Why are you classified as a cult? (long post)

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Why the UPC (and other Apostolic believers in One God) are 
classified as a cult.

Steve Muhr wrote:
> In my search for religious type web sites I came across a
> site on simple living which brought me to a web site on
> someone talking about cults.
> 
> Here is where I found information on Pentacostal churches.
> Why do you suppose that Pentacostal churches are classified
> as a cult?  But other "normal" religions arn't shown - such
> as Lutheran, Catholic, etc.  Pentacostal Churches are
> lumped in with Hare Krishna's, Rajneesh, etc.
> 
> I would appreciate your response on this?


'Watchman Fellowship' a group which supposedly exposes cults   
had the following to say in their webpage about why we are labeled 
a cult:

cult = "By its primary dictionary definition, the term cult just 
means a system of religious beliefs or rituals...In modern usage, 
the term cult is often used by the general public to describe any 
religious group they view as strange or dangerous.  Thus, cult can 
describe religious leaders or organizations that employ abusive, 
manipulative, or illegal control over their followers' lives.  In addition 
to these usages, Christians generally have a doctrinal component 
to their use of the word.  Cult in this sense, is a counterfeit or 
serious deviation from the doctrines of classical Christianity.  
Watchman Fellowship usually uses the term cult with a Christian 
or doctrinal definition in mind.  In most cases the group claims 
to be Christian, but because of their aberrant beliefs on central 
doctrines of the faith (God, Jesus, and salvation), the organization 
is not considered by Watchman Fellowship to be part of orthodox, 
biblical Christianity. Research material and Profile are available."

This particular organization, Watchman Fellowship, labels the 
UPC as a cult because it does not conform to 'classical' 
Christian doctrine; in other words, it has 'aberrant beliefs on 
central doctrine of faith'.  They characterize 'Oneness' as 
'Modalism'.  Their definition of modalism is as follows:

"Modalism: (Patripassianism, Modalistic Monarchianism, 
Sabellianism, Jesus Only, Oneness) A second and third century 
heresy that denies the doctrine of the Trinity, teaching there is 
only one Person in the Godhead.  While the Trinity doctrine 
teaches three distinct Persons, Modalism maintains that one 
Person (usually the Father) has manifested Himself at 
different times under different names (Jesus/Spirit) or modes. 
Thus, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three names for the 
same Person.  Originally taught in various forms by Noetus, 
Praxeas and Sabellius.  Modified forms of this doctrine can 
be found in the teachings of William Branham, some 
Apostolic churches and the United Pentecostal Church..."

Under their heading for the UPC they also cite a belief in 
salvation by works as one of the 'aberrant' doctrines 
taught by the UPC organization:

"United Pentecostal Church International: Denies the 
doctrine of the Trinity teaching 'Jesus Only'.  Works 
required for salvation including baptism (in Jesus' name, 
only) and speaking in tongues..."

The document I got these quotes from is titled "The Watchman 
Expositor - Watchman Fellowship's 1996 Index of Cults, 
Occult Organizations, New Age Groups, New Religious 
Movements, and World Religions with Related Terms and 
Doctrines"  It is 70 pages long and contains too many 
organizations to count.  

While I agree with much of their description of UPCI as far 
as not believing in the Trinity, I feel they misrepresented 
'Jesus Only' and salvation by works.  The use of the term 
'Jesus Only' gives the connotation of denial of the Father 
and the Holy Spirit, where in reality, UPCI teaches that 
the Father was in Jesus and that the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost 
is the spirit of the Father/Jesus.  Also, the UPCI does not 
teach that salvation is by anything but the grace of God 
through faith.  It also teaches that true faith is **always** 
accompanied by obedience and obedient living.  The 
obedience of faith requires that a person be baptized in 
the name of Jesus for the remission of sins and that 
everyone must receive the Holy Spiri or else that person 
does not belong to God (Romans 16:26Acts 2:38; 
Romans 8:9).  Speaking in tongues is the only consistant 
evidence recorded in the scriptures when a person first 
received the Holy Spirit.  As such, it is taught that this 
evidence is still required today to signify that a person 
has received the Holy Spirit.  People are **not** 
taught by the UPCI how to speak with tongues, nor is 
speaking with tongues taught as separate from the Spirit 
or required in and of itself.

Kathy (glad to be aberrant but in the Truth) Dimick
Falkville, Alabama
kdimick@colsa.com
kedimick@hotmail.com

"For to me to live is Christ"