ABERRANT CHRISTIANITY: What is it?
By Pat Knapp

Unlike groups like the Mormons or the Jehovah's Witnesses, aberrant Christian
sects are often viewed as only unorthodox and not necessitating close
evaluation. On the surface they may even appear "normal."

But the presence of immature and even unregenerate leadership in a church can
have DISASTROUS results. This was seen in the mass suicide/ murders in
Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978 and, more recently, in Waco, Texas on
April 19, 1993.

So what is "Aberrant" Christianity? How can we help those affected and,
hopefully, keep ourselves and others from being caught up in such groups in
the first place? Before addressing these issues, some insights into just what
comprises an aberrational Christian group would be in order. A short story
....

A Personal Testimony

It started in 1970. I had been a Christian for a year and was attending a
local Christian college. At this time, I joined a small assembly of believers
that became 13 years of involvement in an aberrant Christian group.
Initially, the group appeared relatively healthy and the basic Gospel was
preached. However, as time went on, we became more convinced of our
"specialness" - our "unique calling."

The leader had come from India and saw himself as a missionary to the USA. He
had been ordained a Southern Baptist minister, taught for a while at Wheaton
College and was associated with India's leading evangelist. The leader
believed God called him to a special place of servant-hood that would lead to
many misunderstanding him.

In 1973 he claimed he was being "led" by God to divorce his current wife. He
explained God had revealed to him that he had never "truly" been married to
her as they were not married "in Spirit." He was now to marry the wife of
another member. This woman was nearly 30 years his junior.

As a result of this incidence, the group split. My wife and I chose to stay
with the leader. I was in the Army at the time and was shortly assigned to
the Second General Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany for 15 months.

During this time, the leader wrote us almost daily. He said he was committed
to our spiritual welfare. We were instructed not to have much to do with
Christians in Germany as they hadn't been "enlightened" as we were.

Due to this extreme exclusiveness, we felt the only way we could have any
Christian fellowship was to develop our own small home church there in
Germany. We started our own extension and met weekly for worship, always
promoting the Mother church and its doctrines.

Many "revelations from God" were given to the leader during our stay in
Germany. He was "led" to purchase an extremely expensive home; then he was
"led" to tell me of my responsibility to help him pay for it!

A great deal of money, a car, appliances and saving bonds were turned over to
him. Then God "revealed" to him that he was to sell the home. Since many in
the group were so occupied with being "counseled" by him rather than working,
there were too few funds to make the payments (later I redefined his
"counseling" as a form of emotional abuse).

Upon returning to Denver I took a job the leader had decided was right for
me. I wasn't suited for it and I didn't want it. To the leader, this didn't
matter as only "God's anointed" knew God's will for us.

We entered a long period of heavy counseling. These sessions often lasted
long into the night and early morning hours. Much of this "counseling"
focused on the importance of giving up all contact with our parents/
relatives and friends outside of the group. They were "evil" because they had
not "accepted the cross" as we had.

We were eager to "belong" and to feel special, so we went along. We refused
any contact from those previously important to us. This lasted for 8 years.
All of this was done in the name of "committed Christianity" - or so we
thought.

Questions arose frequently for us: "Why, if the group was truly being led by
the Holy Spirit and consistent with the Word of God, did it not grow? Why
didn't the church have any lasting impact on people outside its membership
(or for that matter, inside)? Why did it all seem so much like a cardboard
front?"

These questions were not permitted to be asked. When occasionally they
surfaced (cloaked in religious jargon), counseling was done by the leader and
one of the more "mature" brothers of the group. These sessions were used as a
club to bring the person who asked the questions into submission.

As time went on, more and more emotional bridges were burned (separation from
parents, outside friends etc.). It became increasingly harder to resist the
whims of the leader and the direction the group was taking. By this time, the
leader was referred to as "Dad" or "Papa" by most in the group.

Finally in January of 1984, things came to a head for us. I discovered the
leader had been involved in gross sin. This sin could not be justified by
seeing the Scripture "in the Spirit" as he put it. THEOLOGICAL RELATIVISM had
become the norm.

I confronted him on it. He said, "It could be true; it could be false. I knew
when I entered this ministry I would be accused of such things. Believe what
you will." He took the Fifth Amendment. The STANDARD FOR TRUTH had become his
feelings, not the Word of God. He became accountable to "God alone" with no
mutual submission.

We left with our family, now including four children. Since then we have
re-established our relationships with relatives and friends. We also are
going through the needed healing process, both for ourselves and those we
hurt.

Characteristics of an Aberrant Group

So how does one differentiate between a genuinely sound, Christian group and
one which is aberrant? There are central doctrinal and behavioral points that
can be listed to illustrate the characteristics of aberrant groups. Not all
aberrant groups will have ALL of these, nor will they have them in the SAME
DEGREE. But these points can serve as RED FLAGS when evaluating a particular
group.

1. Brief, Sound Beginnings:

Frequently these groups will begin with moderately sound doctrine. This
however changes in order to rationalize the heavy commitment demanded of
group members and to support the LEADERSHIP'S goals and ambitions. The
personal desires, problems, idiosyncrasies and sins of the leader(s) begin to
be expressed via changes in group practices and eventually in the doctrines
of the group (1Tim 1:3-7).

2. Devaluation of the Bible:

This takes place either through emphasizing the leader's "revelations" over
sound interpretation of the Bible or through vague or complex interpretations
of Scripture. Often the interpretations will emphasize only certain verses
consistent with the group's goals while negating others.

Sound hermeneutics (proper methods of Biblical interpretation) is rarely
taught. The "sheep" are considered to be "not smart enough" or "not
interested" in this important and essential teaching (Acts 17:11; 2Tim 2:15;
2Pet 3:14-16).

3. Fanaticism:

"Faith teaching" is sometimes exemplified by refusing to see doctors for
check-ups, throwing away insulin or quitting one's job to "enter a life of
faith." Scriptural teaching concerning the stewardship of one's talents and
money are tossed aside when they conflict with the leader's teachings or the
furtherance of the group's goals (1Tim 5:23; Prov 6:6-11).

4. Devaluation or Loss of Personal Choice:

Personal choice is given up in deference to the leadership. One becomes and
remains a small child when it comes to decision making. The leadership makes
the significant and sometimes even small decisions for one's life (1Tim 2:5;
Gal 6:4f).

5. Closed System:

Internal criticism is considered to be rebellion, a critical spirit or seen
as causing division among the brethren. Outside criticism is called
"persecution" or a "Satanic attack." Satan is given an over-abundance of
credit.

Most, if not all, of the individual's needs are met within the group. This
eventually leads to the cutting off of significant outsiders (Gal 2:11-21;
John 17:15-18; 1Cor 5:9f).

6. Demanding Lifestyle

Strict adherence to the group's rules is required without consideration for
cultural conditions. A communal setting often heightens the control but is
not required (Col 2:18-23; 1Tim 4:1-5).

7. Fear and Guilt:

These emotions are contrived and used as primary motivaters. Members are told
they will lose their salvation, hurt God, become a "nominal" Christian, or
loose status within the group if they are disobedient. Ostracizing an
uncooperative member is used to bring about obedience (Rom 8:1,15; 1John
4:15-18).

8. Anti-intellectual: Experience = truth:

One is merely socially and emotionally caught up into the beliefs of the
church. There is very little use for apologetics or theology and a
propositional view of reality. Questions concerning the group's belief system
or actions are only tolerated in a token fashion and are strongly controlled
by the group's leadership (Hos 4:6; Luke 2:46; Acts 15:1-29).

9. Misplaced Responsibility:

Your responsibility for a relationship with God is transferred to the
authority figure or the organizational system. The FOCUS for the individual
is not to find a clearer understanding of who God is but instead to do the
will of God (as defined by the dysfunctional system) and obey the leadership
(1Tim 2:5; Heb 4:14-16; 12:2; 1John 2:27).

10. Salvation = Grace Plus:

Works of some sort (obedience, evangelism, financial giving, etc.) are added
to the free gift of salvation. A person's performance equates to their
salvation and spirituality (Rom 4:4-6; 9:16; 11:6).

11. Elitism:

"WE HAVE THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL DIE WITH US." This attitude is evident
in some special doctrine or way of life the group exhibits. All outside the
group are considered non-Christians or at least inferior Christians (Prov
8:13; Mark 9:38-40; 2Cor 10:12-18).
 

What is our Responsibility?

What is our responsibility in reference to such groups? I believe it is
three-fold:

1. We must have a PASSION for following our living Savior. This includes:

A Earnest self-evaluation of our behaviors and doctrines (2Cor 13:5).

B. Intellectually knowing what we believe and why (Col 4:5f; 1Tim 4:6).

C. Defend our faith with compassion and understanding of others (1Pet 3:15).

2. We need to PATIENTLY and in CHRIST-LIKE LOVE confront those comfortable in
aberrant Christian teaching and practice. Most of those involved have become
involved out of ignorance and/ or great personal need - not out of a desire
to control and manipulate others (2Tim 4:2; Jude 22f).

3 We need to recognize we are in SPIRITUAL WARFARE when dealing with those
affected. Longsuffering and prayer are NECESSITIES not options (Eph 6:10-18).

Many people end up in aberrant Christian groups due to disillusionment with
the "CHEAP CHRISTIANITY" they often see in many traditional churches.

ARE WE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE AND GROW UP?
 

(2Peter 3:17,18)