Exclusivity from/Denunciation of Other Groups: Each cult group, regardless of what other doctrines are taught, will all have this one common idea -- "The Only True Church Syndrome." The members of each specific organization have been taught that their church, organization, or community, is the only true group and that all other groups are false.
Exclusivistic: only the group has "the truth," . . . (www.doubters.net/cult.htm) Morehead writes in the context of cults like Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science and others. The "group" is a theological group not specific in locale. Thus, Morehead's "characteristic" blasphemes the way of truth (2 Peter 2:2), because this is the way of truth. Those who follow Christ are the only group that has the truth, because they follow the Truth (John 14:6). All who follow Christ, no matter where they are located, speak thus:
The group will place a tremendous emphasis on "doing good works". Members of the group may appear obsessed with doing whatever the group tells them to do, for instance always being at meetings. (www.reachouttrust.org/regulars/articles/cult/winbck.htm, web link no longer available, hard copy on file)
(www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/marksof.htm)
Ypu were saying??
Your logic eludes me. Maybe you are just ranting.
Jesus Christ established His Catholic Church with Peter and the Disciples and their successors and delegated His authority to them.
Yes, in the early church there were some that created their own theology, but to my knowledge they were small in number and did not continue for long.
Yes Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church and this led many other men to set up separate churches.
Some 30,000 to 40,000 different sects are currently in existence. None other than the Catholic Church claim to be founded by Christ and given His authority. There are certainly some good positive Christian values and activities that come many of these churches. Many people get spiritual guidance that helps them. Then there are some that may make it business in order to generate a salary or profit.
But many are not teaching the full truth of Jesus Christ (except the Catholic Church)
It would seem that Jesus as the Truth would insist on His teachings follow this Truth (and Jesus promised that the Catholic Church would always teach the Truth of Jesus). Thus the Catholic Church claims infallibility on matters of Faith as their pronouncements are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Thus 30,000+ churches who claim no infallibility on matters of Faith and several billion individuals if they could interpret the Bible on the own. Wouldn't that create many different and conflicting interpretations of the Bible? Even just the posters here do not agree on many different issues. Why would Jesus want conflicting teachings that were attributed to Him?
It would seem logical for Jesus and the Holy Spirit to inspire His Catholic Church to be the one true church to provide God's truth.
Many will not follow the teachings of Jesus or the Catholic Church. It is easier for them to form their own beliefs and accept some teachings but not others. Many during the time of Jesus, also rejected the teachings of Jesus. Many of the Jewish leaders felt superior to Jesus and ignored His teachings, just like some who claim to be followers of Jesus are actually followers of their own opinion.
Some may gain Salvation outside of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Jesus.
The mission of the Catholic Church is to provide God's truth, baptize and prepare individuals for salvation. The Church is composed of saints and sinners. God is the Judge, not the Church, but the Church wants to show you the way to our Lord.
Satan promotes evil and attempts to direct us toward sin and away from God and His Church.