Dear Friends
"Why I became a member of a church that turns out to be a cult"
Following our study on the cults two weeks ago. I’m led to say some more on this subject. This is more than a discussion on cults, but certainly highlights some aspect particularly that of a kind of profile of persons who are attracted to such groups. Who is attracted to cultic groups?
I don’t believe as a rule most people join a cult for the sake of doing so. But the group meets certain needs in the life of the adherents. What are these?
Connection
People like connection. People like to be included, embraced, or to belong. One of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs of the human being is “belonging”. Dr. Glenroy Lalor’s PhD study on Congregations, highlights that people do not go to church primarily because of historic affiliation or denominational loyalty necessarily, but for social connection. Hence, we are saying that people are attracted to a group if the group makes them feel connected, wanted, feel like they are ‘somebody’. Hence the group could be of a political party, a religious body, a criminal gang or social club.
One of the testimonies of a former eighteen-year-old member of the Pathway International Restoration Ministries was that he was with the “church” since he was nine years old, and this was his family. This was where he belonged. He held a caring position at the church, was the church’s barber and was one of the keeper of the animals.
Significance
Another need people have is significance. Most people not only want to feel connected, but also have a need for a sense of importance and significance within the group.
This is a psychological need of everyone, which is often fulfilled when someone is given a position or some meaningful task to perform.
Sometimes the significance is a name or title assigned, such as, ‘Apostle’, ‘archangel’, ’your excellency’ or ‘your eminence’.
In the Bobo Shanti Rastafarian’s house located in Bull Bay, all persons in the community are assigned a title. The young men are ‘prince’, young women ‘princess’ and older women – Empress.
Each member of the community gains significance and respect from other members due to the assigned ‘titles’.
We see this practice in many of our Pentecostal and Episcopal Churches. The free church tradition tends not to use many titles – one is just President or Reverend or Deacon, as in our case as Baptists. It does not mean that some people would not prefer some other titles.
In some recent times the JBU has seen quite a number of persons applying for the “Commissioned” pastor position because the title “Reverend” is assigned as opposed to just Moderator, and some of the applicants have indicated that this title gives them greater significance and enhance their work.
Instruction
People like to be instructed or receive direct instruction about living the faith. In negotiating the Christian path, making one’s own decisions guided by conscience and reasoning can be a little dainty for some people. They have no problem being told what to wear, what to eat, how much to give and how to live – no sex or dating until…. And which days to worship or which passage of scripture to read and so on.
For communities where there is compliance with these instructions, people are rewarded and commended, when they fail to do so, they are frowned upon and could be penalized (such as paying a fee for coming to church late).
People comply because instructions/commands usually convey care by the instructor and seem to simplify life for the participant. Compliance may include actions that are extremely sacrificial – to the point of death. Ironically, the promise of reward after death, can inspire this level of compliance.
Some examples are Pathway Restoration members believing Kevin Smith was God; suicide bombers action will offer a better life in the resurrection; and in gangs – fear of the consequences of not complying.
Conclusion
- So we are saying that people need to belong or to be connected and where these needs are met, there will be attraction. Meeting needs very often is not rational and sometimes by the time an adherent realizes the cost of connection it’s too late.
- People desire significance or recognition because when in a group this could determine whether they remain or depart.
- People like instruction, especially in a religious group. It simplifies life, although it also restricts freedom and control. Peer pressure and promised rewards usually enforce compliance.
What about you?
How do you feel about Connection, Significance and Instruction in your group or your church? Are these needs being met for you in a healthy way? If not, how are you addressing them?
Ultimately, what we all need is love, we know God loves us, but we need one another to give and receive love.
Your Pastor