Cults Part 3
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
(John 10:10 NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to
kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that
they may have it more abundantly.
In John 10 Jesus compares Satan to a thief that comes among the sheep
and He compares cult leaders to sheep stealers. The purpose of cults
is not to bless the sheep but to steal, kill and destroy. genuine
Christianity, in Jesus Christ brings life and brings it abundantly.
Thus one of the tests of a cult is "does it bring abundant life or
does it leave a trail of people who are ripped off (stolen from),
dead (killed) or destroyed in some way or the other?" Forget about
doctrine for a moment (only for a moment) - some orthodox churches
leave a trail of damaged people behind them if an abusive pastor
gets in control. The sign of a bad shepherd is injured sheep.
Cruel orthodoxy and seductive heresy can both be of the Devil. The
first beats the sheep with the shepherds staff until they are
limping broken and dead. The other feeds them on poison pasture.
Either way we end up with injured or dead sheep. What then is the
alternative? The alternative is kind, gracious and godly Truth.
Truth that feeds people on the right pasture and which treats the
sheep with loving care. The good shepherd follows Paul's growth
formula for sheep: (Eph 4:14-16 NKJV) that we should no longer be
children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting, {15} but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up
in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; {16} from whom the
whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its
share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Speaking the truth in love is the good shepherd's growth formula and
is my aim in ministry - I hope you experience it in these
devotionals. Let us be bringers of abundant life to those who know us
and may people say of our service to them "our lives were made
richer, better and more abundant with joy because we knew you and
came to know Christ in you."
Prayer:
Lord bring abundant life to us and may we be bringers of abundant
life to others. In Jesus name. Amen.
---------------------------------------------------------------
These devotionals may be freely used in your bible studies
and sermons and passed around by email providing there is proper
acknowledgement.
Questions and comments on this devotional can be sent to:
[email protected]
John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!