FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
"If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
(Colossians 3:1)

In this section you will find the most common questions we receive
from your e-mails and letters. Just click on the topics below
for an instant hyperlink to the answer.

What does the word “Apologetics” mean?
What is doctrine and why is it important?
What does the word "heresy" mean?
What gives you the right to judge?
Why don't you just keep your mouth shut and let God sort it out?
Is it wrong to mention people by name?
If Lucifer is the devil, why do you use his name in your address?
Why do the Mormon missionaries keep beating on my door?
Why do cultic missionaries always come to my home in pairs?
Isn’t the Book of Mormon just another gospel of Jesus Christ?
Should I let the missionaries inside my home?
What is the best way to witness to the cultist?
Why do the cults often use Christian phrases and words?

What does the word “Apologetics” mean?

The word “apologetics” is derived from the Greek word “apología” which means to plea; to answer; or to utter a defense for the purpose of clearing oneself. Apologetics is clearly sanctioned in Scripture. The Apostle Paul commended the saints at Philippi with the words, “...in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” (Philippians 1:7)

Peter instructs the church to, “...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

What is doctrine and why is it important?

The word “doctrine” comes from the Greek word “Didache” which means “instruction (the act or the manner).” Doctrine is any body of beliefs concerning God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit, the church, and all other related concepts that are considered to be authoritative and worthy of acceptance by all members of the faith. The three earliest doctrines declared by the Christian Church stated that [1] Jesus was the Messiah or Christ (Acts 3:18), [2] that God had raised Him from the dead (Acts 1:22; 2:24,32), and [3] that salvation is obtained by faith in Christ alone (Acts 2:38; 2:16).

Doctrine has always been of paramount importance to the true Christian! It is a tragedy that it is overlooked or regarded as "legalism" by so many modern-day false teachers (especially those in the Word of Faith/Positive Confession camp). Sound doctrine does not rely on personal feelings, the condition of the heart (which is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” according to Jeremiah 17:9), or some experience, manifestation, or some other counterfeit and extrabiblical “sign or wonder.” Doctrine does not bend the rules and cease to be truth just because of a charlatan who claims that he has just been given so-called "revelation knowledge."

The Apostle Paul taught the doctrine is essential to Christian growth. “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” (1 Timothy 4:6) He also taught that false doctrine would destroy it! “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

What does the word "heresy" mean?

The word "heresy" is not found in the Bible, but is a word used to describe the false doctrines and teachings that deny the foundational principles of Holy Scripture (such as the Lordship or deity of Jesus). Heresy was a problem that the Apostle Paul and other church leaders fought in the early New Testament church. Paul calls them, "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:13).

Jude, the brother of James described the heretics as, "...certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:4).

As Christians, we are commanded to treat heretical teachings as a plague. Read the warnings on the main page of this website.

What gives you the right to judge?

This is probably the most common statement made by cultists who are challenged on their doctrines. It is usually directed to those discernment ministries that are faithful in exposing error according to the Bible in an attempt to make godly men and women appear to be unfair, unkind, and unloving.
The cults always have been good at twisting scripture to support their ungodly doctrines. In times past, alert Bible-reading Christians were able to spot this cultic tactic and answer it effectively. How times have changed!

In recent years, the statement “judge not…” has been adopted by not only the liberal Christians, but also Bible-believing fundamentalists who are unfamiliar with proper Biblical exegesis. Many people now believe that it is wrong to expose error within the body of Christ. It is an attitude that is widely espoused by charismatics and evangelicals.

So the question we have before us is whether or not it is proper to practice Biblical judgment. Matthew 7:1 is perhaps one of the most misused verses in Scripture to support the belief that it is wrong. However, when Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” he was speaking in context! If we are to properly understand His true meaning, we must read the entire chapter in context. By doing that, we find that verses 2-5 show beyond a doubt that verse 1 is referring to hypocritical judgment.

Jesus was telling us that a brother who has a beam in his own eye should not be judging the brother who may have a mote in his eye. The lesson is plain and simple. You are not to judge another for his sin if you are guilty of the same sin! We must not judge uncharitably, unmercifully, with a spirit of revenge, or a desire to do mischief.

However, in verse 15, Jesus warns us to, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing….” How can we know false prophets unless we judge them by the Word of God? And once they are known by us, how can we fail to warn others within the body of Christ? The Bible emphatically declares that we are to identify and expose them!

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit?” (verses 16-17). The Lord tells us that we will know the false prophet by the fruits of his life and doctrine, and we cannot know without judging!

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24). Righteous judgment is judgment based on the Word of God. Christ tells us that if judgment is made with partiality and prejudice, with respect to outward appearance, or with bias based on our own personal opinions, it is wrong. The faithful Christian must discern or judge only on the basis of God’s inspired law, the Bible.

There is ample biblical evidence to support the practice of biblical judgment. I will give you just two brief examples. One example was Jesus Himself, and the other was the Apostle Paul. When Christ spoke to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 7:5, he began with, “Thou hypocrites,…” He was making a judgment based on their fruits!

A fornicator is described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. In verse 3 he tells us, “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.” Paul “judged” the man even though he was absent, and he told the church at Corinth that they were to “judge” (verse 12) those that were within. The Greek word for “judge” (krino) is the same here as in Matthew 7:1. It means “to determine or pronounce judgment.” Paul did not violate “judge not, that ye be not judged” in judging the man, nor in his command for the church to judge. All of this judgment was according to the Word of God!

And finally, judging between good and evil is the mark of a mature Christian man or woman. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)

The Greek word for discern (diakrisin) means “judicial (judgmental) estimation.” The word is translated “discerning” in 1 Corinthians 12:10 where discerning the spirits is mentioned and is given this meaning by Nelson’s Bible Dictionary: “A gift of the Holy Spirit which enables a person to judge whether one who speaks in tongues or performs miracles does so by the power of the Holy Spirit or by a false spirit.” W. E. Vine and Strong both agree that the word “discern” means “to judge.”

Biblically speaking then, those who are unwilling to discern or judge between good and evil are either disobedient to the Word of God or are spiritually immature. The pious harangue “Judge not, that ye be not judged” made by those who do not wish to have their ungodly doctrines tested by Scripture simply will not work against a man of God!

Why don't you just keep your mouth shut and let God sort it out?

This statement is made frequently by those who think it is improper and unloving to expose false teachers. The fact is that this “conspiracy of silence” among Bible believers is precisely the reason why wolves in sheep’s clothing have been able to ravage the flock of Christ, destroying many! It is with much sorrow that I reflect on the compromise of the many Christian hireling pastors and ministers who have fallen into this trap!

I expect that these same people would call John the Baptist unloving, unkind, and unforgiving. You remember John--the man spoken of by Jesus with the words, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:..” (Matthew 11:11).

It was John who approached the Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious leaders of his day) and said, “...O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7) It was John who was beheaded after reproving Herod for taking Herodias (the wife of his brother Philip) as his own.

But if John the Baptist was alive today, he would be accused of being unloving and unchristian by a frightening number of people, including many church pastors! After all, what right did John have to talk to religious folks and royalty in that way? Why could not John just accept the ungodly Pharisees and Sadducees as his “brothers in the Lord”? Why was the Baptist trying to create division within the body by calling them snakes?

And what about Jesus Himself? He was pure incarnate love--the epitome of love in human flesh. Right? Yet, speaking to the same group of false teachers, Jesus said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27) “...Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23) “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33) “Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.” (John 7:34) “Woe unto you, ye blind guides,...Ye fools and blind:...Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel…ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:16,17,24,28).

In the minds of many evangelicals and some fundamentalists, this would be unacceptable language today. I know of several clergy who would probably call His words mean-spirited, unloving, or divisive. However, it is biblical language, and it came from the mouth of the Son of God.

When dealing with false prophets, Christ’s words were sharp and His actions were plain. He did not hesitate to confront the Pharisees and false teachers of His day. Near the beginning of His ministry, “...Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:13-16).

Near the end of His public ministry, Christ found it necessary to cleanse the temple once again (the exposure of false doctrines and practices is a never-ending job). At that time, He said, “...Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:17).

Is it any different today? I think not. Thieves are still coming into the house of God and robbing God’s people of sound doctrine. Biblical truths are being sacrificed for the sake of large congregations, personal wealth, and self-esteem. And the inspired Word of God is being shelved in favor of the cultic concept of “new and higher truth” (known by the charismatics as “revelation knowledge”).

These false teachers have come into the Christian churches with their books, literature, movies, tapes, psychology, seminars, and Miracle Crusades. They have gradually (but very effectively) turned the Father’s house into a den of thieves! It has been said that “in an atmosphere where anything goes--anything will go!” And when that happens, you can hardly tell God’s people from the people of the world.

Yet we are now told from many pulpits that we should fellowship and support these false teachers whose doctrines are every bit as ungodly as those of the Pharisees. According to many church leaders, we are not supposed to rebuke them in any way. They view Christ as one who was meek, lowly, kind, and loving – even to the heretics. I can only think of the tears of grief that must be welling up in the eyes of Him who spoke so boldly against the powers of darkness and commanded each of us--including ministers--to follow His example!

In spite of the advice given to the church by many modern pastors, Christians should never keep their mouths shut when false doctrines are introduced! Every teaching must be tested and judged according to the Word of God. It is the only way to ensure the purity and integrity of our faith. The church at Ephesus was commended for their diligence in doing that very thing. “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:…” (Revelation 2:2).

In stark contrast to the church at Ephesus is the church at Pergamos. In Revelation 2:14-16, Pergamos is severely rebuked for allowing the false doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans to exist within the church.

I believe the following warning by the Lord to the church at Pergamos could be echoed in many modern Christian churches today. This rebuke should strike a chord of fear in the heart of every minister who has allowed the blasphemous Word of Faith teachers into their midst. “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Revelation 2:16).

Is it wrong to mention people by name?

Many people mistakenly believe that it is wrong to expose error and to identify the guilty teachers by name. I might add that it is often very uncomfortable for me to do so. But the Lord has demonstrated to me time and time again that He is not nearly as concerned with my personal comfort as He is with my obedience to His Word!

What exactly does God have to tell us about naming names in our fight against heresy? What examples can we find in Scripture for being name-specific? I think the answers to these questions will prove beyond any doubt that the practice adopted by discernment ministries of identifying false teachers by name is not only biblically sound, but absolutely necessary.

PAUL NAMED PETER PUBLICLY. Scripture tells us that as the Apostle Paul was speaking to the church at Galatia, he felt it necessary to tell them of his public rebuke of the Apostle Peter. The whole issue revolved around Peter’s hypocritical actions toward the church at Antioch, which was a major church of Gentile Christians. Peter showed by his actions that he agreed with salvation by grace, but in his treatment of the Gentile Christians he began to pull away and favor the old ceremonial law.

Peter was guilty of unscriptural practice, a problem so serious that it required the public rebuke by Paul: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed...But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14). When the integrity and purity of the gospel is at stake, then we have no choice when it comes to the matter of exposing error and naming names.

PAUL NAMED DEMAS. Paul (while in prison) writes to evangelist Timothy and asks him to come quickly to Rome and give him help and company. In his letter, Paul instructs Timothy of the necessity to “...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Paul then names Demas as one who had left him for the comforts of the world. Love of this present world is often the cause of apostasy from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...” (2 Timothy 4:10). Those who forsake the cause of Christ for worldly living and pleasures should be named and exposed.

PAUL NAMED ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH. After Paul names Demas as a deserter from the faith, he names Alexander as a man who had done him great evil. “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.” (2 Timothy 4:14-15).

Evidence suggests that Alexander (Acts 19:33) may have been a Christian who had apostatized to Judaism. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:26 that he was in as much danger from false brethren as from his open enemies. In any event, it is clear that this is not a personality problem, but a doctrinal problem. Alexander had withstood the words and doctrine of Paul and was an enemy to the truth.

Godly pastors face the same problem today. No sooner do they stand for and proclaim the truth than their members go home and hear the words of the Lord disputed by radio and TV evangelists and preachers. There are many “Alexanders” in the Christian church today who should be named and exposed.

PAUL NAMED HYMENAEUS AND ALEXANDER. Paul advises Timothy to “...war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:18-20). Here Paul names Hymenaeus as well as Alexander as two who had abandoned the Christian faith.

Paul had a strong conviction about consistent spiritual warfare, even in times of opposition and discouragement. Because these two men had left the faith, they had made shipwreck of it, and Paul exposed them and called their names. It is worth noting in this passage that Paul is not talking about the faith of salvation but faith as a system of doctrine.

PAUL NAMED HYMENAEUS AND PHILETUS. After telling Timothy to “study” that he might be able to rightly divide the word of truth, Paul names Hymenaeus and Philetus as two men who had introduced false doctrines and heresy into the church. “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:16-18).

Paul explains that erroneous teachings, when left unchallenged, spread like gangrene. If they are not dealt with and exposed, they infect the faith of many. In this passage, Paul is talking about the resurrection of the dead which is a cardinal doctrine of Christianity. He names these corrupt teachers and sets a brand upon them to warn all people against harkening to their words.

JOHN NAMED DIOTREPHES. “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” (3 John 1:9). John calls Diotrephes by name as a minister who was filled with pride and an unchristian spirit. He then relates how this man had prated against him “with malicious words” (verse 10). He further said, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” (verse 11). According to John, it is not wrong to name those whose characters and practices are contrary to the Word of God.

MOSES NAMED BALAAM. “And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.” (Numbers 22:25). Balaam, son of Beor the soothsayer, lived at Pethor on the bank of the Euphrates River. His teachings were an abomination unto God, and Numbers 22:32 records that the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “...thy way is perverse before Me.” Balaam was summoned by Moabite king Balak to curse the Israelites before they entered Canaan.

When speaking about backsliders, Balaam is also named by Jude. “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” (Jude 1:11). Balaam’s sin was one of greed or covetousness, as he was paid well by Balak. He was a prophet who was in the work for money, just like some of the TV false prophets today who beg for money from the masses and live like kings!

Peter names Balaam when he speaks of false teachers who “...have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam….” (2 Peter 2:15). In naming Balaam, the Bible condemns the greed of all who are well paid to tempt God's people into compromise.

NATHAN IDENTIFIED KING DAVID. It is a popular opinion today that some people are in such elevated positions of power or authority that they should not be named or exposed. Men in high places, pastors of large churches, and those with great radio or TV audiences are supposedly above criticism. But Scripture indicates otherwise.

David was just such a man in a very high place. Because of his position as king, I am sure David felt that he could not be rebuked by a lowly prophet. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened when he was confronted by Nathan! Using the parable of the “one little ewe lamb,” Nathan confronted David with his double sin, the murder of Uriah the Hittite and his adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife: “...Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.” (2 Samuel 12:7).

JEHU NAMED KING JEHOSHAPHAT. In many ways Jehoshaphat was a good king, but he was not above reproach. He caused his son to marry wicked King Ahab’s daughter. (2 Chronicles 18:1 and 21:1-6) He also made an alliance with Ahab and went to the battle of Ramoth-gilead with him (2 Chronicles 18). When Jehoshaphat returned safely home to Jerusalem, he was confronted by Jehu, the son of Hanani the Prophet, who “...said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 19:1-2).

Jehu had no fear of naming and reproving another king. He understood it as a great mercy for the king to be made aware of his faults in a timely fashion, that he might repent before it was too late. The very same question asked by Jehu could be asked of those today who insist on giving allegiance and support to the ungodly doctrines of the Word of Faith Movement: “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD?”

Yes, it is right to expose error and to name those “...who privily shall bring in damnable heresies...” (2 Peter 2:1). The whole Bible abounds in examples. It is right to “...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). It was once delivered, and it has never been rescinded, repealed, or deleted! Ministers of the Gospel have been charged with a sacred trust to present the Word of God with courage, honesty, and a good conscience. Faithful messengers will warn the sheep of these heretics and identify them by name. It is not enough to broadly hint of their identity, for the young lambs will not understand and will be destroyed by the wolves!

If Lucifer is the devil, why do you use his name in your address?

See “Why the Name.”

Why do the Mormon missionaries keep beating on my door?

They certainly are persistent. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has consistently taught that they have exclusive access to theological truth. They warn potential converts that all other churches are in a state of apostasy. This idea originated in the year 1820 when Joseph Smith claimed to be visited by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In his "first vision" account, Joseph Smith asked the Father which church he should join. In his own words, Joseph claimed, "I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt;..."

From these disparaging remarks and the arraignment of all Christianity, the Mormon church has always been under the impression that people will only be saved through them. Elder John Taylor, who became the third Mormon President, gave his opinion: "...we are the only people that do really 'acknowledge' the hand of God in all things; ...the only people that God has chosen and selected to place his name among; ...the only people that entertain correct ideas pertaining to our present position and our future destiny; ...the only people under the heavens that have a legitimate right to the promises and blessings of God; ...the only people that understand anything about the present position or the cause of the organization of the world and of man, ...the only people that know how to save our progenitors, how to save ourselves, and how to save our posterity in the celestial kingdom of God;...we in fact are the saviours of the world, if they ever are saved;"

Tenth Mormon President Joseph Fielding Smith claimed: "We are, notwithstanding our weaknesses, the best people in the world. We are morally clean, in every way equal, and in many ways superior to any other people."

With all their perfection and wisdom, I wonder what part of "PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MY HOUSE" they don't seem to understand!

Why do cultic missionaries always come to my home in pairs?

For three primary reasons: First, it is done for personal safety and accountability, Second, there is strength in numbers, and they find it beneficial to draw on each other's strong points during a conversation. It also allows for the weaker or more inexperienced member to learn the finer points of proselytizing from the senior member. And third, they consider it to be a commandment of Christ, “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;” (Mark 6:7)

Isn’t the Book of Mormon just another gospel of Christ?

The Book of Mormon is a work of fiction stemming from the vivid imagination of a young, power-hungry, occultic magician by the name of Joseph Smith, Jr. The book depicts the lives and times of three separate groups of middle east immigrants who supposedly migrated to America between the time of the tower of Babel and 586 BC. It claims to show that the American Indians are of Jewish descent. The book, claimed by the Mormons to be inspired, has undergone nearly 4,000 changes since the original version was printed in 1830. The Book of Mormon is actually one of the many false gospels mentioned by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:6-8, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Should I let the missionaries inside my home?

The answer to that question depends on your ability to discern fiction, your knowledge of the holy Bible, and your conviction to witness. Generally, I believe that inviting a cultist inside your home is not a good idea. The normal Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness, having the daily experience of answering questions according to strict cultic guidelines, and being well versed in twisting Scripture to build their theologies, can usually make mince-meat of the unprepared Christian in just a few minutes. The apostle John addressed this same problem with the “elect lady” and her children in the book of 2 John. While he does not write his letter in the form of a command, he does recognize that a great danger awaits the lady in the form of deception and spiritual seduction. “ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (v. 7).

John’s main purpose in his letter was not only to warn her of the seductive nature of those who would bring the false gospel, but to instruct her on how to handle these visits. He warns her that, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (v. 10-11).

What is the best way to witness to the cultist?

Just remember that many cultic members do not understand the true gospel of Christ. Your presentation of the gospel should be a simple “Romans Road” approach with suitable Scriptures to make it clear. Remember also that they worship another God and a different Christ. Therefore, it is important that you open the discussion with prayer that you personally conduct. Don't allow them to conduct their own prayer in your behalf.

Take control of the conversation and do not allow the person to change the subject of discussion. A popular cultic response to the truth has always been to either avoid the problem or turn the conversation into a theological merry-go-round. Make your ground rules clear from the beginning, or you will be wasting your time as well as theirs.

I would suggest that you follow these three simple rules: First, ISOLATE the topic under discussion. If you are discussing the subject of the Trinity, don’t allow him/her to change it to any other topic until you have both come to a conclusion in the matter. Second, QUALIFY. Ask the person if he is willing to qualify or change his position if shown to be wrong on the issue. If he fails to make this pledge, you may be wasting your time. Third, VERIFY. Be prepared to prove your point and document carefully.

Why do the cultists often use Christian phrases and words?

Although many cults use such Christian terms as “salvation,” “born-again,” “resurrection,” “Trinity,” etc., they are playing a carefully designed semantic word game with you, and the terms have an entirely different meaning to them than to the Christian who has studied the Word of God. By doing so, they give the appearance to the unwary that they are just another group of “Christians” and find it easier to gain converts.

[Copyright 2001 by Sword of the Spirit Apologetics. This data file is the sole property of Sword of the Spirit Apologetics and may not be altered, edited, or changed in any way. It may not be used without permission of Sword of the Spirit Apologetics for any purpose of resale, with the exception of a few brief quotations not to exceed more than 300 words. Reproduction of this file as “freeware” circulation in its entirety must contain this copyright notice. Brief quotations for reviews or scholarly works should include source credit: Sword of the Spirit Apologetics, P. O. Box 40452, Grand Junction, CO 81504]