Introduction to Apologetics Terminology
By: Alexia Petrakos

“In all Seriousness…” is a column devoted to comparing religious movements and cults to Scripture and Orthodox Christianity for the purpose of providing information to help Christians counter the claims and accusations of cult members and other non-Christians. I must note that nothing in this column is meant to ridicule, slander, or malign anyone involved in these movements, but to expose what I as a Christian believe to be false. As Christians, we are all charged to “…always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). We are also admonished to “contend for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

For some light housekeeping: I will be using the NIV translation of the Bible unless otherwise stated. I will have in-line citations, as well as a list of resources that I’ve referred to and recommend at the end of each column. If there are any questions or problems with the information I have presented, feel free to contact me at lex@rocketdiary.com.

Since this is the first installment of this column, I’ll begin with giving definitions of terms Christian Apologists often use. The following terms are often used differently depending on the theological and philosophical persuasion of person, so I have decided to include my own personal definitions, with reference to Scripture, several apologetics websites and books.

Beginning with the term “Cult”, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines a cult as:
1. formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2. a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3. a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4. a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5. a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

For the purposes of this article, I will be using a combination of the above to define the term Cult as well as definitions from several apologetics websites and books. A cult is a group of people centered around an individual or idea whose leadership is characterized by abusive, manipulative, often illegal or invasive control over the members’ lives. Also, a cult can be defined as a religious group that teaches contrary doctrine to Historical and Orthodox Christianity. This is a relatively broad definition, including certain groups that are borderline cults such as the International Churches of Christ and the Potter’s House (LINKS). Sometimes cults and sects are also referred to as “New Religious Movements” or NRM’s to counter the negative connotation that the word cult or sect brings to mind. See: http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/n00.html#nrmo. There are also “institutional cults,” groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and Christian Science. These are cults that have been around so long that they’ve begun to influence people outside of their congregations have been influenced by their teachings and doctrines. (See D.R. McConnell’s citation of Ron Enroth’s What is a Cult? On p. 27 of McConnell’s A Different Gospel: A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement). The proliferation of cultic ideas and actions began at the Fall of Mankind. Since all humankind is born sinful as a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis), we all have a tendency to rebel against our Creator and seek our own ways that aren’t as “restrictive,” and chase after other ‘gods’ and the age-old lie of the devil that “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:4-5). This lends to our need for apologetics.

From the Greek word apologia meaning “answer” or “reasonable defense”, we get the term “Apologetics”. This is the art of defense of the Christian Faith. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Certain cults (i.e. the Mormon association, FARMS) have attempted apologetics to defend their religion. FARMS for instance, attempts to defend their Book of Mormon through so-called historical facts. See http://www.equip.org/free/DM755.htm. This is called cult, or pro-cult apologetics Some Cult Apologists aren’t adherents to the NRM they defend. (See: http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/c11.html). Counter-Cult Apologetics, on the other hand, is a branch of Christian Apologetics solely focused on countering claims of cults and NRM’s with the Truths of Historical Orthodox Christianity and the Bible.

Oftentimes the claims of cults and NRM’s are referred to as heresies, or doctrinal errors. With respect to the Christian faith, heresy is a doctrine that is either extra-biblical, or taken from the Bible, but twisted in some way. There are two main types of heresy that I’ll refer to. (The following taken from A Different Gospel: A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement, by D.R. McConnell, pp19,20).

Formal heresy is when a person knowingly believes a heretical doctrine, and continues to believe it despite contrary evidence, and does so obstinately. For example, Anton LaVey committed formal heresy in his ideas and practices. Material heresy is when a person believes a doctrine that is heretical, but doesn’t know it’s heretical. Most adherents to cults are committing material heresy.

There are many groups out there that propagate Material Heresy that are, unfortunately, accepted in the realm of orthodox Christianity. I will refer to the doctrines of these groups as “Aberrant Christian Doctrine.” These doctrines look and sound like the True Gospel, but some portion is off. For example: The Word of Faith preachers (i.e. Kenneth Copeland, Robert Tilton, et al) seem innocuous at first listen – but if you listen long enough, you find extreme heresies such as Copeland’s assertion that “God is...a being that stands somewhere around 6'-2," 6'-3," that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple of hundred pounds, little better, and has a hand span of nine inches across” (Spirit, Soul, and Body, 1985, Tape #01-0601* GET TAPE or reference correctly). Nowhere in the Bible is God portrayed as having a physical body. He is Spirit (FIND BIBLE REFERENCE!).

Before anyone goes off the deep end and starts calling a Christian who thinks differently about certain doctrines than you do, keep the following in mind. There are both Primary, or Essential and Secondary, or Non-essential issues of Faith. The doctrine of the Trinity, the very nature of the Godhead is an Essential issue of the Christian Faith. Reject the Trinity and you reject the very nature of God (insert bible references!). On the other hand, there are many different interpretations of the book of Revelation. There exist pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, pre-millennial, post-millennial, a-millennial, and many more views of the end times. Now, no matter what you think will happen during the end times, if your “Essentials” are sound and based in Orthodox Christianity, there is no reason to call you a cultist or a heretic.

Internet Resources (referenced):
http://britanica.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=cult
http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm
http://www.watchman.org/cults/cult.htm
http://www.watchman.org/profile/wordpro.htm
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/apol-eva.html
(FARMS) http://www.equip.org/free/DM755.htm
(Origin of NRM) http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/n00.html#nrmo
http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/c11.html

Internet Resources (recommended):
Christian Research Institute – http://www.equip.org
The Watchman Fellowship – http://www.watchman.org
Apologetics Index – http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex

Books (referenced):

Books (recommended):
Jude (in the New Testament)
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Norman Geisler

Trinity: “… but the Spirit gives life… the Lord is the spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” 2 Cor 3:6 & 17

1 Cor 12:3 “…no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Spirit

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirt. There are different kids of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” 1 Cor 12:4-6

“… Who, being in very nature God…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” Philippians 2:5-11

“… Christ, who is God over all…” Romans 9:5

(etc)
deut 6:4 (the Shema)