When they vehemently say:" We are not a cult!"---It is probably a cult.

-internet image 

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"Every cult manual starts here. 

Isolate the members. 

Sever outside relationships. 

Make the group the ONLY source of 

identity and belonging."

Mike Bski, A Cult?

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I once was a baby in Christ ---sheltered and pruned I grew up...not a baby in Christ any longer...

 -Kinsman Company

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Just as a plant begins as a seedling and then it grows...fed, sheltered, pruned, tethered....kept from predators!!! 

...we also grow...with parents we are fed and sheltered, pruned by learning what is right or wrong, hopefully tethered by God's Word...and then there are the "predators" who come into our lives...

...teachers, friends, media, your front door visitors, false churches, employers, fellow employees, pamphlets, others...

Finally "grown up" in the LORD we can learn to recognize falsehoods and be concerned with this or that teaching; we enjoy new friends, but "something" isn't right about some of them. 

We continue our friendship for quite a while -discounting their "quirks" and wondering about their walk with the LORD. They seem like "solid" Believers with only: "Quirks" in their lives.

Well, we realize we really aren't like them at all!; we are very different in our walk with the LORD. We are open, loving, caring, helpful...they- are not...

As time continues we begin to see the real person in them; bossy, secretive, arrogant, self-centered, controlling, manipulating... 

It is time to pull back from them...but our family ties are already woven into them.  Now it is only time to recover from their sinful attachments...

But--can we ever be the same free people?...

In the LORD He can heal us, but what has been taken from us can never be returned.  We only look to the LORD for our tomorrows. 

Hebrews 13:5-6

..."God has said, “Never will I leave you;
    

never will I forsake you.” 

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    

What can mere mortals do to me?” "...

Psalm 37:7-9

..."Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land."...

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You, and Me, are Basically Sheep

-Scotland FB

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"Cults are characterized by a charismatic leader, strong social control, and isolation from the outside world. 

They often involve extreme beliefs, manipulation, and exploitation of members."

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Cult Behaviors

-internet meme

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Key Characteristics of Cults:

Charismatic Leader:
Cults are often led by a charismatic figure who demands obedience and unquestioning loyalty. 


Strong Social Control:
Cult leaders exert tight control over members' lives, dictating their thoughts, actions, and emotions. 


Isolation from the Outside World:
Cults often isolate members from family, friends, and traditional society, limiting exposure to alternative perspectives. 


Extreme Beliefs:
Cults often promote dogmatic and extreme beliefs, sometimes involving apocalyptic scenarios or unique interpretations of reality. 


Manipulation and Control:
Cults utilize various techniques to manipulate members, including "love bombing," guilt-tripping, and mind control tactics. 


Exploitation:
Cults may exploit members financially, emotionally, or sexually, often under the guise of serving a higher purpose. 


Unquestioning Faith:
Members are often discouraged from questioning the leader or the group's doctrines, and dissent is punished. 


Fear and Suspicion:
Cults may foster a climate of fear and suspicion of the outside world, often portraying outsiders as enemies or threats. 


New Doctrines:
Cults frequently invent new doctrines or interpretations of existing ones, often to maintain control and justify their practices. 


Unresolved Insecurities:
Cult leaders and members may struggle with unresolved insecurities and a need for validation, which can be exploited by the leader.


Delusions:
Cults may promote delusions or unsubstantiated claims, often to justify their beliefs and actions. 

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sources

Cult Recovery101

Cult-Related Activity

What is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs

What is a Cult? 4 Types of Cults and Common Characteristics

Stockholm Syndrome

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The Dangerous "Christian-eze" Among Us

-dangerous grizzly bear:Yellowstone FB
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Control, Falsehoods, and Manipulation Techniques 

After 'being around the block' a few years in my Christian walk among many Christian sinners, I can recognize many falsehoods and their "christian-eze" (false information and behavior with at least some true Christianity included) which are used by deficient, shadowy people who are teaching falsely as well as using control and manipulation techniques to catch and control others.

These are dangerous behaviors for Christians and non-Christians alike as BOTH can be easily deceived by these false teachers. 

They may "look like a duck" (looking and acting like true Christians), but they are definitely teaching and behaving unlike true Christians.

True, righteous Christians are open, teaching truth from the Word, not from their own sinful minds. They truly care about others, and do not devise ways to control others. 

True Believers do not manipulate you, control you, or give you false memories of your life before  "them". 

True Believers really care about others: Christians and non-Christians alike.

True Believers love others even if you sin against them. They pray for you to come to truth and reality. 

True Believers DO NOT use MANIPULATION to CONTROL others.

Who are your friends and how do they treat you?

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Colossians 3:1-17

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."...

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Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

~Yellowstone FB 

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As the saying goes:

"Lie down with dogs;

get up with fleas."

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1 Corinthians 15:33-34

..."Do not be deceived: 

“Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. 

I speak this to your shame."...

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- essentially saying that associating with morally bad, unrighteous people can negatively influence your own character and lead you astray.

-unknown

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The Walking Wounded

-Schulz

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Ephesians 4:21-32

"... if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. 

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. 

The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 

Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

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Terrifying Storm Clouds

What do you do when you see a terribly dangerous "storm" arising around certain people, but your adult child is able to make his own decisions?

You can "see" all of "this" will turn out in an awful way, but your adult child says he can handle it.

He thinks he will handle it. 

He is an adult and he is in charge of himself, but it turns out that "they" know exactly how to control others...and so, in reality, he can't handle it. 

Thus begins your precious child's life caught in a "web" of control that you can not solve. 

The LORD will solve it His Way

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What do you do?

Pray for your child! 

For the rest of your life, pray for this child!

Rest in the LORD as you pray for this child!

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Unjust Suffering

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Proverbs 3:3-5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

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Preserve Your Life! Do Not Consent!

 Proverbs 1:7-19

..."The fear of the Lord is the beginning 

of knowledge;


Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction


And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;


Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head

And ornaments about your neck.


My son, if sinners entice you,


Do not consent.


If they say, “Come with us,


Let us lie in wait for blood,


Let us ambush the innocent without cause;


Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,


Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;


We will find all kinds of precious wealth,


We will fill our houses with spoil;


Throw in your lot with us,


We shall all have one purse,”


My son, do not walk in the way with them.


Keep your feet from their path,


For their feet run to evil


And they hasten to shed blood.


Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net


In the sight of any bird;


But they lie in wait for their own blood;


They ambush their own lives.


So are the ways of everyone 

who gains by violence;


It takes away the life of its possessors."...

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Kindness and Respect

 1 Peter 3:7-9

..."You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."...

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Not one thing in these verses sound cruel, mean, vicious, controlling, disrespectful, violent, manipulating, crazy-making, lying, tricking, abusive...

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Sadly...Manipulating, Using, and Abusing comes quite naturally to some people.

-Charles Schulz 

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Colossians 3:1-17

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."...

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Beware of the Dishonorable People out there

 

The LORD alone is our Refuge from Treachery and Oppression

Psalm 62

"My soul waits in silence for God only;

From Him is my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,


My stronghold; 

I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will you assail a man,


That you may murder him, 

all of you,


Like a leaning wall, 

like a tottering fence?

They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;


They delight in falsehood;


They bless with their mouth,


But inwardly they curse. 

 

My soul, 

wait in silence for God only,


For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,


My stronghold;

I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest;


The rock of my strength, 

my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;


Pour out your heart before Him;


God is a refuge for us.

Men of low degree are only vanity 

and men of rank are a lie;


In the balances they go up;


They are together lighter than breath.

Do not trust in oppression


And do not vainly hope in robbery;


If riches increase, 

do not set your heart upon them.

Once God has spoken;


Twice I have heard this:


That power belongs to God;

And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,


For You recompense a man according to his work."

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Bondage in False Teachings as a Choice

This is a subject I have heard many times over these years where men or women have chosen to follow after wrong thinking into a life of spiritual bondage. 

Each instance has had Bible Believing individuals who have trusted the LORD and followed Him biblically in their life only to be swayed by certain "christians" on the "edge" of biblical theology into aberrant beliefs and ways of life. This usually turns into controlling rules, abuse, false righteousness, twisting God's Word, wrong thinking and beliefs, and damaged relationships.

The LORD has never been wishy-washy about what is required of His people, and, really, He did not give us behaviors we could not manage. 

We all need to look humbly at our Christian behaviors and make very sure we are not making up our own rules or following someone else's rules.

The LORD God is whom we should be following.

Micah 6:8

..."He has told you, O man, what is good;


And what does the Lord require of you


But to do justice, to love kindness,


And to walk humbly with your God..."

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Learn the Antidote

"The antidote to indoctrination 

is to tell the truth, 

expose people to the lies that 

would deceive them, 

show them how to refute this lies, 

and prepare them with 

the thinking skills necessary 

to continue resisting falsehoods."

-Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews, by Jeff Myers & David A. Noebel, pg. 9

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Children of all ages, Honor your Parents

"It is so injurious to society when children 

stop honoring their parents that this is the 

only one of the Ten Commandments that 

states a reward for obeying it: 

...“that you may long endure, and that you 

may fare well, in the land the Lord your 

God is assigning to you.” 

The warning is clear: 

if children in your society stop honoring 

their parents, you will not fare well, and 

your society will not long endure."

~Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible, Deuteronomy: God, Blessings, and Curses, pg.98

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Exodus 20:12

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The Evil in Deception

"Deception is a sort of seduction. 

In love and war, 

adultery and 

espionage, 

deceit can only succeed 

if the deceived party is willing, 

in some way, 

to be deceived."

~Ben Macintyre, Operation Mincemeat, pg.232

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Vindicate me, O Lord...

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 Psalm 26:1-5

"Vindicate me, O Lord, 

for I have walked in my integrity,

And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

Examine me, O Lord, and try me;

Test my mind and my heart.

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

I do not sit with deceitful men,

Nor will I go with pretenders.

I hate the assembly of evildoers,

And I will not sit with the wicked."...

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1 Corinthians 5:9-13

..."I wrote you in my letter not to associate 

with immoral people;

I did not at all mean with the 

immoral people of this world, 

or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, 

for then you would have to go out of the world.

But actually, I wrote to you not to associate 

with any so-called brother 

if he is an immoral person, or covetous, 

or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, 

or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? 

Do you not judge those who are within the church?

But those who are outside, God judges. 

Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

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Matthew 12:33-37

...“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, 

or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; 

for the tree is known by its fruit.

You brood of vipers, how can you, 

being evil, speak what is good? 

For the mouth speaks out of that 

which fills the heart.

The good man brings out of his good treasure 

what is good; 

and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure 

what is evil.

But I tell you that every careless word 

that people speak, 

they shall give an accounting 

for it in the day of judgment.

For by your words you will be justified, 

and by your words you will be condemned.”

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Matthew 7:15-20

“Beware of the false prophets,

who come to you in sheep’s clothing, 

but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

You will know them by their fruits. 

Grapes are not gathered from 

thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 

So every good tree bears good fruit, 

but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, 

nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down 

and thrown into the fire.

So then, you will know them by their fruits."

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Psalm 31:12

..."I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind;

I am like a broken vessel."...

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How can you Forget?

"You never forget the face of the person who destroyed your family."

~unknown

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A Guilty Conscience

1 Peter 1:13-16

..."Therefore, prepare your minds for action, 

keep sober in spirit, 

fix your hope completely

on the grace to be brought to you 

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, 

do not be conformed to the former lusts 

which were yours in your ignorance,

but like the Holy One who called you, 

be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

because it is written, 

“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”...

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Romans 12:1-2

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, 

by the mercies of God, 

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, 

acceptable to God, 

which is your spiritual service of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed 

by the renewing of your mind, 

so that you may prove 

what the will of God is, 

that which is good and acceptable and perfect."...

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