HOW TO WITNESS TO THE CULTS

[micah719]

posted in full from:
witnesscults

HOW TO WITNESS TO THE CULTS

No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. (Mark 3:27)


Either the cults come to your door or you go to theirs or you meet them in school, university or work etc.
You need to know how to break down the great wall of delusion which Satan has built around their soul.

CULTS MOST LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED:
Roman Catholics…Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's)…Mormons…Cooneyites…Muslims…New Age type cults including Hare Krishna's etc.,

WHY SUCH NEED TO BE SAVED:
Sincerity in religion is not enough - God wants to be worshipped in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Give a sinner religion and all you have is a religious sinner. All men, religious or not, need to be born again (John 3:3) religion, even orthodox religion cannot save and how much more any religion which denies the fundamental truths/Bible?

WHY CULT MEMBERS ARE OFTEN THE HARDEST TO SEE CONVERTED:
1) Satanically deluded the most. Enough religion to be dangerous. Illustration: the false borders which Germans put up in WW I to fool British POW's escaping. Cult members feel they have "arrived" when they are still in danger.
2) Cults often employ brain washing techniques. JW's practically forbid the reading of material other than that printed by themselves. Little free inquiry. Hare Krishna insist on their follows repeating the Hare Krishna mantra every single day. Some extreme cults insist on name changing, no contact with family and sleep deprivation etc., With extreme shepherding in every area of member's life.
3) Most to "lose" if/when they leave. For example, JW's are disfellowshipped i.e. shunned completely. JW's also officially believe that there is no salvation is to be found outside of their organisation.

WHY CULT MEMBERS ARE OFTEN THE EASIEST TO WITNESS TO:
1) All are usually eager to make new converts. They see themselves witnessing to you.
2) Obviously they have some interest in religion (cp. an increasingly secular world) and with cults like the Mormons and especially the JW's/Cooneyites have a more Bible orientated faith (although still far short) Never hard to talk about the Bible especially to a JW.
3) It doesn't take that much to get the better of them theologically, although winning the argument does not automatically mean winning the soul.

HOW TO APPROACH THE WINNING OF A CULT MEMBER TO CHRIST:
1) Prayerfully - Cannot do this in your own strength. Reliance on Sovereignty of God.
2) Graciously - insulting them etc., will never win them.
3) Tactically - You need an overall strategy or plan.
4) Patiently - several visits will probably be required. Seldom is so much achieved in one visit. Rome wasn't built in a day…won't be overthrown in one day either!
5) Scripturally - the Bible is ultimately the only real weapon you will need to bind the strong man: Ephesians 6:17/Hebrews 4:12

THINGS IN COMMON WITH REACHING ALL CULT MEMBERS:
1) A knowledge of basic soul winning verses. R.A. Torrey's Pocket Booklet of soul winning texts is invaluable.
2) A Sound working knowledge of basic bible doctrines. The Shorter Catechism along with proof texts is a most useful manual of solid doctrine. Other short helpful books.
3) Ability to give a Christ centred testimony - sometimes this clinches/seals everything. (Mark 5:19/Psalm 66:16)
4) A basic knowledge of what the cult concerned believes and why it is wrong.

IDEALLY…
…you would like just to treat them all like sinners. No getting bogged down in controversy is a great help…if only! Failing this i.e. where you just give them the gospel straight, plain and without controversy, you need a "plan B" where you are forced to deal with their doctrines cropping up and preventing them from grasping the gospel.

HOW TO DEAL WITH ROMAN CATHOLICS:
I emphasise the freeness of God's salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9 etc.,) without works. This invariably meets with stiff opposition. Stick by your guns. Why does Paul continually emphasise grace without the law? Need to explain harmony between Paul and James. Authority of the Bible comes up. God's word can never be subject to any church. If other doctrine's crop up - need to know how to refute them…graciously.
The same emphasis on grace alone through faith alone will run you into trouble with the Cooneyites…but stick to your guns and don't ever let them move you from the Bible. If you do…you have lost your only real weapon. That's what Satan wants.

HOW TO DEAL WITH MUSLIMS:
Another works based religion. Speak of grace and your assurance of heaven etc., don't let him rubbish the bible.
Muslim's apply John 14:16 to Muhammad. But why v16 and not v6?

HOW TO DEAL WITH JEHOVAH WITNESSES:
Ultimately JW'S rely on the watchtower. We need to undermine it's authority of the watchtower and this is not hard to do.

1) Extravagant claims of Watchtower: "The resolutions adopted by conventions of God's anointed people, booklets, magazines, and books published by them, contain the message of God's truth and are from the Almighty God, Jehovah, and provided by him through Christ Jesus and his underofficers .. It is his truth and not man's .."
{WT May 1 1938 page 143}
"This chronology is not of man, but of God. Being of divine origin and divinely corroborated, present-truth chronology stands in a class by itself, absolutely and unqualifiedly correct .."
{WT Jul 15 1922 217}
"Jehovah has established a very definite channel of communication through which he deals with his people .. It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the 'slave' as we would to the voice of God."
{WT Jun 15 1957 page 370}
Many others: (See Rev. Ian Brown's book: "60 questions every JW must answer")
2) Expose the whole host of Watchtower dates for Christ's return/Armageddon etc.,
1874/1914/1925/ etc., "There will be no slip up…Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in the year 1925ad" ." {WT oct 15 1917 page 6157}
3) Conclude: Watchtower, despite their claims, is very unreliable indeed.
You are trying to sow seeds of doubt. If you can do this, you will leave the JW with nothing to cling to...but the Bible.
Often with JW's you will probably end up debating the Trinity etc., You do need to know your stuff! If in trouble, do not hesitate to get the help of a more mature Christian. Be very careful, they don't get the better of you! You can always arrange the meeting of a JW contact with one able to debate with them. Use of internet also for information.

HOW TO DEAL WITH MORMONS
Mormons are tied to their belief that the book of Mormon is inspired and the main point of the book of Mormon is that Jesus Christ came physically to the American Indians in AD34. I usually challenge this most fundamental assertion on the following grounds:

1) I affirm that Jesus Christ will return physically to earth (Acts 1:11/Titus 2:13)
2) I point out certain events would:
A/ Precede his return (Matthew 24:21/29-30)
B/ Accompany his return (Matthew 24:30-31/1Thessalonians 4:15-17/Revelation 1:7)
C/ Follow his return (2 Thessalonians 1:8-11/2:8) none of these things have happened. He did not return as claimed.
3) Point out the basis of believing Nephi in the book of Mormon is patently false:"and now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know that our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record - for he truly did many miracles in the name of jesus: and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity."(3 Nephi 8:1) Oh no? See: Matthew 7:22/ Matthew 24:5/24

[twerpv]

Micah,
Very helpful. Thank you for taking the time. Question for you. Is trying to simply driving the discussion back to the Bible a solid strategy? I mean asking whomever, can you show me where "that" is in scripture?

Thx

[micah719]

From the OP....this might be the shortest answer:

stick to your guns and don't ever let them move you from the Bible. If you do…you have lost your only real weapon. That's what Satan wants.

Consider:

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

and:

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

and:

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

and:

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Don't consider rejection and abuse as failure. The primary reason is to glorify God. The secondary reason is to see people saved. The tertiary purpose is to leave the unrepentant with no excuse whatsoever. Focus on the first one, with an eye on the second. The third will look after itself. It is just useful to know it's there....