What Is a Cult?
“That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9b).
In Judges 18, we see the idolatry begun by Micah take root among the people of the colony established by the Danites on Israel’s northern frontier. Doing what was right in their own eyes, they veered away from the true worship of the God of Israel and fell into apostasy. We might say they established their own “cult.”
Nowadays, there is vast disagreement over what is true about God and how He is to be worshipped. To make matters worse, the various groups that weigh in on spiritual matters often classify themselves as “the one true church” and their opponents as cults.
How can we tell the difference between an orthodox church and a cult? What makes a cult a cult? What are some of the significant cults today?
The word cult comes from the Latin cultus, which means “to care for” or “to take care of.” The word cult initially referred to a group of people who had similar concerns, cared about the same things, and held specific ideas and practices in common.
The word cult comes from the Latin cultus, which means “to care for” or “to take care of.” The word cult initially referred to a group of people who had similar concerns, cared about the same things, and held specific ideas and practices in common.
The same Latin word gives us our word culture—common concerns and behavioral practices. In recent times, however, the word cult has taken on negative, pejorative connotations. It is now used to describe unorthodox religions.
The word sect is often used as a synonym for cult. However, there are essential shades of meaning that distinguish the two words. Sect comes from the Latin sequi, which means “to follow.”
The word sect is often used as a synonym for cult. However, there are essential shades of meaning that distinguish the two words. Sect comes from the Latin sequi, which means “to follow.”
It originally referred to a group of religious people who dissented from a parent organization, a smaller group existing within a larger group but disassociating itself somehow. Therein lies the difference between a sect and a cult.
While a sect remains within a larger organization, a cult is a new or breakaway movement that completely disavows any groups to which it might trace its roots. Doing “what is right in its own eyes,” the cult declares that it alone is the sole repository of truth and all other groups are false and apostate.
What experiences have you had with cults? Perhaps cult members have knocked on your door to give you literature. Perhaps people have left your church to join unorthodox religious groups. Perhaps you yourself have come out of such a group. Take time today to pray for those in cults, asking God to call them out by means of His truth.
What experiences have you had with cults? Perhaps cult members have knocked on your door to give you literature. Perhaps people have left your church to join unorthodox religious groups. Perhaps you yourself have come out of such a group. Take time today to pray for those in cults, asking God to call them out by means of His truth.
