Comments on: Seeing “Cults” as People Groups

By: trudy

trudy — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:46:10 +0000

you have put words to my feelings, thank you,we need to help persons as we so were helped at some time before,when we stand back and let the enemy claim these souls,what shall become of us,lots of us just read parts of the word and we dont cross reference so we are taught wat others belief and accept it without searching the word for support .through every situation advice is in the book just find it .

By: derrick

derrick — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:56:51 +0000

I think that the approach to this is very intriguing to me. As you concluded that, “we would become more likely to encounter them with love than contention,” What I see in this idea is removal of judgments and the placement of value more on the person, as opposed to their ideas. It’s transitioning from a possible legalistic approach of “you need to change,” to saying, “I accept you just the way you are.” What would our Christian culture look like if we all felt this way? What would happen if we chose to live in the awareness of this thought daily? how would we respond to people asking for money? how would we respond to our spouse, our children, or our family? What might it feel like if someone accepted me, just the way i am?

I get the sense that this idea is serious. It seems to me that this can be transformational. Multiple time Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus clearly made that point that he is valuable. He also made emphasized that we are valuable. So, to me, i can see how this thought can be life-changing. Just the way that a white racist, living in the south, who deciding to be in relationship with a black person, can be life changing. Just the way that Jesus was companions with Judas.

I think it’s a great thought.

By: Jason carlisle

Jason carlisle — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:30:43 +0000

This is a GREAT and very helpful concept. Thanks for passing it along.

To “approach those in New Religious Movements (NRM) in the same way as they would approach unreached people groups on the mission field” woudn’t mean we have to label them people a people group.

We just need to apply the same insights we have gained in people group strategy.

So the title might be “Applying people group principles to reaching NRM’s.”

jason

By: Phil B

Phil B — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:47:26 +0000

I think that’s right. The IMB (at least at one point) designated the Jains as a people. While they are not a NRM, they certainly represent a belief structure which is different enough from their neighbors that a separate strategy was/is needed to reach them. Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. ought to be seen in this light as well, and your point about not seeing them as combatants but just another type of lost person is well taken . . .

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:09:06 +0000

Interesting idea. Personally, I’m kind of scared of the Jehovah’s Witnesses that come knocking on my door…I’m not up to confronting them, so I usually just take their literature, smile, and throw it away after they leave. Never thought about seeing them as people who haven’t been reached with the Gospel. Interesting.