Cults (see an abbreviated list at bottom) overtly reject orthodox Christian doctrine (for more about orthodoxy see https://carm.org/essential-doctrines-of-christianity). But many who consider themselves Christians today oppose orthodoxy in more subtle ways, like taking bits and pieces of Scripture out of context to "claim" promises or blessings of God but having nothing to do with Him or His will.
Isaiah 53:5 reads, "... and by His wounds we are healed!" Therefore, we should "claim" God's promise of physical healing and restoration if we send in enough money and have sufficient faith. WRONG! The prophecy of Isaiah 53 in context clearly anticipates Messiah, King Jesus, "pierced for our transgression and crushed for our iniquities..." The type of suffering King Jesus endured at the Cross of Calvary was in-part physical, but not primarily or exclusively so. Our transgression and iniquity are no mere physical things. His wounds were not intended as an elixir for our flesh, but for our eternal restoration and reconciliation with God.
Acts 2:21 reads, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Therefore, all we need do is recite, 'Lord Jesus, save me!' or ask Jesus into our hearts, and the deal is done! WRONG! Jesus said it Himself, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven may enter." The will of the Father is that we glorify Christ. King Jesus made that very clear in Matthew 12:30, "Whoever is not with Me is against me; whoever does not gather with Me scatters." Jesus didn't collect nuts, stamps, baseball cards, or porcelain figurines. He collected kingdom people into His kingdom by grace through faith in Him. To those doing anything else, even IN HIS NAME, He will say, "Away from me you evildoers! I never knew you!"
Prosperity preachers, like Oral Roberts, Joel Osteen, Zig Ziglar, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, T.B. Joshua (and countless others), readily rip chunks of Scripture out of all biblical context and reassemble them into utter abominations, yet calling it "Christianity." They do so with great ease and "success" for the multitudes prefer messages of "prosperity" to the message of the Gospel. King Jesus is uncompromising. Repentance from sin and abandonment to Christ is mandatory. Humility and service are essential - not FOR salvation - but as evidence of it.
The question, "Faith or Frankenstein?" is one we all must answer. Is our faith in Christ objective? Is it coherent and consistent with a comprehensive biblical theology - simultaneously encompassing and upholding all sixty-six books from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21? Are we truly repentant, humble, wise, and continually pleading with Christ to test our hearts and examine our motives? Are we gathering with Christ or scattering against Him?
Do we, like Shelley's Dr. Victor Frankenstein, find God's superiority and exclusivity repugnant? Are we robbing Scripture of blessings, promises, and favor and reassembling them into our own Frankenstein monsters of entitlement and sin? Then, through darkness and evil, when they become animate, do we shout with elation, "It's ALIVE!"
Are we seeking to glorify self or Christ in all things, at all times, forever?
Is it faith or Frankenstein?
Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com
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List of some prominent Christian cults:
- Mormonism / Latter-Day Saints Movement - 1830
- Church of Christ - 1847
- Seventh-Day Adventist - 1863
- Christadelphians - 1848
- Church of Christian Science - 1879
- Jehova's Witnesses - 1870
- American Unitarians - 1825
Note how these prominent cults all emerged subsequent to the publishing of Frankenstein. What makes these, or any group, a Christian "cult" is their theological deviation from what is undisputed essential Christian doctrine. It would be like someone saying they are a singer or musician then refusing to agree sound exists, calling oatmeal music, or demanding A# is really an F, etc.
- Mormons claim to believe in the "same" Jesus as Christians, yet deny Jesus as the Eternal Son and consider Him nothing more than a man who "figured out" how to become a god.
- Church of Christ considers baptism essential for eternal salvation.
- Seventh-Day Adventists reject the concept of eternal torment and Hell.
- Christadelphians believe Jesus had a sinful nature and needed salvation.
- Church of Christian Science is neither Christian nor "science," but a jumbled mess of philosophical thought.
- JW's deny the eternality of the Holy Trinity, the deity of Christ, and Christ's physical resurrection.
- Unitarians (aka Universal Unitarianism) deny Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, eternal punishment, and the substitutionary atonement of King Jesus for humanity's sin. CARM.org is a great source to find out more about Christian cults and "movements."
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