cult/occult/New Age research ministry.
Website: http://www.scp-inc.org/
Page added November 5, 2004.
This article originally appeared on the Cult Awareness & Information Centre out of Australia, which was run by the late Jan Groenveld. The article is reproduced as it was seen on Jan's site with some formatting changes.