THE FAILURE OF THE CHURCH

One of the main reasons many Christians are so easily drawn into cults is because the Church has been a failure when it comes to obeying Christ's Great Commission. I know, that sounds like a contradictory statement; how can the Church be a failure at following Christ's instructions to go into all the world and preach His Gospel, when we are talking about those who have heard the Gospel and have become Christians? Those asking that question may be the best argument for showing how we, the Body of Christ, have failed. The vast majority of born again believers apparently do not understand the Great Commission. There are three parts to it: 1) believers are to go win souls; 2) believers are to baptize those who accept Christ; and 3) believers are to disciple (teach, instruct, train, coach, tutor, discipline, mentor, etc.) those professing Christ as their Savior. The true meaning of Matthew 28:19-20 is:

1) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" (share the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation - Rom. 1:16).

2) "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

THE FORGOTTEN PART OF THE GREAT COMMISSION:

3) "Teaching them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you" (disciple them).

Cults are very much like packs of animals that hunt their prey by separating out the young and the weak. They are wise in that they know young, doctrinally weak Christians are interested in spiritual things, and that they are easily persuaded. Christians can learn a lot from the practices of the cults:

1. Active cult members are often more familiar with the Bible than many Christians. They know where to find verses, and they seem to have an answer to every argument that you give them. They are very well trained in their false teachings. Because of this many, Christians are afraid of talking with those who belong to a cult. If anyone should know their Bibles well, should not it be those who are born again Christians? And yet, sad to say, the average Bible believer is horribly ignorant of God's truth.

2. Usually a cult member is not ashamed of his false gospel. He is always ready to give a reason for his false beliefs. If anyone should be excited about sharing God's Word, it should be the born again believer. If we are really concerned for the lost, we should be living it so others will be drawn to hear God's message of salvation by faith in Christ.

3. Cult members are totally indoctrinated by their cult's false teachings. And, even though they are wrongly taught, they are well taught. They know how to defend their faith against biblical arguments which they view as being falsely interpreted. If Christians knew the Word as well as cult members know their false doctrines, it would not take long before the cult would be limited to approaching only those ignorant of the truths of the Bible.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; until all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (mature) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:11-15)!