Would you consider the International Church of Christ a cult?

[Frecklesandspecs]

Can anyone enlighten me please on the church and their theology.
I was brought up evangelical but not bothered with church too much recently as I didn't want to become too involved with anywhere too quickly.
Met someone who invited me, kept texting and inviting me to more stuff...calling me, asking me to go to bible studies ect.(in a matter of 2 weeks!!) Getting a bit fed up with all the pressure so soon.
I did go twice and it 'seemed' ok, although I have not read their doctrine yet.
I read on the interenet that some would consider it a cult.

It depends what you mean by cult. The usual definitions would encompass most religions.

Hi Frecklesandspecs, I hope you find some help along the way on your journey.

Everything I have heard about the Church of Christ is that it is a cult.

This website may help. I can't vouch for it other than having looked at it, it looks interesting.

www.chocd.org/

Here are a couple of dictionary definitions of cult, which may help you in thinking if this group is a cult.

Cult

"a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or as imposing excessive control over members"

oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cult

A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

www.thefreedictionary.com/cult

Of course there are many who do not like all religions and would happily lump them altogether. But I think from your post you would make a distinction from mainstream Christian groups and cults, using the dictionary definitions above (and having a Christian friend who nearly joined this group many years ago, having been told by them she was not really a Christian, and having found it very hurtful etc) I would say they are a cult.

But I am sure you will do your internet research and make up your own mind based on what you see.

Just be careful, please.

I hope you find Jesus as a real part of your life, because he is great. But I would not want to pressurise you into it, and you may find that is one of the differences.

Definitely not for me, but a friend's dad was a minister there and they seemed just like nice people, probably not a cult just a bit earnest and literal.

I don't know this particular denomination, but I think the questions you have to ask yourself are -

Do they allow/encourage genuine questioning of their beliefs and policies?

Is there a mechanism by which individual members get to express their concerns and views, or is everything decided from the top without any consultation?

And, crucially, do they discourage their members from associating with friends and family outside of their own organisation (except for specifically trying to convert them)?

Oh and is there a single very charismatic leader who is believed to have a far closer and more direct relationship with God than what any ordinary member of the congregation could hope to achieve?

There is a difference between cults and other religions, but it tends not to be obvious in the actual theology. It's more about how they are organised and where the balance of power lies.

Please be careful. My friend's sister joined - was lonely in London, hadn't previously gone to church, they were VERY friendly. She is no longer in touch with any family because after a certain period of time when the family hadn't become supportive, she told them she had to cut all ties as they were pulling her away. My friend's family have tried various avenues to regain contact and have met with at least 2 organisations who help families where someone is affected by cult activity and they definitely consider this group to be one. One was Cult Information Centre if you want to look. Take care.

Oh and is there a single very charismatic leader who is believed to have a far closer and more direct relationship with God than what any ordinary member of the congregation could hope to achieve?

The Pope?

I am not defending or attacking catholics at all but really pedro are you calling the pope charismatic??

I am not defending or attacking catholics at all but really pedro are you calling the pope charismatic??

Touche, Italian! No I'm not. But I've heard plenty of people say he is!

But anyway, my point was that actually, although there were some carefully selected definitions above, if you follow the link you see this:

1. a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

b. The followers of such a religion or sect.

1. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
2. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
3. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

5. a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. b. The object of such devotion.

1. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

These definitions can be applied to any organised religion.

I picked the definitions that I felt were best expressing what I understood by the term, I did include the links so people could check for themselves, as you have thougtfully done Pedro .

I would not say that in line with the OP's original questions (about a specific group) that 2 or 3 applies as all religions could be defined by this and the OP was not asking if all religions were cults but rather if this specific group could be called a cult.

Like wise number 4 is not refering speifically to this example, I did read that but chose to leave it out of my post because I don't think it is relevant to the OP's post.

(There would be other cult's that were specifically related to healing - for example).

Yes, 5 a could be included if the group has a very charismatic leader, which is I guess is covered by my later reference to 'charismatic leader'.

I don't know exactly what 6 means! I am not sure it applies to the group mentioned by OP or to the Catholic church.

I guess what I meant about charismatic leader is that the current pope is not very well known to me. The last pope was not (as far as I know, as a non-Catholic) a very 'charismatic' leader. The pope before did seem to be very well loved but I still would not say that the charismatic tag would fit. In the church we use the term 'charismatic' to mean gifts of the spirit and again this is not what I think this is refering to. It is refering to a certain type of human leader who gets a whole group of people on board and they all go along with that one person.

These definitions can be applied to any organised religion maybe some could maybe some could not, but that is not what the OP was asking about.

Number 6, I think would apply to artistic things, for example, a cult film. That which has a smaller, more dedicated following.

In this case, I believe the OP is asking if this particular church is one which will turn them away from their family and friends and lock down control over their life. Since this doesn't get covered by any of the definitions above, I thought it worthwhile checking what the actual question was.

From what I've read on the websites that Italian Greyhound linked to it looks like ICofC is conservative theologically but the cult like bit is in where the power lies. itsatiggerday confirms this in her sister's friend's experience. Now that may be just that one church that was controlling and cult like as ICoC is congregational. Each church is self governing and they don't seem to have much of an overall structure with oversight. That raises a red flag for me but if you are looking for a Christian community why not do a bit of church shopping and check out the welcome, comfort of the chairs, after service coffee, worship band, social action and preaching and make a decision on whether this ICoC outfit is really right for you. www.ship-of-fools.com have a mystery worshipper project so maybe you could check that out and maybe even join in if you are getting out and about!

Hey Pedro that does sound like cult film you are describing. Well worked out, or did you use another dictionary??

Greenheart my friend was involved with the Church of Christ, in as much as they pressurised her to join, made her doubt her own faith as a Christian (of several years) and generally made her feel very unhappy I think.

I think it is understandable that Christians want to share their faith, it's good so we want to pass it on, like talking about a great restaurant you've just visited! But if anyone talks to me about God and I encourage them to visit my church etc, I don't pressurise them, or try and box them in, I'd never want them to lose touch with families or friends whatever they believed. I can only think of very extreme cases were people are genuinely better off without their families or friends!

Frecklesandspecs so the test is to see how you feel but I fear that with the Church of Christ by the time you get to the stage of saying no thanks, you've become already a bit involved and it is harder because pressure is being put on you. I'd get a wide range of experiences with different churches and see where the light shines best.

That mystery worshipper thing sounds fun!

www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/index.html

Enjoy!

I'm a mystery worshipper (different name on the Ship, though!). It's great fun!

I read a definition for a cult recently that I liked.

A cult is easy to join but hard to leave.

A religion is hard to join but easy to leave.

I'm a Catholic, if you want to become Catholic as an adult you go through a process called RCIA - The Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults - which lasts about a year. It's so you go through a whole liturgical year so you see and experience what Catholics do, believe and celebrate. You obviously are part of a teaching and support group that meets every week to help Cathecise you. It is extremely important that your decision to join the church is a free one that is fully informed and understood. You are able to stop being a practicing Catholic at any time just by stopping to go to Mass, and by no longer praying and believing.

I was a member of the group and it is without any doubt, a cult! Please stay very far from this group and teach your kids the same, especially your college-aged kids. There are many wonderful people in this group that are being manipulated.

Phes

I read a lot of prejuidice & ignorance against this church which seemingly from a very narrow point of view or not from actual experiences. It's important to find out & understand the church life in each individuals which reflect represent & reveal the truth. People of all ages & backgrounds are being taken care & transformed with a life of divine & eternal purpose. Please do look at their websites & listen to their messages / sermons of teaching not just preaching, and listen & learn with an open mind & pure heart. Please see how joyful & hopeful the young people there enjoying their worshop & fellowship in great unity of love in Christ. I'm very new to the church after 2-yrs of staying away from churches, I've finally found a church that has most ticks as there's no such church as perfect church, but I observe the church & the people there very down to earth & genuine, nothing strange or controlling at all. Its a Christian organisation that cares deeply for people of all ages, cultures & backgrounds in every way possible. I wish I had found this church long time ago as I just couldn't bring myself to church anymore after been disappointed by many churches. I asked God if I was too critical or judgemental as I always found something not right or not for me abt those churches I had been to. ThankGod for knowing my needs & thoughts even my prayers were scarce as I was just so discouraged & turned off by going to church...
It's crucially important to take our children to church even just once a week where they can be protected from the worldly system & to thrive in God's family to learn the Biblical history not just world history, to be nurtured in spiritual knowledge that leads to a future of abundant life & to be light & salt to the lost & the broken in the messed up world. We learn anything & everything from the world except God our Creator who created us & everything for us yet we don't want to know Him It's like we deny our parents when they took care of us & brought us but we go to someone else or strangers whom we call them our parents. We are all prodigal sons & daughters to the Heavenly Father but He is faithful & His love is perfect & just and He always wait for us & welcome us back to His loving arms and church is a family where we unite together as brothers & sisters in which we grow & serve together to bring God's purpose & plans to restore the fragmented earth we are living in...
Please don't label or condemn anyone or anything until you do your due diligence properly or you could bring unimaginable harm & damage to many...
✕
ADVERTISEMENT

Phes

I read a lot of prejuidice & ignorance against this church seemingly from a very narrow point of view or experience It's important to find out & understand the church life in each individuals which reflect represent & reveal the truth People of all ages & backgrounds are being taken care & transformed with a life of divine purpose. Please do look at their websites & listen to their messages / sermons of teaching not just preaching and listen & learn with an open mind & pure heart Please see how joyful & hopeful the young people there enjoying their worshop & fellowship in loving & suporting unity. I'm very new to the church after 2-yrs of staying away from churches I've finally found a church that has most ticks as there's no such church as perfect church but I observe the church & the people there very down to earth & genuine nothing strange or controlling at all Its a Christian organisation that care for people of all ages cultures & backgrounds in every way possible I wish I found this church long time ago as I just couldn't bring myself to church for a long time after been disappointed by many churches I asked God if I was too critical or judgemental as I always found something not right or not for me abt the churches I had been to ThankGod for knowing my needs & thoughts with my inconsistent prayers as I was just so discouraged & turned off by going to church...
It's crucially important to take our children to church even just once a week where they can be protected from the worldly system & to thrive in God family to learn the Biblical history not just world history to be nurtured in spiritual knowledge that lead to a future of abundant life We learn anything & everything from the world except God our Creator who created us & everything for us yet we don't want to know Him It's like we deny our parents when they took care of us & brought us & go to someone else whom we call them our parents in an normal example...
Please don't label or condemn anyone or anything until you do your due diligence properly It brings unimaginable harm & damage to many who could be blessed by this church So speak with

The difference between a cult and a religion is purely down to their success...

Phes, that's not really convinving me this isn't a cult.

Hi their,
I have been a member of the ICOC Churches of Christ for 25 plus years. They do have their pros and cons. This is my three cents. After attending several Sunday services, going to Bible talk, Discipleship time, etc and finding someway to still hold a job it's too much. They've actually got to the point of not contacting me? Even my so called "Discipler " . After you are baptized and "Added to the Kingdom " you are assigned a Discipler mentor person. They are supposed to spiritually guide you? It's got to the point with me that if I want to be involved or do anything with them I have to make the initiative ? Yes seriously . They don't involve me in bible talks or never asked me to preach a Sunday communion lesson. They have their USUAL people to do this. They do have some strong points about knowing the Bible cover to cover but it can be to extremes. After each Sunday service they have someone come up stage to do a summarization of the lesson just preached. Like I didn't understand it the first time. Very boring!! Then they expect you to stick around the fellowship to chit chat and that can be quite tiresome. Dating is totally controlled by the leadership. You always have to be chaperoned. Never a one to one date concerning purity issues. We had this girl in the church very popular and attractive. That was the sister of the preachers wife. That was allowed to see this boyfriend totally unchaparoned. While I asked this same girl on a date a few weeks earlier to start dating with me. She flat said "No! I'm not Interested". Talk about your double standards. I sort of felt misled by this girl. A few months later she's married. I was pressured to give a contribution every week. The Rolling Stone magazine posted an article about the leaders in the Los Angeles Church of Christ being involved in some impurities affairs that I believe to be true. You can Google that yourself. It's unfair how they wound up treating me. I was involved with the music ministry for a longtime just to get ghosted and ignored. To say their a cult probably yes. Mind controllers probably yes

Yes it's a cult @Frecklesandspecs
Runaway:

https://www.gotquestions.org/International-Church-of-Christ.html

While I asked this same girl on a date a few weeks earlier to start dating with me. She flat said "No! I'm not Interested". Talk about your double standards. I sort of felt misled by this girl.

@Espy1975, this section of your post stuck out for me. Girls are allowed not to be interested in you and they don't have to give a reason! I think you need a serious rethink regarding how you view women!

Everybody has opinions? Lol