JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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4. EXCLUSIVE SALVATION. Because of their belief in a leader who alone has God's
final message they believe that God can accomplish His ultimate purpose only through them—
"our group" since they alone are God's people and understand His message. They truly believe
that they alone are saved while all others are lost. If their movement fails, then they reason, God
has failed. If they let God down then His work will never be accomplished.
5. PRESUMPTIOUS MESSIANIC LEADERSHIP. The leaders of cults are frequently
men and women who claim that they in some unique way represent God to their disciples. Some
claim to be a "messiah," if not outright "the Messiah." Others claim to be the interpreter of God's
mind and Word. Their attitude is "I know what's best for you." Such arrogant and confident
claims attract confused and uncertain people who are looking for certainty in a world of
uncertainty.
6. BLIND ALLEGIANCE TO LEADERSHIP. Followers are taught that any kind of
questioning is seen as disloyalty to the follower and to the group. All disagreement is looked
upon as a threat to the "purity" of the movement. Uncritical allegiance to leadership is the result.
Allegiance to the leader and the cult becomes so pronounced that followers are ready to die to
show their loyalty as in the case of Jim Jones' followers. This blind allegiance is also seen in that
decades and even centuries after a leader has died the devoted followers still try to prove that
their founder was true or that his long past date for the Second Coming of Christ is still
legitimate.
7. A FALSE BASIS OF SALVATION. Instead of accepting "the finished work" of Jesus
Christ who died to obtain man's salvation, cults add to that work. This is in the form of
meritorious work—rules and regulations that are closely adhered to. Often certain religious
observances are added that take on crucial importance. When any kind of human activity is
added to the work accomplished by Jesus on the cross, the gospel of grace is perverted. Their
attitude is "Jesus died for our sins, but . . ." They also believe in an exclusive salvation which
says: "We alone are saved. All others are lost."
8. UNCERTAIN HOPE. Even with a view toward salvation that is exclusive, the real
truth is that a cultist never has the full assurance of salvation. When pressed he will admit that he
is not sure that he will enter heaven, but hopes so as he presses on to work a little harder to make
that hope more certain. With meritorious work as the basis of salvation, it is no wonder that
the cultist is tragically and understandably left in a limbo of uncertainty.
9. DOCTRINAL AMBIGUITY. Cults are constantly changing their views to fit with the
changing values and ideas of society. Changes are made to fit whatever is currently attracting
followers. An example of this would be the position of the Mormons toward blacks. It was only a
few years ago that they allowed blacks into the priesthood. Before that they were considered an
inferior race.