This book formerly issued as Heresies and Cults was first published in 1948 and was revised in 1962. Between these years, God not yet formed me in my mother’s womb. This book is old, brownish and a little bit fall apart. But do not despise its look, it is well research (for its time) and a good sum up for modern-day heresies and cults that are still prevalent in Christianity today. Some definitions, Oswald Sanders wrote: “A heretic is ‘one whose errors are doctrinal, and usually of a malignant character, tending to subvert the true faith.’ The word cult means simply a ‘system of religious worship’ but has come to be associated largely with systems of religious worship which are heterodox.” Heterodox means not conforming to accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs. Throughout the book, Mr. Sanders evaluates each cult and heresy with the Scripture but as the basic for confessions of faith, he refers to the Apostles’ Creed.
What makes a cult a cult? And a heresy a heresy? Mr. Sanders observes: “It will be observed that in the following heresies, the touchstone of doctrine is the Person and Work of Christ. This is the rock on which they all split.” Let me share my observations too (based on my studies of cults especially with the help of the late Dr. Walter R. Martin). Most of them generally hold these five (5) views in common:
1) They believe that all (except themselves, of course. Hello world!) Christian churches are wrong and that theirs’ is a special group that has the real truth about God.
2) They attack the deity and/or humanity of Jesus Christ and either lower Him to the level of man or raise man to the level of ‘Christ.’
3) They deny that man can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone and teach that man can make himself right with God by good works - and by obeying their teachings.
4) They believe the statements of their leaders who claim to have new revelations and/or new interpretations of the Bible or have the authority above the Bible.
5) They claim to believe the Bible but they distort its teachings to suit their own particular beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, man, church, heaven and hell, salvation, and other vital doctrines.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times,” reminds the Apostle Paul to Timothy then and to us know, “some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Years earlier, when Jesus Christ still walks on earth already warned His followers, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray… For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13:5-6, 22. If you read Mark 13, underlines the words “lead stray” or “to deceive” or “to seduce”). The Apostle Peter recalled Lord Jesus’ warning by saying that there will be false prophets and teachers even among the believers who “will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bring up themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). Knowing that there are spirits of Antichrist and heresies that against or counterfeit the Spirit of Truth, the Apostle John counsel us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
In this book, Mr. Sanders examines Roman Catholicism, Spiritism, Christian Science, Unity, Unitarianism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Theosophy, Christadelphianism, Mormonism (or Latter-Day Saints), Seventh-Day Adventism, British-Israelism, Freemasonry, The Healing Movement, and a summary of other cults. There are two things that we need to keep in mind as we read apologetic books like this: First, the author is fallible, only the Word of God is infallible. Thus, we must examine this book too in the light of the Scripture quotes above. Be like the Bereans, “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). And secondly, any false system of cult, since they don’t subscribe to historical and orthodox Christian beliefs, are subject to change and evolution. Therefore, some of the information in this book is irrelevant or outdated. What they believe yesterday can change its meanings today to avoid being [obviously] false. Beware of wordplay. “As we face the modern heresies, and discover that all are astray on one or more aspects of the Person and Work of our Lord, we too must meet the challenge by the intelligent use of ‘the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God,’” writes Mr. Sanders in the closing of the first chapter, “We have been expressly commanded to ‘contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to saints,’ and we must be faithful to our trust.” Amen! ������✍
#LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #CultsAndHeresies #CriticalThinking #ChristianBeliefs #BiblicalTeachings #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain
I've read a long time ago J. Oswald Sander's other more popular book, Spiritual Leadership ��� Fully recommend it!
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