Let’s start by looking at the definition of a cult. According to the Free Merriam-Webster
Dictionary online, a cult is:
1.
a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted
religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous
2.
a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone
very much or too much
3.
a small group of very devoted supporters or fans
1. Yes, we are a part
of a small, but growing group that is not part of a larger and more accepted
religion or denomination that has beliefs regarded by many as extreme or
possibly dangerous (not dangerous to myself or other members but rather to the
status quo of accepted religious practice today). We are not bound by the traditional definition
of religion any more than Christ was bound by the Jewish religion. We
meet together in homes all across the DFW metroplex for a weekly meeting on
Sunday, much like a denominational church, with the exception we do not have a “pastor”
or any paid staff who impart their interpretation of God’s will of otherwise marching
orders to the masses. We believe that
each and every follower of Christ has a portion of Him that indwells them and
when we all come together, we each share that portion within us with those who
are sharing their portion likewise with us.
Is this practice ‘dangerous’? It
can be if there is one or more individuals who desire to promote their agenda
over that of Christ through the body.
Fortunately, we have had the benefit of an apostolic worker who came and
spent 6 months with us teaching us and
laying a proper foundation to ensure this does not happen.
When we come together
in this meeting, we sing, we share testimonies, poems, events in our lives
during the recent past where God has revealed Himself to us or spoken in some
way to guide us. We share scripture and
sometimes take off on a discussion where all are free to share how they see
Christ there. We also have assignments,
agreed upon in advance that encourage each of us to dig deeper, often with
other brothers and sisters during the week to see more and more of Christ in
the world around us and in each other.
We also eat, or as the word says, “break bread” together. Body life is shared across the table from one
another as we share our food with each other.
But there is more.
We also are striving to spend quality time with each other
outside of this Sunday meeting, during the week, We have bi-weekly Brother’s Meetings and
Sister’s Meetings during the week to get to know each other better and to seek
the Lord in the ongoing life of the body.
We have meals with other, we go to movies with each other, we go bowling
with each other and are constantly looking for new ways to experience the numerous
“one anothers” found in scripture. We
are becoming more and more like family as we spend more and more time with each
other. We know and understand that none
of us is perfect in this life and choose not to judge the heart and motives of
anothers actions. In all these things we
seek to lift up Him who has brought us together.
2. We have found ourselves
in a situation in which the people we have begun to share this community life
with admire and care about this Christ who is our ALL very much, but not as
much as what we will -which will never be too much. We all have questions – everyone in the world
does. We have come to understand that “Christ”
is the answer to each and every question.
“Why am I here?” Christ! To be part of His expression and to honor
Him.” “Why do bad things happen to good
people?” Christ! When a lost world excludes Christ and removes
Him from the daily equation, bad things will happen not just to us but to those
around us. Many times Christ merely
needs to point out, even to those that follow Him, that He is all we need and
then allows us to be brought to a place where He is all we have. Part of every equation is the answer. Christ is the answer - the only answer, so if we leave Him out all
we have are questions.
3. I don't think we
are a group of devoted supporters or fans of Christ. Football teams have devoted supporters and
fans. Athletes have devoted supporters
and fans. Movie stars have devoted
supporters and fans. A Bridegroom has a
bride and that is who the church is – who we are. We seek to know this one true love and
express our love back to Him. We seek to
die to self more and more so that His love might manifest itself through us to
those around us – both in our group and in the world around us. Knowing Who He is and who we are in Him is
foundational to our revelation of Christ in everyday life. While we are VERY devoted, we are His bride,
not mere fans.
So, by pure definition we are NOT involved in a cult. We are NOT a “religious” group. We do NOT “care about” Christ too much, on the
contrary – this side of eternity we will never be able to go overboard in demonstrating
our love for Him. We are NOT mere
supporters or fans of our Lord – we are His bride.
We are involved with a body of Christ-followers who wanted
more Christ than what modern religion or denomination could offer and boldly
stepped out of the religious box to find Him - and we have. We
have come a long way in our walk in the past three and a half years and we
still have a long way to go. But this “expression
of Christ” that we now pursue is ‘organic’ – a living, breathing, growing organism
that is full of life – His life. Church,
for us, is not a building, a place to go, a set of rules (“thou shalt” and “thou
shalt not’s”) to follow to achieve God’s favor.
When my daughter-in-law married my son, she automatically had my
favor. I love her as my own
daughter. When my son gains his inheritance
from me, she will share in that 100%.
When we become part of the church, His bride we automatically have the
Father’s favor and will share in the Son’s inheritance 100%. We will live with Him in eternity in His
Father’s house – OUR Father’s house, not some shack (in comparison) on a hillside.
For anyone wanting more information on what I am writing
about here, please feel free to contact me and I can recommend multiple
resources to help you find your way out of the box. I don’t want to mislead anyone, so I do offer
this disclaimer:
It is comfortable in the “box” of religion. You show up, put in your time, put some green
in the plate and then coast on to next week when you do the same. Community life with other followers of Christ
requires sacrificing self on a daily basis and can often be uncomfortable
because you are not used to sharing life with these casual acquaintances you
see in the pews once or twice a week. If you want more of Christ, then all the
sacrifice in the world seems like a bargain.
If you are just unhappy where you are and are looking for something new
or different, then this is probably not for you. For those of us that have tasted and seen
the pure worth of this pursuit, there is no other option, no plan B, nothing
else that will satisfy the hunger in our spirit. For us, this is it!
If you want more Christ, there is more to be had. But there is a cost. Yes, salvation is free. But in order to be filled with Christ one be emptied of self. The more full of self you are the less room there is for Christ in your life. The more self dies and withers away, the more room there is for Christ to come in and fill you.
