The substance of this paper was written by a dear sister named Rae, and is reprinted here with her permission. Rae was involved with the United Pentecostal Church, a very legalistic sectarian group teaching the "oneness" doctrine (the Jesus is the only person in the Godhead). While her experience was specific involvement in that particular group, her words are very important and have a general application to those involved in many such groups. Rae pinpoints many of the factors that lead people to join such groups - factors that also keep them from leaving.

RAE'S STATEMENT

I have thought a great deal regarding cults and their attraction since leaving the UPC about 17 years ago. WOW, that long ago, and sometimes it seems like only yesterday, the memories are so very strong still.

I would like to state here some of the things that attracted me, and I think they are pretty common. These are but a few; there are many more. There are what I call positive attractions and also negative attractions.

Positive Attractions:

1) Brotherly/sisterly love and acceptance. It was a family. We all cared about each other deeply. From the moment I stepped into the church the first time, I was showered with graciousness, loving kindness, and felt so totally welcome and wanted. This never stopped, but continued thru the 8 years I was there. They knew me better than my own family did, and loved me still.

2) Learned a great deal of Bible. I had never much cracked the pages of the Bible before I entered UPC. I was raised a Lutheran, and had never been encouraged to study the Word. I was starved to know what the Word said, and devoured the teaching they provided. I learned more with UPC than at any other time in my Christian walk. Yes, some was totally WRONG, but also alot was true. So this was the blessing that I took from the cult, the love for God's Word.

3) Calmness, love, gentleness in witnessing. We were taught to witness with love and keeping in mind we were talking to "babies". We were told not even to bother with the "hard cases", such as other pastors of other churches, etc. To just leave them to our "pastor". It wasn't so much what we said, but how we said it. We weren't to shove in scripture after scripture, but to invite to our church, answer questions, all with meekness and loving attitudes.

4) Multi-cultural. I had never been to a church before that actually was a rainbow of cultures. And noone treated anyone differently. It was a very generous mix, and I was amazed how everyone got along together and loved each other.

5) Church, church, and more church. We spent more time at church and/or with church people, than anywhere else. We had church every evening Mon-Sat, and twice on Sunday. If we weren't at church or working (men-jobs/women-house,children), we were with church people, working on projects for the church, witnessing door-to-door, etc. Literally our world/lives revolved stricktly around the church.

Negative Attractions:

1) Us against them. We were told repeatedly that due to what we believed other denominations/pastors/etc, were out to get us. Were wanting to destroy our church and our pastor. We were told how we had to fight to get a building permit due to our beliefs, that we had to watch our children as they would be taken away, etc. This bound us together even stronger. Us against them is powerful.

2) We have the truth. The oneness doctrine was the truth, and we had it, and we were the only ones saved of all the other denominations. Priveleged? Superior? Yes, and also allowed us to walk away from those that just "didn't get it".

3) Extremely legalistic. So many rules, and so little time ;) But this also made us a community/family. We didn't have to defend the way we dressed, what we did and didn't do, etc with others like ourselves. It held us together, as we were told this was what God wanted, noone else was following His laws, and we then needed each other even more. This also keeps you in a constant fear mode, whether consious or unconsious. If at any time you can do something/not do something, wear something/not wear something, say or hear something/not say or hear something, and that is against God's law, and then you have sinned, and then you are going to hell, you are in a constant walk of fear. Which is an emotion that keeps you under control of the cult.

4-a) Very dominant super leader pastor. The pastor wasn't so much a charismatic personality as he was a strong personality. A strict "father" that we all wanted to please and make proud of us. A pat on the back from him, would keep me making pies for the weekly bake-sale all night long throughout the week LOL

4-b) A very compasionate, loving, empathetic pastors wife. She always seemed to know if you had a problem, and took as much time as needed with you to help in any way. She also was one that we all wanted to please and make proud. I sewed my fingers to the bone making dresses for her little girl. LOL (At $1 per dress, 10 cents to tithe, and 80 cents to building fund, leaves 10 cents for rainy day. ;)

5) Leave UPC, go to hell. This is what keeps a person in the cult when all else fails. Loss of salvation, because the cult that you are in is the one and only true church, so where else can you go?

When I left, I was announced as "anathema maranatha", which is "cursed till Jesus comes". In otherwords, lost, no hope, God had cursed me. The cult and my exhusband turned viciously and violently against me, and I lost my children and everything except the clothes on my back and a roll of pennys in my pocket. This is what keeps many in cults, as they could even have more to lose. It took Jesus many years to show me that He still loved me, and had never left me. He led me down some very hard paths to get me to my knees, even if it was in fear of His rejection. But I had nowhere else to go ;) I cried, sobbed, and begged, as I thought I was hated by God. After I finished praying, I opened His Word once again to just see...... A scripture hit my soul like none other ever had:

Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Fathers great pleasure to give you the kingdom."

And that turned me around. God still did love me. It was HIS pleasure to save me. HE enjoyed it!!! It made HIM happy even. :)

There are so many more attractions to a cult, but I don't want this to be a book LOL All of these contribute to the brainwashing. We were so dependent on our "pastor" and on each other, that it was extremely difficult to leave. It's like tearing off your right arm, or plucking out your eye, it is that much a part of who you are (or what you have become).

Note that I never said an attraction to a cult is their doctrines, as I honestly don't believe that it is..... We can only defeat what we know. If we want to defeat the cults, and lead those inside them to the truth of Jesus Christ, then we need to know why they are there .....

AFTERWORD FROM WILLIAM

I have no doubt that Rae's words are accurate. I see two very important applications.

First, may we all keep such factors in mind when seeking to minister to persons involved in sectarian groups. Sometimes we get so caught up in "correcting" their "heresy" that we miss the big picture. These are PEOPLE we are talking to -- people with needs, feelings, and fears. May we minister with patience, love, understanding, and sensitivity.

Second, I would add the idea that some of the positive factors that Rae mentions are things that are missing from many of our churches. To state it bluntly, many of our churches are failing and the sects/cults are filling the gap left by us! May this knowledge inspire us all to do our part to change this apathetic reality among evangelicals.

Finally, I would add to Rae's words just a bit. I have personally seen three situations over many years where groups that adhered to fundamental doctrine BECAME sectarian. Over a period of time, these groups began to manifest the very characteristics which Rae points out. The important lesson here is to always be a Berean -- "test all things, hold fast to that which is good." Just because the name on the door is "normal" does not mean that a sectarian/legalistic spirit does not dwell inside!