Is the NYC Church of Christ a cult? (churches, zealous, Messiah)
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The church of Christ that is around the southeastern US, is definitely a cult.
They believe they are the only ones who are saved. Part of the process is being baptized THERE, in a church of Christ building, and having your name on their membership role.
If this is not done, they say you are not saved.
They teach that they are THE ONLY ONES going to heaven. They claim they "aren't a denomination," but that is exactly what they are; they are not only a denomination, they are a cult. If you belong there, you are forbidden from even visiting another church, say, a Baptist church....they claim you will lose your "salvation."
Back in the 1990s their members used to roam the city inviting people to attend their services. At the time, I had heard that they were a cult.
Does anyone know about them & their beliefs?
Study what they teach and then answer thses questions:
1. Do they teach something which will keep people unsaved?
2. Do they deny any fundamentals of what the Bible teaches?
For exmple, if they pretend to be Christians, yet teach that Jesus is not God, or that there are other ways to be saved than by faith in Christ, or that you can be saved by your works, then they are cults. Moderator cut: deleted: denominational insenstive to other members
They teach that they are THE ONLY ONES going to heaven.
As do many, many churches whether or not they consider themselves denominations. It is human nature to despise others and love yourself.
And very "not-like-Christ", I might add.
Back in the 1990s their members used to roam the city inviting people to attend their services. At the time, I had heard that they were a cult.
Does anyone know about them & their beliefs?
Any church you choose to call a cult is a cult to you. Basically, a cult is the church down the street from yours that you don't like. It's generally a newer, smaller church than yours. It's definitely a cult if it arouses fear in you.
The church of Christ that is around the southeastern US, is definitely a cult.
They believe they are the only ones who are saved. Part of the process is being baptized THERE, in a church of Christ building, and having your name on their membership role.
If this is not done, they say you are not saved.
They teach that they are THE ONLY ONES going to heaven. They claim they "aren't a denomination," but that is exactly what they are; they are not only a denomination, they are a cult. If you belong there, you are forbidden from even visiting another church, say, a Baptist church....they claim you will lose your "salvation."
And how, specifically, does that qualify them as a cult? Are you saying that any church that forbids you from visiting another church is a cult? Or is it that they believe they are the only ones going to heaven? I'm just curious, because I've been trying to figure out what makes a church a cult, and no two people seem to give me the same criteria.
the definition of cult is followers of a exculsive system of belief and practices....... the tirm exculsive will reject NYC church of Christ because they were out trying to get people to go to their church, where a exclusive followers would not do that for they are isolated...... looking up in the web for NYC Church of Christ there are about a hand full and all look like they know Jesus and are born again believers who pray and love the Lord Jesus...... So the people who called them a cult back in the 1990s were just cursing them and Jesus through discrimination.......
And how, specifically, does that qualify them as a cult? Are you saying that any church that forbids you from visiting another church is a cult? Or is it that they believe they are the only ones going to heaven? I'm just curious, because I've been trying to figure out what makes a church a cult, and no two people seem to give me the same criteria.
You don't know what makes a church, a cult?
Of course no two people will give you the same answer - but why are you going around asking people?
The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
The group is preoccupied with making money.
Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.
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