People leaving the church we pastor (or in which we otherwise serve) to attend a different one is often a test of our personal maturity and the orthopraxy of our church's ministry...Cults and abusive churches hurt people as they transition to a different church. Biblical churches do not.
Many people who have taken to themselves the role of shepherding God's sheep use the rod and staff to beat the sheep when they should be gentle, yet they stand by idly when wolves attack the sheep.
Christians who think of themselves as more spiritual than common believers are usually less spiritual in the things that really matter to God.
Though it is an unscriptural act to divorce without cause and subsequently remarry, the act involved does not result in an ongoing, sinful state.
The same reasoning that develops a five-fold ministry doctrine from Ephesians 4:11 could develop a seven-fold or eight-fold ministry doctrine from other scripture verses.
Steven Hassan is a cult expert with nearly 40 years of experience. Hassan, a licensed mental health counselor (M.Ed. LMHC, NCC), is at the forefront of the cult education and recovery field, in which he has been involved since 1976. A former cult member himself, he is an expert on the subject of mind control -- the coercive persuasion methods used by manipulative people to recruit and hold on to followers.
God's confusion of mankind's previously unified language at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) is regularly criticized by skeptics. However, there is nothing in history or linguistics that genuinely contradicts the account.
An extremist sect controversial for its un-biblical beliefs and cult-like practices. Theologically Aggressive Christianity Mission Training Corps is a cult of Christianity. Sociologically it is a destructive cult. Update, September 28, 1018: Cult leader Deborah Green, 71, has been sentenced to 72 years in prison.
Janet and Anton Hein are the co-publishers of Apologetics Index.
Most Christians know that the Bible teaching they are saved by grace, through faith.Yet there are countless Christian who do not realize that God's desire and will for us is to continue to relate to Him on the basis of grace alone. Instead, they get trapped into a legalistic, performance-based relationship that leaves them disillusioned and frustrated.
