Trapped In A Cult!

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

-- Matthew 7:15 --

The following was authored by my dear friend and sister in Christ, Agusta Harting. She and her late husband Dan came out of Mormonism and once led a ministry called "Families Against Cults." Agusta still finds the time to minister to those who have been or are still trapped in cults.

I continue to get pleas for help from people who have been lured into, and injured spiritually, by various cults. The damage is often tragic. Many people are seduced into aberrant groups by certain tactics that are used in order to recruit them. We often say: “It is a lot easier to join a cult than it is to leave a cult.”

Following are a few tactics that cults employ to catch members. This is by no means a complete list, but it may be helpful in alerting people of spiritual abusers. Jesus warned that they would look like Christians, “but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). There are thousands of cults in this country alone. All items on this list aren’t necessarily unique to cults, but remember that they are clever counterfeiters wo will stop at nothing in order to trap you. Consider this:

• They show intense, relentless interest in the potential victim, constantly offering invitations to the group.

• They create a feeling of inclusion and intimacy, making the person feel extremely important.

• They quickly encourage the person to “take the step” like confessing personal sins, or getting baptized, etc.

• Confessions are sometimes recorded.

• The new member is quickly given a special assignment; he is made to feel useful; to feel that serving the group is tantamount to serving God. 

• The new recruit is soon made to feel separate from family and former friends. It becomes an attitude of “Us versus Them” and gradual visits and contacts with former friends and relatives are discouraged.

• The new member now has a new “family,” and his loyalty must primarily be towards them. Even contact with parents is curtailed, or stopped altogether.

• Former church affiliation is strongly discouraged; they can be described as “sort of Christians,” but not as TRUE as members of the group by any means. 

• Real, rigid control by the LEADER, or the closest to him/her, soon begins to manifest. Everything that the new member does, his time spent, his pastime and life in general, is scrutinized by the “overseeing few,” and soon his whole life must basically be owned by the group. The person is not really aware of this, because he is cleverly made to think that working for the organization is his free choice. 

• Rewards are sometimes given, like new titles, or positions of more authority. Conversely, mistakes must be punished, sometimes severely. Even the children of the members can be targeted. There is no limit to the punishment cooked up by the group leaders.

• Eventually, shame, pride and fear are alternately used as weapons in enforcing obedience. Written reports or records of “worthiness” are carefully kept. Keeping them positive becomes the frantic goal of the loyal member.

• As soon as they are able, the new members are sent off to recruit other people. They use exactly the same tactics and methods that were used on them. They must carefully report any progress to the group leaders. This is often recorded and filed.

• The member begins to keep rules and regulations that are dubbed: “Commandments of God.”  Tithing (plus) is required; wearing certain types of clothing; eating or abstinence from certain foods may be required, and any disobedience of these statutes may be reported to the “authorities” of the group.

• Fear of shunning becomes the main motivation for tolerating the behavior of the leaders. Often gross and immoral conduct is overlooked, because “the man of God” has special privileges that cannot be had by ordinary members.

• If the person finally decides to break free, he is fanatically pursued by designated members. Every stratagem is used to bring him back, including pleas, threats of exposure of confessed sins, as the stigma of excommunication. Shunning almost always follows. False rumors are spread by the group when they realize the victim has permanently escaped.

Dear friends, please remember to “walk in the light as He is in the light!” God saved us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. There is no salvation in a certain organization or group! The free gift of God is eternal life; it cannot be earned. No organization on earth can improve on that. We are secure in Jesus Christ who said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” and “everyone who comes unto me, I will never cast him out.” This will never change. Only our wonderful God and Savior is worthy of following. No cult leader ever chose to willingly die for you! If he/she got killed, it was not in order to pay for your sins, but Jesus willingly did this for you! 

May God bless you and keep you safe from the wolves (Acts 20:29-30).

Agusta 

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

-- Acts 20:28 --