1 Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

Have you ever noticed that the first four letters of the world culture is cult? That does not surprise me in the least, after all early Christians were called The Way, a cult according to loyal Jews. Even Roman called The Way a cult. In fact they were if for no other reason than they had a culture that was new, different and expressed a single obsessive component.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

This exclusivity is one of the signs we look for in cults. This one issue alone sets us apart from all other religions and we are hated for it as promised by Jesus himself. Labels are easy and it not fair to label believers a cult based on specific characteristics found in cults. Control issues are very common in a number of identified cults of this modern era. Controlling dress code, personal activities, finances, time dedicated to support, possessions and relationships are just some of those signs. Add to that total dedication to a leader.

Think about that list and be honest in your assessment, every major religion in the world contain some if not more than one element of control in these areas, if not overt at least persuasive control. So I will say again, we should not look to specific elements as signs of cult activity. We should look at the culture.

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

This is the culture of The Way, my cult.