Have you ever been engaged with or approached by cult groups that knock on your door and seek to tell you why their faith is the true faith and your religion is a lie? These people come around regularly and target weak willed people and lead them astray. Many of these groups use the unclear and vague parts of the Bible as the cornerstone of their beliefs.
One such cultish group tried to convince me that there are levels in heaven and that each person can become a god on their own planet or level in heaven. The key passage was Paul’s mention of the ’third’ heaven and the ’paradise’. Everything they said was twisted to suit their interpretation of ’third’ heaven - which, by the way, isn’t really talked about elsewhere in the Bible.
As a general rule we need to let Scripture interpret Scripture. This rule simply says that I need to interpret the Nible in the light of the rest of Scripture. If my interpretation of a particular passage or verse contradicts another passage of Scripture then my interpretation is wrong. If I interpret one passage in line with another passage or many other passages then my interpretation is correct. The problem is that cults often use passages such as these to delude and brain wash people with the express goal of leading them astray. There are very few passages about the different levels in heaven and hell (though it is suggested). We need to make sure that our theology is not built and founded on such rare and unsure passages of Scripture. Rather we need to build a solid foundation on the bits of Scripture that are understandable, and able to be interpreted in the light of the rest of the Scripture. Passages such as this one, about the 3rd heaven, may be worked into our theology but they should never form the core component of it, as they do in many cults.
Be wary and careful as soon as someone wants to string a difficult passage and milk it for more than it’s worth. Always be looking and asking for other passages that support that person’s theory. If they are hanging all their arguments on one single verse, let alarm bells ring.
Prayer:-
- Pray that all believers in your congregation would be equipped and ready to defend biblical Christianity when the cult groups knock on their door. Pray that we would be able to distract them long enough to stop them from dragging other people into hell with them, and that we would sow enough seeds of doubt into their minds so that they question the teachings they have been brainwashed with.
- Pray that every believer in your congregation clearly understands the gospel of grace and is able to explain it easily and simply to others. Pray that each person would receive open doors to share the gospel message this week. Ask God to allow you to share with a particular person this week.
Do It Today
Can you defend the faith against the following (heretical) arguments
1. Jesus, who is called the first born over all creation, was actually created before all things. He is not eternal.
2. Each and every believer will have their own planet which they will rule as god.
3. Jesus didn’t really worry too much if people returned to their life of sin. He saved them anyway.
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