TRUE COMMUNITY VERSUS CULT COMMUNITY


True Community versus Cult Community
Laurel and I ate dinner in downtown Asheville a few years ago. There was a European atmosphere. The restaurants around that intersection had outdoor dining and all the tables were full. A very pleasant atmosphere.
There was a group of people performing outside in the square at the intersection. The performers were part of a cult who called themselves “The Twelve Tribes.” According to one of their members, they do not use the name Christian, but revert back to the Hebrew name for “Jesus” which is “Jeshua.” They do not recognize Christianity as being of God, and they do not preach the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ and His atoning death on the cross. Their passion is “the community.” They hold all things in common, and their testimony is about the group and its New Testament lifestyle. (I found it ironic that they do not preach the New Testament gospel, but yet claim to live by its lifestyle).

Laurel and I spoke to one of their members, a 21-year old girl from Conway, SC, which is about 20 miles from our home near North Myrtle Beach. Her passion was about the community, the relationships, the commitment of the people to one another, and the fact they had given up everything for the group. Their message was the group and its lifestyle.

This young girl had found what she perceived to be truth in what was actually pseudo-biblical relationships. I was impressed by the hunger demonstrated in this young girl. Her misguided solution, however, was a deception that on the surface appeared to satisfy, but which will eventually leave her disillusioned and empty.

It is sad that so many churches, although preaching the gospel, have failed so badly in the area of relationships and community. People end up going to cult groups and masonic lodges to find friendship, relationships, and a sense of belonging that should have been available in the church and real Christianity.

Listening to this young girl I realized that there is a generation out there searching for what many of us have tasted in real kingdom relationships under the Lordship of Jesus. The real hunger in our hearts is to be joined together in Christian community in loving and committed relationships under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to experience the reality of His presence through the Holy Spirit.
There are two foundational absolutes that must be met in real Christianity: The person and work of Jesus Christ and the truth of His written word, the Bible. These are foundations for true Christian community. All else is built on “sand.”   ---Billy Long

 Addendum: 
Below is a comment from Beth. Her statement and questions represent the cry of many Christians today. This is an issue that pastors and church leaders should take seriously and pray earnestly for real and genuine leading of the Holy Spirit in finding the answer.


Hi Billy! I've been feeling this absence of community in the church acutely for many many years. What is the solution? How does one go about finding true community...not just empty fakeness... but true, messy, honest community?

Most of the time I feel that community with nonbelievers is more enriching and soul refreshing than the pseudo churchy community. Nonbelievers are permitted to have a crappy day, lose their, composure, go on a alcohol binge, etc...everyone knows their dirt and still accepts them and will just be with them without judgement. When things get messy they get real and draw closer together.

Where is that in the church? We are all so broken and yet we are not allowed to let it show because if it shows then we must not be "abiding" , we aren't staying close to Jesus, we are "in sin", etc, etc,etc....so much judgement and so little love! I hear this from young people all the time who have fallen away from Father for this very reason. It is so heartbreaking!
What are your thoughts about this? ---Beth Tuggy



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