Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics! Why are so Many Christians Confused about Cults and Pastors Neglecting the Word of God?

What is Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics? When Jehovah’s Witnesses come knock on your door do you know what to say or do you get turned into a pretzel? When Christians are asked what they believe about God, why the Bible is divinely inspired, what is special about who Jesus Christ is, “how come the majority of them don’t know how to answer?” Sadly many Christians and churches lack sound Bible teaching, discipleship classes and studies, and many Christians are not equipped on how to effectively witness to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Muslim’s, atheists, etc. Will pastors and leaders stop playing church, stop neglecting the Word of God, and teach sound doctrine and equip Christians to be effective witnesses to the lost (Hosea 4:6)?

We desperately need Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics being taught in the churches! Christians are being tossed around by false doctrines and teachers, liberalism from worldly influences, and Christianity is under attack by social media (2 Timothy 4:3-4). With some much opposition today Christians are more than ever in need to be discipled on the essentials of the Christian faith, and be equipped on how to effectively witness to those in Cults. We need the be honest and open, and ask why is Christian Apologetics lacking among churches, pastors and leaders? Why are so many Christians not aware of the need for Apologetics in their lives.

Have you asked what does Apologetics mean. Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia in 1 Peter 3:15. What does 1 Peter 3:15 teach about Christian Apologetics? 1 Peter 3:15 is the blueprint for the Christianity on how to live for Jesus Christ and how to be His witnesses in everyday life. It is extremely important to know the word of God in truth, and be informed of false doctrines and false movements (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). What do Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist’s, Oneness Pentecostals, Muslim’s, and other religious Cults believe about God, the Bible, Jesus Christ and the gospel that is false, heretical, contrary to Scriptures? Christians need to be properly equipped on how to witness to those in religious Cults who believe in another Jesus, another gospel, and point them to the Jesus and the gospel of the Bible (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).

What is Apologetics? What is Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics?

Dr. Walter Martin, author of the Kingdom of the Cults, was a true servant and evangelist for the Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics ministry during the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, up until when he died and he went to be with the Lord in 1989. Dr. Walter Martin is known as the original Bible answer man and founder of CRI, the Christian Research Institute. Dr. Walter Martin had a huge ministry exposing non-Christian Cults, refuting many false movements, and he helped equip Christians to share the truth of the gospel and the Jesus of the Bible to reach the lost. Christians need to be properly informed on what they believe, why they believe it, and how to share that with those around them.

The late Dr. Walter Martin used to say are we willing to do for the truth what the Cults do everyday for a lie? That is a challenging question that Christian need to ask themselves. Why do so many churches neglecting discipleship and the awareness of the non-Christian Cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Science, Oneness Pentecostals also known as the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI, Jesus only movement), etc. Do we believe what Jesus taught about false prophets (Matthew 7:15), what Paul taught about false gospels (Galatians 1:6-9), what Peter taught about those who twist the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-17), and what Jude taught about contending for the faith (Jude 1:3)?

So then, what is Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics. Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics deals with those who preach and teach a false God, false Jesus, false gospel, and those who believe they are Christians but are deceived and lost (Matthew 7:15, 21-23; 2 Corinthians 11:4-15; Jude 1:3). Counter-Cult Christian Apologetics is a ministry to teach those who have been deceived and trapped with n non-Christian Cults. Some very good resources for Christians to grow in their faith and knowledge of the Scriptures are the Holman Bible Dictionary, the New Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, The Strong’s Exhaustive Hebrew and Greek Concordance, The Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible by Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, and the Kingdom of the Cults by Dr. Walter Martin. These resources are good for Christians, pastors and leaders seeking to have sound biblical knowledge of the Bible and what makes Christianity different from all other world Religions and Cults.

What Apologetics is and What Apologetics is Not!

To be clear and to the point Christian Apologetics is understating what 1 Peter 3:15 teaches about living for Jesus in our daily lives. Peter was a first hand eyewitness of Jesus Christ life and teachings, His death and resurrection from the dead, wrote in 1 Peter 3:15 that we are to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts. This means Christians are to be fully devoted to Him in our everyday life, and being godly witnesses to those around them. Peter wrote that believers are to know what they believe and why they believe in Jesus Christ. Therefore when non-believers ask them the hope that is in them they will be able to respond with the truth of the gospel message and lead them to Jesus Christ. Christians are to share the gospel message in a respectful and loving way to those around them. The context of 1 Peter 3:13-17 is that they were being slandered and mocked for their faith in Jesus, therefore being witnesses for Jesus is not easy. It is the same today, if not more.

Sadly many people wrongly believe Christian Apologetics is about having the right answers, being able to prove someone wrong, but this is inaccurate. There are even some who have a I am better than you attitude because of all the knowledge they have acquired through studying, but that is being fleshly and prideful. Apologetics is not about always having the right answers or proving anyone wrong, but about living a life that reflects Christ in them and being good examples to those around them. Christians are to be godly examples to those around them, to share the good news of Jesus Christ, and be respectful in their conversations.

We need churches and pastors today who are humble and hungry for God’s Word to radically transform Christians lives in a way that they will be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that Christians are to contend for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3), to preach the gospel to everyone the world (Mark 16:15; Romans 10:14-17), and to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). We need pastors and churches today to see the need for discipleship and sound Bible teaching, and the need to equip Christians on how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those in Cults and non-believers.

Ministries to Check Out:

Dr. Walter Martin, the original Bible answer man, founder of CRI Christian Research Institute, author of the Kingdom of the Cults, Christian Apologetics Counter-Cult Ministry www.waltermartin.org

Christy Darlington, Witnesses for Jesus Ministry to Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses www.4witness.org

J. Warner Wallace Christian apologist Cold Case Christianity https://coldcasechristianity.com/

Ray Comfort Evangelist Living Waters Ministry www.livingwaters.com

Watchman Fellowship Christian Apologetics, Cults, Movements  www.watchman.org

Berean Perspective Apologetics www.rootedinchrist.org
Kelly Powers