by: Allen Domelle
One of the most common attacks that independent Baptists put up with from their detractors is that they are a cult or cultish. It never fails that someone who has an agenda to destroy a pastor, preacher or Baptist church they don’t like is they call it a cult or them a cult leader. It’s interesting that they don’t use Scriptures in their attacks, it is just their cop out to simply call them a cult because they don’t like them.
The word “cult” is a relatively new word that has only been used within the past century. It is interesting that when you look up the word “cult” in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary, it is nowhere to be found. The word “cult” was mainly introduced in the 1930’s by American sociologist Howard P. Becker as an expansion of German theologian Ernst Troeltsch. Though we don’t know much about these men, what we do know is that they did not believe in absolute truth. In fact, Ernst Troeltsch insisted that the Christian church re-examine its claims to absolute truth.
If there is no absolute truth, then Jesus Christ is the biggest liar that ever walked this Earth for He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) So, we must choose between trusting Jesus Christ or Ernst Troeltsch. If you put it to that test, I will always trust Jesus Christ. Yet, we allow Ernst Troeltsch to infiltrate our terminology by using the word “cult.”
It never fails that those who call us a cult do so because of our stand for the Scriptures. Their stance is a liberal one, so to make us sound bad they want to define us as a cult so they can justify their unscriptural stand. Sadly, their accusations against independent, fundamental Baptist churches as being a cult or cultish are nothing short of ignorant.
Just because we are “independent” Baptist does not make us a cult. We are independent because we believe each church should answer only to God. Ephesians 5:23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Notice, that Christ is the head of the church and not a board or a man. The reason we are independent is because the Bible teaches that every church is to only answer to God.
To call a church a cult because they are independent is unscriptural and ignorant. Independence doesn’t make a church a cult. If that is the case, then Microsoft is a cult because they are independent and answer to no national computer chain. Apple is a cult because they don’t answer to anyone else other than their CEO. If independence makes something a cult, then every independent grocery store is a cult because they don’t answer to Walmart, Albertsons or any other national grocery chain.
Just because a church is independent from a board does not make it a cult. In fact, it would make it a scriptural church. It would make it a church that has followed the model of the early church in the Book of Acts.
Just because Baptists have standards does not make them a cult. This is certainly one of the hot topics that most who call us a cult use. They don’t like it that a church would require them to dress a certain way, talk a certain way, run with a certain crowd of people and listen to a wholesome style of music if they are going to hold a leadership position in the church. This is simply a short list.
Standards by no means makes a church a cult. Look at this list of standards and tell me if you think this is a cult.
- It is recommended that visitors dress conservatively and modestly;
- No strapless, halter, bare midriff, sheer, or transparent clothing;
- No strapless or “spaghetti” strap tops;
- No skirts, dresses, or shorts that expose more than two inches above the knee;
- No clothing that exposes the breast…or buttocks area;
- No very tight, form-fitting attire;
I can see people rolling their eyes as they read this list of standards saying, “Ole Domelle is at it again.” I know, you think this is too tight. In fact, this list of standards would disqualify many so-called Baptist churches. However, this is not the list of standards from a Baptist church, but this is the list of visiting standards from the California Department of Corrections. It’s sad when their standards are higher than the average church. So, I ask you, are they a cult because they have standards?
If standards makes a place a cult, then the armed services are a cult because they require soldiers to dress a certain way for each occasion. They must have their dress uniform on when they go to formal events and their camouflage fatigues on when in the field. If dress standards make an organization or group a cult, then you better throw the armed services into that list of cults.
Just because someone has standards that are tighter or looser than mine does not make me or them a cult. I’m not justifying loose standards in any stretch of the imagination, but I’m simply trying to show that having dress standards does not make a person a cult leader or a church a cult.
Everyone has standards, it’s just that some have standards that are higher than others. You have standards because there are certain limits to which you will not go. That is your standard! In fact, whatever your dress standard is, it is going to be higher than someone else’s. Does that make you cultish? Of course not! Churches that acquire their standards from the Word of God are not a cult or cultish, rather they are being scriptural.
Just because Baptists allow someone to influence them does not make them a cult. Throughout the history of independent, fundamental Baptists, there have been men whom God has used in a great way. I think of men like J. Frank Norris and Jack Hyles. Both of these were used greatly in the United States. Because their ministries grew to great numbers, they had a positive and enormous affect on many Christians. Yet, because of the scope of their ministries, they also had those who became disgruntled with them. Many times these disgruntled people would say that J. Frank Norris and Jack Hyles were cult leaders. They had no grounds on which to base this, it was just an easy way of attacking these men because of their great influence.
If great influence makes someone a cult leader, then let’s start calling men like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ronald Reagan, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy cult leaders. Just in this list of men you have people who were on the opposite sides of beliefs, but their influence didn’t make them a cult leader.
If Jesus was walking the Earth today and the Pharisees existed, and sadly they do but they just don’t call themselves that anymore, they would have said that Jesus was a cult leader. Jesus was a very influential person in His three years of ministry. Yet, his influence did not make Him a cult leader because great influence doesn’t mean someone is involved in a cult.
If influence is a sign of a cult, then let’s call Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Vince Lombardi and Babe Ruth cult leaders, because there are still many people today who love to follow what these men did when they played sports. Those who like to throw the word “cult” around because of someone’s influence are showing their ignorance because they themselves follow influential people.
Someone is not a cult because we disagree with them. Just because I leave a church with which I disagree doesn’t make that church a cult. That church may not stand where I would stand, but that does not make it a cult.
Just because I strongly disagree with a man of God doesn’t make him a cult leader. It’s so easy to say that a preacher with whom I disagree is a cult leader or is cultish because I disagree with him; however, what makes us the measuring guru of what is or what is not a cult. Just because I had a personal disagreement with a pastor doesn’t make him a cult.
Just because I strongly disagree with a previous pastor doesn’t make that church a cult. Many Christians who have left a church because of the pastor like to say that man was cultish in his leadership simply because they don’t like him or because he hurt them. Again, that doesn’t make him a cult or a cult leader.
Friend, it truly comes down to the fact that if we base everything upon the Word of God, then there is no cult. God doesn’t call them cult leaders or cults, He calls them “false prophets, false teachers” and “sects.” It is a whole lot harder to call someone whom I disagree with on their style of leadership a false prophet or false teacher because only God’s Word will determine this. When we take it out of our hands and let the Word of God determine whether a church is a sect or a preacher is a false prophet, at that point there is no argument.
So, the question comes down to this, what makes a preacher a false prophet or a church a sect? The Scriptures teach that anyone who preaches doctrine that is against God’s Word or a church that practices doctrines and scriptural traditions (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6) that are contrary to the Word of God.
Just because a preacher is a topical preacher does not make him a cult leader. Just because a preacher is loud or silent does not make him a cult leader. Just because a church has higher standards than mine does not make them a cult. Just because a pastor or a church holds their staff, deacons, ministry workers and church leaders accountable for their lifestyle does not make them part of a cult. Let’s take the “cult” wording out of our vocabulary and let’s get back to letting the Word of God determine whether someone is a false preacher or teacher and whether a church is a sect.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.