Cults & Denominations

Dangerous Modern Cults:

• Branhamites

• Branch Davidians

• Children of God

• Fundamentalist Mormons

• Heaven's Gate

• Hebrew Roots

• Int'l Church of Christs

• Jehovah's Witnesses

• Manson Family

• Nation of Islam

• Peoples Temple

• Scientology

• SDA (Seventh Day Adventists)

• UPC (Unitarian Pentecostals)

• World Mission Society Church of God (Mother God cult)

DISTINCTIVES:

If you are Baptist:

1. You can’t be lost once you are saved. (Unless you are Methodist.)

2. Baptism is an outward symbol but only immersion in a baptistry (preferably marble) counts.

3. Unsaved people can be severed from Christ and fall from grace.

4. Saved people can be severed from Christ, fall from grace and still be saved.

5. Speaking in tongues, prophecy and miracles all stopped when the Holy Spirit died.

If you are Methodist:

1. You are saved by a warm feeling.

2. Sprinkling is a Heaven approved (and very convenient) alternative to immersion.

3. You can be lost once you are saved. (Unless you are a Baptist.)

4. What is a tongue???

5. Aren’t prophets like those weird guys in the Old Testament???

If you are a Presbyterian:

1. You are Elect.

2. Methodists and Baptists are not Elect.

3. The word “all” means “All of the Elect.”

4. The word “None” means “None of the Elect.”

5. Speaking in tongues is for the poor people on the other side of the track.

If you are Pentecostal:

1. You speak in tongues and Prophecy.

2. You are Baptized in the Spirit.

3. You know at least five verses of Scripture.

4. God exists to make you rich and happy in Babylon.

5. By quoting the right verse, tithing, saying a prayer, giving a big offering, and tithing… you can make the Devil go away and make God do whatever you want him to do.

If you are a Christian:

1. You ignore all of the above.

2. You deny yourself.

3. You take up your cross.

4. You fix your eyes on Jesus.

5. You follow Jesus.

Denominations are carnal:

1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 

1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 

1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 

1Co 1:16  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 

• How were the early followers of Christ called?

  • Acts 9:2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

  • Acts 23:14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets

  • Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  • Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

  • 1Pet. 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

• Importance and meaning of water baptism
  

  • Acts 2:38 for the forgiveness of sins

  • Acts 22:16 washing away of sins

  • Rom 6:3-8 die and live with Christ, die to sin

  • Titus 3:5 washing of new birth

  • Col 2:11-12 burial

  • Gal 2:20 crucified with Christ

  • Gal 3:27 put on Christ

  • 1 Pet 3:20-21 baptism that now saves you

• Baptism of the Holy Spirit (tongues)

  • Act 2:6, 11 (prayer/praise to God, showing God's mighty works), 33

  • 1 Cor 12:3 (saying Jesus is Lord)

  • 1 Cor 13:1,3

  • 1 Cor 14:2, 4 (edifying, encouraging), 5 (God's will to all Christians), 14-18, 22 (sign to un/believers)