Characteristics of Cults

The fundamental pattern common to all [cults] is an indication of the hand of the devil.  His master hand is to be seen always if you look for it in the background.  The devil is not only the great antagonist of God, he counterfeits the work of God.  …

What, then, are these common characteristics?  First and foremost, all these cults sound like Christianity.  Of course, if they did not, there would be no danger, there would be no subtlety.  If they were obvious, patent, open contradictions no one would ever fall into the snare.  But the fact is, if you look at them very generally, and if you are uncritical, you will feel that they appear remarkably like Christianity.  Indeed, they very often used Christian terms and terminology.  They talk about Christ, and about the various blessings that come to men through Him, and so on.  And the unwary feel that this must be Christianity.  They use the Christian terminology but they evacuate it of its New Testament sense and meaning.  But the terms are still there; and the uninitiated, the tyros, are completely deceived.  …

Another general characteristic is that all the cults offer us very great blessings.  Here, again, is a part of the secret of their success.  But I must add that they not only offer blessings; they seem to be offering us blessings of a much more wonderful order than the Christian Church is able to do. …

Another general characteristic of all the cults is that their devotees are always sincere.  It is a great mistake to think otherwise.  One of their troubles, very generally, is that they have “zeal without knowledge”; they are so sincere that they refuse to think and are carried away.  Furthermore, they are enthusiastic, they are zealous, they are active workers. …

Turning now to criticism and evaluation, what are the characteristics which enable us to differentiate between the cults and our Christian faith?  The following are some of the tests which can be applied to any and all of the cults.  First, take the question of their origin.  When you are confronted by a new teaching the first questions to ask are, Where has it come from? how did it start? why is there such a teaching at all? If you read the history of past centuries you find that these cults were then non-existent.  You will generally find that they began in the last [19th] century. … 

What happened? Again, speaking generally, they started as the result of so-called “revelations” that were given to their founders. … So the person to whom the revelation came is very important. … [I]n the case of the cult there is always this dramatic, unusual element of a divine revelation. …

This leads to the second point, namely, that the cults always recognize and are governed by, an authority additional to the Bible. …

[T]he next general canon of criticism, namely, that these cults invariably go astray with respect to certain essential doctrines. …

[M]any of the cults are very shaky on the whole question of creation. …

You will find invariably that the cults always start with you.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “The Christian Warfare: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10-13,” pg.124-129, 141