The Three Marks of a Cult

Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for providing us with this place to come and study your word together.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, We thank you that you have brought each of us here.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Hi Holly.

ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Hugs

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, yesLOrd

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Use this time to speak to our hearts and our minds about what you want us to know.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, We pray this in the precious name of our wonderful Savior Jesus, amen.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Yes Lord

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Amen

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, Amen

butterfly_h58 says, hi Pare

whispering_wings76 says, amen

 carmanfan33 says, AMEN

liyla_k says, amen

mrs_pare enters

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, whew

whispering_wings76 leaves

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, Hi mrs

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Hi Mrs

butterfly_h58 says, hugs Mrs. Pare

 mrs_pare says, hi

 carmanfan33 says, HI MRS

liyla_k says, hi mrs

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Has anyone ever heard of counterfeit money?

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, yes

mrs_pare says, hi butterfly

whispering_wings76 enters

Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, wb Bella

apartment210 says, hi all

whispering_wings76 says, grrr..thanks

Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Why do people counterfeit money?

admiral_oam_counselor enters

 carmanfan33 says, TO MAKE MONEY]

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, To pass it off as the real thing?

 carmanfan33 says, HI ADMIRAL

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, hi Marla

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Hi Marla.

apartment210 says, because they don't want to earn it

admiral_oam_counselor says, sorry I'm late. Forgot about the time change

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, How does someone make money off of counterfeit money?

whispering_wings76 says, they pretend it is real money

apartment210 says, agree

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Just got started Marla

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Is it fair to say then that people counterfeit money because it's worth something?

carmanfan33 leaves

whispering_wings76 says, yes

 mrs_pare says, it is working

admiral_oam_counselor says, good.

apartment210 says, yes

carmanfan33 enters

apartment210 says, when in the end no

whispering_wings76 says, wb carman

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Just like people counterfeit money because it's valuable, so people counterfeit a relationship with God.....

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, wb Mary

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Let's look at 2 Timothy 4 to start out with.

apartment210 says, ok

admiral_oam_counselor says, wb Mary

Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Paul here was in prison and he was giving some words of advice to young Timothy.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, We find some very valuable truths in this passage.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, First of all, there are many false teachings out there.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, These false teachings become popular because they suit people's desires.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Which do you think would be more popular, a teaching that said you could only eat vegetables and anything else was forbidden.....

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, or one that said it doesn't matter what you eat?

whispering_wings76 says, does not matter

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, doesnt matter

 carmanfan33 says, it doesn't ,matter

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Which do you think would be more popular....a teaching that said you can have all the sex you want with anyone you want at any time....

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, or you should confine sex to your marriage partner?

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, 1

admiral_oam_counselor says, the first one

 carmanfan33 says, 1

whispering_wings76 says, 1 certainly

whispering_wings76 says, the first

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So, how can we know for sure what is the "right" one?

whispering_wings76 says, the bible?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, exactly, Bella

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, Holy Spirit

 carmanfan33 says, jesus

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Tonight we're going to talk about how to spot counterfeit teachings.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, If you look again at the passage in 2 Timothy 4, you see Paul gives us a very important clue here.

Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, He starts right out with it.....Preach the Word.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, In this world of philosophies of every kind, the only thing we are 100% certain of is the Bible.

apartment210 says, it is hard to temper reality with what is real out there in the world

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, We cannot guarantee that our perception is true, but we can guarantee that what God says in the Bible is true.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Sometimes what we think we perceive is not the true reality.

apartment210 says, how so?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, For instance, when I was typing in the invites to most of you....

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, I typed, but the words didn't come up on my screen.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, I was typing by faith that what I was typing was right.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, What I perceived as reality said that the words were not really going in.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, But what reality really was said that yes, they are because taaa daaa, it worked.

apartment210 says, ok

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Sometimes what we think we are perceiving is not necessarily the reality.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, THis happens a lot with God.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, People don't "feel" like God loves them.  Has this altered the reality that God is love and He has said that He loves them?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Not at all.

whispering_wings76 says, nope

 carmanfan33 says, no

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, nope

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, The reality is that God loves you....whether you feel like it or not.

apartment210 says, i like the things of the world choke out the word of God?

apartment210 says, i mean the verse that says that

apartment210 says, sorry go ahead

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, yes, they often do, Apartment.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Most of you know that I"m not a morning person at all.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, And since I've had this chronic fatigue, I'm even less of one.

admiral_oam_counselor says, I can relate to that

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So, when the alarm goes off in the morning.....

butterfly_h58 says, me too

apartment210 says, me too no motivation

 carmanfan33 says, i   am

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, well...frankly, I don't feel too much like God loves me.

liyla_k says, I am

apartment210 says, what?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, But the reality hasn't changed.

apartment210 says, ok

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, God loves me.  Period.  It doesn't matter what I feel like, He just loves me.

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, true

apartment210 says, while we were yet sinners

admiral_oam_counselor says, amen Chalk

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So as we learn to walk in our spiritual lives, we have to learn to walk by what we know is reality......even when it may not look like it.

liyla_k says,

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Sometimes pilots have trouble knowing what is up and what is down.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So do deep sea divers.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, That is why they have to rely on instruments to tell them up and down when they start to feel this way.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Our instrument to give us reality is the Bible.

liyla_k says, how do we know what reality is?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, By knowing what the Bible says. 

liyla_k says, other than Srciptures

liyla_k says, hehe

liyla_k says, ok

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, What God says Liyla, not by what we feel.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Has anyone heard of the word "Trinity"?

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, yes

admiral_oam_counselor says, yes

 carmanfan33 says, yes

apartment210 says, yes

liyla_k says, yes

 carmanfan33 says,  like trinty walmart

apartment210 says, lol

whispering_wings76 says, yeah..the three in 1 deal

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, The Trinity is the concept of one God who is eternally co-existent in 3 persons.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, This is a doctrine (teaching) that is all throughout the Bible.

liyla_k says, try explaining that to a muslim

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Or Jew

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, When we hear someone who says that God is not triune, is that person telling us the truth or not?

whispering_wings76 says, triune?

apartment210 says, triune?

whispering_wings76 says, three?

 carmanfan33 says, not telling the truth

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, triune means 3 in one.

butterfly_h58 says, no

whispering_wings76 says, ok

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, tri (as in 3) and une (as in 1) 

whispering_wings76 says, well when you break it that way

whispering_wings76 says, LOL

whispering_wings76 says, they are not telling the truth

apartment210 says, ok

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, The first mark of cults is that they change what God is like.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Some of them change the Trinity into three separate gods or they change it into only one God, one person.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Any time a group teaches a God who is different than the God in the Bible, that group is teaching a false doctrine.

whispering_wings76 says, do they always know that they teach a false doctorine?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Sometimes, in some instances, they add a fourth person to the "trinity"....and make it....uh...a quadrinity?

whispering_wings76 says, or is that what they really believe?

butterfly_h58 says, be back in about 10 min.  gotta make my final kid run for the day

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, No, usually they do not know it is a false teaching.....they are blind to it.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor hugs Butterfly.

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, ok Holly

whispering_wings76 says, ok

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Is what they believe wings, but that comes about through improper understanding of the scriptures

apartment210 says, so we need to be taught what is true because there is alot of it out there.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, ok Holly

whispering_wings76 says, so they do not wake up one morning and just say hey, I think I will create and doctorine today?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, For example, in the Roman Catholic beliefs, Mary has been exalted to co-redeemer with Jesus.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, No, Bella.

whispering_wings76 says, ok

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, In fact, I think what happens is that they are often led into it by little demons whispering in their ears.  Many false teachings are the same teachings over and over again, just with a slightly different twist.

whispering_wings76 says, ok..that makes sense

apartment210 says, but there can be different interpretations

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Satan really doesn't have much of a repertoire.

whispering_wings76 says, I imagine not!

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, He uses the same things over and over and has been for centuries.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, He just flips it over so we don't recognize it.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Yes Apartment, but there can not be two opposing interpretations and both me correct

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, me=be

apartment210 says, ok

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So, mark number 1.....they change something about God.

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, kk

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, A lot of times it is pulling Jesus down to make Him merely a man.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, And in the process, they often exalt men so we end up higher than Jesus does.

apartment210 says, good statement

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Which reduces the trinity.

liyla_k says, yep

whispering_wings76 leaves

apartment210 says, that was the frist thing that god an angel thrown out of heaven

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, I hope you're taking notes because we're going to do a field exercise in a few minutes. 

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, yes, it was, Apartment.

apartment210 says, oh

whispering_wings76 enters

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 2 is taking away the complete authority of the Bible.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, wb bella

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, wb bella

 carmanfan33 says, wb  bella

whispering_wings76 says, thanks

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, This can be done by adding other "holy" writings to it....

whispering_wings76 says, I will be right back agaion

whispering_wings76 leaves

whispering_wings76 enters

whispering_wings76 says, there sorry

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, wb bella

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, like for instance, Islam.  They say, sure, the Bible is a nice book, but the Qu'uran, well, now THAT'S really inspired.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, For the Mormons, they add the book of Mormon.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, For some newer false teachers, they say that their visions or dreams are more valid than the Bible.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, The Catholic Church adds that what it's writings say are just as important as what the Bible says.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, Example Jehovah Wittness's own translation of the bible

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, And some people say, well, you can only trust PARTS of the Bible.

carmanfan33 leaves

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So, Mark 2, questioning the authority of the Bible.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Can anyone tell me what Mark 1 was (without scrolling back up)?

apartment210 says, umm

butterfly_h58 says, back

whispering_wings76 says, making Jesus less...

whispering_wings76 says, taking away from him?

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Right....reducing God.

 ParepidemosOAMpastor says, wb Holly.

apartment210 says, ok

whispering_wings76 says, thats the word

admiral_oam_counselor says, wb holly

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 1.  Distortion of God.

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, wb holly

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says,

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 2.  Distortion of the Authority of Scripture.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 3.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Distortion of the gospel of grace.

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, Distortion of Jesus

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, This is where they turn it from a gospel of grace where Jesus paid for our sins....

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, into a gospel of works...where it's up to us to earn our way to heaven.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, For example...

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, A church says that in order to be a member with them, you have to speak in tongues.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, If you don't speak in tongues, you aren't saved.

apartment210 says, i heard this alot

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, If you don't wear the right clothes, you aren't saved.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, If you don't get baptized, you aren't saved.

apartment210 says, if you don't join the church you are a bad christian

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, if u dont tithe, you aren't saved

apartment210 says, passive sins of omissions

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, If you don't .........you've got it.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, lots of those kinds of "if you don't..."

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Those are all works-based salvation.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, But I have news for them...

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, The Bible teaches us that Jesus paid for ALL sins....and there is nothing we can ever do that will earn it.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, It is a gift, a free gift, no strings attached.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, If you do something to earn a gift, it is no longer a gift, but a wage.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, And the only wage we can ever earn is the wages of sin....which is death.

liyla_k says,

apartment210 says, agreed

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, So, whenever someone says that you have to do this or that or whatever, then they are turning grace into works and are heading right for the title of cultic teaching.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Let's review....

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 1?

whispering_wings76 says, reducing Jesus

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, (no fair scrolling)

liyla_k says,

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, Distortion of God

whispering_wings76 says, I did not

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Right...distortion of God in some way.

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, distortion of the Bible

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 2?

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, distortion of Grace

whispering_wings76 says, reducing the bible

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, lol, Donna's ahead of me.

 Chalkbrd_OAM_Counselor says, Mark 3?

whispering_wings76 says, reducing grace

 Wvstarwolf_OAM_Counselor says, sorry..needs to be