The following was written in response to a contact who found several sites on the Internet depicting Christadelphians as a cult.
Dear Joanna,
Thank you for writing to me with your concerns and thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer those accusations.
Definition of “cult”
First of all, I’d like to give some definition to the term “cult.” Our dictionary said a cult is a “a system of religious worship, admiration of or devotion to, a personal thing especially as a form of intellectual snobbery, a passing craze or fashion, a creed or sect.”
Most of this definition could apply to any religious body apart from maybe the “intellectual snobbery” part or “passing craze or fashion.” I’d like to think people couldn’t accuse us of intellectual snobbery and we certainly are not a passing craze or cult. Actually, we have had the name “Christadelphian” for nearly 150 years. Hardly a passing craze!
Apostolic teachings
We claim our teachings are the same as the Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles. When I was a child, my father had the Encyclopedia Britannica, which listed Christadelphians as the closest religion to apostolic teaching of any group or church. Since the encyclopedia is continually updated, I don’t know if you’d still find that particular comment.
Some characteristics of cults
When I looked up the definition of cults on the Internet, one of the things I found was an article by Dr. Michael Langone, editor of Cultic Studies Journal. It discusses Mind-Manipulating groups.
Here are some items that it suggested people check if they are afraid a member of their family has joined a cult.
- The group is focused on a living leader to whom members display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment.
I’d like to think this is true of us. Our living leader is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only leader we recognize. You may or may not know that we have no “headquarters” or human leader. We recognize that “one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 23:8-11).
Now I do know one religion which calls their earthly leaders “father” and their supreme earthly leader, “Holy Father” — but it certainly isn’t us!
- The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
Well, I’ll agree that the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” We know that the gospel of his grace is one that brings life, so why wouldn’t we want to teach others so that they, too, can share in the kingdom of his grace.
- The group is preoccupied with making money.
There’s where we certainly don’t fit! Have you ever been asked for any money? We never even tithe our members as some groups do, but all donations of our members are completely voluntary. At our meetings we pass a bag around for collections (from our members only), not a plate. No one knows what others put into the bag. Everything we do that costs money is supported entirely by voluntary contributions of our own members.
- Questioning, doubt and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
If a person questioned the authority of the scriptures, then we certainly would not approve of that. But since we have no leader amongst ourselves and we are all expected to study to understand God’s way, then you will find diversity of opinions on matters that we do not consider “basic doctrines.” There’s really no room for diversity on subjects such as: there is ONE God that Jesus is His Son, that Jesus is presently in Heaven and will return to set up his kingdom on earth, that believers are required to be baptized into his name and to live a life following in his footsteps to the best of their abilities.
- Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubt about the group and its leader(s).
You cannot say any of this applies to Christadelphians, but I do know a group that is very popular in the Caribbean that certainly practices some of these things (chanting, speaking in tongues, etc.).
The list goes on in the same vein, talking about leaderships dictating how members should live, being elitist and claiming a special status for its leaders, not being accountable to any authorities, sometimes collecting money for bogus charities, cutting ties with families and friends, etc., none of which you could apply to us.
The Lord Jesus Christ and all the apostles warned their followers over and over again that there would be false teachers. Here’s one from the apostle Peter: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (II Pet. 2:1). The apostle Paul says something along the same line: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:29-31).
Check the facts
The conclusion you must draw from this, Joanna, is that everybody who wants to truly follow Jesus should be sure in his/her own mind that what he/ she believes and who he/she fellowships is based solely on the word of truth.
As you are no doubt aware, anybody can say anything on the Internet. You don’t know his motivation or how well he knows us. This is not the first time we have been called a cult by people who do not know us or do not agree with our teachings. It’s usually people who have a very strong belief in the trinity, which you will know from the courses you have taken, is not the teaching of the Bible. Many people have tried to say that we are not “Christian” because we do not believe the same way as they do on that score.
Also, belief in a supernatural devil and the immortal soul separates us from the mainstream of Christianity today. However, the apostles never believed or taught those things. One pastor, when asked about it admitted that the apostle Paul didn’t believe in the trinity, but he added, “Paul didn’t understand.” It must be great to think you know more than the apostle who wrote several books of the Bible and who was inspired by God to do so!
So, no, we are definitely not a cult!
Sincerely,
Margaret Stonell, Hamilton, Ontario
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One