Cults and the "We're Right and Everyone Else is Wrong" Attitude of Hyper-Preterism
triablogue.blogspot.com
[U] Cult-like Tendencies: Remember above (A) when we saw that the HP teaches that "some dudes on the internet figured out what no one else in the history of Christianity has?" We now come back and address that attitude.
I can remember when I first became acquainted with HPism. A pastor, some friends and I, went to one of their Bible study since I was a "prospect" for a possible "conversion." What stood out to me was the glassy-eyed and blank-faced look on everyone there. The group was made, mostly, up of people who did not attend church anymore because they had either been kicked out, or they left on their own accord. What's interesting is that one female in particular still attended church. She tried to fit in with Orthodox believers but would ask certain questions to get other church members to "think about things." Ultimately, she would invite them to the "Bible study" where a smooth talking salesman would critique this persons most cherished beliefs. This tactic is used, for example, in Mormon circles. Mormon girls will go and find non-Mormon boys. Ultimately the hope is that the boy will like the girl, or have his interest peeked, and then start attending Mormon Church services.
Furthermore, the majority of the members had all been involved in previous organizations which had been dubbed "cults" or "heretical movements." Apples don't fall far from the tree. One young man, in particular, was so enamored by his cult leader that he would attend his pervious church pastor's Bible studies and call the pastor out to debate him right then and there. He virtually had to be physically removed from the property, on pain of legal force.
Now, my purpose here is to link the number one thing that all cults which ape Christianity have in common. This should at least raise an eyebrow and hopefully cause pastors to be a bit leery if someone in their church is holding to HP teaching. For those pastors, I recommend cutting those people, after a plea for repentance, off the body. Paul says that their teaching is gangrenous. Do not let it sit while you and the elders "think about the best way to handle it." So, what is the number one thing that all cults which ape Christianity have in common? It is the claim that they alone have figured out the "true teaching" of the Bible and that the entire history of the church has been mislead or mistaken. What is needed is to look at things "their way" and see how everything "all makes sense." Typically, there is an over-emphasis on rationality. Cults prey on the teachings which may be "hard to understand" and then they give a humanly acceptable answer instead of trusting that "this to God will make clear to you." This is why cults attack doctrines such as the trinity, the deity of Christ, hell, and eschatology.
So, we can add to the list of those who have said the Church had it wrong, on some big issues. We have: Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, Moonies, Unitarian Universalists, Alamo Christian Foundation, Anthroposophical Society, Astara
Children of God, Christadelphianism, Christian Family Fellowship, Christian Identity Movement, Christian Science, Church of Armageddon, Divine Light Mission and HYPER PRETERISTS. It should make anyone cautious if an organization follows the key theme of all these other organizations, i.e., THE ENTIRE CHURCH HAD IT WRONG BUT WE GOT IT RIGHT! |
