Customer Reviews

The Marks of a Cult: A Biblical Anaylsis - Free 72 Page Study Guide (2005)

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At last! A clear and comprehensive tool that people can not only use to challenge loved ones, friends and acquaintances that have fallen prey to anti-Christian cults -- it is also a great primer on why doctrine matters. I've been saying it for years: cults prosper when the Church ceases to be a foundation and bulwark for the Truth. Maybe this interesting and well-produced DVD will help wake the Church up.

Upon seeing a documentary about cults, you'd normally assume it's going to be a brutal dissection of various groups and their beliefs, and simply pointing out how apostate they are. But THE MARKS OF A CULT is compassionate, educational tool for helping the Christian to identify who is a cult, and who is a legitimate denomination of Christianity.

All of the speakers featured in it are extremely prepared and thoughtful. As always The Apologetics Group has added just enough visual pizazz and musical flare in this documentary to make you forget you're watching a talking head video.

Marks of a Cult is the latest in a series of DVDs produced by The Apologetics Group and hosted by Eric Holmberg. Previous titles have included Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism and Hells Bells 2: The Power and Spirit of Popular Music, both of which I have reviewed in the past (and both of which are well worth viewing). This latest presentation seeks to answer some of the following questions: Why are Baptists properly considered Christians, but Mormons are not? Why is the Jehovah's Witness religion classified as an anti-Christian cult while Presbyterians, Wesleyans and Pentecostals are simply seen as denominations within the Christian faith? How does one differentiate between true Biblical Christianity and an aberrant religious movement? And just what are the marks of a cult?

The presentation describes cults through the four marks developed originally, I believe, by Watchman Fellowship. These marks are easy to remember and are helpful in forming a framework around which we can differentiate a cult from a church. The marks are as simple as add, subtract, multiply and divide.

Add: Cults add to Scripture. The revelation of God provided in the Bible is never sufficient for a cult. Thus they must add to the written revelation of Scripture, usually with additional scriptures or with their own translation of the Bible. In this way we have books such as The Pearl of Great Price of the Mormons and the New World Translation of the Bible produced by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Since the Bible claims exclusivity as the written revelation of God, we must see that other books, even if the followers of cults claim that they are equal to the Bible, must actually be over and above the Word of God.

Subtract: Cults subtract from the person of Christ. Cults cannot tolerate the divinity and exclusivity of Jesus and thus usually reduce Him to being a created being. In some cases they make Jesus only a manifestation or mode of God. In either case, the role of Jesus as revealed in Scripture is diminished.

Multiply: Cults multiply the requirements of salvation. Salvation, as it is presented in the Scriptures, is by God's grace through faith alone. Cults continually add to the requirements of salvation, always adding human works as a necessary prerequisite to salvation. No cult teaches or endorses justification by faith alone. Thus all cults reject the very heart of the gospel.

Divide: Cults divide the loyalty of believers. Each cult believes that it has exclusive revelation and understanding of God that ensures its followers are either exclusively God's people or are somehow more blessed than others. Cults always seek to divide believers against each other based on the previous three marks. Thus cults are, by their very nature, divisive.

Each of these four marks receives a good deal of attention within the presentation. Each one is proven to be true within the belief systems of several different cults including the Seventh Day Adventists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, The Moonies, and Oneness Pentecostals (or the Jesus-Only Movement). Each receives the attention of a large group of highly-regarded Christian apologists. Those who were consulted in the making of this film are:

* Dr. James R. White, Alpha & Omega Ministries
* Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Knox Theological Seminary
* Dr. R. Fowler White, Knox Theological Seminary
* James Walker, Watchman Fellowship
* David Henke, Watchman Fellowship
* Dr. Steve Cowan, Apologetics Resource Center
* Craig Branch, Apologetics Resource Center
* Clete Hux, Apologetics Resource Center
* Jerry Johnson, The Apologetics Group

As with the previous DVDs released by The Apologetics Group, Marks of a Cult is well-researched, well-made and the facts presented are well-documented. This is a rational, measured, convicting examination of the marks of a cult as they stand against the claims of Scripture. It clocks in at almost two hours which is just enough time to do justice to the topic. It moves quickly and should easily capture the attention of adults and teens. In fact, my only disappointment was in the bonus features which included nothing more than a list of recommended websites and a second list of recommended books dealing with each of the cults. Nevertheless, that is but a small complaint and I am glad to recommend this DVD to you. It would be a valuable addition to any personal or church library.

Truth matters. The gospel truth is a big deal. Eric Holmberg begins with several apostolic reminders; dire warnings about the coming of the false gospels heralded by false prophets identified as "ravenous wolves"; as well as the mandate to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints; complete, not to be added nor substracted or messed around with. The false gospel is the counterfeit Christianity, that comes in the form of movements or denominations that claim to be Christians, but upon closer scrutiny are not, by examining their fundamental beliefs that reject the cardinal Christian doctrines centered around the doctrines of the Trinity, the identity of Jesus Christ; his deity and human nature, the inspiration, inerrancy and the infallibility of Scriptures, and justification by faith or what Jesus accomplished on the cross. The mathematical signs you see at the DVD cover are a systematic way that the Apologetics Group has excellently formulated for a detailed analysis on how to determine whether a group that calls themselves Christians are indeed legitimately Christians.

While having covered some major counterfeit Christian groups, I was wondering if Holmberg and the Apologetics folks should have added, or should in the future expand their coverage, perhaps calling it "The Marks of A Cult Part II", to include prosperity gospel, and the Roman Catholic Church, which requires extra analysis due to the additional subtlety involved.

Another great documentary by Eric Holmberg. This is a very good study of how christains are deceived by churches that preach another Jesus. The Bible says in the book of Jude to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. It says the faith not a faith. Jesus is the Son of God. He is not just a man as they claim. He goes into how to decern a true church from a false church. This is a worthy addition to the church for the end time.

Would recommend it as a teaching aid. Very simple, easy to understand, biblically sound, good references, uncompromising and authoratative without being mean spirited. Very well done project!!!

This film took a good approach when facing cults. I was glad to see that they threw some Pentacostals in there. It is really informative and the math signs will leave a lasting impression. That will probably pop in my head the next time I think of various cults. It is an excellent way to explain them. Good film.

Good study book for Christians in
small groups/bible studies; to educate
themselves about the cults & how
the cults doctrines & teachings are false.

I took the analysis and found that McDonald's is a cult. I will no longer eat there as a result. They do not encourage their employees along true Christian lines.
Okay, I am kidding. Both the book and some of the reviews look like sniping and backbiting in the world of religious ideological warfare. [...]