BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
News & Special Events E-mail Update
Monday, May 5, 2003
NEW THIS WEEK:
1. "How can I recognize a religious cult?" Read our answer below
2. Mission San Diego with Billy Graham this weekend, May 8-11
3. Read "The Influence of a Christian Mother" by Billy Graham in "Decision"
magazine online now
4. "If we would just accept each other, wouldn't all these conflicts go away?"
Read Billy Graham's answer online
5. Order "Thorn in My Heart" by Liz Curtis Higgs from Grason online now!
6. Mission San Diego preview -- and much more -- this week on "Decision Today"
radio
7. Free This Month: "A Savior Worth Having" by E.V. Hill
This e-mail update is published weekly by the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association (http://www.billygraham.org/). You'll find subscription information
at the bottom.
__________________________________________________________________________
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" --Jeremiah 29:11
(NIV)
1. "How can I recognize a religious cult?" Read our answer below
Concerning cults, Mr. Graham has said: "Cults can take many forms. Some cults
are openly and clearly influenced by non-Christian religions (such as some that
originate in the Far East). Others, however, claim to be Christian and may
actually incorporate some of the teachings of Christianity, while they deny
certain truths in the Bible. Cults substitute their own ideas for the truth
which God has given us.
"Although cults differ, they share several characteristics. For example, cults
often do not accept the Bible alone as God's Word, and may even say that other
books (usually written by the group's founder) are also God's Word and of more
value. Cults also commonly claim that they alone correctly interpret the truth
and that Christian denominations and churches are wrong in their teaching. Some
cults have a strong leader and demand that members give their allegiance to him
(even to the point of rejecting family members). If you have doubts about a
group, ask several clergymen about it, or see if your local Christian bookstore
has a volume that describes cults.
"Cults deny what the Bible says about Jesus: He was fully God as well as man,
and He died on the cross so we could be saved from our sins by faith. Invite
Jesus Christ to come into your heart by faith, then get involved with a church
where Christ is preached so you can grow spiritually."
For more questions and answers, visit
http://www.billygraham.org/qna/qna.asp?i=580&s=129