The Problem of Cults: Why the Holy Spirit Manifests in Cults

Jim Jones, Cult Leader

Many believers are baffled when they come out of a cult. They wonder, "why did holy spirit fall, and why were people able to use the gifts of the spirit like healing and prophecy?" This experience causes many Christian brothers and sisters to feel confused. This charismatic experience in a cult setting makes many feel wounded. Their minds become disturbed by the fact the holy spirit was present, and and yet unsound doctrine is taught, leaders abuse their authority, and spiritual abuses become rampant. So in layman terms, "what gives?" The answer is simple, "for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (never withdrawn)." (Romans 11:29).

Even if men should fall into error, create a cult, and be spiritually abusive, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are never taken away. This is why in a very abusive environment like a cult, people can heal the sick, prophecy real prophecies, and manifest the power of the Almighty. The reason deceived and demeaning ministers still have the Holy spirit is this, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," (Ephesians 1:13). The seal of holy spirit is on his people, even though the character is not. Many who fall into heresy, error, and cultism lack the fruit of the Holy Spirit that goes with the gifts, callings, and seal, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23). Cult leaders and crooked preachers do not act loving, lack peace and often sell fear and are controlling, they have no forbearance with people, they aren't kind but lay heavy burdens on people, "Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them," (Luke 11:46), and "They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." (Matthew 23:4). Cult leaders are not good, for only "God is good," (Mark 10:18) and they do not treat people with goodness of character either. These false teachers are faithless, they abandon their sheep like the hired hand, "The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:12-15). Controlling leaders in churches, not just cults are not gentle, and finally the spiritual abuses in cults never have self control, the people are even physically abused by being hit by Bibles and more.

Christ has some very cross words for those who have gifts, but do not know Him, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22-23). Why did they never know Jesus? Because the fruit I mentioned earlier, "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control," are characteristic of Christ Jesus. These people who do miracles, but are mean hearted and lead people into falsehood do not know The Triune God of Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. For God is not false, but faithful.

I have explained how in cults, the Holy Spirit can be felt and manifested. But there are those worse than deceived ministers, pastors, and leaders who still have the Spirit, there are those who want to deceive on purpose. Jesus Christ speaks of these people, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:24). We must test the signs and wonders by word of God (Scriptures) and the Holy Spirit or else the Lawless One, the Man of Sin, the Antichrist may deceive many, "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders.." (2 Thessalonians 2:9, cross ref Revelation 13:13-14). We must test the spirits and wonders with the Holy Bible and the discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). The apostle John commands us to do this, "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 into the world." (1 John 4:1).

In the end, you have to ask is it the Holy Spirit or another spirit manifesting? If you can confirm that it is the Holy Spirit, then He is manifesting because his people are "sealed" and "the gifts and callings are never withdrawn." But I believe there is one more reason. I believe Holy Spirit falls on people who have Him in their temple (1 Corinthians 6:19), living inside them, is because God wants to speak truth in a cult and deceptive environment to shake the people free of their deception. The Lord cares about these sheep that have wandered astray into erroneous beliefs, heterodoxy, and domineering doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus has a heart to save heretics, "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray," (Matthew 18:11-13). Messianic scribes know a detail about what Christ is saying. When a shepherd finds the sheep that went astray, he breaks its leg, slings it around his neck, and nurses it back to health. By doing this the sheep grows closer to the shepherd both literally and spiritually, learns to know the Shepherd's Voice (John 10:27), and so become sound and obedient to the Lord. The Lord Jesus illustrates the hope of those deceived into cultism coming back to the Truth in his story of the Prodigal Son, "After eating with the pigs, the Prodigal decided to go back and become his father's slave (servant), and there His Father greeted him with love, and threw a party." (Luke 15:11-32, paraphrased). For every person who comes out of error, Emmanuel throws a party and rejoices, for "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:24).

If you have lead a cult there is hope. If you were in a cult or abusive church, there is hope. Jesus Christ knows your pain, and is ashamed that His name has been profaned and that you associate what should be gifts of Spirit with grief and great painful memories. Make not mistake those who taught you lies, abused you, and lorded over are going to be judged, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1), and Jesus even says, "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not be called leaders (instructors); for One is your Leader, that is, Christ." (Matthew 23:8,10). For those who have been Rabbis (pastors) or teachers who have harmed people, there is forgiveness, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). However, Jesus  says, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Matthew 12:36-37), "But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead," (1 Peter 4:5), and "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." (Romans 14:12). You will be accountable for those who you have harmed in the faith. Forgiveness yes, but consequences as well. This is why we must take to heart as teachers, that we shall be judged more strictly," (James 3:1), because "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48).

There is forgiveness for those who lead people into cultism and lies, and there is healing for those who have been harmed. But make no mistake, this is a serious issue in the church. For every Swagger who slips, every Jim Jones who gives people Kool Aid juice, and every Cardinal that molests a child; there is damage done that for some may never be undone (because they are so wounded, not because Jesus cannot heal them). Those who misrepresent the Messiah and abuse the Body of Christ will find themselves in great peril, "If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea," (Mark 9:42), "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!" (Galatians 1:8), "I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them" (Romans 16:17), and "For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily." (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Jonestown Massacre, 900 people committed mass suicide when they drank Koolaid after Jim Jones led them to.

Leading people astray pays a penalty, but those led astray are warned in Scripture of the wolves in sheep's clothing and the many deceptions. To prevent teaching false doctrines and falling into cultism, the Body of Christ must know the Holy Bible (Scriptures) by heart (which contain the measure and ability to test what is of God and what is of man or devil), test the spirits (1 John 4:1), discern between spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10), and watch out for other gospels (Galatians 1:8).