We can define a Christian cult as ‘a group, church, or organisation whose central teachings or practices are claimed to be biblical or representative of biblical Christianity, but which are in fact unbiblical and not Christian in nature’.
There are many groups to which this definition applies, but the most well-known are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons). What are the beliefs and practises of these groups that qualify them as ‘Christian’ cults?
It should be noted that these groups teach nothing new. Divergent beliefs concerning the identity of Christ and the nature of the gospel message have been peddled since the birth of the church. Jesus himself warned of ‘false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves’ (Matthew 7:15).
