Expert: Todd Tyszka - 1/19/2011

Question
QUESTION: Todd,
Okay, so why do the false cults teach the following verses (without mentioning the surrounding verses):
Matthew 7:13-14 (Contemporary English Version)

The Narrow Gate
(Luke 13.24)
13Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. 14But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.

   But they make it seem because they only they have the truth to salvation; that their way is so hard to follow and that's why people can't handle the truth and leave their little group... that their way to salvation is hard to follow....funny that they never quote verses 15-18....hmmm, I wonder...
And 2 Timothy 3:1-8 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Timothy 3
What People Will Be Like in the Last Days
1You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. 2People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, 3heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything that is good. 4They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won't be real. Don't have anything to do with such people.

Why do they preach and quote the verses that directly apply to them??? Any insight to this??? Why do they also pronounce almost like a curse on people who leave their church, saying that God cannot bless people who leave the church of God (their church; the only path to truth) and go to other churches??? Do heretics behave this way??? I have just come out of a false cult. Hope that God sees how I have been sucked into bondage by this false cult, distorting and twisting God's word to their advantage to abuse the people....why and how do they have the nerve to say that God won't bless me when they are already in God's judgment for their falsehood??? Thanks for helping.
Jeremy

ANSWER: Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for the questions, although it appears that you have answered them already. I cannot speculate why any given person or group would use these verses other than some of the possible reasons like those you mentioned. It seems logical that a cult would want to say something like they are the special ones who found the truth, and perhaps they use verses that apply to them so they feel exonerated, I don't know. However, I am very glad you are not stuck in a false cult and I pray that you can be a powerful witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. I pray you have found a good Bible-believing church where you can develop your relationship with Jesus Christ with the help of other strong believers. Keep the faith and stay strong as a testimony!

If there's any way I can help you with doctrinal questions or anything, let me know.

Best,
Todd

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, I do have a doctrinal question --- you see the false cult that I just came out of (their doctrine book states) that sanctification and the power to live a life of self-denial and power over sin takes place only after Baptism in the Holy Spirit.....is this true? This seems odd to me; why would I have to wait all the way after seeking the Lord for Baptism in the Holy Spirit to have the Holy Spirit dwell inside of me? Is there any Scriptures which supports this belief, or is this another twisted, false doctrine? I thought as believers we receive the Holy Spirit by faith when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior? Okay...sorry to take your time.
Jeremy

Answer
Hi Jeremy,
Thank you for the excellent question. Well, that is a controversial subject in some respects, and cannot be answered properly without defining what we mean by these terms. I'm sure you are familiar with the relevant Scriptures on the topic of the Holy Spirit. It is clear that the Holy Spirit helps us to "live a life of self-denial and power over sin" and the baptism of the Holy Spirit clearly helps us to do this to a deeper degree. However, I do not think it is correct to say that someone who has not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit cannot do this to some degree. In addition, having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not mean you will "live a life of self-denial and power over sin."

I hope this makes sense and if you have any other questions, please let me know.

Todd