It is my opinion that people are entitled to their own belief, but as Selwyn Stevens in his book - "Fatal Faith" states on page 5:

"If any belief DOES NOT line up with the Bible, then please DO NOT call it Christian, for it is NOT. Sincerity is notthe same as  TRUTH, for it is possible to be sincerely wrong. Truth can always stand being questioned; anything Not True needs to be questioned!"

Reason for this is this: Most Dangerous lie is the one that most closely resembles the Truth!!

I agree with him!! God tells us in "Test everything. Hold on to the good" in 1 Thes. 5: 21

We read im 1 John 4: 1 -3

"Dear Friends, do not believe every spirit, but TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false Prophets have gone out in to the world. This is how  you can recognize the Spirit of God: "Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."

It is important to question everything - God gave us brains to think for ourselves & not to allow ourselves to be led astray by meaningless talk of those who deny Jesus His dues. 2 Timothy 3: 16 tells us that "ALL SCRIPTURE is God Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Note that it says that ALL SCRIPTURE is good for teaching & rebuking & Not OTHER LITERATURE!!

Just saying that you are Christian isn't sufficient: it is God's Word which Judges error & not mine nor any other man's rules & regulations. For Me -  the Bible - is my yard stick & I am accountable to God only & not any man as He is my Judge.  John 5: 22 -23 7 12: 26

The sad part about many religious organizations is that they lead to the destruction of life in more ways than one. One example is this: People who go in search of God & end up in cults,  end up hating that which they started to seek in the first place - Which is God Himself!!

True leadership WILL ALWAYS look to  Jesus Christ and Bible & then they will encourage their members to do the same; False leadership on the other hand will encourage their followers to follow their own interpretations of the Bible & if this isn't adhered to then they will be DISFELLOWSHIPPED form the Organization & Ultimately God!

Yet Jesus tells us this: "I am the Way, and the Truth and Life. The only way to the Father is through me" John 14: 6.

No one else can give eternal life.

God wants all people to be saved.  He wants everyone to know the truth. There is only one God. There is only one way that people can reach Him & that is through Jesus. 1 Tim. 2: 4-5

We have been saved by Grace because we believe. We can not do it our selves. It is gift from God & we can not brag about it & say that I SAVED my self by doing this or that. It is a gift & a gift can not be earnt. Ephesians 2: 8-9.

If you belong to a religious group that will not reveal all it's doctrines on request - something fishy is going on behind the scenes.

Is it CLOSED to outside criticism - yet they Criticize every one else?

Is it the ONLY WAY to be saved?

Have their doctrines changed over the last few decades & they blame their members for misunderstanding the original instructions?

Has it been called a Cult - if so Why?

Do leaders live a different life to what members are expected to follow?

Are you allowed to read OTHER Religious books apart from the organization's material?

Are you allowed to question the Bible teachings if not why not?

Has the LEADERSHIP CLAIMED  special revelation from God & this revelation didn't come True?

Can the Bible be interpreted by anyone else apart from the Leaders if not why not?

Do you have to SEVER ALL ties with your past beliefs once you join this group? If so Why?

Do you have to ACCEPT everything that leaders say?

Does it deny the nature of Christ as fully Almighty God who created everything in Heaven & Earth?

Does it deny Salvation by personal relationship with Christ? etc etc etc

Does any of the above remind you of your own experience?? If so - then it is the time to ask God to help you see the truth.

Take time to think for yourself & read the Bible WITHOUT  any other publications.

Remember that YOU are only human & when we are at our weakest point in life - there is that KNOCK at the door or a meeting in  College campus, street corner etc. & we fall for what seems to be genuine Love at the time & before we realize it - this genuine Love has turned in to rules & regulations - Do this or else you are doomed & there is no salvation unless you do as you are told.

We have been given the Freedom in Christ & we should take God up on His free gift Ephesians 2: 8-9.

We are created in the Image of God & it is up to us to use that Strength of our being to defeat the devil. God has given us many Spiritual Gifts that HAVE defeated devil already - but it is up to the individual person to put them on & use them against the evil one.

In Ephesians 6: 10 18 we read: 10"Finally, be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. 11 Put on the FULL Armour of God so that you can take YOUR stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For  our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the Full Armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of Truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of Righteousness in place, 15  and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. 16 In addition to all this, Take Up the Shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Reason for this is found in Hebrews  4: 12 "For the Word of God is Living and active. SHARPER then any Double Edged Sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; IT JUDGES the thoughts and attitudes of the HEART. Nothing in ALL Creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we MUST Give Account." {emphasis mine & it is taken from NIV.}

We have a priest who has been tempted just like you & me - He has passed all temptation & IS WITHOUT SIN. Let us then approach the throne of Grace with CONFIDENCE, so that we may receive mercy and find Grace to Help us in our time of need. Heb. 4: 15 - 16 paraphrased.

 There is only ONE Mediator between God & man & His name is Jesus Christ, according to His Word  1 Timothy  2: 5 & Heb. 8: 6; 9: 15 & 12: 24.

WE CAN NOT allow the Truth to be mixed with ERROR & then make it mean something else. New definitions of Bible words & such MUST be looked at very carefully before we decide to accept it as God's Truth. If it is a different Doctrine to what the disciples taught then it is NOT of God - but man made.

Remember that Bible is 100% Word of God - Word of God is the FINAL Authority  for doctrine & Truth 2 Tim 3: 16, 2 Peter 1: 20 -21, Prov. 30: 5, Romans 16: 25: 26.

There are 3 Persons within one Godhead (1) Father (2) Son & (3) Holy Spirit. Gen. 1: 26; Matthew 28: 19; Matt 3: 16 -17: Luke 1: 35 & Acts 5: 3-4.

Jesus was 100% man & 100% God - He was the ONLY Sinless man John 1: 1 & 14; 1 Timothy 3: 16 & Heb 4: 15-16.

Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Godhead.  Acts 5: 3-4 & Hebrews 3: 7-11.

Jesus being SINLESS is 100% sufficient  to forgive men ALL  his sins 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; Romans 3: 23 & 5:9.

WE are saved by Grace, through FAITH in Christ's death, burial & resurrection.  Eph. 2: 8-9; Gal 2:16 &
Titus 3: 5.

Jesus was Physically Resurrected & Glorified in Flesh & He will come in the same way Acts 1: 9 - 11 Luke 24: 34, 36 - 39; John 2: 19 & 21; 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8, 42 & 44.

As mentioned above He will return in Physical form ,Acts 1: 9 - 11 - see also Rev. 1: 7; Matthew 24: 30; 1 Thessalonians 4: 15 - 17.

Jesus was Conceived by Holy Spirit & He was Born of a virgin birth. Isaiah 7: 14, 9: 6;  Matthew 1: 18-20,
Luke 1: 35.

There are ONLY TWO DESTINATIONS for man kind; (1) Eternity with Jesus in Heaven or in hell with the devil Heb 9: 27; Matthew 25: 34 & 41 & Rev 14: 9 - 11 see Rev. 16; 13 - 14 also & see what happens to them in Revelation 19: 20 -21; 20: 10, 14 & 15;  21: 8.

God gives each every person a Gift of Power because there is something that He wants to do & that is to HELP & each every person with his own difficulties in this life & to overcome evil. HE does help us when we need it, this may not be at the actual time of physical pain that some other person is inflicting upon us, but when we are going through our recovery process. The question is - do we want to accept it then?? Some may would say HE let me down when I was inflicted with the pain - so why should I Trust Him now?  Right!!

Well this is called overcoming personal torment under Further Temptation & feeling sorry for ourselves because we have suffered under men. Just because I still have reminders of being whipped as a youngster - This has only made me stronger believer in God NOW!!  Not when I was being whipped - but I have learnt to be better person for it NOW & I can emphasize with those who are suffering now. I do understand that pain & torment & it was only when I was able to FORGIVE the person who hurt me that I was able to go forward in my NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.

Christ suffers with us - every time we are being hurt by others & through this torment we either became better people for it or we allow these hurts to make us the same as the person who has hurt us in the past.

That's why it is important for every person who has been in a Cult- like religious group to GO EASY on themselves & NOT BLAME themselves for making a wrong decision that they made some time back - but to USE THAT Experience as a LEARNING CURVE & Go forward & HELP others to get out of the Torment.

Question  is CAN YOU DO THAT??  CAN you NOT BLAME YOURSELF?  CAN you forgive everyone that has caused you pain?

I can honestly say that with Jesus' help & I did overcome it & I continue to help others come to Christ also. Blessed be His Name forever.

That is: To SET THE CAPTIVE FREE!!

The Gift of faith WILL Operate Through you = Only if You allow it to, because Jesus is walking with you. All that you have to do is LEARN to Trust Him & use Him as YOUR source of Power NOW.

What ever happened when you were in a cult or when you were Hurt as a child is gone. There is nothing that you can do NOW to go back & change things, but to go forward from NOW & use that power & help others with God's Help.

As Norvel  Hays  would say in his pamphlet The Gift of faith page 31: "Make yourself available to the Lord for the Gift of Faith.

Say, "Jesus, I'm available for the Gift of Faith. I'm available to be changed into another person to help somebody, to bring healing to somebody, to bring salvation to somebody, to stop the evil works of the devil, and to bring the Glory of God into manifestation on the Earth. I'm available for God's power to COME UPON ME and Change ME. I'm available.

I Love YOU, Jesus. I Love the Gospel. Mould me into the person You want me to be. I Believe in Your Love & Gift of the Spirit. I Believe the Gift of Faith is a Gift of power that God Gives to believers to get the job done. Thank you, Jesus, I'm free from Unbelief & Guilt."

This gift of faith will never operate through YOU unless YOU make yourself available - OK!!

May be this is to hard for you to do straight away - may be you need to talk to some one etc. By all means -please talk to some one & get it of your chest, but there is NO ONE like God who can help you RIGHT NOW !! Let Go of the hurts & pain & have faith NOW - Your life now is different to what it was yesterday so how can we go back??

Go Forward in the Lord Jesus Christ's name forever. Amen!!